A story of lanterns illuminating the sea and fireworks lighting up Tsuruga’s night sky
Lantern Floating and Grand Fireworks Festival
The 2026 edition of Lantern Floating and Grand Fireworks Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/16Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on August 16 / Every year
- Location
- Kehi no Matsubara Scenic Area (Kehi no Matsubara Beach)
- Area
- Fukui Prefecture・Tsuruga City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 50 min–3 h 20 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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Some seating is paid. Residents’ seats: 1,500 yen; general seats: 3,500 yen.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A summer event in Tsuruga, with lantern floating followed by a grand fireworks display along the coast at Kehi no Matsubara.
About Lantern Floating and Grand Fireworks Festival
The Lantern Floating and Grand Fireworks Festival is a summer event held at the scenic Kehi no Matsubara in Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, featuring lantern floating followed by fireworks.
Lanterns illuminate the water, followed by fireworks launched over the sea.
The lantern floating, which honors those who died in war and ancestors, and fireworks that light up the sea and sky come together to create a distinctive night on Tsuruga’s coast.
Held annually on August 16.
Festival highlights
Highlights include colorful lanterns floated out to sea to the sound of sutra chanting, followed by the grand fireworks display.
Fireworks include aerial fireworks, star mines, fireworks launched from the water, message fireworks, personal fireworks, animal-shaped fireworks, and artistic fireworks.
According to the 2026 information, about 10,000 fireworks are scheduled to be launched in a program themed around Tsuruga’s history, under the theme “Tsuruga Fireworks Story.”
A story of lanterns illuminating the sea and fireworks lighting up Tsuruga’s night sky
What to expect
The event begins with the lantern floating at 6:30 p.m. Lanterns are floated out to sea as several monks chant sutras.
The fireworks display then begins at 7:30 p.m., lighting up the night sky and sea with aerial fireworks, star mines, and fireworks launched from the water.
In 2026, the program was to center on “Tsuruga Fireworks Story,” depicting Tsuruga’s history through fireworks. The event was to be canceled in severe weather and held in light rain.
Source: とうろう流しと大花火大会 - Wikipedia
How to take part
You can watch the fireworks, but the 2026 information says that some seating is paid.
Lanterns for the floating ceremony are sold in advance, so you can purchase one and entrust it to the memorial ceremony.
Message fireworks are a participatory program inviting people to submit a message they wish to share. A separate participation fee is required, and entries are selected by lottery if there are too many applicants.
According to the 2026 information, seats cost 1,500 yen for residents and 3,500 yen for the general public, with online applications accepted from June 15 to July 28.
To take part in the lantern floating, purchase a lantern in advance.
The number of places for message fireworks is limited, and applicants are selected by lottery if there are too many.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kehi no Matsubara Scenic Area (Kehi no Matsubara Beach), Matsushima-cho, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture.
- Train and bus
From JR Tsuruga Station, take the community bus on the Matsubara Line for about 12–18 minutes to the Kehi no Matsubara stop, then walk about 5 minutes.
A taxi takes about 10 minutes from JR Tsuruga Station.
The 2026 information also says that free shuttle buses are scheduled to operate.
- By car
Use a temporary parking lot in Tsuruga City; vehicle access around the venue is restricted.
Free shuttle buses are scheduled to operate from near the temporary parking lots.
- Parking
Use a temporary parking lot in Tsuruga City.
For 2026, information is provided for about 2,000 parking spaces at nearby lots, including Tsuruga City General Sports Park.
Address Matsushima-cho, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Event Information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 event was scheduled for August 16 (Sunday), with the lantern floating starting at 6:30 p.m. and the fireworks display scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
The event is canceled in severe weather and held in light rain.
The event is also held annually on August 16.
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 Fukui Prefecture / Tsuruga City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The area around the venue gets crowded on the day of the event, and vehicle access and traffic on nearby roads are restricted.
As cars and motorcycles may not enter the venue directly, if you are driving, plan to use a temporary parking lot and shuttle bus.
The event is canceled in severe weather; the 2026 information says it will proceed in light rain.
Nearby attractions
みなとつるが山車会館
福井県敦賀市にある博物館
人道の港敦賀ムゼウム
福井県敦賀市にある資料館
敦賀市立博物館
福井県敦賀市にある博物館
旧敦賀港駅舎
福井県敦賀市にある建築物
氣比神宮
福井県敦賀市にある神社
紙わらべ資料館
福井県敦賀市にある、高木栄子の和紙人形を展示する美術館
金ヶ崎緑地
福井県敦賀市にある海浜公園
Kanegasaki Shrine
福井県敦賀市にある神社
Origins and History of Lantern Floating and Grand Fireworks Festival
The festival began in 1950 (Showa 25) to commemorate those who died in war.
Since then, the event has been held once a year on August 16, continuing the tradition of holding the fireworks display after the lantern floating.
The event was canceled for 5 consecutive years from 2019 to 2023 due to typhoons, COVID-19, and other factors, but resumed in 2024 with a backup date in place.
Official information
Event information is available on the official Tsuruga Tourism Association website.
Details for the 77th festival in 2026 include its theme, date and time, venue, number of fireworks, and access.
The Tsuruga City website also lists the Lantern Floating and Grand Fireworks Festival on August 16 among its main events.
Source: 観光誘客課 - 敦賀市ホームページ（観光誘客課）
Lantern Floating and Grand Fireworks Festival at a Glance
The Lantern Floating and Grand Fireworks Festival is a summer event in Tsuruga, where you can enjoy lantern floating followed by fireworks along the coast at Kehi no Matsubara.
In 2026, the lantern floating was scheduled for August 16 from 6:30 p.m., followed by the fireworks display at 7:30 p.m., with about 10,000 fireworks planned.
Crowds and traffic restrictions are expected around the venue, so plan ahead, including how you will travel by public transportation or from a temporary parking lot.
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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