Takasaki Matsuri Grand Fireworks Display 2026
Roughly 15,000 shells light up the Karasugawa River in under an hour -- the fast, dense fireworks night that opens Gunma's biggest annual festival.
When · Where
- When
- 2026/08/22 19:30 – 2026/08/22
- Where
- Karasugawa riverbed, upstream of Wada Bridge, Takasaki
- City
- Across Japan
- Getting there
- About 15-25 min on foot from JR Takasaki Station west exit (independent sources give slightly different times -- allow extra); by car, about 25 min from the Kan-etsu Expressway's Takasaki IC or Maebashi IC.
- Price
- Free
- Organizer
- Takasaki Matsuri Executive Committee
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- About 15-25 min on foot from JR Takasaki Station west exit (independent sources give slightly different times -- allow extra); by car, about 25 min from the Kan-etsu Expressway's Takasaki IC or Maebashi IC.
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- culture seekers
Highlights
- About 15,000 shells packed into a fast, roughly 50-minute show, 19:30-20:20
- Launched from the Karasugawa riverbed just west of the city center
- Opens the 2-day Takasaki Matsuri, alongside the festival's signature giant daruma mikoshi
Background & story
Takasaki is Japan's largest producer of daruma dolls, and the matsuri's own organizers describe its giant and 'creative' daruma-shaped mikoshi as a feature found at no other festival in the country -- the fireworks open a two-day festival built around that local identity.
Good to know
If Aug 22 is rained out, the show moves to Aug 23 -- check the official site the same day before heading out. Reserved-seat tickets go on sale Jul 8, 2026 and are sold until the allotment runs out.
Frequently asked questions
- When are the Takasaki Matsuri fireworks in 2026?
- Saturday, August 22, 2026, 19:30-20:20 JST. If the weather is bad, the display moves to Sunday, August 23 (the festival's second day), per the official site (as of 2026-07-17).
- How many fireworks are launched?
- About 15,000 shells across the roughly 50-minute display, launched from the Karasugawa riverbed upstream of Wada Bridge.
- Is viewing free?
- General viewing along the Karasugawa riverbank is free. Paid reserved seats (about ¥3,500 adult / ¥2,500 high-school-and-under / ¥8,000 photographer seating) go on sale July 8, 2026, per the official site (as of 2026-07-17; confirm current pricing before buying).
- How do I get to the fireworks venue?
- The launch site is on the Karasugawa riverbed upstream of Wada Bridge. Independent sources give the walk from JR Takasaki Station's west exit as anywhere from about 15 to 25 minutes -- allow extra time. By car, it's about 25 minutes from the Kan-etsu Expressway's Takasaki or Maebashi interchange.