
5th Japan's Navel Nishiwaki Summer Festival: Colorful fireworks color the sky
Nishiwaki City in Hyogo — where 135°E and 35°N cross at the 'navel of Japan' — hosts this festival finale at Nihon Heso Park on August 29, 2026. From 19:50, some 2,000 shells fill the summer sky over the town center in a brisk 30-minute show, with the park just steps from Nihon Heso Park Station on the JR Kakogawa Line.
Nishiwaki takes its nickname from the crossing point of 135°E and 35°N inside the city, and its central Nihon Heso Park becomes the stage for the festival's closing fireworks. In 2026 the display runs from 19:50 to 20:20 on August 29, with around 2,000 shells expected and an audience of about 15,000. The park lies right beside Nihon Heso Park Station, which makes arriving by train pleasantly simple. Drivers reach the venue in about 20 minutes via Route 175 from the Takino-jo IC on the Chugoku Expressway. Free parking around the park is still being arranged, so check the latest announcements from the organizer, the festival executive office, or the city's official pages before heading out. Strolling the park while waiting for the first shell is a pleasant way to pass the summer evening.