Usuki Fireworks｜Sumiyoshi Festival TOMOSHIBI・Gion Festival Dates

The “Usuki Gion Festival,” held in Usuki, Oita Prefecture, is a grand traditional event with approximately 400 years of history, featuring mikoshi and floats parading through the former castle town. However, the Usuki Gion Festival itself does not include fireworks. The fireworks held in Usuki are part of the “Sumiyoshi Festival TOMOSHIBI,” taking place on Saturday, July 25.

This article introduces both the “Sumiyoshi Festival TOMOSHIBI,” where you can enjoy fireworks, and the “Usuki Gion Festival,” Usuki’s largest summer festival.

This information is current as of July 2026. Be sure to check the official website for the latest updates before visiting.

Sumiyoshi Festival TOMOSHIBI (Fireworks Included)

This is the event to attend if you want to see fireworks in Usuki.

Highlights

Stage events and food stalls open at 15:00, making this an all-day event that continues into the evening. The grand raffle with no losing tickets is particularly popular.

The fireworks finale begins around 20:45. Since the venue is in the heart of town around Sumiyoshi Bridge and Matsushima Bridge, it offers the appeal of watching fireworks up close amid the lively festival atmosphere, rather than the expansive riverside setting of a large-scale fireworks event.

Access

• By train: JR Nippo Main Line’s “Usuki Station” is the nearest station.
• By car: Traffic restrictions are expected around the venue on the day of the event. Since the Matsushima Shrine parking lot will be part of the venue, check parking arrangements in advance.

As this is a town-center festival, parking spaces are limited. Public transportation is recommended.

Usuki Gion Festival (No Fireworks)

Usuki’s largest summer festival, this traditional event has continued since 1643. Although there are no fireworks, it is a spectacular festival well worth seeing if you visit Usuki.

The festival runs for 9 days, from Friday, July 10 to Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Highlights

A mikoshi procession and floats make their way through the former castle town. One distinctive feature is the “Yari-furi” spear-waving movement unique to Usuki, a highlight found nowhere else among Gion festivals. Another unusual feature is that the two floats use different hayashi musical tempos, making it enjoyable to compare them.

The evening events, “Hikidashi” on July 10 and “Hikikomi” on July 18, both run from 18:00 to 22:00. During these events, floats illuminated by lanterns move through the former castle town, creating a magical scene.