If you are planning a summer trip to Japan, I’m sure a fireworks festival is already at the top of your travel bucket list. But, are you worried that your dates won’t really match up with any of the festivals? Don’t worry! I have a good idea to share;)
Inuyama fireworks run 10 nights in a row from August 1 to August 10, 2026. You can choose the date that works best for you and enjoy a classic Japanesey summer experience;) Plus, it’s not just fireworks, but a National Treasure, Inuyama Castle — said to be Japan’s oldest castle keep — comes as part of the package! Fireworks will light up the night sky, with the beautifully illuminated, nearly 500-year-old castle as the backdrop, and it’s just 30 mins away by train from Nagoya. How can you possibly miss that?;)
Long-Running Fireworks at Inuyama (2026)
Japan Rhine Summer Festival Long-Running Fireworks (Nihon Rhine Natsu-matsuri Long-run Hanabi/日本ライン夏まつり ロングラン花火) run August 1 to August 10, 2026 on the banks of the Kiso River, downstream of the Twin Bridges, on the Inuyama (Aichi) / Kakamigahara (Gifu) border. 200-300 fireworks per night, including star-mines, launched from boats on the river. The theme and colours change nightly.
Dates: August 1 (Sat) – August 10 (Mon), 2026 – ten nights in a row
Time: About 10 minutes each night from around 8:00 PM (20:00)
Note: Held in light rain; cancelled if the Kiso River floods or in bad weather. Please check for weather/flood cancellation on the day.
Inuyama Tourist Information (Japanese only — your browser can translate it)
What Makes It Special?
Instead of one big night — like many other traditional Japanese style fireworks festivals — fireworks light up the sky for ten nights straight. That makes it easy to fit into almost any early-August travel plan, yay! And it gives you a rare, relaxed way to see Japanese fireworks:)
It used be a single-night festival, but in order to ease severe crowding and prevent accidents caused by overcrowding, it was changed to a 10-night long-run style a few years ago. Apparently, when it was held only one night, it attracted around 240,000 people, causing gridlock and dangerously blocking emergency vehicles. When I was a kid, it was held for only one day on August 10th. I was there almost every summer with my family and/or friends, and I remember it was packed with people!
Just so you know since it is relatively small scale (about 300 fireworks, 10 minutes per night), if you go expecting a spectacular fireworks display, you might be disappointed, but if you go with the right expectations, I think you will have an enjoyable night.
It’s family-friendly, and no need to deal with hellish crowds and traffic jams, or the packed trains on the way home. You don’t need to be there hours in advance just to get a spot, you can simply pick your favorite place along the river and relax and enjoy the fireworks show. Isn’t it amazing;)?
This laid-back setting also makes it a great chance to wear a yukata (summer kimono). At the big, packed fireworks festivals, shuffling through huge crowds in yukata and geta sandals for hours can be exhausting — but here, you can just stroll along the riverbank at your own pace:) If you don’t own one yet, you can find yukata sets on Amazon.
Access from Nagoya
Meitetsu Nagoya Station → Inuyama-yuen Station (犬山遊園駅)
•Take the Meitetsu Inuyama Line from Nagoya Station to Inuyama-yuen Station.
•Travel time: about 30 minutes by limited express (rapid ltd. express) train with no transfer.
•Fare: 690 yen
•The viewing area is right by the west exit of Inuyama-yuen Station, along the Kiso River – about a 1-minute walk.
Highlights
- Inuyama Castle Light-Up
Without a doubt, the highlight is the fireworks set against the backdrop of the illuminated Inuyama Castle. Inuyama Castle is a National Treasure and its keep (tenshu) is said to be the oldest surviving one in Japan, dating to around the 1500s. It’s an absolutely breathtaking view;)
Also, the fireworks are launched from boats on the Kiso River, reflecting on the water’s surface to create a soft, atmospheric scene.
- Yoi no Inuya Marche/宵のいぬやマルシェ
‘Yoi no Inuya Marche’— a food-focused market with food stalls and kitchen cars – around 20-plus vendors – runs alongside the fireworks, about 18:00-20:30 near the venue. You can enjoy local gourmet food and drinks, with popular neighborhood shops joining in. It’s the perfect spot to grab a bite while waiting for the fireworks.
Tips for Visiting
If you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy comfortably, going on a weeknight is a good choice. If you want to experience the lively atmosphere typical of a festival, weekends might be a better choice.
You may come across information saying there are more fireworks on the 10th, the final day, but that’s a mistaken belief left over from the old event style. The fireworks display is the same every day of the 10-day event (about 300 fireworks, 10 mins, per night). I heard that it is expected to be crowded on the 10th because many people may come due to misinformation, so unless you have a special reason, you might want to avoid that day.
Suggested Plan
Inuyama Castle and the fireworks viewing area are just a stone’s throw away from each other, so I recommend combining fireworks with visiting Inuyama Castle. Tour the old castle town with street snacks and the castle by day, enjoy dinner at restaurant near by or exploring food stalls at the Marche, then watch the 8:00 PM fireworks with the lit-up castle behind them – a full half-day-into-evening itinerary;)
Because each night’s fireworks show is short (~10 min), it’s perfect as an extra activity to add to a day trip!
Inuyama Castle Official Website
Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30)
Admission Fees (from March 1, 2026): adults 1,000 yen, elementary/junior-high 200 yen, pre-school free
Inuyama has plenty more to explore beyond the fireworks. If you’d like to turn it into a full day trip — Inuyama Castle, the old castle town, and street snacks — check out my Inuyama guide: Inuyama Castle Japan: Day trip from Nagoya
Don’t forget to pack your yukata (summer kimono) sleeping in the back of your closet;) and enjoy this Japanese summer tradition!
📍 How to get there: About 30 minutes from Meitetsu Nagoya Station to Inuyama-yuen on the Meitetsu Inuyama Line limited express (¥690 one way), then a 1-minute walk from the west exit to the riverside viewing area.
⏱ Time needed: An evening is enough — the fireworks last only about 10 minutes from 8:00 PM, so come from early evening for the Yoi no Inuya Marche, or make it a full day with the castle and the castle town.
💰 Budget: Around ¥2,500 per person for the full day — the fireworks themselves are free; that covers the ¥1,380 round-trip train and ¥1,000 castle admission, plus whatever tempts you at the Marche.
🗓 Best time to visit: Ten nights in a row in early August every summer. Weeknights are quieter; weekends have more festival buzz — and the final night tends to draw extra crowds, so I’d skip it unless you have a reason. Held in light rain; check the official page (Japanese) for same-day weather cancellations and this year’s dates.
🎟 Save money: The Inuyama Castle Town Kippu (¥1,950) bundles the round trip from Nagoya with Inuyama Castle admission — I explain how it works in my Inuyama guide → Inuyama Castle Japan: Day trip from Nagoya
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