We'll be going to the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival in 2025 and sharing local information, including the location, hotels, parking, and traffic congestion! If we were to go again in 2026, here's what we'd do!
This time, I attended the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival for the
second time in my life, so I'd like to introduce it to you!
Conclusion: "It was fantastic! If you can secure a place to stay and a parking spot, you can fully enjoy the fireworks even with the free seats!"
This time, we traveled from Nagasaki to Nagaoka City, Niigata
Prefecture to participate in the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, which was
held on August 2nd and 3rd!
I wasn't able to get a paid ticket, but I had already booked
accommodation and paid parking, so I gathered information to see how
much fun I could have without the paid ticket, and I went to the event,
so I'd like to share it with you!
My content this time
Family composition: 4 adults, 2 elementary school students, 1
2-year-old, total 7 people (*2-year-olds are not counted as guests)
・Participated by car from Nagasaki (Nissan Serena)
▼July 31st
・Leaving Nagasaki City at 8:00 PM and driving all night
My wife and I drive together. *We take turns driving if we get sleepy.
Depending on the parking lot, you may have lunch while driving.
▼The day before August 1st
・13:00 Arrival in Nagaoka
・15:00
Accommodation: I booked a house in Nagaoka city on August 1st through Airbnb for 62,000 yen per night.
*No hotels were available on August 2nd.
▼August 2nd
・Check-out time until 10:00
・Around 11:00 Lunch at Nagaoka Market Restaurant
*When we passed by the roadside station "Nagaoka Fireworks
Museum", there was a huge traffic jam and we were unable to enter.
・We entered the parking lot near Nagaoka Station at 1:30 p.m.
Parking: On August 2nd, I was able to reserve a parking space near Nagaoka Station for 12,000 yen a day.
*Around 1pm, there were a few spaces available in the paid parking lots near Nagaoka Station.
・Wait in the parking lot near Nagaoka Station until 5:00 PM and take a walk around the area
・We started moving at 17:30 and secured a spot on the bank near Suido Park around 18:00
Watching the fireworks
・Watch until 21:20 and move to the parking lot
・21:50 Leave the parking lot
・22:00: Let the kids use the restroom at a convenience store
・23:30 Finally got on the Nagaoka Kita Interchange and headed towards Osaka on the highway
That was the schedule (laughs).
The
good thing about this trip was that I had reserved a parking space and
checked out accommodations a year in advance, so I was able to arrive
the day before on August 1st, which was really great!
When I talked to the locals, they taught me a lot of things!!
This information gathering was really great!
The free seats were located on both sides of the paid venues A and B.
When I got there I found out that if you're near Venue B, the
bank near Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital seems to be a free viewing spot
recommended by locals.
At venue A, the areas around Wolok (supermarket) and Suido Park are recommended.
In any case, if you are between the Chosei Bridge on National
Route 8 and National Route 351, you can enjoy the fireworks in a good
mood.The bridge will be closed to traffic and the surrounding area will
be turned into a promenade, so it is sufficient to watch from the road,
but it will probably be a test of physical endurance.
Locals don't buy tickets, but rather watch from the banks in
the free area, or while walking, or from the road when it becomes a
promenade.
I went for a walk around the venue at around 5am on August 2nd to scout out the area and here's my report!
▼Let me introduce it to you!
The top is Venue B, and the bottom is Venue A on the Nagaoka Station side.
Caution sign near Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital.
The area around Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital around 5:00 a.m. on August 2nd.
A free area among the paid seats.
There were temporary toilets near the paid venue, but they
were congested even before the festival started and were not moving at
all, so you need to think about how you will stay hydrated.
Basically, it's best to assume that you won't be able to use the toilet.
If you can get a paid seat, even better!
And once you get onto the road, you won't be able to park on the street like this.
Basically, parking is no longer available at all facilities and has become a paid service.
Also, traffic congestion will begin to occur on the roads
from around noon, so we recommend that you arrive at the parking lot by
around noon.
I also arrived at the parking lot in front of Nagaoka
Station at 13:00, and because it was so hot, I had to wait with my car
idling!
Around Nagaoka Station, there are stalls set up to coincide
with the festival, but the stores are generally congested and the
toilets are so congested that they cannot be used.
▼The scene around 7:00 PM
We started working around 5pm and managed to spread out the sheets and secure space for seven people!
I felt like I was able to sit more comfortably than I expected.
If you are one or two people, you can easily sit in the space where there are no seats!
It is recommended to go in small groups, but if you are
going in a large group, it is best to secure a spot before 4:00 PM.
Wow, these fireworks are really beautiful!
The rising starmines are incredibly beautiful!
After Phoenix finished, we started moving around little by little.
Anyway, as long as I could secure a parking spot, I was able
to enjoy myself to the fullest while traveling to the venue!
The area near the fireworks venue will be closed to
vehicles, so you can see the fireworks from anywhere as long as you're
nearby!
Also, once Phoenix (starting at 20:15) ends, people will gradually start going home.
We wanted to watch until the end, but we moved to the parking lot to watch the second half, and still enjoyed it!
Even if you weren't at the venue, you could still enjoy it from the sidewalks!
<Traffic jam on the way home>
This time, the traffic on the way back was ridiculously bad!
I used the Nagaoka Kita Smart IC, but it took about an hour and a half due to traffic jams...
Once we got on the highway, there was no traffic jam, but there was traffic jam until we got on the highway.
However, this was within the expected range, and we were able to enjoy our journey back to Nagasaki!
