Welcome to TOKYO BEAT – a special series by your trusty Tokyo Tourism Representative (New York Office) that aims to provide you with story ideas and inspiration. Hana (Flower) Bi (Fire), or fire flowers, is an evocative description of fireworks that captures the Japanese approach to what is a universally popular pyrotechnic event for people of many cultures and countries. Tokyoites take their fireworks seriously, as it is emblematic of the summer season.
The Festivals Tokyo is one of the few places in Japan where fireworks festivals are held all throughout the summer. Some are large, like the 40-year-old Adachi Fireworks Festival (Jul 21), which launches 13,600 fireworks along the picnic-blanket friendly banks of the Arakawa River. More intimate events like Showa Kinen Park Fireworks Festival (Jul 28), presents about 5,000 fireworks, and draw attention for its cost performance, thanks to wide open views and a low entry fee. The 280-year-old Sumida River Fireworks Festival (Jul 28) is perhaps the biggest, a tradition that started during the famine in the early 1700’s as a way to alleviate the burden of the crisis. This one represents the cultural significance of festivals, which historically honored those who have passed on (like the lantern ceremonies of Obon), celebrated life, and simply provided entertainment. Today, nearly a million people gather by the waterfront to watch the night sky light up for 90-minutes with 20,000 fireworks launched from two locations. Some festivals are combined with concerts, such as the Jingu-Gaien Fireworks (Aug 11) – one of the few fireworks festivals held within metropolitan Tokyo, and launched from an urban oasis not unlike New York City’s Central Park. But when it comes to Edo tradition meeting contemporary Tokyo, few festivals match the ambition of Tokyo Fireworks Festival: Edomode (Aug 11) in Odaiba Seaside Park. With four companies joining forces to launch over 12,000 Hanabi, including a collaborative finale, this one stands out for its use of music and technology.
Top Vantage Points There are plenty of stunning vantage points throughout Tokyo neighborhoods, including open park spaces, ancient temples, local bridges. But some of the most exclusive and luxurious venues are ‘Yakatabune’ – Edo-inspired cruising boats that offer food, drinks, and entertainment as you float under the show. For a set price (USD $100-250), you can feast on tempura, sashimi and sake, and the 360-degree views of Tokyo are nothing to shake a stick at either. Yakatabune Harumiya Cruise is one of the oldest and well-respected companies, as is Shinagawa Yakatabune Funasei, and both are praised for their wonderful cuisine and amenities. Back on land, some of the of the most popular J-POP bands and musicians on the charts appear at the pre-fireworks show at Jingu Stadium (prior to Jingu-Gaien Fireworks), making it one of the hottest tickets in town. When it comes to viewing Hanabi at eye level, TOKYO SKYTREE, which soars above the city skyline, is a hard venue to beat. But don’t count out Tokyo’s finest hotels, either. Luxury accommodations like Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba and Park Hyatt Tokyo also offer views from high up, sometimes even direct from rooms (when booked wisely), along with restaurant and bar areas that include exceptional food and entertainment.
For more information regarding Hanabi festivals in Tokyo, contact press@tokyo-nyc.com or call 917-200-4887. For general information on traveling in Tokyo, head to TokyoTokyo.jp and Gotokyo.org/en/
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