Okazaki Fireworks festival


The fireworks festival is one of the biggest in Japan. The city itself is famous for being a centre of gunpowder and fireworks production for centuries. When Japan was cut off from the rest of the world, Okazaki was one of the few places in the country where the production of fireworks/gunpowder was allowed.

"Even today over 70 percent of Japanese fireworks are developed and produced here. The fireworks are usually new designs, and often are those used the following year throughout the rest of Japan - the show also has the flavour of a trade fair as buyers come to see the newest developments." - yamasa.org

For us, the festival started around 6:30, 7:00 with fireworks constantly being fired into the air. It was still going when we left at 8:30, but was soon to finish. The fireworks were not a small affair, but huge and loud. There was a good viewing position beside the river and another from inside the castle. With an hour and a half of fireworks, we were able to go to both.

There were not many places to buy food and drink that were close to the action. Those that did exist had long queues.


Crowds lining the river outside the castle, ready for the fireworks to begin. The good spots were taken early, but with the fireworks so big, you could see them from anywhere.


Okazaki Castle, the home Tokugawa Ieyasu.


The fireworks started early.


The smaller fireworks could be seen from inside the castle grounds, but from on the river you had a beautiful view.


One of my favorites


Pretty and boy did they make a noise. It was like huge thunderclaps.


Boy did they explode. After about 30 minutes I think that the festival had more fireworks than I had ever seen before in my life and they just kept coming.


I know, another photo, but it was terrific


We headed inside the castle grounds to watch the fireworks. It may look dark but it was very hot and I hardly stopped using my fan all evening.


We stood inside the grounds for quite a while enjoying the view.



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