Iwate – 11 Aug Morioka Fireworks Festival
A detailed guide to the 'Morioka Fireworks Festival' held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 (public holiday). Enjoy a spectacular display of large-scale fireworks and wide starmines lighting up Morioka's night sky for approximately one hour. Comprehensive information on reserved seating, access, and hidden viewing spots.
Jul 15, 2026·✍️ olablog·⏱ 5 min read
A detailed guide to the 'Morioka Fireworks Festival' held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 (public holiday). Enjoy a spectacular display of large-scale fireworks and wide starmines lighting up Morioka's night sky for approximately one hour. Comprehensive information on reserved seating, access, and hidden viewing spots.
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▶ Open on YouTube — like & subscribeInformation as of July 2026. Please check the official website before your visit.
The "Morioka Fireworks Festival" (盛岡花火の祭典), which brilliantly adorns Morioka's summer night sky, is the largest fireworks display in the Morioka area, featuring a competition of large-scale "shakudama" (尺玉) fireworks by pyrotechnicians from across Japan and impressive wide starmines. Staged along the Kitakami River (北上川) riverbed downstream from the Tonan Ohashi Bridge (都南大橋), approximately 10,000 elaborately crafted fireworks are launched over about one hour, captivating all visitors.
Event Overview
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, August 11, 2026 (public holiday) |
| Time | Gates open 4:30 PM, Fireworks 7:25 PM – 8:30 PM (approx. 65 minutes) |
| Venue | Kitakami River riverbed downstream from Tonan Ohashi Bridge (都南大橋), Morioka City (盛岡市), Iwate Prefecture (岩手県) |
| Number of Fireworks | Approx. 10,000 (based on past performance). The number of fireworks for 2026 has not been disclosed. |
| Annual Attendance | Approx. 76,500 people (2025 actual) |
| In case of rain | Held rain or shine, canceled in case of severe weather (no postponement). In case of cancellation, an announcement will be made by around 1:00 PM on Monday, August 10, via the official X (formerly Twitter) account and IBC Radio (IBCラジオ). |
Venue and Map
The venue for the Morioka Fireworks Festival is the Kitakami River riverbed downstream from the Tonan Ohashi Bridge (都南大橋) in Morioka City (盛岡市). A key feature is the close proximity of the viewing seats to the launch site, allowing visitors to experience the power and excitement up close. You can enjoy a diverse program, including a competition of "shakudama" (尺玉) fireworks by pyrotechnicians from all over Japan, and "shakudama" fireworks that can only be seen at this festival in the Morioka area.
Access
The area around the venue becomes extremely crowded, so using public transportation is highly recommended.
By Train/Bus
- JR Iwate-Ioka Station (JR岩手飯岡駅): Approximately a 30-minute walk from the East Exit to the venue.
- Shuttle Bus: A paid shuttle bus service operates from the East Exit of Iwate-Ioka Station to the venue (in front of the Japanese Red Cross Society, Nisseki-mae). The fare is 400 JPY (approx. $2.67 USD) for adults and 200 JPY (approx. $1.33 USD) for children one-way. For outbound journeys, temporary buses run between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM, timed with train arrivals. For return journeys, temporary buses run sequentially between 8:30 PM and 9:10 PM.
- As a special return train service, a temporary train will depart Iwate-Ioka Station at 9:25 PM, arriving at Morioka Station (盛岡駅) at 9:35 PM.
- JR Morioka Station (JR盛岡駅): Route buses operate from Morioka Station to the vicinity of the venue (Nisseki-mae bus stop). The journey takes approximately 30 minutes, with a one-way fare of 470 JPY (approx. $3.13 USD) for adults and 240 JPY (approx. $1.60 USD) for children. Temporary buses will also operate on the day, with special buses from Morioka Station to Nisseki-mae running non-stop.
- Typically, buses are extremely crowded between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM, and traffic congestion may cause delays. Therefore, it is recommended to use buses earlier, between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
By Car
- From the Tohoku Expressway Morioka-Minami Interchange (東北自動車道盛岡南IC), it's approximately a 15-minute drive towards National Route 4 (国道4号線).
- Parking: There is no parking available at the venue itself, but special temporary parking lots will be provided.
- Morioka Central Wholesale Market (盛岡市中央卸売市場) (400 spaces, shuttle bus departure/arrival point)
- Morioka City Tonan Culture Hall (盛岡市都南文化会館) (200 spaces)
- Jam Friend Morioka-Minami Store (ジャムフレンド盛岡南店) (250 spaces, along a section of the road)
- Each parking lot is available from 3:30 PM to 10:00 PM. Please note that parking spaces are limited and may become full.
- Traffic Restrictions: Vehicle access will be restricted between 6:00 PM and 9:30 PM in the area around the venue (from Morioka-Minami I.C. Entrance Intersection to National Route 396 (国道396号) Tonan Ohashi East Embankment Intersection, and Fureai Land Iwate (ふれあいランド岩手) front street).
Reserved Seating / Tickets
General sales for 2026 reserved seating tickets will begin on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 10:00 AM. Sales will end once the planned number of tickets has been reached, so early purchase is recommended.
| Seat Type | Details |
🎆 Make a trip of it — tours near the fireworks
Day tours departing from the nearest city — tour by day, fireworks by night.
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