Omagari Fireworks: Akita, Japan's Top Fireworks Competition

The National Fireworks Competition (Omagari no Hanabi), held in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, is one of "Japan's three great fireworks festivals," alongside Tsuchiura in Ibaraki and Nagaoka in Niigata. Pyrotechnicians selected from all over the country compete in skill, giving their all for honors that include the Prime Minister's Award. It is, quite literally, the contest that decides Japan's number one in fireworks.

The Competition That Decides Japan's Top Pyrotechnician

Its origin was the Ou Six-Prefecture Fireworks Exhibition (Ou Rokken Enka Kyoshinkai), held in 1910 (Meiji 43) as entertainment for the festival of Suwa Shrine, and it has since built up a history of more than 100 years. In 1915 (Taisho 4) it was renamed the National Fireworks Competition and expanded its scale nationwide. Celebrated fireworks makers from across Japan take part and are scored on warimono (spherical break shells) and sozo hanabi (creative fireworks). Because the makers themselves fire their shells, high-quality fireworks color the night sky one after another: the "kyogidama" competition shells that each company devises with its own ingenuity, and the wide star mines provided by the organizers and choreographed to music.

The Prime Minister's Award and the Tradition of Daytime Fireworks

What symbolizes the prestige of this event is the Prime Minister's Award (Naikaku Sori Daijin Sho) presented to the winner. Only two fireworks competitions in Japan confer this award, Omagari and Tsuchiura, and Omagari is regarded as one of the most prestigious competitions in the country. Another highlight is the daytime fireworks contest, a rarity even nationwide. Here the entries compete in beauty not through light but through shapes formed by colored smoke, a delicate and highly advanced technique. Being able to enjoy the event from the daytime as well as at night is a charm unique to this competition. For a pyrotechnician, being recognized here is a great source of pride. It is a stage of serious contest where the country's leading masters bring the culmination of a year's work.

Dates and Access

It is usually held on the last Saturday of August at Omagari no Hanabi Park (on the banks of the Omono River in Omagari, Daisen City). In 2026 it is scheduled for Saturday, August 29. The venue is about a 30-minute walk from JR Omagari Station, and on the day several hundred thousand people come from all over Japan.

Paid Seating

Various types of paid seating are available, including sajiki (tatami-mat platform) seats and chair seats, and most are obtained through online lotteries and sales. Demand is extremely high, so early planning, including accommodation, is recommended. Always check the official website for the latest dates and ticket information.

Practical Information for the Festival (2026)

• Date and time: Saturday, August 29, 2026 / daytime fireworks 17:10-18:00, night fireworks 19:00-21:30
• Number of shells: About 18,000
• Venue: Omagari no Hanabi Park (banks of the Omono River, Omagari, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture)
• Nearest station: About a 30-minute walk (about 2 km) from JR Omagari Station to the center of the venue. There are food stalls and events along the route, so the walk itself is enjoyable
• Parking: In addition to paid parking that requires a reservation, there are general car parks that need no reservation and free car parks for shuttle transport from outlying areas (the Kamioka, Nishisenboku, Kyowa and Nakasen branch offices). The organizers strongly recommend "making use of the park-and-ride system." There are no official car parks where tents may be pitched
• Traffic restrictions: Vehicle bans are split into four time bands (August 28, 15:00 to August 29, 24:00 / August 29, 9:00-24:00 / August 29, 18:00-24:00 / August 29, 20:30-24:00). No-entry zones apply from 18:00 on the 28th to 24:00 on the 29th. On the embankment road between Omagari Hanabi Ohashi Bridge and Himegami Bridge, movement on foot is restricted as well. Visitors are advised that "Omagari IC gets congested, so please use the neighboring interchanges"
• Paid seating: Chair seat (1 person) 8,000 yen, pair bench seat (2 people) 13,000 yen, picnic-sheet seat (4 people) 15,000 yen, embankment box seat (4 people) 30,000 yen, table seat (4 people) 38,000 yen, deluxe table seat (4 people) 50,000 yen, platinum pair seat (2 people) 70,000 yen, photographer seat 13,000-25,000 yen (all per block). For 2026 they were sold online on a first-come, first-served basis (first round from June 12, second round from July 21) and in person (July 5, Omagari Chamber of Commerce and Industry; cash only)
• Food stalls: Yes. They line the venue and the approach roads as well
• Toilets: Portable toilets are provided. However, toilet paper is not supplied at the summer National Fireworks Competition, so bringing your own is recommended
• In case of rain: If the event is postponed due to severe weather, the new date is decided case by case after the condition of the venue has been checked
• Crowds and the journey home: The organizers advise that "heavy congestion occurs from the afternoon until around 2 or 3 a.m." and that "in some areas you may not be able to drive out until late at night." Extra JR trains are scheduled

(Source: official website of the National Fireworks Competition "Omagari no Hanabi")