Uto Jizo Festival Fireworks Display

Summary

On Sunday, August 23, 2026, about 1,500 fireworks light up the farmland of Zendoji-machi in Uto City, Kumamoto, from 19:45 to 20:15. The display is part of the Uto Jizo Festival, a summer rite said to date back some 370 years and counted among the three great summer festivals of Higo together with the Kawashiri Shoryu Nagashi and the Yamaga Lantern Festival. Food stalls line the venue, which is a 20-minute walk from JR Uto Station; traffic restrictions apply around the site from 18:00.

Overview

The Uto Jizo Festival in Uto City, Kumamoto, is a summer tradition said to have begun about 370 years ago. Together with the Shoryu Nagashi of Kawashiri and the Yamaga Lantern Festival, it is counted among the three great summer festivals of Higo. On Sunday, August 23, 2026, the night program sends about 1,500 fireworks over the open farmland of Zendoji-machi in a tight 30-minute window from 19:45 to 20:15. The rural setting keeps the skies dark after dusk, so the shells stand out crisply against the night. Food stalls gather around the venue and the evening fills up well before the first launch. Drivers should note that traffic restrictions begin around the venue at 18:00 — arriving before then or walking the 20 minutes from JR Uto Station are the practical options, with about 985 free parking spaces nearby. For the latest schedule, check announcements from the city of Uto or the organizers.

Details

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