Lake Yamanaka Fireworks Festival 2026

The Japanese word for firework is hanabi. Hana means 'flower' and bi means 'fire'. On 1st of August I went to see flowers of fire blooming in the firework festival at Lake Yamanaka. Before the fireworks I saw a beautiful sunset with Mount Fuji reflected in the lake. As the light faded, small torches made of drink cans were lit all along the lakeside. Barges carrying the fireworks were towed into the lake. Finally the show began at 8 o'clock, and for a brief hour huge fire-flowers bloomed at four different points around the lake.

In video