Nagaoka matsuri dai Hanabi taikai
Fireworks display form a part of city Naagaoka summer festival
Date　　every August 2and3
Where　Nagaoka city Niigata pref.
　　
The outline of this display

This fireworks display very famous for "Sanjakudama(36 inches huge rounded shell)" inside and outside Niigata prefecture. It launching 2 shot per day. that is total 4 shot during two day of the exhibition.
Sanjakudama, It have 90 centi meters across in diameter befor launch. weight 300 kirograms. After shoot, It arrive at 650 meter hight and bloom 600 meter across in diameter.
But highlight of this display is not only Sanjakudama.
That is:
1. Vesubio big burn starmine contain 12 inches shell. It launching very large scale as if eruption of volcano.
2. 12 inches shell 99shots continueus shoot at three launching spot simultaneously.
3. Five spot wide scale big burn starmine.
4. 4 shots 24 inches round shell.
5. Two times super long length Niagala fall line effect.
6. Some selected 12 inches round shell display maden by expert fireworks artists.

Access to viewing area

nagaokamaps.gifIf you stay in Tokyo or around, all you have to use Joetsu-shinkansen(super express) line start at Tokyo station. And get off at Nagaoka station. It probably take 90 minutes. A fare of one-wayticket(single fare) between Tokyo and Nagaoka is 8,700 Yen(a fare and a ticket for a express, not reserved seat). And you go on foot to viewing area at side by Sinano river. Normally, It takes fifteen to twenty minutes to unhurriedly walk from the Nagaoka station to viewing area at riverside. Please see guide MAP(right view) and route to viewing area. When you reach top of bank you able to see two bridges over there. The general viewing area is a way over bank and slope of bank and riverbed between these two bridges and around them. There are plenty of free viewing area. Please sit down to any vacant area as you liking. Every free viewing area has good view. But If you want to get preference viewing area, you must arrive there about before15:00. （under photo: viewing direction of Chosei bridge from slope of bank）
If you sit down at between two bridges, You can see Sanjakudama(36 inches)as your aim and Nishakudama(24 inches) back of Chosei bridge on the left as your faces. It is the upper stream of Shinano river. All of other fireworks are launching at center shoal across the river from you.

kaykyaku_naga.gifThe essential point of launching time.

Which day is better, 2 or 3 Aug? First day program is almost the same as second day. But August 2 is much crowded. Second day something better than first. Sanjakudama shoot at "20:30 and 21:15".
Opennig, First Niagala fall line effect that hunging from parapet of Ote bridge.
20:30, First Sanjakudama fire after 2nd Niagala fall line effect(while buring Niagala fall) that hunging from parapet of Chosei bridge.
21:15, Last Sanjakudama fire independently.
21:15 to 30 Some(maybe 5 or 8 shots) superbly made 12 inches round shell display.

After watching

Is it possible to going back to Tokyo region after viewing display(view all launching copletely)?
Yes maybe....if you are a good walker. All launching proglams come to end at around 21:30.
The last train forward Tokyo start 21:52 at Nagaoka sta.
22 minutes, You must walk quickly back to station in Japanese muggy hot summer night. pushing myself into a quitery crowded. Second sanjakudama shoot at 21:15. So you still have about 35 minutes to catch the last train. If you anxious last train time, you may go to back after 21:00. You can see at least one 36 inches shell at 20:30.
The staying situation of Nagaoka city is very very bad during this Nagaoka festival. Off course there are many hotels and inns in nagaoka. But all of them are no vacancy forever for a period of Nagaoka festival especially August 2 and 3.
Unfortunately, you never find accommodations at nagaoka city. If you want to stay near nagaoka after viewing fireworks, you possibly find and have a room outside nagaoka city. That is Sanjo city, Niigata city, Tsubame city, Kashiwazaki city.
Menu of Guide
INDEX