Onomichi Sumiyoshi Fireworks Festival

Summary

The Onomichi Sumiyoshi Fireworks Festival fills the narrow Onomichi Suido channel in Onomichi, Hiroshima, on July 25, 2026 (7:30–8:30 p.m.). With roots in the mid-Edo period, it ranks among western Japan's most storied displays: some 13,000 shells, built around star mines, underwater fireworks and rapid-fire sequences, bloom close to the water. Mikoshi processions and floating lanterns join the program, and viewing extends beyond the waterfront to Mukaishima and Senkoji.

Overview

Launched from the sea in front of Sumiyoshi Shrine, roughly 13,000 shells light up the channel in an hour-long show whose core is star mines, underwater fireworks and rapid barrages — a format that has carried the event through centuries of tradition in western Japan. The main viewing stretch runs along the channel, 15 minutes on foot from JR Onomichi Station, with the opposite shore's Mukaishima and the Senkoji hillside also recommended for different angles. Drivers reach the site in about 20 minutes from the Onomichi IC of the Nishiseto (Shimanami) route, but the station area becomes extremely crowded at closing time, so follow police and steward instructions and leave generous time. Mikoshi and floating lantern ceremonies add to the evening.

Details

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