Saturday, August 4, 2012

Hanabi-season: Sumida River Fireworks

Summer in Japan is the season for fireworks, fireworks and fireworks! Almost every weekend there is a fireworks festival somewhere! The fireworks are really beautiful, last for one to two hours, and are perfect for a night out. Last Saturday we visited the yearly Sumida River Fireworks, at Asakusa.

The firework-show was great, and nothing like we have seen seen before. The bursts were big, in many different shapes, and in a great variety in colours. A true spectacle. Another great part of the fireworks is the festival that is organised around it. Lots of food stalls around the streets, and people dressed in pretty colourful yukata (traditional Japanese summer clothes).

Not surprisingly that a lot of people came to visit the festival, estimates say that around 1 million people visited the area around the Sumida river in Asakusa for the festival. Meaning it is very crowded, and you have to be really early (or pay a lot of money) the secure the best viewing spots The festival is also broadcasted on TV, so those who don't want to be stuck in a crowd can watch the live broadcast.

For those who couldn't come to the festival, and didn't see it on TV: please enjoy some of our video's :) 



At the end, all those 1 million people have to get back home. Resulting a very long queues in front of the train and metro-stations, but everyone can actually board their train in a calm and orderly fashion. It's truly amazing how the Japanese seem to have mastered standing in line, with no troubles or irritated people (even when a lot of people seem to have had a little too much to drink..)

We are looking forward to the other firework festivals this summer!

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