July 25 Sumida River Fireworks Festival

Getting There

Extensive traffic restrictions will be in place on the day of the fireworks festival, and the area around the venues will be extremely crowded. Using public transportation is essential.

Getting to the First Venue:

• Approximately 5 minutes on foot from Asakusa Station on Tobu Railway, Tokyo Metro, or the Toei Subway
• You can also use Tokyo Skytree Station on the Tobu Skytree Line, Honjo-Azumabashi Station on the Toei Asakusa Line, or Oshiage〈Skytree〉Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, Toei Asakusa Line, or Keisei Oshiage Line.

Getting to the Second Venue:

• Approximately 5 minutes on foot from Asakusa Station or Kuramae Station on the Toei Subway
• Ryogoku Station and Asakusabashi Station on the JR Sobu Line are also available.

Alternative Routes During Crowded Periods and Last-Train Caution: The area around Asakusa Station is particularly crowded from 20:30 to around 21:30 after the fireworks end. For a smoother journey home, keep the following points in mind.

• Consider using a station other than Asakusa Station: When returning from the Second Venue, Kuramae Station (Toei Oedo Line and Asakusa Line) and Ryogoku Station (JR Sobu Line) tend to be relatively less crowded than Asakusa Station.
• Check multiple lines: Kuramae Station is served by two lines, giving you more options.
• Check for special and additional trains: The Tokyo Metro Ginza Line is scheduled to run special trains from the 14:00 hour through the 22:00 hour, adding a total of 96 trains—44 toward Asakusa and 52 toward Shibuya.
• Allow plenty of time: Trains departing after the event will be more crowded than those going to the venue. Check your departure station, route, and last-train time in advance, and allow plenty of time.
• Traffic restrictions: From 18:00 to around 21:30 on the day of the festival, extensive traffic restrictions will be imposed on general roads around the venues and the Shuto Expressway Route 6 Mukojima Line. Avoid coming by private car and use public transportation.

Reserved Seating and Tickets

The Sumida River Fireworks Festival offers paid viewing areas where you can watch the fireworks in comfort.

• Citizen sponsorship seats:
  • Applications for lotteries and first-come, first-served sales usually begin around May each year. In 2026, online applications opened at 12:00 on Sunday, May 10, but sales had ended by July 6.
  • In 2025, prices were approximately 3,000円–6,000円 per seat, while in 2026 they started at 8,000円 per person (on the Sumida Ward side).
  • There are essentially no places where you can sit and watch the fireworks other than the citizen sponsorship seats, so check the official website for the latest sales information.
• Tokyo Skytree Town® Premium Seats:
  • These special viewing seats with free drinks are set up at “Dome Garden” on the rooftop of Tokyo Skytree Town® Solamachi (8th floor of the East Yard) and “Farm Garden” (5th floor of the West Yard).
  • The free-space plan at Dome Garden was sold for 3万5000円 per person.
• Asakusa Hanayashiki Rooftop Special Viewing Seats:
  • These special tickets let you watch the fireworks from the rooftop of a building within Asakusa Hanayashiki. In 2024, the package cost 8,000円 for adults and included admission, a free pass, a special fireworks viewing ticket, and one drink ticket.
• Sumida River Walk Special Viewing Seats:
  • Viewing seats were also sold where guests could sit and watch the fireworks along the pedestrian walkway known as Sumida River Walk.

Current Status: As of July 15, 2026, sales of citizen sponsorship seats have ended. The other paid seating options are also highly likely to be sold out. Be sure to check each facility’s official website for the latest information before heading out.

Lesser-Known Viewing Spots

For those who want to enjoy the fireworks while avoiding the crowds, here are several lesser-known viewing spots. However, any of these locations may become crowded depending on conditions on the day, so arrive early to secure a spot and be considerate of others.

1. Tokyo Metropolitan Shioiri Park (Arakawa Ward)
   • Located at 8-13-1 Minami-Senju, Arakawa Ward, it is approximately 10 minutes on foot from Minami-Senju Station on the JR Joban Line and Tsukuba Express. The park has a spacious grassy area with distant views of the fireworks from the First Venue, making it relatively easy for families to relax. Restrooms are also available.
2. Around the Umamichi Intersection (Taito Ward)
   • A little removed from the bustle of Asakusa, this area offers views of the Sumida River while you enjoy the fireworks at a leisurely pace. Stopping on roads near the venues is prohibited in many places, but heading into a side street may offer a relatively calm place to watch.
3. Along the Arakawa River embankment near Yotsugi Bridge and Yahiro Station (Sumida Ward and Katsushika Ward)
   • The Mukojima area in northern Sumida Ward lies between the Sumida and Arakawa rivers, which run close together near a floodgate. This means you can also watch the Sumida River fireworks from the embankment along the Arakawa River. Although it is some distance from the venues, it is a good place to enjoy the atmosphere of the fireworks while avoiding the crowds.
4. Toyosu area (Koto Ward)
   • Although it is far from the venues, you can enjoy the atmosphere of the fireworks by looking north. Since the area has many high-rise condominiums, it may also be possible to watch from a condominium’s upper floors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Will the event be held if it rains? A. The event will go ahead in light rain but will be canceled in severe weather. There is no postponement date. The decision is generally made at 8:00 a.m. on the day of the festival and announced on the official website and official X (formerly Twitter), so be sure to check before heading out.

Q. Is there parking near the venues? A. No dedicated parking is available. Extensive traffic restrictions will be implemented on the day of the fireworks festival, and roads around the venues will be closed to vehicles. Using public transportation is essential.

Q. How can I avoid the crowds? A. The busiest periods are around 19:00 before the fireworks begin and from 20:30 to 21:30 after they end. If you want to watch in relative comfort, it is recommended that you arrive before 15:00. The area around Asakusa Station is especially crowded, so consider using a slightly more distant station such as Kuramae or Ryogoku, or taking an alternative route. Restrooms also become extremely crowded, so it is wise to use the facilities inside a station or at a place you stop by beforehand.