Sumida River Fireworks Festival 2024 in Japan

The Sumida River Fireworks Festival is a highly anticipated annual event held in Tokyo on the last Saturday of July. A stunning display of 10,000 fireworks is launched from barges positioned along the Sumida River, creating a colorful spectacle that illuminates the night sky. Spectators gather in parks along the riverbanks to enjoy this dazzling show, making it one of the most eagerly awaited events of the summer in Tokyo.

Venues

The Sumida River Fireworks Festival features two main venues. The first venue is hosted by Hosoya Enterprises Co., Ltd., and the second by Marutamaya Kokatsu Fireworks Store Co., Ltd. Each venue will launch approximately 10,000 fireworks, totaling around 20,000 fireworks for the entire event. Fireworks at the first venue will reach heights of about 200 meters, while those at the second venue will go up to about 120 meters. The largest fireworks will be up to size 5, approximately 15 cm in diameter.

Schedule of Events

The 47th Sumida River Fireworks Festival in 2024 will take place from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The first venue will start at 7 pm, followed by the second venue at 7:30 pm. Both venues will conclude at 8:30 pm. Since the fireworks are launched over the Sumida River, which lacks a riverbed, spectators can enjoy the display from the bridges and roads surrounding the launch sites.

Types of Fireworks

A total of 10 companies will participate in launching special fireworks for the event. Seven of these companies have historical ties to the Ryogoku Fireworks Festival, while the remaining three have garnered recognition for their outstanding performances at fireworks festivals across the country. Fireworks are categorized into two main types: "warimono," which burst into spherical shapes resembling chrysanthemums, and "pokamono," which split into two in the sky and released stars and other objects. Among these, Japanese warimono fireworks, known for their intricate chrysanthemum-like patterns, are renowned as some of the most elaborate in the world.

Origins of Sumida River Fireworks Festival

The "Sumida River Fireworks Festival," known by its current name since 1978, was previously called "Ryogoku River Opening" until 1961, when worsening traffic conditions halted the event. Revived in 1978, the festival now takes place on the Sumida River with two launch sites to accommodate more spectators.

The origins of the festival trace back to the Edo period in 1733, when a great famine and epidemic led the shogunate to hold a Water God Festival to pray for the deceased and eliminate the epidemic. Fireworks were officially permitted near Ryogoku Bridge, marking the beginning of the Ryogoku River Opening. Historically, the Sumida River was also known as the "Okawa River," and Ryogoku Bridge was named for its location between Musashi and Shimousa provinces.