When should I arrive?

About an hour before the 7:30 pm start. Seating along the river fills in from early evening.

There is no parking or bicycle parking at the venue, so avoid driving. From JR Shin-Hanamaki Station it is about 15 minutes by paid shuttle or taxi; a paid shuttle also runs from Hanamaki Station.

Except for some paid seats, viewing is free and you can sit on the riverbed to watch.

Is it suitable for families with children?

Yes — seated viewing on the riverbed suits families. Keep away from the water's edge and watch for separation in the crowds.

Can I take photos and videos?

Freely allowed, though tripods and monopods may be restricted in paid seating. Framing the river reflections along the bottom of the shot works well.

Scheduled

Ihatov Forum 2026 — Pageant of Light and Sound: Fireworks Fantasy

Name: Ihatov Forum 2026 — Pageant of Light and Sound: Fireworks Fantasy
Start: 2026-08-08T19:30+09:00
End: 2026-08-08T21:00+09:00
Location: Kitakami River Riverbed (Asahibashi Bridge to Asahi Ōhashi Bridge)

Iwate 8/8/2026 (Sat)Approx. 8,000 shells

This festival ended on 8/8/2026 (Sat).See fireworks festivals in Iwate·See the 8 fireworks calendar

Ihatov Forum 2026 Pageant of Light and Sound Fireworks Fantasy - Laser and music shows synchronized with the fireworks are also a must-see

イーハトーブフォーラム実行委員会

1 / 5

Ihatov Forum 2026 Pageant of Light and Sound Fireworks Fantasy - Laser and music shows synchronized with the fireworks are also a must-see

Fireworks countApprox. 8,000 shells

Expected crowdApprox. 50,000 people

Time19:30～21:00

AdmissionPaid seats

Summary

The Iwate Pastoral Forum 2026 'Pageant of Light and Sound' brings about 8,000 fireworks to the Kitakami River riverbed between Asahi Bridge and Asahi Ohashi in Hanamaki on August 8. The summer event, held in the hope of passing Miyazawa Kenji's spirit to the next generation of children, runs about 90 minutes from 7:30 pm and draws around 50,000. Apart from some paid seats, viewing is free and seated on the riverbed.

Overview

The 'Fireworks Fantasy' of the Iwate Pastoral Forum 2026 — a pageant of light and sound — takes place on August 8 on the Kitakami River riverbed between Asahi Bridge and Asahi Ohashi in Hanamaki City. Conceived in the hope of carrying Miyazawa Kenji's spirit to the next generation, the program sends up star mines and about 8,000 shells in all across roughly 90 minutes from 7:30 to 9:00 pm, with some 50,000 attending. Viewing is free and seated on the riverbed, except for a section of paid seats. From JR Shin-Hanamaki Station, a paid shuttle or taxi covers the 15-minute trip, and a paid shuttle also runs from Hanamaki Station. With no parking or bicycle parking at the venue, driving is off the table — and the riverside seating fills from early evening, so arrive early.

Details

Date8/8 (Sat)

End date8/8 (Sat)

Time19:30～21:00

VenueKitakami River Riverbed (Asahibashi Bridge to Asahi Ōhashi Bridge)

Address岩手県花巻市

Crowd levelVery large ★★★★☆

Paid seatsYes

Food stallsNo

ParkingNo

OrganizerIhatov Forum Executive Committee Secretariat 0198-23-3381

Last verified10/2/2026 (Fri)

FAQ

Access

🚃 By Train

Approx. 15 min by paid shuttle bus or taxi from JR Shin-Hanamaki Station

🚗 By Car

Approx. 10 min from Tohoku Expressway Hanamaki-Minami IC

Info for International Visitors

Best arrival time

Aim to arrive about an hour before the 7:30 pm start — seating space along the river fills from early evening. With no parking at the venue, if you use the shuttle bus allow extra time for schedules and travel.

Best viewing spots

The viewing area stretches along the Kitakami River riverbed between Asahi Bridge and Asahi Ohashi. Except for some paid seats it is free and seated — well suited to families taking it slow.

With kids

With seating on the riverbed, even families with small children can watch in relative comfort. Keep away from the water's edge and set a meeting point for the crowds.

Photography tips

Phone and camera photos are fine, but tripods and monopods may be restricted in paid seating — check with staff first. Keeping the Kitakami River surface in the lower frame captures the reflections.

Payment

Buy paid seats in advance where possible. With no parking at the venue, keep coins or small bills handy for the paid shuttle bus.

Venue Location

39.3952, 141.1198

Coordinates are accurate to the city level and may differ slightly from the exact venue.

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Check the official website for detailed venue info

Official Website →