Another summer festival in Japan is here! Underwater fireworks illuminate the night sky over World Heritage Site Miyajima

By Chen Guanxin, MOOK Travel Life Network, compiled and reported. Information provided by Moleskine Editorial Department

 

Fireworks are one of the most important summer festival events in Japan, and the Miyajima Underwater Fireworks Festival—one of Japan’s Top 100 Fireworks Displays—is the highlight of Hiroshima’s summer. For the people of Hiroshima, experiencing this underwater fireworks show is what truly marks the season. The 2012 Miyajima Underwater Fireworks Festival will take place at 19:50 on August 11, with an expected 5,300 fireworks launched, including 200 underwater fireworks. At that time, a riot of colorful fireworks will light up the night sky over Miyajima, one of Japan’s Three Great Views.

The fireworks in Miyajima are called the Underwater Fireworks Festival because they are launched from boats out at sea. Though they can also be enjoyed from Hiroshima Port, most people choose to cross over to Miyajima to witness the coexistence of the bright red O-torii gate of the World Heritage Site Itsukushima Shrine and the beautiful fireworks firsthand. Last year’s fireworks festival attracted about 300,000 visitors. Although the show begins at night, early in the morning, every ferry or high-speed boat heading to Miyajima carries significantly more passengers than usual. Once ashore, along the path from the dock to Itsukushima Shrine, various summer festival stalls—yatai—spring up, offering everything from takoyaki and cotton candy to goldfish scooping, creating a lively summer market. Girls don colorful summer yukata and happily stroll among the stalls or play in the cool streams.

 

With over six hours until the nighttime fireworks begin, the prime spots in front of the O-torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine are long claimed, leaving not even a small patch of empty space—most occupied by seasoned photography enthusiasts, whose neatly lined-up tripods form a spectacular and amusing sight. Paid reserved seating, while closer, doesn’t always offer the best angle due to the positioning relative to the torii. For those with a larger budget, another option is to enjoy the beautiful fireworks display from a boat at sea. Additionally, as tides are unpredictable, if you’re lucky enough to catch the show during low tide, you might even be able to walk into the shallows for an even closer view—even without securing a prime spot in advance.

At 19:50 in the evening, the broadcast announcing the start of the fireworks goes out on schedule. Since Itsukushima Shrine has historical ties to the Taira clan of Japan’s past, the theme of the underwater fireworks is woven around historical narratives, recounting the history of the Taira and Minamoto clans, the Genpei War, and the mythical tale of the tragic hero Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Over the course of the one-hour fireworks show, following the theme, scene after scene unfolds, with over 5,000 fireworks bursting forth above Miyajima, each one more stunning than the last. Each year, fireworks designers rack their brains to create many specially shaped fireworks, from Miyajima’s local specialties such as wooden spoons and torii gates, to hearts, Doraemon, and Pikachu, all blooming in the night sky.

The fireworks are launched from the sea. To secure the best viewing angle, check the position of the fireworks boats in advance, along with the day’s tide times, and arrive at Miyajima early to claim your spot. The wait can be long, so it’s best to prepare food and drinks beforehand. Since Miyajima can only be reached from Hiroshima City by ferry or boat, the return trip can be crowded. It’s recommended to buy round-trip boat tickets in advance. Although various ferry companies will operate extra services, you may still have to queue for 2–3 hours to get on board.

 

● Read more: Summer Fireworks and Yukata Festival – Sendai Tanabata Matsuri Kicks Off on August 6

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