Wish upon a firework

Posted on 2012/08/05. Used Event, Traditional, Travel.
Categorized as Japan

During this time of year, there are a lot of firework displays in any place in Japan. Nagaoka Matsuri (長岡まつり), one of the three biggest firework displays in Japan is very famous as an impressive event. Nagaoka Matsuri, which originated in 1946 as a representing people’s wishes for the recovery from World War II, is held in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture every year. Since the firework display started, it has themed on reconstruction of not only the war, but also various disasters including 2004 Chūetsu earthquake and 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

To Nagaoka, it takes about two hours from Tokyo by shinkansen. Around the gate of shinkansen’s platform is always full of many people.

Shinkansen's gate in Tokyo Station

I bought an Ekiben (駅弁) that is a boxed meal sold at stations and on trains. This is my certain routine before I get on shinkansen. Ekiben is one of the attractions of domestic travel in Japan, and there are hundreds of ekiben in Tokyo Station.

Ekiben in Tokyo Station

Ekiben is ready. OK, let’s hit the road!

Shinkansen's platform in Tokyo Station

This shinkansen was all booked. Everybody is going to Nagaoka Matsuri.

Inside of shinkansen

Let’s dig in! Eating ekiben (and sometimes with can of beer) in shinkansen is the best thing to do.

ekiben

Here we are!

Nagaoka Station

Max Toki

Nagaoka Matsuri is held in the Shinano River (信濃川), and it takes about 15 minutes from Nagaoka Station by taxi or bus. Nagaoka is crowded with fireworks-goer, so I recommend that you arrive in plenty of time so that you would not be rushed. On this day, about 430,000 people visited here.

Nagaoka Matsuri charges for the riverside area.

People in Nagaoka Matsuri