The 98th Omagari National Fireworks Competition (Omagari no Hanabi) 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 competition began in 1910 as the 'First Ou Six-Prefecture Fireworks Fair,' which grew out of fireworks offerings at the local Suwa Shrine festival; the August 29, 2026 event is the 98th edition of what became the National Fireworks Competition.
Key Facts
| Date | August 29, 2026 (Sat) — Officially confirmed |
|---|---|
| Time | 17:10-21:30 |
| Venue | Omagari-no-Hanabi Park, Omono River riverside, Omagari, Daisen City |
| Nearest station | JR Omagari Station (approx. 30 min walk) |
| Fireworks | 18,000 |
| Admission | Paid reserved seats required for main viewing area (table seats, pair seats, camera seats, etc.); see official ticket page |
| Official site | https://www.omagari-hanabi.com/ |
Highlights
- Japan's only daytime fireworks (hiru-hanabi) competition division, held 17:10-18:00, in which pyrotechnicians paint the sky with colored smoke instead of light - a craft found almost nowhere else.
- The night competition (19:00-21:30) includes 10-go (approx. 30 cm) shell divisions for both traditional chrysanthemum and free-style shells, plus a creative fireworks division synchronized with music that Omagari pioneered in 1964.
- It is Japan's most prestigious pyrotechnicians' competition: around 28 selected fireworks companies compete with shells they craft and launch themselves, and the top award is the Prime Minister's Prize, given only at Omagari and Tsuchiura.
- Roughly 18,000 fireworks are launched in total, including the signature Wide Starmine spanning about 900 meters of the Omono riverfront.
Where to Watch
Official Viewing Seats at 'Omagari no Hanabi' Park (Omono River embankment) (Paid seating)
The main ticketed venue on the Omono River in central Omagari, directly facing the launch site, with reserved options ranging from single chair seats to 4-person table and embankment box seats and premium Platinum Pair seats. All seating inside the venue is paid and requires an advance ticket.
About 30 minutes on foot (approx. 2 km) from JR Omagari Station; food stalls line the walking route.
Where to Watch
Photographer (Cameraman) Seats (Paid seating)
Dedicated single seats for photography on the upper, middle and lower embankment (JPY 13,000-25,000), where large tripods are permitted, unlike in the general venue. Sold exclusively through Lawson Ticket.
Within the main riverside venue, about 30 minutes on foot from JR Omagari Station.
Where to Watch
Himegami Park (Free)
A free hilltop park on a historic battlefield site overlooking the Senboku plain, used by locals as a distant vantage point for the fireworks. The view is far from the launch site and lower bursts may be hard to see, but it avoids the venue crowds.
About 10 minutes by car from JR Omagari Station (about 10 minutes from Omagari IC on the Akita Expressway); no train access, so plan transport in advance.
Where to Watch
Omono River banks outside the ticketed zone (unofficial) (Free)
Open riverbank stretches downstream of the ticketed area are used informally by visitors without tickets, though views are partial and the organizers stress that no free viewing areas exist inside the venue itself. Arrive very early and follow local traffic and safety restrictions.
Roughly 30-40 minutes on foot from JR Omagari Station, beyond the ticketed venue perimeter.
How to Buy Tickets
For the 98th competition on August 29, 2026, official reserved seats are sold first-come (not lottery) online via Lawson Ticket and e+ (eplus), with a first sales round on June 12-23, 2026 and a second round for remaining seats on July 21-31, 2026; in-person cash sales were also held at Hikario Square in Omagari on July 5, 2026. The official website has an English information page, but it states that ticket purchases are currently only possible within Japan, and the Lawson Ticket and e+ purchase flows are in Japanese. Overseas visitors therefore generally need a Japan-based proxy, a travel-agency package, or to buy after arriving in Japan; demand is extremely high and seats sell out quickly.
