Kanmon Strait Fireworks: Fukuoka and Yamaguchi, About 18,000 Shells

Moji in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture. At the Kanmon Strait Fireworks Festival, these two towns facing each other across the Kanmon Strait send up fireworks at the same time. Two prefectures and two cities launch their shells as if competing with one another, in a joint fireworks festival of a scale rarely seen anywhere in Japan.

A Contest Staged on the Strait

About 7,500 shells are fired on the Moji side and about 10,500 on the Shimonoseki side, roughly 18,000 in all coloring the night sky. Because the fireworks rise from both banks of a narrow strait, the sense of presence has you turning your head from side to side. Combined with the light reflected on the water and the lamps of passing ships, it creates a brilliant night scene that only a port town can offer.

A History of Joint Displays on Both Shores

It began in 1985 as an event on the Shimonoseki side alone, started by the local community group Shimonoseki 21st Century Association for people returning to their hometown at Obon. Fireworks later began to rise on the Moji side across the water as well, and in time it grew into a joint fireworks festival, rare in Japan, held simultaneously on both shores under the same name. The two towns, rivals and companions at once, stage a contest of light across the strait. Being able to look up at a single fireworks festival from both shores at once is a sight possible only at Kanmon, where the towns face each other across a narrow strait.

Kanmon's Appeal Beyond the Fireworks

There is plenty to see around the venues. On the Moji side is Mojiko Retro, a district lined with buildings from the Taisho and Showa eras, while offshore from the Shimonoseki side lies Ganryujima, known as the site of the duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro, and the Kanmon Strait cruise linking the two shores is popular too. Along with the fireworks, you can enjoy strolling through port towns full of historical atmosphere.

Dates and Access

It is usually held on August 13, and in 2026 it is scheduled for Thursday, August 13. The venue on the Moji side is about a 5-minute walk from JR Mojiko Station, and the Shimonoseki side about a 20-minute walk from JR Shimonoseki Station. You can watch from either shore.

Paid Seating

At both venues, sponsor seating (paid seats) is the norm and free viewing areas are limited. Tickets are sold in advance at convenience stores and elsewhere. It becomes extremely crowded, so check the official website for the latest information, including transport and your route home.

Practical Information for the Fireworks Festival (2026)

• Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026. The official name on the Shimonoseki side is "Asia Port Festival in KANMON 2026" (42nd edition)
• Firing times: Moji side 20:00-20:30 / Shimonoseki side 20:00-20:50. At around 19:45 a strait drone show (800 drones) takes place on the Shimonoseki side
• Number of shells: About 18,000 in total from both shores (of which about 10,500 on the Shimonoseki side). Highlights on the Shimonoseki side are an isshaku-gosun shell, a 40-shot volley of isshaku shells, underwater fireworks and the "Phoenix"
• Venues: Moji side = Mojiko Retro district (Moji Ward, Kitakyushu City) / Shimonoseki side = mainly the Arukapoto district, plus Misakinomachi Wharf, Kamon Wharf and the area in front of Karato Market (Shimonoseki City)
• Nearest stations: Moji side = Mojiko Station on the JR Kagoshima Main Line, 5-10 minutes on foot / Shimonoseki side = JR Shimonoseki Station, about 20 minutes on foot, or 5 minutes by bus, getting off at Kaikyokan-mae and walking 1 minute
• Parking: There is no parking for general visitors on either shore. Public transport is essential
• Traffic restrictions: On the Shimonoseki side restrictions begin at 15:00 and are lifted at 23:00, and the pedestrian crossing at the Karato intersection is closed from 19:00 to 20:45. On the Moji side, roads around the venue are closed to vehicles, and Mekari PA and the area around Mekari are closed to traffic from around 12:00 until late at night. Because extra trains are running, the level crossings between Mojiko and Kokura cannot be used after 17:00
• Seating: There are no free viewing areas; the entire site is ticketed. Moji side = sponsor seats 23,000-52,000 yen, chair seats 5,000-7,000 yen, environmental maintenance cooperation area 1,100 yen in advance / 2,000 yen on the day (cash only). Shimonoseki side = charity area 2,000-3,000 yen, reserved seats 10,000-300,000 yen (premium seats 75,000-80,000 yen, VIP seats 300,000 yen)
• Food stalls: Stalls and food vendors operate on the Shimonoseki side (open flames are prohibited)
• Toilets: Portable toilets are installed inside the venue on the Shimonoseki side
• In case of rain: Held in rain; cancelled in severe weather or strong wind (no postponement to another day). The final decision on cancellation is made at 15:00 for Shimonoseki / 14:00 for Moji
• Getting there and back: Arriving at Mojiko Station between 17:00 and 18:00 is recommended. Every year there are cases of people arriving at 19:00 who cannot reach the venue at all, and entry restrictions may be imposed at around 18:30. On the way home JR runs extra trains about every 5 minutes, but it is still expected to take around 30 to 40 minutes. On the Shimonoseki side, congestion in the city center is also expected after the event. Pets are not allowed

Note: because the organizers differ on each shore, please check the announcements of each organizer for times and prices.

(Sources: Crossroad Fukuoka, the official Fukuoka Prefecture tourism site; Oidemase Yamaguchi e, the official Yamaguchi Prefecture tourism site; and the official Kanmon Strait Fireworks Festival website)