Handheld fireworks from Arai’s tradition, with pillars of fire and resounding festival music
Sarutahiko Fireworks
The 2026 edition of Sarutahiko Fireworks has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/25Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year, on a Saturday in late July / Every year
- Location
- Arai Junior High School Grounds
- Area
- Shizuoka Prefecture・Kosai City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h–1 h 30 min · bullet 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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Sarutahiko Fireworks are handheld fireworks from the Enshu Arai tradition, passed down in Arai, Arai-cho, Kosai City. The valiant sight of men parading with fireworks amid showers of sparks, accompanied by drums and conch-shell music, lights up the summer night.
About Sarutahiko Fireworks
The Sarutahiko Fireworks are a traditional handheld-fireworks event passed down in Arai, Arai-cho, Kosai City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Among the Enshu Arai fireworks dedicated to Suwa Shrine, they are known as a distinctive segment guided by Sarutahiko-no-Kami.
Men carry handheld fireworks as they parade through the streets to the music of drums and conch shells and to calls of encouragement.
The festival offers a close-up look at Arai’s traditional culture and the techniques and movements involved in handling fire.
Source: 7月25日(土) 東海道の奇祭『諏訪神社奉納煙火』｜湖西・新居観光協会【公式】 / 遠州新居の手筒花火（諏訪神社祭典奉納煙火）ご案内
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the Sarutahiko Fireworks, when dozens of pillars of fire shoot up at once.
As sparks rain down, men carrying fireworks dance and parade to calls of encouragement, while the sounds of drums and conch shells fill the air.
The spectacle is defined not only by the light of the fireworks, but also by their thunderous sound and the smell of gunpowder.
Before the fireworks, the “Nerikomi” parade also takes place, bringing the large-tube fireworks float from the town to the venue.
Source: アーツカウンシルしずおか ARTS COUNCIL SHIZUOKA
Handheld fireworks from Arai’s tradition, with pillars of fire and resounding festival music
What to expect
The festival begins with the “Nerikomi” parade, in which young men from each district bring the large-tube fireworks float to the venue to the music of drums and flutes; the fireworks are presented at night.
At the Sarutahiko Fireworks, men wearing various costumes carry handheld fireworks and parade through showers of sparks, their calls of encouragement ringing out.
Dedicated festival music played on drums and conch shells is also performed, making it possible to enjoy the fireworks and music as part of one unified procession.
How to take part
The parade carrying handheld fireworks is conducted by preservation groups and local participants.
Visitors attend to watch the Sarutahiko Fireworks and festival music presented at the venue.
No information has been provided on whether general visitors can take part as fireworks performers, or on any advance registration or conditions.
Source: 文化財一覧／湖西市
Location and access
- Venue and address
Arai Junior High School grounds (around Arai, Arai-cho, Kosai City)
- Train and bus
About a 20-minute walk west from Arai-machi Station on the JR Tokaido Main Line, in the direction of the Arai Checkpoint.
- Parking
There is no parking.
Visitors are advised to use public transportation.
Event venue 静岡県湖西市 新居中学校グランド
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 event was scheduled for July 25 (Saturday), with the fireworks due to start at around 7:15 p.m.
Before the fireworks, the parade known as “Nerikomi,” led by young men from each district, was highlighted as a must-see from shortly after 5 p.m.
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 Shizuoka Prefecture / Kosai City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
There is no parking at the venue, so visitors are advised to use public transportation.
Hand-held fireworks produce flying sparks, loud noises, and the smell of gunpowder. At the venue, follow the instructions of staff and local guides, and watch from a safe place.
The fireworks were scheduled to begin at around 7:15 p.m. in 2026.
Nearby attractions
Arai, Arai-cho, where the venue is located, has historical and cultural sites such as the Arai Checkpoint Ruins, the Arai Checkpoint Museum, the Arai-juku Hatago Kinokuniya, and the former Komatsuro Main Building.
The Arai Checkpoint Ruins are listed in Kosai City’s cultural properties list, and the Arai-juku Hatago Kinokuniya and the former Komatsuro Main Building are also introduced as cultural properties in Arai, Arai-cho.
Along with the festival, visitors can explore the local history connected with Arai-juku and the checkpoint.
Origins and History of Sarutahiko Fireworks
The Enshu Arai handheld fireworks, including the Sarutahiko Fireworks, are a traditional event that has continued for about 300 years, since the Edo period.
The year it began is unclear, but records from the Jokyo era mention fireworks being set off at Suwa Shrine.
It is said that the techniques for making fireworks and the procedures for lighting them were passed down in Arai-juku alongside the lives of people involved in the checkpoint and ferry crossings.
Official information
The 2026 event information is posted on the official website of the Kosai-Arai Tourism Association.
The Sarutahiko Fireworks are also listed in Kosai City’s cultural properties list.
Sarutahiko Fireworks at a Glance
The Sarutahiko Fireworks are a traditional handheld-fireworks event passed down in Arai, Arai-cho, Kosai City.
To the sound of drums and conch shells and spirited calls, men carry handheld fireworks as they parade through showers of sparks.
The Nerikomi parade before the fireworks is another highlight. In 2026, the event was scheduled to be held at Arai Junior High School grounds on July 25.
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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