Nanto Medeta Fireworks｜Fukumitsu Netsuokuri Tanabata Festival・Free Admission
Jul 22, 2026 · ✍️ olablog · ⏱ 5 min read
🎆 Plan your fireworks night
Annual guide to Nanto Medeta Fireworks in Toyama: usual timing, viewing spots and access. Dates for next year follow the organisers' announcement.
🎆 Watch Japan's most beautiful fireworks (4K video)
▶ Open on YouTube — like & subscribeHeld every summer in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, the Fukumitsu Netsuokuri Tanabata Festival is a beloved local tradition that brings together the Netsuokuri ceremony, a traditional event with around 300 years of history; shopping streets adorned with elaborate Tanabata decorations; and fireworks lighting up the night sky. In 2026, the festival will take place over 3 days, from July 24 (Friday) to 26 (Sunday), with the fireworks display, “Nanto Medeta Fireworks,” taking place on the first day, Friday, July 24.
Information is current as of July 2026. Be sure to check the official website for the latest updates before you go.
Event Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Festival dates | July 24 (Friday)–26 (Sunday), 2026 |
| Fireworks date | July 24 (Friday) only |
| Fireworks time | Around 20:00–20:30 |
| Fireworks venue | Near Sakura Bridge on the Oyabe River |
| Festival venue | Throughout Fukumitsu Shopping Street and central Fukumitsu |
| Number of fireworks | Approximately 800 |
| Paid seating | None (free admission) |
| Parking | Free・300 spaces (vehicle restrictions apply in the central area) |
| In case of rain | Postponed to the following day in severe weather |
| Organizer | Fukumitsu Netsuokuri Tanabata Festival Executive Committee |
The fireworks will be launched only on the first day, Friday the 24th. Festival events other than the fireworks will take place on the 25th and 26th. If you are coming specifically for the fireworks, be careful not to get the dates mixed up.
Highlights
The Traditional Netsuokuri Ceremony
The festival’s namesake, Netsuokuri, is a traditional ceremony that has continued for around 300 years. It involves driving away rice pests and diseases while praying for a plentiful harvest. The sight of children waving bamboo branches over the rice plants while chanting “netsu okuru baai” is a quintessential image of a traditional Japanese summer.
This is not simply a fireworks festival: the fireworks accompany a local prayer ceremony, and that is at the heart of the event.
Wishing Sky Lanterns (First Held in 2026)
A new event, the Wishing Sky Lanterns, will be held for the first time in 2026. The sight of countless lanterns floating into the night sky creates a magical scene unlike the fireworks. As this is the inaugural event, this year’s edition will be especially memorable.
Tanabata Decorations and Pedestrian Zone
The entire Fukumitsu Shopping Street area will be decorated with colorful Tanabata ornaments and transformed into a pedestrian zone. The following events will take place:
- Grand taiko drum procession
- Minyo folk-song parade
- Yosakoi stage performances
- Samba
- Orihime and Hikoboshi tug-of-war competition
- Various performances
Nanto Medeta Fireworks
Message fireworks, musical fireworks, and set-piece fireworks will be launched. With approximately 800 fireworks, this is a relatively small-scale display, but it is a community-focused event staged along the Oyabe River. One advantage is that it does not experience the extreme crowds found at major displays in urban areas.
Access
By Train
It is a 5-minute walk from Fukumitsu Station on the JR Johana Line. Being very close to the station is one of the festival’s major advantages, eliminating the need for a long walk through crowded streets.
By Car
The venue is approximately 10 minutes by car from the Fukumitsu IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway.
300 free parking spaces will be available. However, vehicle restrictions will be in place in central Fukumitsu during the festival period. Check the traffic and parking information on the official website in advance for details about the traffic-control map and parking areas.
Paid Seating and Tickets
No paid viewing areas are scheduled to be provided. Admission is free.
Viewing Spots
There is no officially announced information about any “hidden” viewing spots. The following are possible options based on the geography around the venue.
1. The Oyabe Riverbanks (a short distance from Sakura Bridge)
The riverbanks a short distance upstream or downstream from Sakura Bridge, where the fireworks are launched, are relatively less crowded. The ground is dark, so bring a flashlight.
2. Slightly Elevated Areas in Central Fukumitsu
From elevated locations in the city center, you may be able to get a wider view of the entire fireworks display.
3. The Surrounding Countryside
From the rural areas a little farther from the venue, you may be able to enjoy the fireworks across a wide-open space with no obstructions. This angle may be ideal for those who want a broad view combining the display with the Wishing Sky Lanterns.
These are not official viewing areas. Please avoid entering private property and be considerate of local residents.
Food Stall Information
“Noryo Yomise” evening stalls are scheduled to be set up mainly around Fukumitsu Shopping Street. Since the fireworks begin at 20:00, it is recommended that you arrive early, enjoy the Tanabata-decorated pedestrian zone and food stalls, and then wait for the fireworks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is paid seating available? No. You can watch the fireworks free of charge.
Q. Are fireworks held on all 3 days? No. The “Nanto Medeta Fireworks” will take place only from 20:00 on the first day, July 24 (Friday).
Q. Is parking available? 300 free parking spaces will be provided. However, vehicle restrictions will be in place in central Fukumitsu during the festival period, so check the traffic and parking information on the official website in advance.
Q. What happens if it rains? In severe weather, the fireworks display will be postponed to the following day. Check the official website for the latest information on whether the event will go ahead.
Q. Will there be food stalls? Yes. “Noryo Yomise” evening stalls are scheduled to be set up mainly around Fukumitsu Shopping Street.
Venue Map
🎆 Make a trip of it — tours near the fireworks
Day tours departing from the nearest city — tour by day, fireworks by night.
Day tour
Day tour
2 days
2 daysMore from this region — Other
View all →
Sports Photographers' Guide: Private Car Days Across Aichi Venues
8 min · tips
Three Days in Aichi With a Private Driver Around the Asian Games
7 min · itineraries
Booking a Private Car for the Asian Games: What Details to Send
8 min · tips
Rain and Typhoon Season at the Asian Games: A Group Transport Backup Plan
7 min · tips