Tiny things in Japan – Learning a very local life of Japanese

Fireworks display is a feature of summer in Japan. This time, I am going to introduce the most famous fireworks in Fukuoka “Western Japan Ohori Fireworks Display (西日本大濠花火大会)”. It is performed at Ohori park (大濠公園) in Chuo-ward, Fukuoka city on every August 1st, and 450,000 people visit every year to enjoy this festival.

Western Japan Ohori Fireworks Display

This fireworks display was held for the first time in the period of post-war reconstruction in 1950 of 66 years ago. There was a 12-year interruption in the circumstances such as the renovation of the park. But it revived in 1979 and since then, it has become a summer tradition of Fukuoka citizens.

The goodness of this fireworks display will be a good place to access and easiness in seeing of fireworks. I introduced Ohori park a little before, at the time of the cherry trees, this park is located in the center of Fukuoka city, and there is approximately 398,000 square meter of area and ponds of 226,000 square meters in the park center. Because the fireworks are launched from the island in the middle of the pond, you can watch the fireworks from any angle in the park.

Now, let’s visit the fireworks festival!

I visited Ohori fireworks festival alone as always to take photos. And now you can see what 450,000 people means in the photo below. It’s really easy to access here as you can just use a subway. Well, I don’t recommend to use your own car or a bus because there will be a huge traffic jam around the park, especially after 6 pm. And you might end up listening to the sound of fireworks in the car.

There are a lot of food stalls, broiled sweet corn, shaved ice topped with flavored syrup, candy apple, fried noodle, and more!

Some game stalls are there too.

It is called “Kingyo Sukui (Goldfish scooping)” and is a very popular game that can be seen at the festival in Japan.

Many people wait for the start of fireworks around the pond.

At 8 pm, fireworks started against the background of city buildings.

I couldn’t take better photos, so please watch the video from here.

Western Japan Ohori Fireworks Display information
Sponsorship: Nishinippon Shimbun (西日本新聞)
Event date & hours: August 1st, 8 pm – 9:30 pm
Address: 810-0051 Ohori Park, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
Access: By subway – 7 minutes walk from Ohori Koen (大濠公園駅) OR Tojinmachi Stations (唐人町駅) on the Kuko Line (地下鉄空港線) of Fukuoka City Subway.
By bus –  5 minutes walk from Nishitetsu “Nishi Koen (西公園)” or “Kuromon” Bus stops (黒門) OR Showa “Nishi Koen” Bus stop
Paid seat: There is a paid seat near the fireworks site. The place is an athletics stadium and open its lawn seat for the fireworks.
Adult: 1200 yen, children (7 years old – 18 years old): 600 yen. 6 years old or younger is free. About the paid seat: 092-711-5506 (Nishinippon Shimbun:西日本新聞)
Link: Nishinippon Shimbun