Hato Festival Summer Evening Fireworks｜Best Spots・150m Up Close
Jul 19, 2026 · ✍️ olablog · ⏱ 4 min read
🎆 Plan your fireworks night
Annual guide to Hato Festival Summer Evening Fireworks: usual timing, viewing spots and access. Dates for next year follow the organisers' announcement.
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▶ Open on YouTube — like & subscribeThe Hato Festival Summer Evening Fireworks, which vividly lights up summer nights in Kotoura, Tottori Prefecture, is a traditional festival that attracts many visitors every year. Held as the eve-of-festival celebration for the annual festival of Kanzaki Shrine, approximately 3,000 fireworks dramatically illuminate the night sky and waters of Kiku Port. The launch site is just 150m away, allowing you to feel the explosive sound and power of the fireworks throughout your entire body—one of the event’s biggest highlights.
Amid the atmospheric charm unique to a port town, a wide variety of fireworks—including starmines, underwater fireworks, small fireworks, and shells ranging from 6-go to 12-go—are launched one after another, drawing cheers from the crowd. The fantastical beauty of the “upside-down fireworks” reflected on the water is another special feature of this display. Numerous food stalls also set up around the venue, adding to the festive atmosphere.
This information is current as of July 2026. Be sure to check the official website for the latest details before visiting.
Event Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, July 27, 2026 |
| Fireworks | 20:00〜20:30 |
| Food stalls | 18:00〜21:00 |
| Venue | Around Kiku Port, Akasaki, Kotoura |
| Number of fireworks | Approximately 3,000 (6-go〜12-go shells, starmines, underwater fireworks) |
| Typical attendance | Approximately 3,000 people |
| Paid seating | None (all seating is free) |
| In case of rain | Postponed to Tuesday, July 28, then rescheduled through Thursday, July 30 |
| Inquiries | Kotoura Tourism Association 0858-55-7811 |
Important note about the venue: The venue for this event is around Kiku Port in Akasaki. It is sometimes confused with Urayasu Fishing Port, but the fireworks are launched from Kiku Port.
Highlights
Just 150m from the Launch Site
The event’s biggest feature is the short distance of just 150m from the viewing area to the launch site. At large fireworks festivals, spectators are usually several hundred meters or more from the launch area, but here the fireworks burst directly overhead and the explosive sound reverberates through your body. The display feels even more powerful than the approximately 3,000-firework count might suggest.
“Upside-Down Fireworks” Reflected on the Water
The fireworks are reflected on the surface of Kiku Port, creating symmetrical patterns of light above and below the horizon. It is a spectacular sight unique to a waterfront port.
Eve-of-Festival Celebration for the Kanzaki Shrine Annual Festival
This fireworks display is not a standalone event; it is held as the eve-of-festival celebration for the Kanzaki Shrine annual festival, the Hato Festival. Its roots as part of a local traditional event contribute to the warm atmosphere characteristic of a port town.
Access
By Train
It is approximately a 20〜30-minute walk from Akasaki Station on the JR San’in Main Line.
By Car
It is approximately 5 minutes from the San’in Expressway’s Kotoura Funakami-san IC (or Kotoura IC).
Approximately 400 spaces of free temporary parking will be available.
- Akasaki Elementary School grounds
- Tottori Parts Co., Ltd. temporary parking lot
With typical attendance of around 3,000 people, parking is not as fiercely contested as at larger festivals. However, arriving with plenty of time to spare is recommended.
Best Viewing Spots
1. Around the Kiku Port Breakwater (Outside the Main Viewing Area)
This area remains close to the launch site while offering lower crowd density. The ground is dark and the area faces the sea, so bring a flashlight and exercise extreme caution.
2. Elevated Areas Along the Road from Akasaki Station to the Venue
There are slightly elevated spots along the walking route to the venue where you can enjoy the fireworks from a vantage point overlooking the entire port. They are also close to the route back to the station, making them suitable for those who want to avoid the crowds.
3. Around the Temporary Parking Area (Akasaki Elementary School Grounds)
Although it is somewhat farther from the venue, this is a practical option for those who want to avoid traffic congestion when leaving by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is paid seating available?
No. All seating is free.
Q. What happens if it rains?
The event is postponed rather than canceled. It will be postponed to Tuesday, July 28, and if bad weather continues, rescheduled in succession through Thursday, July 30.
Q. Will there be food stalls?
Yes. Numerous food stalls will operate around the venue from 18:00〜21:00. Since the fireworks begin at 20:00, we recommend arriving early to enjoy the food stalls first.
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
Day tour
Day tour