- Platforms: Official website (omagari-hanabi.com) ticket information, Lawson Ticket (l-tike.com, includes photographer seats), e+ / eplus (eplus.jp), On-site direct sales at Hikario Square, Omagari (cash, first-come)
- Price range: JPY 8,000 (single chair seat) to JPY 70,000 (Platinum Pair for 2); 4-person seats JPY 15,000-50,000
- Sales start: 2026-06-12
- English purchase: Japanese only (consider a proxy service or asking your hotel)
Getting There
The nearest station is JR Omagari Station, about a 30-minute walk (approx. 2 km) from the center of the riverside venue. From Tokyo, take the Akita Shinkansen 'Komachi' direct to Omagari (roughly 3 to 3.5 hours); extra trains are scheduled on the day of the summer competition. A day trip is technically possible but the return is extremely congested, so an overnight stay is strongly recommended - hotels in Omagari and even Akita City are booked out up to a year in advance, so reserve accommodation as soon as your plans firm up.
Crowd & Timing Tips
- Arrive by early-to-mid afternoon at the latest: road congestion around Omagari begins around 15:00 and the daytime fireworks start at 17:10, so coming in the morning by train is the safest plan.
- Expect a very slow return trip: the event draws on the order of 700,000 visitors, queues for trains at Omagari Station can last hours after the 21:30 finish, and cars parked near the venue may be unable to leave until around midnight - the organizers strongly recommend park-and-ride (park at an outer station and ride the train in) and buying your return shinkansen seat in advance.
- Book accommodation up to a year ahead; if Omagari is full, look at hotels along the JR lines in Akita City, Kakunodate, Tazawako or even Morioka and ride an extra late-night train back after the show.
- Bring rain gear (rainwear, not umbrellas, which block views), wear clothes that can get dirty, and note that toilet paper is not stocked in the portable toilets at the summer competition - bring your own.
Weather Policy
The event goes ahead in light rain, but it may be postponed to a later date depending on severe weather or the condition of the Omono River, with updates announced via the official app and social media.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do the fireworks start?
On August 29, 2026, the daytime fireworks competition runs 17:10-18:00 and the main night fireworks run 19:00-21:30. Plan to be in Omagari well before mid-afternoon, as congestion builds from around 15:00.
Can I watch for free without a ticket?
No free viewing areas exist inside the venue - all seating there is paid and requires an advance ticket. Some visitors watch from a distance for free, for example from Himegami Park on a hill about 10 minutes by car from Omagari Station or from riverbank areas outside the ticketed zone, but views are partial and far from the launch site.
How do I buy tickets?
Official seats are sold first-come online through Lawson Ticket and e+ (eplus); for 2026, the first online round was June 12-23 and a second round for remaining seats runs July 21-31, with prices from JPY 8,000 for a single chair seat to JPY 70,000 for a Platinum Pair. The purchase sites are in Japanese, and the official English page notes that tickets can currently only be purchased within Japan.
Is a day trip from Tokyo possible?
Yes in principle - the Akita Shinkansen Komachi reaches Omagari from Tokyo in roughly 3 to 3.5 hours and extra trains run on event night - but the show ends at 21:30 and station queues can take hours, so you risk missing the last connections. An overnight stay is strongly recommended; hotels in Omagari and Akita sell out up to a year ahead.
What happens if it rains?
The competition is held even in light rain (bring rainwear rather than an umbrella, which blocks views), but it can be postponed if there is severe weather or the river level is dangerous. Check the official app and social media for same-day announcements.
How many fireworks are launched and how crowded is it?
Around 18,000 fireworks are launched by roughly 28 competing pyrotechnic companies, and the event attracts on the order of 700,000 visitors to a city of about 80,000 - so expect major crowds on roads and at the station before and after the show.
See more fireworks in the area: Akita Fireworks Festivals 2026 · Japan Fireworks Calendar 2026
Sources
- https://www.omagari-hanabi.com/
- https://www.omagari-hanabi.com/en/
- https://www.omagari-hanabi.com/overview/summer
- https://www.omagari-hanabi.com/tickets/summer
- https://www.omagari-hanabi.com/en/tickets/summer
- https://www.omagari-hanabi.com/faq
- https://www.omagari-hanabi.com/access/
- https://www.omagari-hanabi.com/guide