A national fireworks competition where pyrotechnicians showcase their skills beneath Yatsushiro’s autumn sky
Yatsushiro National Fireworks Competition
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/17Cancelled
- Season / frequency
- Usually, the 3rd Saturday of October / Held annually
- Location
- Kuma River Riverside Green Space, Yatsushiro City (upstream of Shin-Hagiwara Bridge)
- Area
- Kumamoto Prefecture・Yatsushiro City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 50 min–2 h 10 min · flight time only)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
- The 2026 event has been cancelled, and sales of paid viewing seats have been suspended.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This fireworks event is held at the Kuma River Riverside Green Space in Yatsushiro City, where fireworks companies from across Japan compete to showcase their skills. The 39th event in 2026 was canceled due to the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake.
About Yatsushiro National Fireworks Competition
The Yatsushiro National Fireworks Competition is a nationwide fireworks competition held at the Kuma River Riverside Green Space in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
In addition to competition fireworks, in which fireworks companies from across Japan compete to showcase their skills, the event features displays combining music and fireworks as well as sponsored fireworks.
This event brightens Yatsushiro’s autumn and also contributes to the development of local tourism and commerce.
Source: やつしろ全国花火競技大会 | イベント | 【公式】八代市観光ポータルサイト きなっせやつしろ / やつしろ全国花火競技大会 - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
The highlight is the competition fireworks, in which fireworks companies from across Japan compete to showcase their skills.
Competition categories include 5-go and 10-go fireworks and starmines, and the event proceeds company by company.
Sponsored fireworks and music-synchronized fireworks are also incorporated between and around the competition, offering a program where visitors can enjoy fireworks displays and music together.
A national fireworks competition where pyrotechnicians showcase their skills beneath Yatsushiro’s autumn sky
What to expect
At the event, visitors watch competition fireworks submitted by fireworks companies from across Japan and compare each company’s skills.
The competition does not take place all at once by category; instead, it proceeds company by company.
Sponsored fireworks and music-synchronized fireworks are presented before, after, and during the competition, making this an evening event centered on fireworks.
How to take part
The 2026 event has been cancelled, so general visitors cannot attend.
Normally, spectators enjoy a competition where fireworks companies from across Japan compete to showcase their skills.
No information is provided on how to compete as an independent fireworks artist or whether there are general-entry places for anyone other than exhibitors.
Source: 第39回やつしろ全国花火競技大会 |
Location and access
- Venue and address
Yatsushiro City Kuma River Riverside Green Space (upstream of Shin-Hagiwara Bridge).
The address is 1303 Watari-machi, Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
The 2026 event has been canceled.
- Train and bus
It is a 10-minute walk from JR Yatsushiro Station or Hisatsu Orange Railway Yatsushiro Station.
Crowds are usually expected around the venue, so the use of public transportation is also recommended.
- By car
Directions are provided to drive from either Yatsushiro IC or Yatsushiro-minami IC on the Kyushu Expressway to temporary parking lots in the city, then walk or take a shuttle bus to the venue.
- Parking
Due to the cancellation of the 2026 event, parking sales have also been suspended.
Under the usual guidance, paid parking with advance reservations is provided.
Source: 第39回やつしろ全国花火競技大会の開催情報【2026年】 - ウェザーニュース
Address 1303 Watari-machi, Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 39th event in 2026 was scheduled to be held on October 17 (Sat.) from 18:00 to 20:30, but was canceled due to the effects of the earthquake.
There are no scheduled dates for the event, including any postponement.
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 Kumamoto Prefecture / Yatsushiro City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
As the 2026 event has been canceled, you cannot plan to visit the venue.
When the event is usually held, the area around the venue is crowded, and the guidance states that no general parking is provided within the venue.
If traveling by car, you need to check the conditions for using the temporary parking lots and shuttle buses in advance.
Nearby attractions
Nearby tourist attractions listed around the event venue include Yohai Hachinoji Square, Shunkoji Temple, and Yatsushiro Shrine (Myoken-gu).
The Yatsushiro Folk Performing Arts Heritage Center (Omatsuri Denden-kan) and Kuma Nan Station are also listed as places to visit nearby.
Check each facility’s information for its distance from the venue, walking time, and operating status.
八代宮
熊本県八代市にある神社
八代市立博物館・未来の森ミュージアム
熊本県八代市にある博物館
松浜軒
熊本県八代市にある、熊本藩家老松井家の邸宅と庭園
Origins and History of Yatsushiro National Fireworks Competition
The event has continued as a competition in which fireworks companies from across Japan compete to showcase their skills.
The 29th event in 2016 was held about six months after the Kumamoto earthquake and featured special fireworks praying for recovery, offering support to those affected, and wishing peace for those who lost their lives.
The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 39th event in 2026 was also canceled due to the Kumamoto earthquake.
Source: 2026年 | 第39回やつしろ全国花火競技大会
Official information
Official information about the event is available on the Yatsushiro National Fireworks Competition official website.
In 2026, in addition to the cancellation notice, information is also posted about refunds for tickets won in the lottery sale and already paid for.
Yatsushiro National Fireworks Competition at a Glance
The Yatsushiro National Fireworks Competition is an event where fireworks companies from across Japan compete to showcase their skills at the Kuma River Riverside Green Space in Yatsushiro City.
Highlights include competition fireworks, sponsored fireworks, and music-synchronized fireworks, but the 39th event in 2026 was canceled due to the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake.
Check official announcements for information on the next event and viewing arrangements.
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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