Kashiwazaki: Discover the Serene Beauty of Its Coastal Splendor
A summer tradition in Kashiwazaki is Japan's largest marine fireworks display, launching approximately 16,000 fireworks! The spectacular pyrotechnics illuminate the night sky against the backdrop of the Sea of Japan. This article introduces tourist information on the Kashiwazaki area and tours that offer a special fireworks viewing experience.
*This article was sponsored by Niigata Prefectural Tourist Association
Located in Niigata Prefecture, Kashiwazaki boasts a stunning 42-kilometer coastline, offering breathtaking natural scenery and fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan. With as many as 15 beaches dotting the coastline, swimming in the crystal-clear waters during summer is a popular activity among families.
On the other hand, Takayanagi, situated just 3.5 km from the town center in the mountains, still preserves the quintessential Japanese “satoyama” rural landscape, complete with picturesque terraced rice paddies.
Kashiwazaki is also home to numerous historic gardens, where visitors can admire not only the vibrant autumn foliage but also the lush greenery of maple trees and moss contrasted against the azure summer sky.
The region offers a diverse array of experiences, allowing visitors to enjoy the sea, mountains, and traditional culture in various ways.
Kashiwazaki's Natural Beauty and Seafood Cuisine
Shounsanso, a Japanese garden established in 1926, is renowned as one of Japan's premier locations for viewing autumn foliage. After a leisurely stroll, visitors can enjoy a casual tea ceremony experience while admiring the garden at the Kimura Tea Ceremony Museum located within the park.
Oginoshima Village, with its scattered “kayabuki” thatched-roof houses encircling rice paddies, is celebrated for its traditional Japanese landscape. Visitors have the opportunity to stay in a kayabuki house and immerse themselves in the rural countryside experience.
In nature-rich Kashiwazaki, the fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan is also exceptional! The famous “tai chazuke,” consisting of sashimi or grilled sea bream served over freshly cooked rice and topped with warm “dashi” broth, is offered at numerous restaurants throughout the city.
Experience the Vibrant Energy of Kashiwazaki's Summer Festival
The Gion Kashiwazaki Festival, a major summer event in Kashiwazaki City, is held annually from July 24 to 26. It originated as a festival at local shrines to ward off epidemics and calamities.
On the evening of July 24, "Minyo Gaito Nagashi" showcases traditional music, singing, and dancing that depicts the lives of the local people. The second evening, July 25, features the powerful "Taru Niwaka," where portable shrines and floats parade through the city's main streets.
On the evening of July 26, the final day of the festival, the "Sea Fireworks Display" takes place. This spectacular event is one of Japan's largest maritime fireworks shows, featuring approximately 16,000 fireworks launched over the Sea of Japan. The highlight of the event is the stunning display that illuminates the sea.
Special Fireworks Viewing Experience! Top Recommended Tours
July 26 (Fri) - July 27 (Sat) Exclusive Tour! Premium On-Board Seats for the Kashiwazaki Sea Fireworks Display
This luxury fireworks viewing tour offers an unforgettable experience of the Gion Kashiwazaki Festival Sea Fireworks from a boat, while savoring Niigata's exquisite cuisine!
The high-speed boat "Awaline Kirara" will be catered by "Il Laboratorio Di Cucina Niigata," a collective of talented Niigata chefs. They will serve light meals and drinks alongside special boxed lunches available exclusively for this event. The fireworks display viewed from the boat promises to be a spectacular sight, with pyrotechnics arcing across the vast ocean, blooming on the sea's surface, and forming a beautiful semi-circle known as the "Undersea Starmine!"
The tour also includes a "hegi soba" lunch at Tochu, a long-established restaurant dating back to the Edo period, a performance by the Sado-based “taiko” drum performing arts group Kodo, and a hands-on taiko drumming experience.
July 26 (Fri.) - July 27 (SAT.) Breathtaking Spectacle! Enjoy the Gion Kashiwazaki Festival Sea Fireworks With Exclusive Seating and Premium Dining!
This tour offers an extraordinary experience of the spectacular fireworks display featuring approximately 16,000 shots over the sea from exclusive seats, coupled with a taste of Niigata's gastronomy and culture!
A lawn area near the launch site will be reserved, where food will be prepared by a team of renowned Niigata chefs “Il Laboratorio Di Cucina Niigata.” While enjoying the fireworks, guests will savor live cooking over a charcoal fire.
The tour begins with a sumptuous lunch at the Hasegawa Residence, a Designated National Important Cultural Property boasting a beautiful moss garden! Asia's 50 Best 31st ranked chef Kevin Wong from Singapore will collaborate with Niigata's top chefs to create an exquisite dining experience. Other highlights of the Niigata itinerary include an informative lecture to deepen your understanding of fireworks and a tour of a picturesque village of thatched-roof houses.
Experience the Gion Kashiwazaki Festival Sea Fireworks up Close From Exclusive Premium On-Board Seats!
A luxurious tour to witness the "Gion Kashiwazaki Festival Sea Fireworks" set against the sea, while enjoying dinner in the on-board bleachers!
The high-speed boat Awaline Kirara will be utilized for this tour, featuring a special lunch box prepared by “Il Laboratorio Di Cucina Niigata,” a collective of talented Niigata chefs, along with exclusive snacks and beverages for this special occasion.
Undoubtedly, the fireworks will be a festival highlight. Set against the jet-black Sea of Japan, the “Wide Starmine,” a 600-meter-long display of vibrant fireworks, offers a spectacle so powerful it cannot be fully appreciated from land! Before boarding the boat, guests can enjoy an energetic performance by the Sado-based taiko ensemble Kodo, as well as participate in a hands-on taiko drumming experience.
Limited to One Group! Enjoy a Private Cruiser and Watch the Fireworks From the Sea at the Gion Kashiwazaki Festival
This exclusive, one-group-only tour offers a private fireworks viewing experience aboard a dedicated cruiser from Kashiwazaki Marina! The "Sea Fireworks Display," with its unparalleled array of pyrotechnics, will be observed from an unobstructed vantage point on the cruiser.
Among the approximately 16,000 fireworks, the spectacle of 100 fireworks with a blooming diameter of 300 meters, launched simultaneously across a width of 1,500 meters, twice in succession, is truly awe-inspiring!
For those seeking a more luxurious experience, a sumptuous lunch can be added as an option. At the Hasegawa Residence, the oldest mansion of a wealthy farmer in Niigata Prefecture, guests can indulge in Niigata's gastronomy with a full-course meal prepared by Kevin Wong, Asia's 50 Best 31st ranked chef, specially invited from Singapore in collaboration with Niigata's top chefs.
Fireworks that illuminate both the night sky and the ocean create a breathtaking spectacle when viewed up close! Experience the best of Kashiwazaki's sightseeing and fireworks with a viewing tour that offers this extraordinary opportunity.
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
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