Tokyo

As the summer heat settles over Tokyo, something magical begins to happen across the city: the skies start to come alive with brilliant flashes of light, color, and sound. Fireworks festivals—known in Japanese as hanabi taikai—are more than just a spectacle. They are deeply woven into the culture, evoking nostalgia, celebration, and community. Among these many dazzling events, the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival stands out as the most iconic. Held annually along the Sumida River, this festival isn’t just one of Tokyo’s most visually impressive displays—it’s also one of the oldest fireworks traditions in all of Japan, tracing its origins back to the early 18th century during the Edo period.