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Joso River Fireworks Festival

常総川花火大会

Joso River Fireworks Festival is a fireworks festival held in Ibaraki. Date: The second Saturday of September (12 September in 2026). Total shells: about 約22,000. Attendance: 約12万人. No. 59回

Event essentials

Headline stats

Total Shells
約22,000
Duration
100 min
Nights
1 night(s)
Attendance
約12万人
Largest Shell
Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
Founding Year
1968

Signature Sequences

  1. 01Prologue shells (18:05)
  2. 02Opening ceremony (18:30)
  3. 03Main firing (18:35-19:50)
  4. 04A large festival of about 22,000 shells on the Kinu river
  5. 05Held on the second Saturday of September
  6. 06A free general area together with paid sponsor seats

Venue & Access

Time Window
18:05-19:45, with the firing from 18:35
Venue
Kinu riverbank and Hashimoto athletic park, Joso
Address
Kinu riverbank and Hashimoto athletic park, Joso, Ibaraki Prefecture.
Venue Size
Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
Venue Floor Type
The riverbed of the Kinu river and the Hashimoto athletic park.
Gates Open
The gates open at 14:00 for the blue gate and 14:30 for the red gate; space-taking in the free area is allowed from 14:00.
Paid-Seat Holder Entry
14:00
Spectator Capacity
Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
Launch Company
Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
Production Company
Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
Sponsor
Joso Kinu River Fireworks Festival executive committee (0297-23-9088)

Access

From major cities

From Tokyo
From Tokyo, take the Joso Line of Kanto Railway to Mizukaido Station and walk about 15 minutes to the Kinu riverbed. The organiser published no access map on its front page and states that no free car park is provided.
From Osaka
Not published - the organiser publishes no route from Osaka; the practical route is the Joso Line of Kanto Railway to Mizukaido Station
From Sendai
Not published - the organiser publishes no route from Sendai
Nearest Station
Mizukaido Station on the Kanto Railway, about 15 min on foot
Nearest Shinkansen
Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
Local Transit
About 15 min on foot from Mizukaido Station on the Kanto Railway.
Parking
A temporary car park of 2,000 spaces at 2,000 to 3,000 yen per car, for ticket holders only; there is no free car park.
Parking Reservation
The paid car park is booked in advance at a Seven-Eleven or FamilyMart shop or through the CN Play Guide site.
Lodging Strategy
Stay in Joso City or along the Joso Line - the display is a single evening event on a riverbed reached by a local railway station, and the organiser provides no free parking, so a base in central Tokyo is not practical for the same night
English Access
Walk in to the free area; the sponsor seats and the paid car park are sold through the organiser site and the CN Play Guide in Japanese. Umbrellas cannot be used after the gate, so visitors are told to bring rain gear.
Cash Required
Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
Best Arrival
Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
Peak Crowd
At the 18:35 start of the firing and just after the gates open.

Tickets

Weather Policy

Rain
Held in rain
Decision Time
The decision on the day is made at 07:00 and a postponement or cancellation is posted on the organiser site at 08:00.
Postponement
In stormy weather the event is postponed and the new date is announced once it has been agreed. The decision on the day is made at 07:00 and a postponement or cancellation is posted on the organiser site at 08:00.
Wind Threshold
Not published - no wind limit is given in the sources checked
Typical Risks
Heavy rain in September and a rise in the Kinu river.
Weather Cancellation History
It rained on the day of the 2026 edition, and the organiser warned visitors about slippery ground and puddles.

Sources and verification

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