*This event has been cancelled! The 93rd Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition in Ibaraki

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Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition
The Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition is a historical fireworks display that marks its 93rd anniversary this year, and is held every autumn along the Sakuragawa River that flows through Tsuchiura City. The Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition is an event where visitors can enjoy artistic fireworks displays by the nation's top pyrotechnicians. This fall, why not enjoy the beautiful fireworks blooming in the night sky of Tsuchiura?

One of the "Three Greatest Fireworks Festivals in Japan

The Tsuchiura National Fireworks Festival began in 1925 as a memorial service for the fallen soldiers of the Kasumigaura Naval Air Squadron, which was located in Kasumigaura at the time, to promote the local shopping district after the Great Kanto Earthquake, and to express gratitude for the autumn harvest and to comfort farmers. Today, it is one of the "Three Great Fireworks Festivals of Japan" along with "Omagari Fireworks (National Fireworks Competition)" in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture and "Nagaoka Festival Fireworks Festival" in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, and is known as one of Japan's representative firework festivals. At the Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition, fireworks of various sizes are shot off, from a No. 2.5 ball (7.5 cm in diameter) to a No. 10 ball (30 cm in diameter), with the No. 10 ball shooting up into the night sky with a diameter of about 300 m, making it a very powerful fireworks display.
Large fireworks reflected on the surface of the lake

A huge bloom of flowers blooms in the autumn night sky watched by 600,000 people.

The Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition is held in the fall, not the summer when other fireworks shows are usually held, because it was held at a different time of the year in the past to avoid overlap with other fireworks shows. The competition features the latest techniques of pyrotechnicians from all over the country and a powerful wide starmine display, and the convenient access from the Tokyo metropolitan area attracts about 600,000 spectators a night to Tsuchiura City, which has a population of about 140,000. From specially set up pavilions by the Sakura River and from all parts of the city, people watch the fireworks display one after another in the autumn sky.
At the Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition, you can enjoy "competitions" in three categories and "entertainment fireworks (tentative)" in which various types of fireworks are shot off.
Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition in 2023

The stage for the competition among pyrotechnicians in three categories

Tsuchiura's fireworks competition is said to be the competition to determine the "best Starmine in Japan," and the pyrotechnicians invest a lot of time and effort to bring in a special Starmine with Tsuchiura specifications, combining hundreds of various types of fireworks. The powerful, colorful fireworks, which are shot off at an exquisite tempo and with exquisite timing, are a sight to behold and captivate the hearts of the spectators.
Various types of fireworks are shot off
In addition to the "Starmine" category, in the "No. 10 Ball" category, contestants compete on the basis of their work matching the name of the ball, the parent star and core star forming a regular circle in the case of chrysanthemum-shaped fireworks, and the arrangement and clarity of the stars. In the "Creative Fireworks Category", contestants compete with their original ideas and new techniques such as timing of launching, coloring and clarity of stars, and variety of changes. This is a once-a-year competition not only for spectators, but also for pyrotechnicians from all over Japan, who aim to win the Prime Minister's Award and other prizes.
Over the course of more than two hours, several fireworks in each category will be shot off at different times, and the total number of fireworks shot off is said to be about 20,000, including the entertainment fireworks that will be shot off in between.
Colorful fireworks

Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition Details

Date, time, and location

Date: Saturday, November 2, 2024, 5:30 p.m., scheduled to end at 8:00 p.m.
(In case of stormy weather, the event will be postponed to Sunday, November 3 or Saturday, November 9.
Location: Sakuragawa River, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture (near Gakuen Ohashi Bridge)

About the paid parking lot

In order to reduce parking congestion and traffic congestion in the surrounding roads, the 93rd Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at the paid parking lot. The parking lots for the 93rd Tsuchiura National Fireworks Festival will be reserved in advance in order to alleviate parking congestion and traffic congestion on the surrounding roads. Please note that advance reservations are required for paid parking as follows:
1 Reservations start: 12:00 (noon), Tuesday, October 1, 2024 Reservations by order of application
2 Reservation method: Internet reservation through the dedicated website (Parking Lot Reservation Service (akippa)
3 Parking fee: 3,000 yen per car *A 10% service charge will be added to the reservation.
4No. of parking spaces: approx. 1,000
5Parking available: Saturday, November 2, 2024, 11:00-22:00 (if postponed, on the day of the event)
For more information about advance reservations for parking lots, please visit
For the website for advance reservations for parking lots, please visit
Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition Executive Committee's official website

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