The 60th Otaru Tide Festival Grand Fireworks Display

Summary

A headline event of the Otaru Ushio Festival — a three-day summer festival held in Otaru, Hokkaido from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July 2026 — marking its 60th edition this year. The display rises over Otaru Port's Pier No. 3 on 26 July from 20:00 to 20:30, closing the festival's final day. Because the launch site faces the sea, the sight of fireworks mirrored on the night-time water gives the show an atmosphere unlike venues on land or rivers. Food stalls line the area around the harbor, serving local flavors. There is no parking; the venue is about a 10-minute walk from JR Otaru Station, and details of paid seating are on the official website.

Overview

The Grand Fireworks display of the Otaru Ushio Festival is staged on the festival's final evening as its closing act; in 2026 the festival runs from 24 to 26 July and the fireworks rise on the 26th from 20:00 to 20:30, the year also marking the event's 60th edition. The venue is the base of Pier No. 3 at Otaru Port, and this seaside setting is the festival's defining feature: shells blooming above the harbor and their light spreading across the water's surface create a mood that riverside or inland venues cannot match. Around the harbor, rows of food stalls offer a taste of Otaru's local cooking. The festival as a whole is expected to draw around 900,000 visitors across its three days, so the fireworks evening will be crowded too: aim to arrive two to three hours before the start, as free viewing spots fill up from early afternoon. There is no parking at the venue, so plan to come by rail — JR Otaru Station is about 10 minutes on foot — and allow extra time for the crowds around the station. Paid seating is best purchased in advance; check the official website for the latest information.

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