Yoichi no Sato Otawara Sakuyama Fireworks Festival

Summary

Otawara, the home turf of the archer hero Nasu no Yoichi, shifts its Sakuyama fireworks from summer to autumn starting 2026: October 17 from 18:30, about 5,000 shells fired across roughly 90 minutes from the Hoki riverside near Iwai Bridge and Sakuyama Sports Park. Viewing is free, with food stalls on site. The signature feature is the 'message fireworks' - pre-registered names and messages are read over the PA as each shell rises, a longtime vehicle for surprises. Light rain proceeds; storms postpone to October 18.

Overview

The venue, Sakuyama, sits in the wooded hills of northwest Otawara. Access is about 10 minutes by taxi from JR Nozaki Station or 20 minutes from the Yaita IC on the Tohoku Expressway, with 500 free parking spaces prepared. Across the 90-minute program, star mines alternate with several rounds of message fireworks, and the crowd - heavily local families - gives the event an unhurried, hometown feel. If postponed, the show moves to the same hours on Sunday, October 18. October nights by the river get cold and breezy, so a blanket helps. Otawara's history ties to the Nasu clan and its famed archer, which pairs the show naturally with hot springs and historic sites in the neighboring Nasu area.

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