Sendai River Fireworks Festival
川内川花火大会
Sendai River Fireworks Festival is a fireworks festival held in Kagoshima. Date: 16 August every year; 16 August (Sun) in 2026. Total shells: about 約1万. Attendance: 約8万人. No. 68
Event essentials
Headline stats
- Total Shells
- 約1万
- Duration
- 50 min
- Nights
- 1 night(s)
- Attendance
- 約8万人
- Largest Shell
- The giant Niagara, 1,000 metres long
- Founding Year
- 1959
Signature Sequences
- 01The shells are fired on the riverbed of the Sendai River, one of the three great rivers of Kyushu
- 02A one-kilometre Niagara that crosses the river
- 03A 3,000-shell salvo in the finale
- 04Fireworks and music performed together
- 05Three pyrotechnics companies compete with their own styles and skills
- 06Donation boxes are set up and sponsorship is collected from 50,000 yen per unit
Venue & Access
- Time Window
- 19:40-20:30 in 2026 (scheduled)
- Venue
- The Sendai River riverbed, between Saikai-machi and Ooshoji-machi, Satsumasendai City
- Address
- The Sendai River riverbed between Saikai-machi and Ooshoji-machi, Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture 31.823945°N, 130.276445°E
- Venue Size
- The Sendai River riverbed, about 1.3 km end to end on foot
- Venue Floor Type
- A riverbed, the Sendai River riverbed
- Gates Open
- Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
- Paid-Seat Holder Entry
- Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
- Spectator Capacity
- About 80,000 (the planned crowd for 2026)
- Launch Company
- 西日本花火（株）・（有）六葉煙火・（株）太洋花火（3社）
- Production Company
- 西日本花火（株）・（有）六葉煙火・（株）太洋花火（3社）
- Sponsor
- Organiser: the Sendai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which also runs the fireworks committee. Sponsorship is collected from companies and individuals from 50,000 yen per unit.
Access
Venue map
View on Google MapsFrom major cities
- From Tokyo
- About two hours and forty minutes by Tokaido Shinkansen from Shinjuku to Kagoshima, then to Sendai station. The display finishes around 20:30, so an overnight stay is worth considering.
- From Osaka
- About three hours from Osaka to Kagoshima, then to Sendai station.
- From Sendai
- About one hour and forty minutes by Shinkansen to Kagoshima, then the Kagoshima Main Line or the Hisatsu Orone Railway to Sendai station.
- Nearest Station
- JR Sendai station, about 1.3 km and fifteen minutes on foot to the Taihei bridge
- Nearest Shinkansen
- Sendai station on the Kagoshima Main Line and the Hisatsu Orone Railway
- Local Transit
- JR Kyushu and the Hisatsu Orone Railway run extra services. Sendai station is about 1.3 km and fifteen minutes on foot from the Taihei bridge on the river.
- Parking
- About 1,500 spaces in several car parks in the city (official page and fireworks database). In 2026 the official site announced that every space was full on the day.
- Parking Reservation
- There is no mention of advance booking for the about 1,500 temporary spaces.
- Lodging Strategy
- Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
- English Access
- The venue is on the Sendai River riverbed and requires a 1.3 km walk from the station. The guidance is in Japanese and the car parks fill early, so arrive by public transport and be at the venue fifteen minutes before the start.
- Cash Required
- Entry to the venue is free; the donation boxes and sponsorship are easiest handled in cash.
- Best Arrival
- Before 19:15, taking into account the 1.3 km walk and the early fill-up of the car parks.
- Peak Crowd
- The busiest moment is just before the 19:40 start, and the car parks fill early.
Tickets
- Seat Type
- No paid seats
- Price Range
- No paid seats; sponsorship from 50,000 yen a unit
- Seat Count
- No paid seats seats
- Sellout History
- Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
- Reservation
- Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
- Day-Of Ticket
- Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
Weather Policy
- Rain
- Postponed in stormy weather; the sources do not describe the rule for ordinary rain.
- Decision Time
- Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
- Postponement
- In stormy weather the display is postponed to Sunday 23 August 2026 (official page and fireworks database).
- Wind Threshold
- Not confirmed in the sources checked (2026-10-20 pass)
- Typical Risks
- Mid-August is exposed to typhoons and heavy rain. In stormy weather the display is postponed to 23 August.
- Weather Cancellation History
- In stormy weather the display is postponed to Sunday 23 August. No past cancellation record appears in the sources checked.