Combining traditional and modern fireworks for an explosive weekend
Every year, the city of Toyohashi puts on a three-day fireworks display that blows all other local demonstrations out of the water.
Quick Facts
Toyohashi Gion Festival is held on the third Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of July
It is one of the largest fireworks festivals in the Higashi-Mikawa area
How to Get There
Around 20 minutes walk from Toyohashi Station, Yoshida Shrine is accessible by train.
Head to Toyohashi by bullet train from Nagoya Station . It takes about 30 minutes. Alternatively, catch the rapid train for a cheaper option. This takes closer to an hour.
Handheld fireworks
Over three days in Toyohashi, you can experience different displays of local culture, each as spectacular as the next.
Handheld tezutsu fireworks kick the celebrations off on Friday night in front of the altar of Yoshida Shrine where they are believed to have started around the 12th and 13th centuries. Parishioners from eight local neighborhoods set off these dramatic firework cannons, a cascade of flame shooting 10 meters into the air and showering the holders with their glowing embers.
Around 12,000 fireworks are set off
The next evening, continue the celebrations along the banks of the Toyo River. Enjoy the local festival food, relax and watch in amazement as some 12,000 fireworks light up the night sky.
Traditional cultural experiences
While lacking some of the bang of the previous two, the final day is no less compelling. Throughout the day, watch local traditional dance performances, including the Bamboo Grass Dance specific to this region, and a parade of mikoshi shrines.
While you are in the area, you should certainly pay a visit to Yoshida Castle in Toyohashi Park, a 10-minute walk from Yoshida-jinja Shrine.
* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.