Kuwana’s summer, with dazzling fireworks over the waterside scenery of the Ibi River
Kuwana Suigo Fireworks Festival
The 2026 edition of Kuwana Suigo Fireworks Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/25Ended
- Season / frequency
- The last Saturday of July / Once a year
- Location
- Along the Ibi River (Nabeya-zutsumi)
- Area
- Mie Prefecture・Kuwana City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · bullet train + connecting train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Paid. Prices were listed from 2,000 yen to 50,000 yen depending on the seating type. Same-day tickets for the riverside area were 3,000 yen.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This fireworks festival in Kuwana makes use of the Ibi River’s width and waterside scenery, with two-shaku fireworks and displays synchronized with music lighting up the night sky.
About Kuwana Suigo Fireworks Festival
The Kuwana Suigo Fireworks Festival is held along the Ibi River in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture.
It began in 1934 to commemorate the completion of Ise Ohashi Bridge, and has continued to the present day after a temporary interruption during the war.
In keeping with Kuwana’s character as a waterside town, the festival makes use of the river’s width and depth, launching fireworks from a river island.
It is an event where visitors can experience the area’s history and the scenery of the Ibi River on a summer night.
Source: 桑名水郷花火大会 | イベント | 観光三重(かんこうみえ) / 三重県の花火大会特集【2026年版】スケジュール・開催場所など人気の花火大会を紹介します | 特集 | 観光三重(かんこうみえ)
Festival highlights
Highlights include around 10,000 fireworks and two-shaku fireworks, said to be among the largest in the Tokai region.
The huge two-shaku fireworks offer an especially powerful experience at this venue, where the viewing area is close to the launch site.
Visitors can also enjoy musical fireworks launched to music, as well as starmines that unfold in rapid succession.
In 2026, a light show featuring 500 LED-equipped drones was also planned.
Source: 桑名水郷花火大会2026 / 桑名水郷花火大会2026年の日程は？チケットの販売はある？見どころやアクセス、駐車場マップなど徹底解説🎇 | 取材レポート | 観光三重(かんこうみえ)
Kuwana’s summer, with dazzling fireworks over the waterside scenery of the Ibi River
What to expect
Visitors watch fireworks illuminating the night sky and river from the viewing area along the Ibi River.
The program features musical displays combining music and fireworks, as well as starmines, followed by two-shaku fireworks in the second half.
In 2026, food trucks were scheduled to be at the venue, and visitors were also told they could enjoy dishes from local restaurants.
A ticket for a paid seat is required to watch; viewing positions and capacity vary by seating type.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the fireworks, but in 2026 all viewing areas were announced as ticketed, with tickets required for entry.
Seating options include chairs, spaces with capacity limits, riverside areas, and pool areas.
Spaces for wheelchair users were scheduled to be provided within the areas covered by each ticket type, and accompanying visitors also needed tickets.
This is an event to attend as a spectator, not an opportunity to participate as a fireworks performer.
In 2026, an advance lottery sale for local residents was held, followed by a planned general sale.
The general sale was announced to begin at 5 p.m. on May 27, and tickets may sell out during the advance sale for local residents.
The official website provides details for each seating type and information on purchasing tickets.
The official website listed same-day tickets for the riverside area at 3,000 yen.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Along the Ibi River (Nabeya-zutsumi), Kuwana, Mie Prefecture.
- Train and bus
About an 18-minute walk from Kuwana Station on the JR, Kintetsu, and Yoro Railway lines, and about an 18-minute walk from Nishi-Kuwana Station on the Sangi Hokusei Line.
- By car
About 15 minutes from Kuwana IC on the Higashi-Meihan Expressway and about 15 minutes from Wangan-Kuwana IC on the Isewangan Expressway.
Visitors are advised to use public transportation because of traffic restrictions and congestion around the venue.
- Parking
Temporary paid parking was listed at locations including elementary school grounds, but parking was sold out in 2026.
As an alternative viewing location, the parking lot at Nabana no Sato can be used by purchasing an admission ticket for each person.
Address Kuwana, Mie Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
The 2026 event was scheduled for July 25 (Saturday), from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The event goes ahead in light rain and is canceled in severe weather. It was also announced that if canceled, it was scheduled to be held in autumn.
The fireworks festival is described as an annual event held on the last Saturday of July.
It was announced that whether the event would go ahead would be decided after 7 a.m. on the day.
Source: 桑名水郷花火大会 - Wikipedia
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Mie Prefecture / Kuwana City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Traffic restrictions will be in effect around the venue, and heavy congestion is expected, so visitors are advised to use public transportation.
In 2026, traffic restrictions were in effect from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., and from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. in some areas.
There are temporary toilets within the viewing area, but few public toilets between the station and the venue. For peace of mind, use the facilities at your departure station or elsewhere before you arrive.
Visitors are asked to take home any rubbish they produce at the venue or nearby.
Nearby attractions
Nearby spots listed include Sumiyoshiura, the Sumiyoshiura rest facility, the site of the Shichiri Ferry crossing, the old Tokaido route in Kuwana, Moroto Garden, and Rokkaen.
This area offers people interested in Kuwana’s waterfront, old highways, and historic buildings a convenient choice of places to visit before or after enjoying the fireworks along the Ibi River.
Other facilities listed among nearby spots include Kakiyasu Honten and Kuwana Sosha (Kasuga Shrine).
Check each facility’s operating status and admission requirements individually before visiting.
ナガシマスパーランド
三重県桑名市にある娯楽施設
写真：Hideyuki KAMON from Takarazuka / 宝塚市, Hyogo / 兵庫県, Japan / 日本 / CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo source ·
Tado Taisha Shrine
三重県桑名市にある神社
写真：Ohaguro / おはぐろ蜻蛉 at Japanese Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source ·
桑名宗社
三重県桑名市にある神社
Origins and History of Kuwana Suigo Fireworks Festival
The Kuwana Suigo Fireworks Festival began in 1934 (Showa 9) to commemorate the completion of Ise Ohashi Bridge.
It was temporarily suspended during the war, but later resumed and has continued as the festival held today.
Launching fireworks from a river island in the Ibi River makes use of the river’s width and depth, reflecting Kuwana’s character as a waterside town.
This fireworks festival has grown from a historic milestone, developing in connection with the distinctive waterside character of the area.
Official information
Official information about the Kuwana Suigo Fireworks Festival is available on the Kuwana City website and the festival’s official website.
The festival website provides information about the 2026 viewing seats, venue, access, visitor guidelines, and ticket purchases.
Kuwana Suigo Fireworks Festival at a Glance
The Kuwana Suigo Fireworks Festival is a summer event where visitors can enjoy large-scale fireworks against the waterside scenery along the Ibi River.
For 2026, the program announced for July 25 included around 10,000 fireworks, two-shaku fireworks, and musical fireworks, with paid seating in the viewing area.
You can walk to the venue from Kuwana Station and other stations, but traffic restrictions and congestion make it important to plan your journey in advance.
You can visit alongside the waterside scenery and nearby historic sites.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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