Katakai Festival (Asahara Shrine Autumn Grand Festival Dedication Fireworks)

Firing Dates

The confirmed fireworks launch dates for this festival are listed below.

• 9/11 (Fri)
• 9/12 (Sat)

Summary

Katakai's September weekend is less a fireworks show than an act of devotion: roughly 15,000 shells are offered to Asahara Shrine across two nights, September 11-12, from 19:30 until past 22:00. This town in Ojiya, Niigata is the birthplace of the three-shaku sphere, and each night peaks with a four-shaku giant counted among the largest fireworks in the world. Ceremonies like the tsudobiki tube-pulling procession frame the launches, drawing about 170,000 visitors over both days.

Overview

The launch site sits behind Asahara Shrine in Katakai. From JR Ojiya Station take the Katakai-bound bus about 20 minutes (get off at Ninomachi, ten minutes on foot), or about 30 minutes from JR Nagaoka Station (Gonomachi); by car it is ten minutes from the Kan-Etsu Expressway Ojiya IC. Advance sajiki seats have sold out, but same-day tickets go on sale at 9:00 at the central gate each day, 5,500 yen per person. The four-shakudama rises near the finale after 22:00 on both nights. Because every shell is an offering to the shrine, locals prize spots that frame the shrine and the burst together. Roads around town narrow, food-stall lanes jam, and return-bus lines stretch long, so plan generous buffers.

Details

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