Scheduled
The 103rd Ishinomaki Kawabiraki Festival Fireworks
Miyagi 8/1/2026 (Sat)TBD
This festival ended on 8/1/2026 (Sat).See fireworks festivals in Miyagi·See the 8 fireworks calendar
石巻川開祭実行委員会
The 103rd Ishinomaki Kawabiraki Festival Fireworks Festival — gorgeous launched fireworks reflecting on the water surface
Fireworks countTBD
Expected crowd130,000 people (2024)
TimeTBD
AdmissionPaid seats
Summary
Ishinomaki's Kawabiraki ('river-opening') Festival traces to the Taisho era, built on gratitude to the river and offerings for ancestors. Its fireworks rise over the Kitakami — one of northern Japan's great rivers — from Nakase Park on 1 August, with lantern floating, mikoshi processions and a schoolchildren's fife-and-drum parade around the launch. Attendance runs about 130,000 (2024 figures); the shell count is yet to be announced.
Overview
This is a festival whose reason for being predates tourism: a river town giving thanks to the water that sustains it. The programme around the launch is community-run end to end, from lantern floating to the children's parade, and the fireworks themselves spread across the breadth of the Kitakami. The launch begins at 19:30 with around 130,000 attendees on recent figures. Access is a 15-minute walk from JR Ishinomaki Station; drivers come about 10 minutes east of Ishinomaki-Hebita IC but face traffic controls on the day. Parking details are not yet confirmed, so check the official site before setting out.
Details
Date8/1 (Sat)
End date8/1 (Sat)
TimeTBD
VenueNakase Park
Address宮城県石巻市
Crowd levelVery large ★★★★☆
Paid seatsYes
Food stallsNo
ParkingYes（Available: TBD）
Organizer0225-22-0145 Ishinomaki Kawabiraki Festival Executive Committee (Ishinomaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
Last verified10/2/2026 (Fri)