# Sumida River Fireworks

> Tokyo's oldest fireworks display, traced to 1733, fired from two sites along the river near Asakusa.

- Prefecture: Tokyo
- Type: Fireworks
- Admission: Free to attend
- Typically held: Held on the last Saturday of July.
- Official site: https://www.sumidagawa-hanabi.com/

## Dates

- 2027-07-31 to 2027-07-31
- Status: provisional
- Dates verified on 2026-08-20 from https://www.sumidagawa-hanabi.com/

The Sumida display descends from a 1733 memorial for the dead of a famine and an epidemic, which makes it the ancestor of the summer hanabi calendar rather than simply an old example of it. Two launch sites operate at once, upstream and downstream of Asakusa, and the older of the two still runs a competition segment between the set pieces. What is worth knowing before you go is that the riverbank is not really watchable any more: the crowd runs to roughly a million people and the police close the closest streets to standing. Most residents watch from further out, where the skyline gives you the shells without the crush.

## Where it happens
- Asakusa
- Tokyo Skytree

## FAQ

### When is the Sumida River fireworks festival?

On the last Saturday of July. The organisers confirm the exact date in spring, so check before booking around it.

### Where can you actually see it without the crush?

Not from the riverbank near Asakusa, where standing is restricted. Viewpoints further from the launch sites, or a booked vantage point, are what most Tokyo residents use.

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Source: Sumida River Fireworks — Japan Voyage