Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival 2026
Last updated: July 12, 2026. All facts below are compiled from official festival, city and tourism association websites (linked at the end of this page).
The festival began in 1984, launched to coincide with the World Lake Environment Conference held in Otsu as part of Shiga's tourism and lake-promotion efforts, building on the earlier Hamaotsu fireworks display that dated back to 1961. The 2026 event marks the 40th edition.
Key Facts
| Date | August 6, 2026 (Thu) — Officially confirmed |
|---|---|
| Time | 19:30-20:30 |
| Venue | Otsu Port area, Lake Biwa |
| Nearest station | JR Otsu Station / Keihan Biwako-Hamaotsu Station |
| Fireworks | 10,000 |
| Admission | Mostly paid seats (large paid viewing areas; surrounding areas restricted) |
| Official site | https://www.biwako-visitors.jp/hanabi/ |
Highlights
- For the 40th anniversary in 2026, approximately 12,000 fireworks (up from the usual ~10,000) will be launched over Lake Biwa from barges off Otsu Port, between 19:30 and 20:30.
- The festival is famous for its water-surface fireworks (suichu hanabi): shells fired low from lake pontoons burst in half-domes on the water, doubling the display in the lake's reflection.
- The 2026 edition runs as a two-part program, with the first part combining fireworks with drone shows, laser beams and synchronized music.
- The finale is a massive water starmine sequence often likened to a gold and silver waterfall spreading across the lake.
Where to Watch
Otsu Port paid seating area (Paid seating)
The main venue directly in front of the launch barges, offering the closest views of shells bursting over the water. Seat types range from simple chair seats to premium lakefront, tatami, couple and luxury pair seats.
About 5 minutes on foot from Keihan Biwako-Hamaotsu Station; about 15 minutes from JR Otsu Station
Where to Watch
Nagisa Park lakefront entry zones (Paid seating)
Long stretches of lakeside park east of Otsu Port operated as paid standing/free-seating entry areas, the most affordable official option. Entry tickets (around JPY 5,000, or JPY 6,000 with fast-pass entry) give unreserved space along the shore with wide views over the lake.
10-15 minutes on foot from JR Otsu or JR Zeze Station; short walk from Keihan Ishiba or Shimanoseki stations
Where to Watch
Yanagigasaki Yacht Harbor area (near Biwako-Otsukan) (Paid seating)
A newly added reserved-seat area for 2026 on the lakeshore north of Otsu Port, with chair seats, table seats and box seats for groups of up to six. It is slightly farther from the launch point but less hemmed in by crowds than the central zones.
About 15 minutes on foot from JR Otsukyo Station (Kosei Line)
Where to Watch
Yabase Kihan-to Park (Kusatsu) (Free)
A man-made island park on the opposite (eastern) shore of Lake Biwa, roughly 3.5 km from the launch site, where the whole display can be seen across the water for free, though the fireworks appear small and low. Note that parts of the nearby lakeside green space have been converted to paid seating in recent years, and free viewing near the main venue itself is heavily restricted by temporary screening fences.
Bus or taxi from JR Minami-Kusatsu Station; no train station within easy walking distance, so plan return transport carefully
How to Buy Tickets
Tickets are sold through the festival's official ticket site (an NTT Docomo ticketing platform) as electronic tickets displayed in the Tixplus app, with no paper tickets. For 2026, three lottery rounds ran from April 13 to May 6, followed by first-come general sales from May 23; official resale for lottery winners opened from May 20. The purchase site is Japanese-only and requires a free d-account, so overseas visitors may find it easier to buy Nagisa Park entry tickets through partner resellers such as KKday, or fireworks-viewing packages sold by lakeside hotels.
- Platforms: Official ticket site (Docomo SSW platform), Tixplus (electronic ticket app / official resale), e+ (eplus, selected areas), KKday (Nagisa Park east entry area), Lakeside hotel viewing plans (e.g. Biwako Hotel)
- Price range: From about JPY 5,000 for Nagisa Park general entry to roughly JPY 112,000-115,000 for premium two-person luxury seats closest to the launch point; typical reserved chair and premium seats run about JPY 6,500-29,000, with some phases using dynamic pricing.
- Sales start: 2026-04-13
- English purchase: Japanese only (consider a proxy service or asking your hotel)
Getting There
The venue is the Lake Biwa shoreline around Otsu Port and Nagisa Park in Otsu, Shiga: about 15 minutes on foot from JR Otsu Station (Biwako Line) or 5 minutes from Keihan Biwako-Hamaotsu Station. From Kyoto Station, JR trains reach Otsu in about 10 minutes; from Osaka Station it takes roughly 40 minutes on the same line. Large-scale traffic restrictions apply around the venue on the day, so coming by car is strongly discouraged.
Crowd & Timing Tips
- Around 300,000-350,000 people attend, so arrive by early-to-mid afternoon; even distant free spots like Yabase Kihan-to fill up by 15:00-16:00.
- Free viewing near the venue has been severely limited in recent years, with screening fences along the lakefront - if you want a guaranteed view, buy a paid ticket in advance rather than hoping to watch for free.
- JR Otsu and Keihan stations experience extreme congestion and entry restrictions after the finale; expect to queue for an hour or more, or walk to a neighboring station such as JR Zeze or Otsukyo.
- The event is held on a weekday (Thursday, August 6, 2026) partly to spread out crowds, but consider staying overnight in Otsu or Kusatsu to avoid the post-show crush back to Kyoto and Osaka.
Weather Policy
The show goes ahead in light rain but is cancelled outright (not postponed) in the event of stormy weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the 2026 festival held?
Thursday, August 6, 2026, from 19:30 to 20:30, on the Lake Biwa shoreline around Otsu Port and Nagisa Park in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture.
Can I watch the fireworks for free?
Only from a distance. The lakefront around the venue is closed off with screening fences and almost entirely converted to paid areas, so free viewing is realistically limited to distant spots such as Yabase Kihan-to Park in Kusatsu, about 3.5 km across the lake.
Can I buy tickets in English?
The official ticket site is Japanese-only and requires a free Docomo d-account, with tickets delivered via the Tixplus smartphone app. Foreign visitors may find it easier to buy Nagisa Park entry through resellers like KKday or to book a fireworks-viewing plan at a lakeside hotel.
How much do tickets cost?
General entry to the Nagisa Park zones starts around JPY 5,000, reserved chair seats around JPY 6,500-9,000, premium and executive seats roughly JPY 10,000-29,000, and top-end two-person luxury seats over JPY 100,000.
How do I get there from Kyoto or Osaka?
Take the JR Biwako Line to Otsu Station (about 10 minutes from Kyoto, about 40 minutes from Osaka) and walk 15 minutes to the lakefront, or use the Keihan line to Biwako-Hamaotsu Station, 5 minutes from the venue. Avoid driving, as major traffic restrictions are in place.
What happens if it rains?
The festival is held even in light rain, but it is cancelled without a make-up date if there is a storm or other severe weather; check the official site on the day.
See more fireworks in the area: Shiga Fireworks Festivals 2026 · Japan Fireworks Calendar 2026