On July 20, the Kisu Summer Festival sets its fireworks over the Hii River riverbed in Unnan City, Shimane. An event handed down since the early Meiji years, it fills a car-free high street with night stalls before the main act: 1,500 shells in a brisk 20 minutes from 8 pm. With barely 120 meters between the launch site and the riverbank, the blooms open almost in front of spectators standing along the water, before a crowd expected between 5,000 and 10,000.
On July 20, the Kisu Summer Festival brings its fireworks to the Hii River riverbed in Unnan City, Shimane. The festival dates back to the early Meiji era: the pedestrianized shopping street fills with night stalls and crowds, then 1,500 shells launch over a 20-minute program from 8:00 to 8:20 pm. Expected turnout runs from 5,000 to 10,000. What sets this show apart is distance — the viewing area lies only about 120 meters from the launch site, so every spot on the riverbed feels close-up. JR Kisu Station is a 3-minute walk and around 700 free parking spaces sit nearby. For the latest details, check the organizer's announcements.