Onomichi Sumiyoshi Fireworks Festival 2026 Confirmed

おのみち住吉花火まつり — Onomichi, Hiroshima (Chugoku)

The Onomichi Sumiyoshi Fireworks Festival fills a strait, not a sky: 13,000 shells burst over the narrow Onomichi Channel between the temple-covered hillside town and Mukaishima island, so the fireworks feel close enough to touch from both shores. It is the largest show in Hiroshima Prefecture and one of the most atmospheric settings in Japan.

Background

The festival belongs to Sumiyoshi Shrine's summer rite, held since 1741 when the port's merchants began honoring the sea god who protected their trade — making it one of western Japan's oldest continuous fireworks traditions.

Getting there

Viewing lines the waterfront a few minutes' walk from JR Onomichi Station (San'yo Line; 20 minutes from Fukuyama Shinkansen stop). The Mukaishima side is a short ferry hop across.

Tips

• The strait is barely 200 meters wide — bursts overhead fill your entire vision; this is the close-range fireworks experience.
• The Mukaishima side, reached by the tiny ferries, is the local's choice: same show, half the crowd.
• Climb the temple walk to Senkoji in the afternoon, descend for the show — hillside spots offer a rare top-down fireworks angle.
• Onomichi's lodging is limited; Fukuyama (20 minutes away) has abundant hotels and late trains back.