Top 10 Seasonal Fireworks in Ibaraki Prefecture, Kanto

The Kanto region's leading fireworks festival, Koga Fireworks features over 20,000 fireworks launched from Koga Golf Links on the banks of the Watarase River. The starmines set off in time to music, wide starmines, and huge 3-shakudama fireworks are particular must-sees. The festival also offers a paid seating area where attendees can lie down on tarps or lounge chairs to watch the show in comfort. The fireworks are launched from the nearby Watarase Flood Plain, an area of rich natural beauty registered under the Ramsar Convention and the perfect place for a picnic before the show.

The Kashima City Fireworks are held on Lake Kitaura, drawing crowds of more than 180,000 spectators in a typical year. About 12,000 fireworks are launched, with a number of must-see displays, including a spectacular series of 108 mortar shells, ultra-large star mines, and star mines that burst at water level, a signature part of any display on the lake. There is also free shuttle bus service from JR Kashima Jingu Station.

Held in Nakaminato Harbor in the town of Hitachinaka, this fireworks festival features a continuous succession of shakudama fireworks and starmines lighting up the night sky. The underwater starmines are a particular treat. The vivid colors are reflected in the night sky and the water's surface at once, making for a magical sight. You can also enjoy a huge helping of fresh fish before the show at Nakaminato Harbor, a major source of skipjack and bluefin tuna and the prefecture's largest fishing harbor.

This fireworks festival is held in late July at Oarai Sun Beach, a bustling beach with excellent summer access from the heart of the city. The show lights up the night sky with about 3,000 fireworks: big starmines, wide starmines, chains of 10 shakudama fireworks, huge 2-shakudama fireworks, and more. The finale features a cavalcade of starmines set to music-a delightful program bursting with originality.

At the Joso Kinu River Fireworks, about 10,000 fireworks are launched over the Kinu River, and it offers the opportunity to see a fireworks display that focuses on artistry. A wide variety of magnificent fireworks brighten the night sky, including unique creative fireworks, musical star mines, and coordinated displays that spell out messages.

The "Kamisu Fireworks" are held at the track and field stadium of Gonoike Park, where approximately 5,000 star mines and other fireworks light up the dark Autumn sky. Other fun events are held before the fireworks even launch, including raffles, marching band performances and firework-related presents for kids.

This fireworks display is held every summer in the city of Toride in southern Ibaraki Prefecture, also known as a bedroom community for Tokyo. The event began more than 60 years ago to commemorate the opening of the Tone River Bridge. At the venue in Toride Ryokuchi Undo Park on the banks of the Tone River, roughly 7,000 fireworks are launched into the night sky over the grand Tone River, filling it with multicolored light and sound. The highlight of the display is the Niagara Falls, which pours down sparks from 20 meters in the air over a length of 300 meters. Viewers are dazzled by displays of long series of mortar shells and star mines bursting one after another.

This summer festival is held every early august in Tokai-mura in Ibaraki Prefecture. In 1979, the event started to promote better communication between new residents and local people. There are dance parade and a portable shrine with people playing Tokai drum, dancing, music performance, entertainment shows on the stage. There are street installers along with the Tokai Station Odori. The Tokai Festival Fireworks is held at the eve of the festival at Akogigaura Park. Approximately 4000 fireworks are launched into the night sky. The best highlight of the display is the 50 fireworks are launched at the same time. The spectacular star mines set the night sky ablaze with colors.

More than 3,300 fireworks are launched over the point where the Kuji River and Oshi River converge, including star mines, set pieces, and rapid fire mortars, lighting up the summer night sky with brilliant colors. The sight of the 4,000 lanterns sent down the Kuji River as a memorial for the drowned, floating along and lighting the river's surface, is a very moving scene. The magical feeling produced by the fireworks in the sky and the lanterns on the water is something that can only be experienced at this fireworks display.