Lake Biwa Fireworks: Shiga's Summer Show

The Lake Biwa Grand Fireworks is Shiga Prefecture's largest fireworks display, held every year in early August on the shore of Lake Biwa in Otsu City. About 10,000 shells are launched one after another over Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, and the magnificent scale that dyes the night sky and the lake surface at the same time is its appeal. Drawing more than 300,000 visitors every year, it has become a major event representing summer in Shiga.

The Appeal of the Lake Biwa Grand Fireworks

The greatest characteristic of this fireworks display is the liberating sense of scale that comes from staging it on Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake. Fireworks launched from the lake open wide in an unobstructed sky, and their light reflects on the calm surface to create a doubled beauty. A theme is set each year, and the carefully devised programs — presentations where music and fireworks become one, and underwater fireworks that burst just above the water — captivate the audience.

Highlights and Viewing Spots

For the climax, an overwhelming finale unfolds as fireworks launched in rapid succession fill the night sky. From the paid viewing seats around Otsu Port you can enjoy the great blossoms of fire right in front of you.

Free viewing spots are also scattered around, such as Nagisa Park and the far shore of the lake. The fireworks can also be seen from the direction of Mount Hiei and the Lake Biwa Ohashi bridge, each offering a different view.

Fireworks Program

Diverse performances color the night sky including music-synchronized star mines and "underwater fireworks" that burst just above the water surface. The impact and color beauty of star mines overwhelms audiences.

Otsu's Summer Events

On fireworks day, Otsu City is filled with festival atmosphere. Many people gather on the lakeside from evening, spending the summer night enjoying food stall gourmet. Many yukata-wearing participants spread Japan's quintessential summer scene.

Best Season and Access

It is held on a single evening in early August each year. It gets extremely crowded on the day, so securing a spot early and using public transport are recommended.

For access, the venue is centered on the areas around Otsu Station and Zeze Station on the JR Biwako Line, and Hamaotsu Station on the Keihan Railway. It is easy to reach, about 10 minutes by train from Kyoto Station. There are also plenty of sightseeing spots nearby, such as Mount Hiei, Omi Jingu Shrine and lakeside hot springs, so enjoying Lake Biwa sightseeing together with the fireworks is also recommended.

Practical Information for the Festival (2026)

• Date and time: Thursday August 6, 2026, 19:30 to 20:30
• Number of shells: about 12,000 (star mines, shells of sizes 3 to 10)
• Venue: the stretch of water off the prefecturally operated Otsu Port / the Lake Biwa shore around Otsu Port, Nagisa Park and elsewhere
• Nearest stations: about a 15-minute walk from Otsu Station on the JR Biwako Line, or about a 5-minute walk from Biwako-Hamaotsu Station on the Keihan Railway
• Parking: car parks near the venue are sealed off, and the lakeside green-space car parks are also closed. Otsu SA on the Meishin Expressway (both directions) is closed 15:00 to 21:00 (shops, toilets and car park all unavailable), and Yabase Kihanto Park is off limits to entry and parking all day. There are no bicycle or motorcycle parking areas either, so using public transport is essential
• Traffic restrictions: pedestrian-only roads in Otsu City (no cars or motorcycles) fall into three time bands, 17:00 to 22:00 / 17:00 to 24:00 / 20:00 to 24:00 (vehicle restrictions may start from 17:00 depending on congestion). The one-way section from the Hamaotsu 1-chome intersection to the Hamacho intersection is extended to 7:00 to 24:00. Parking is prohibited on the lakeside road and standing to watch on the pavement is not allowed, and standing on the Kihan-kita and Kihan-minami bridges is prohibited (from around 18:00 to around 22:00). On the lake, boat navigation is prohibited from 18:00 to 22:00, and drone flights are also prohibited
• Paid viewing seats: more than 38 types, including chair seats 7,500 yen, Premium A seats 10,500 yen, Premium S seats 12,500 yen, tiered box seats for six 48,000 yen, bench seats for five 70,000 yen, and general-area admission tickets 5,000 yen (tax included, with dynamic pricing applied). For 2026 they went on sale on the official ticket site from 10:00 on Saturday May 23
• Toilets: temporary toilets and similar facilities are set up along the lakeshore at intervals of about 50 meters
• In case of rain: the event goes ahead in rain but is cancelled in severe weather, and there is no postponement date. If it is cancelled, this is announced after 10:00 on the day on the official site and official X account
• Crowds and the journey home: the area around the venue is extremely crowded from 18:00. When the display ends, vehicle traffic is prohibited between the Otsu-ko-guchi intersection and the Hamaotsu Ekimae intersection on Prefectural Route 558, and heading toward Kyoto takes a considerable time. The organizers advise the detour "Prefectural Route 558 toward Katata -> Chagasaki intersection -> Otsukyo Station -> Nishi-Otsu Bypass from the Ojiyama interchange"

(Sources: Lake Biwa Grand Fireworks official site and official traffic restriction map)