Nagaoka Fireworks

The Nagaoka Fireworks festival takes place annually on August 2 and 3 on the banks of the Shinano River between 19:20 and 21:10. It’s known as one of the three greatest fireworks festivals in Japan, with the others being Omagari (Akita) and Tsuchiura (Ibaraki). It is held to remember those who lost lives and properties in the 1945 bombing of Nagaoka and 2004 Chuetsu Earthquake in Niigata, and to wish for the affected areas' recovery.
The fireworks are truly amazing, with several dozen 30-cm pyrotechnic balls shot into the air and exploding. Especially famous is the Shosan Shakudama, a 90-cm firework that spreads to a diameter of 650 m in the sky. The festival includes many other firework types, such as the ”Mega-sized star mine,” which is a salvo of fireworks in five colors shot up at the same time. Another is the 2-km-long Phoenix fireworks, which represents a message for recovery. Don't miss the synchrony of music and fireworks with stories.
There are two viewing spots: Venue A is on the right bank of the Shinano River on the Nagaoka Station side, and venue B is on the left bank on the Nagaoka highway exit side. Paid seats also available.