Morioka Fireworks Festival 2026 Finished Major festival
盛岡花火の祭典 — Morioka, Iwate (Tohoku)
- Date
- Tue, August 11, 2026 (This year's edition has concluded — save the date for next year)
- Time
- 7:25 PM – 8:30 PM
- Venue
- Kitakami River, south of Morioka (北上川河川敷(都南大橋下流))
- Scale
- ~10,000 fireworks · ~200K visitors
- Tickets
- Entry ticket from ¥800 (advance); reserved/chair seats from ¥2,500 (advance), ¥3,000 (same-day); elementary school children and younger free
- Bad weather
- Held rain or shine; cancelled in severe weather with no postponement date
- Official site
- www.ccimorioka.or.jp
Morioka's summer fireworks festival sends about 10,000 shells over the Kitakami River south of the city, a relaxed mid-sized show that pairs well with a visit to one of Tohoku's most likeable castle towns. It usually lands around August 11, in the middle of the Obon travel window.
Background
The festival is organized by the Morioka Chamber of Commerce and has been the city's main summer fireworks event for decades, moving to a paid-entry format in recent years to keep it sustainable.
Getting there
The venue is the Kitakami riverbank near Tonan-ohashi Bridge, south of central Morioka; buses run from JR Morioka Station, and taxis take about 15 minutes. Morioka is about 2h10m from Tokyo by Tohoku Shinkansen.
Tips
- Entry is paid (advance tickets from around ¥800) — cheap by national standards, and it keeps crowds manageable.
- It falls in Obon week, so book Shinkansen seats and hotels early.
- Morioka was named one of the New York Times' places to visit in 2023 — arrive a day early for the city's coffee shops, wanko soba and castle ruins.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Morioka Fireworks Festival 2026?
- Morioka Fireworks Festival 2026 takes place on Tue, August 11, 2026 in Morioka, Iwate. Fireworks start around 7:25 PM and end around 8:30 PM.
- Where is Morioka Fireworks Festival held, and where should you watch from?
- Morioka Fireworks Festival is held at Kitakami River, south of Morioka in Morioka, Iwate. The venue is the Kitakami riverbank near Tonan-ohashi Bridge, south of central Morioka; buses run from JR Morioka Station, and taxis take about 15 minutes. Morioka is about 2h10m from Tokyo by Tohoku Shinkansen. Entry is paid (advance tickets from around ¥800) — cheap by national standards, and it keeps crowds manageable.
- How many fireworks are launched at Morioka Fireworks Festival?
- Around 10,000 fireworks are launched, drawing roughly 200,000 visitors.
- Is Morioka Fireworks Festival free to attend, or do I need tickets?
- Entry ticket from ¥800 (advance); reserved/chair seats from ¥2,500 (advance), ¥3,000 (same-day); elementary school children and younger free
- What happens if it rains on the day of Morioka Fireworks Festival?
- Held rain or shine; cancelled in severe weather with no postponement date
Last verified against the official source: Sun, August 2, 2026
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