750,000 Visitors Gather! How to Enjoy Japan’s Ōmagari Fireworks Festival by Camper Van — My Overnight Car-Camping Experience and Comfort Tips
What Is the Ōmagari Fireworks Festival (All-Japan National Fireworks Competition)?
Located in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, Ōmagari is famous as the city of fireworks — in fact, fireworks displays are held here almost every month.
Among them, the Ōmagari Fireworks Festival, officially known as the All-Japan National Fireworks Competition, held on the last Saturday of August, is the biggest and most spectacular. Every year, around 750,000 visitors from across Japan and around the world come to see it — all in a single day!
It is one of Japan’s Three Great Fireworks Festivals, with over 100 years of history since its first launch in 1910. Although it was once suspended during wartime, it resumed after World War II and now celebrates its 93rd edition.
At the competition, 27 of Japan’s top pyrotechnic companies gather to compete for the title of “Japan’s No.1 Fireworks Artist.”
The contest consists of four divisions:
- Traditional 10-inch shell fireworks
- Freestyle fireworks
- Creative fireworks
- Daytime fireworks — a unique category found only here in Ōmagari.
Can You Sleep in Your Car at the Ōmagari Fireworks Festival?
Yes, you can!
There are two official free parking areas where both tent camping and car-camping are allowed. We stayed at the Ōmagari Family Ski Area, one of those designated zones.
We arrived the morning before the festival and spent the night in our camper van. Many other visitors were also staying overnight in vans or tents, creating a friendly, lively atmosphere.Locals who attend every year kindly shared their best tips, like:
“Where’s the best spot to watch the fireworks?”
“How can you enjoy the show like a pro?”
Families, couples, and even travelers with pets were having fun — some grilling BBQ while chatting with their neighbors under the stars.
The Charm of Car-Camping with Pets
We often meet people across Japan who travel with their dogs or cats and prefer car-camping because most hotels don’t allow pets.
At Ōmagari, too, we met lovely travelers with their furry companions and enjoyed spending time with the animals while relaxing near our van.
How to Spend the Day Before the Fireworks
Finally, the big day arrived!
From noon, traffic around the venue becomes very heavy, and some nearby roads are closed to vehicles. We recommend avoiding car movement during the day.
Instead, we cooked one of the local specialties — Yokote Yakisoba (fried noodles) — right in our camper and enjoyed a relaxed lunch. Sampling local dishes is one of the best parts of traveling in Japan!
Of course, there are many food stalls and festival booths near the venue too, bustling with excitement.
Next, we visited the Hanabi Culture Archive “Hanabi-amu”, a free museum dedicated to fireworks heritage.
Here, you can:
- Learn about the history of the Ōmagari Fireworks Festival
- Watch short films showing behind-the-scenes efforts of pyrotechnicians
- See past award-winning fireworks through photos and videos
One of the highlights is a hands-on simulator where you can design and “launch” your own virtual firework.
Choosing colors, imagining the pattern — it’s creative, fun, and surprisingly addictive!
Around the main venue, there are also fireworks seminars led by certified “Fireworks Masters.”
They teach you how to recognize different firework names and viewing points.
Knowing what you’re watching adds a new level of appreciation — it turns a simple “Wow, pretty!” moment into something truly educational and inspiring.
At Ōmagari Station, a huge firework shell monument welcomes visitors — perfect for taking photos before heading to the show. Everywhere you look, the town celebrates its deep connection with fireworks.
The Fireworks — A Breathtaking Spectacle
First came the daytime fireworks, unique to Ōmagari.
Using colored smoke and sound effects, artists compete to paint the sky with abstract forms — a dazzling display unlike anything I’d seen before.
Then came the night show: around 18,000 fireworks lighting up the sky!
Each company presented its masterpiece, and we found ourselves guessing which one might win the competition.
The artistry, the precision, and the emotions behind each launch were overwhelming.
After seeing the documentaries at Hanabi-amu, we could almost feel the pyrotechnicians’ dedication.
Knowing how much passion and effort goes into every shell made the viewing experience even more moving.
The highlight was the sponsored grand finale — a wide-angle “Starmine” stretching over 900 meters across the sky.
The explosion of color and light filled our entire field of vision — truly a once-in-a-lifetime sight.
To close the night, the festival features the “Exchange of Light Messages.”
Spectators wave their phone lights or penlights to thank the pyrotechnicians, while the artists send their gratitude back through fireworks.
It’s a deeply emotional scene — thousands of lights twinkling in harmony as a symbol of mutual appreciation.
Heading Home — or Staying Overnight for Comfort
Daisen City’s Ōmagari district has fewer than 40,000 residents, yet welcomes over 700,000 visitors during the festival.
Naturally, heavy traffic congestion follows.
Even though local authorities restrict car exits until midnight and run extra train services, it can still take up to five hours to drive the 50 km back to Akita City.
Ōmagari Station also gets extremely crowded after the show, with long lines of people waiting for trains.
Since the festival ends around 10 p.m., many travelers are faced with the choice: drive through the night or rest somewhere nearby.
Driving while sleepy after hours in traffic is risky — you could still be on the road at 3 a.m.!
Our solution? We simply walked back to our van, slept there overnight, and left calmly the next morning.
No stress, no exhaustion — just a good night’s rest after an unforgettable evening.
After walking through the crowds, it felt amazing to return to the quiet of the car and fall asleep immediately.
Across Japan, many festivals attract huge crowds and cause similar traffic jams.
For those who love both festivals and freedom, car-camping is the perfect way to enjoy events safely and comfortably — avoiding traffic, fatigue, and stress.
So next time you attend a fireworks festival in Japan, instead of rushing home in the jam,
relax, sleep under the stars, and wake up to a peaceful morning in your camper van.
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