Fireworks Festivals Enter Era of Paid Seats

Jul 25, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Paid seating has become the norm at fireworks festivals across Japan, with all 15,000 reserved-seat tickets for the Sumida River Fireworks Festival in Tokyo already sold ahead of the July 25 event.

The festival, one of Tokyo's best-known summer traditions, attracts nearly 1 million visitors each year and ranks among the most popular fireworks displays in the country.

Paid seating was introduced at the festival 24 years ago. While fireworks festivals were once commonly associated with spectators spreading sheets along riverbanks and watching free of charge, they are increasingly becoming events where visitors pay for a more comfortable viewing experience.

According to Teikoku Databank, about 80% of fireworks festivals have introduced paid seating.

Handheld fireworks are also becoming more premium, reflecting broader changes in one of Japan's most familiar forms of summer recreation.

Source: FNN

Nagoya Streets Flood as Linear Rainbands Hit Aichi and Gifu

Torrential rain caused widespread flooding across central Japan on September 8, inundating roads in central Nagoya and other cities as linear rainbands formed over Aichi and Gifu prefectures and authorities warned that similar conditions could develop in the Kanto region through September 9.

Japanese Teens Spend Least Time on Social Media Among 24 Countries

Japanese 15-year-olds spend an average of 2.3 hours browsing social media during their weekday free time, the shortest amount among 24 countries surveyed, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Man Arrested Over Six Suspicious Fires in Tokyo

A 58-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of setting fire to a home in Tokyo's Adachi Ward on September 4, injuring an 81-year-old woman, as police investigate whether he was involved in six suspicious fires reported in the area over about two weeks.

Koreeda's 'Look Back' Wins 12-Minute Venice Ovation

Hirokazu Koreeda's "Look Back" received more than 12 minutes of applause following its official screening at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in Italy.

First Hearing Held for Return of Ainu Remains

The first hearing in a lawsuit seeking the return of 279 sets of Ainu ancestral remains from the Japanese government was held on September 4, marking the first time an Ainu group has taken the state to court over the return of human remains.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Heavy Rain Swells Fukuroda Falls

Prolonged heavy rain across Japan has transformed waterfalls, damaged flower fields and disrupted sightseeing, while linear rainbands formed over Aichi and Gifu prefectures on September 8 and authorities warned that dangerous rainfall could continue in several regions.

Tokyo Station Gets Connected to 51-Story Yaesu Tower

To From Yaesu Tower, a large-scale mixed-use complex directly connected to Tokyo Station, is set to open on September 10, with developer Tokyo Tatemono unveiling part of the 51-story building to the media on September 7 ahead of its launch.

Shinjuku to Ban Short-Term Rentals in Residential and School Areas

Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, which has more than 3,900 short-term rental facilities, the highest number of any municipality in Japan, plans to generally prohibit new properties in residential areas and around schools as complaints over noise, trespassing and other problems continue to increase.

Japan Customs Blocks Record Number of Imports Over IP Violations

Japanese customs authorities blocked a record 19,568 shipments suspected of infringing intellectual property rights in the first half of 2026, up 12% from a year earlier, as the expansion of cross-border e-commerce drove an increase in imported parcels.

Hikone Castle Selected for UNESCO World Heritage Nomination

Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture has been formally selected as Japan's candidate for nomination as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, advancing a campaign that has continued for more than 30 years and aims to secure inscription in the summer of 2028.

Highway Service Areas Become Tourist Destinations

Highway service areas around the Kanto region are becoming destinations in their own right, offering travelers everything from freshly harvested vegetables and popular regional restaurant dishes to baths, observation decks and family events during the busy summer vacation season.

Japan Doubles Fuel Subsidy Rate for Domestic Airlines

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry raised subsidies for aviation fuel used on domestic flights from September 3, doubling the support rate while ending subsidies for international flights.

Shinkansen Takes on Overnight Travel

Night trains are making a comeback across Japan, with railway operators introducing new overnight services and even experimenting with overnight Shinkansen trains as demand grows for alternatives that combine transportation, accommodation and the experience of traveling through the night.

< 2 3 4 5 >