Two nights on the Shinano River bank. Approximately 20,000 shells, the Phoenix reconstruction-prayer display, and the centenary Sho-shaku-dama shell. August 2nd and 3rd, 19:20 to 21:10.
Book a viewing seatNagaoka's fireworks festival began in 1946, one year after the city was largely destroyed in an air raid on August 1st, 1945. The founding committee made a deliberate decision: the festival would open on August 2nd, the day after the anniversary of the raid, and the fireworks would serve as a formal act of mourning and reconstruction rather than a celebration. That framing has never changed. The date, the opening sequence, and the Phoenix display all carry that original intention forward.
The festival grew through the postwar decades as Nagaoka rebuilt. The Sho-shaku-dama shell, which first flew in 1926, became one of the festival's defining technical achievements. When the 2004 Chuetsu earthquake struck Niigata Prefecture, the festival committee added the Phoenix display specifically to address that second wave of reconstruction. The fireworks were not expanded for spectacle. They were expanded because the city had more to mourn and more to rebuild. That distinction matters to the people who make them and to the people who come to watch.
01Are both nights the same programme?
Yes. The core programme. Including the Phoenix display, the Sho-shaku-dama, the Niagara at Choseibashi, and the Three-shaku shell. Runs on both August 2nd and August 3rd. The running order and timing are the same each night. If you can only attend one night, you will see the full programme.
02What is the difference between the Phoenix sheet seat and the Venue A mat seat?
The Phoenix sheet seat (¥4,000) is an individual reserved seat positioned for a clear view of the Phoenix display. The Venue A mat seat (¥32,000) is a reserved ground-level area for up to six people in Venue A, which is closer to the main launch sites. The Venue A table seat (¥10,000) is currently sold out.
03How do I get to the venue from Nagaoka Station?
Nagaoka Station is on the JR Joetsu Shinkansen line. On festival nights, dedicated shuttle buses run between the station and the riverbank venue. Road closures are in effect across central Nagaoka from early evening, so arriving by train and using the shuttle is strongly recommended. Allow extra time. The station area is busy on both nights.
04What happens if it rains?
The festival proceeds in light rain. In the event of severe weather or a safety-related cancellation, announcements are made through the official festival website at nagaokahanabi.jp. Ticket refund and rescheduling policies are detailed on the official booking page. Check the site on the day of your visit if the weather is uncertain.
05Can I bring food and drink to my seat?
Yes. Food stalls operate along the riverbank on both nights, and you are welcome to bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks to your reserved area. The mat seat area in particular is suited to picnic-style viewing. Glass bottles are not permitted in the venue.
06Where do I buy tickets?
Tickets are sold exclusively through the official booking page at nagaokahanabi.jp/seat/. Phoenix sheet seats (¥4,000) and Venue A mat seats (¥32,000) are currently on sale. The Venue A table seat is sold out. There is no authorised third-party resale. Be cautious of secondary market listings at inflated prices.
“I have been to several major fireworks festivals in Japan. The Phoenix is different. It is quieter in the crowd when it launches. People stop talking.
Kenji M. · Attended 2023 and 2024
“We booked the mat seat for our family of five. The space was clearly marked, the view was unobstructed, and the Niagara over the bridge was something my children still talk about.
Sarah T. · Visited from Osaka, 2024
“The three-shaku shell on the second night was the largest single firework I have ever seen. I did not expect the physical sensation of it at that distance.
David R. · First-time visitor, 2023
Yes. The core programme. Including the Phoenix display, the Sho-shaku-dama, the Niagara at Choseibashi, and the Three-shaku shell. Runs on both August 2nd and August 3rd. The running order and timing are the same each night. If you can only attend one night, you will see the full programme.
The Phoenix sheet seat (¥4,000) is an individual reserved seat positioned for a clear view of the Phoenix display. The Venue A mat seat (¥32,000) is a reserved ground-level area for up to six people in Venue A, which is closer to the main launch sites. The Venue A table seat (¥10,000) is currently sold out.
Nagaoka Station is on the JR Joetsu Shinkansen line. On festival nights, dedicated shuttle buses run between the station and the riverbank venue. Road closures are in effect across central Nagaoka from early evening, so arriving by train and using the shuttle is strongly recommended. Allow extra time. The station area is busy on both nights.
The festival proceeds in light rain. In the event of severe weather or a safety-related cancellation, announcements are made through the official festival website at nagaokahanabi.jp. Ticket refund and rescheduling policies are detailed on the official booking page. Check the site on the day of your visit if the weather is uncertain.
Yes. Food stalls operate along the riverbank on both nights, and you are welcome to bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks to your reserved area. The mat seat area in particular is suited to picnic-style viewing. Glass bottles are not permitted in the venue.