42nd Sanada Festival 2026 Summer Battle 'Sanada Sandai Fireworks'

Summary

The Sanada Festival — the summer gathering of Ueda's Sanada district, a land tied to the Sanada clan — reaches its 42nd 'Summer Battle' on Saturday, August 1, 2026. Its climax, the 'Sanada Sandai Fireworks', launches about 1,000 shells in a 30-minute program from 20:00, led by star mines, with an expected crowd of about 5,500 and stalls around the venue. The venue is about 10 minutes by car from the Ueda-Sugadaira IC, or a 25-minute bus ride from JR Ueda Station to Yukimura no Sato Yumekobo-mae plus a 10-minute walk, with 300 free temporary parking spaces provided.

Overview

The Sanada Festival is the summer event of the Sanada district in Ueda City, Nagano — land of the Sanada clan. Alongside performances by a matchlock-gun troop that conjure the district's history, the festival builds toward its climax: the 'Sanada Sandai Fireworks', fired around the Sanada Sports Park grounds from 20:00, arranged as about 1,000 shells over 30 minutes with star mines at the core. Reach the venue by bus from JR Ueda Station — about 25 minutes on the Sanada or Sugadaira Kogen line, getting off at Yukimura no Sato Yumekobo-mae and walking 10 minutes. Drivers take about 10 minutes from the Ueda-Sugadaira IC on the Joshin-etsu Expressway via Route 144 toward Sugadaira; free temporary parking (300 spaces) is set up at Sanada Junior High and the Sanada Community Center. Stalls fill the venue from the early evening — plan to spend the hours before the launch soaking up the festival and enjoy the fireworks with that momentum still in the air.

Details

FAQ