Isobe Onsen Festival Fireworks

Summary

The Isobe Onsen Festival fireworks have brightened this hot-spring town in Annaka, Gunma, for more than half a century. The 2026 edition opens on Saturday, August 15 at 19:30, sending around 2,000 shells up from the Usui River levee. A cliff opposite the launch site throws the sound back over the crowd — a resonant quality unique to this venue. About 25,000 people attend each year, with food stalls lining Isobe Park. The two-day festival continues on the 16th with floating lanterns and set-piece fireworks, and severe weather postpones the display to Monday, August 17.

Overview

Spanning two days across the onsen streets and the Usui River levee, the Isobe Onsen Festival opens with fireworks on its first night: around 2,000 shells rise over a sky that mingles with the glow of the hot-spring district. With a cliff facing the launch site, each shell comes back as a rolling echo — an acoustic signature visitors won't find at most river venues. The second day, August 16, brings floating lanterns and set-piece fireworks from 8 p.m. The venue sits six minutes on foot from JR Isobe Station, and three dedicated parking lots (600 free spaces, open from 6 p.m.) serve the area. Severe weather moves the display to Monday, August 17. Many visitors pair the festival with a round of hot-spring hopping.

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