The 64th Citizens' Festival Ashizuri Festival

Summary

The Ashizuri Citizens' Festival, a Shimanto-bound summer tradition since 1961, fires about 7,000 waterborne shells around Kajima in Shimizu Port, Tosashimizu, Kochi, on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 20:00 to 20:40 — counted among Shikoku's largest waterborne displays, with the blooms mirrored on the harbor and Kajima's silhouette behind. The festival fills the day with local Ashizuri dance performances, a stall village and specialty shops, drawing about 25,000 visitors. Buses run from Nakamura Station in about an hour; free parking spreads across 10 city lots.

Overview

Born in 1961 with wishes for the city's prosperity, the Ashizuri Festival has grown into the summer face of Tosashimizu. Its climax comes over the harbor: some 7,000 shells rise around Kajima Island in a waterborne display regarded as among Shikoku's largest, the light doubling on the water while the island's silhouette holds the background. The festivities start well before dark — locals perform the Ashizuri dance, a stall village serves regional flavors, and specialty shops line the grounds. From Nakamura Station on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway, the Cape Ashizuri bus takes about 60 minutes to the Plaza Pal stop, a 5-minute walk from the harbor; drivers come about 90 minutes from the Shimanto-Chuo interchange, with 1,195 free spaces spread across 10 lots (10 a.m.–11 p.m.).

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