Fireworks festivals Hanabi taikai vs hanabi matsuri: what is the difference?
The difference between hanabi taikai and hanabi matsuri in Japan — what each term means, what kind of experience to expect, and which to look for as a visitor.
Fireworks festivals
Fireworks festivals Fireworks festivals Best fireworks festivals in Kyushu: a ranked guide for visitors
A ranked guide to the best fireworks festivals in Kyushu — Chikugogawa, Yatsushiro, Kagoshima Kinkowan, Kanmon Strait, Huis Ten Bosch and more. How they compare for visitors.
Fireworks festivals What to eat in Hakata before or after a Fukuoka fireworks festival
Where to eat in Hakata (Fukuoka) before or after a fireworks festival — Hakata ramen, motsu nabe, and the permanent outdoor yatai stalls unique to the city.
Fireworks festivals “Tamaya!” — the cheer at Japanese fireworks and the history behind it
The origin of the "Tamaya!" shout at Japanese fireworks — the Edo-era rivalry between two pyrotechnic families, and what it tells you about Japanese fireworks culture.
Fireworks festivals Types of Japanese fireworks: a visual guide to what you’re watching
A guide to the main types of Japanese fireworks — chrysanthemum, peony, willow, kamuro and more — so you know what you're watching at a hanabi festival.
Fireworks festivals Chikugogawa Fireworks Festival: West Japan’s biggest, near Fukuoka
Chikugogawa Fireworks Festival in Kurume — one of West Japan's largest, with a 360-year history and around 18,000 shells over the river.
Fireworks festivals Kagoshima fireworks: shows against the Sakurajima volcano
Kagoshima's fireworks use the active Sakurajima volcano as a backdrop. A guide to the summer Kinko Bay festival and the spring Sakurajima Art Fireworks.
Fireworks festivals Kanmon Strait Fireworks Festival: Kyushu’s biggest fireworks
A guide to the Kanmon Strait Fireworks Festival near Kitakyushu — Kyushu's biggest, with ~15,000 shells fired across the strait from Moji and Shimonoseki.
Fireworks festivals Fireworks festivals in Fukuoka & Kyushu: a traveler’s guide (2026)
A traveler's guide to summer fireworks festivals (hanabi) in Fukuoka and Kyushu — what they are, when they happen, the biggest festivals, and how to plan your trip.
Fireworks festivals Beppu fireworks festival: summer fireworks in Japan’s top onsen town
Beppu is Japan's most famous hot spring town — it pumps out more hot spring water than anywhere else in the country. In ...