Here’s my little story from the Sumida River Fireworks Festival.
Since the nearest convenience stores and public restrooms were probably going to be packed, I prepped some drinks and snacks in advance.
I also packed a portable fan and a sheet — perfect for a festival setup, just like camping — into my backpack and headed out.
My friends had arrived earlier to save a spot, but apparently it wasn’t an ideal location, so we had to move to a better spot.
I’ve always avoided the Sumida River Fireworks Festival knowing how packed it gets…
And, as expected, it was a total madhouse. 😅
Well, yeah… that’s to be expected, right?
I figured it might be a bit less crowded if we moved slightly away, so we started walking…
Huh?
There was a group of local Edo-style veterans already spreading out their sheets and getting ready.
Ah, I see — they’re waiting for the moment the pedestrian zone opens up.
Got it, got it.
This is our chance.
After a while, the streets were officially closed to vehicles, and the police seemed to be buzzing around, getting everything in order.
And with the police’s signal, the race to claim spots kicked off all at once!
Full-on sprint mode!
Miraculously, we snagged a perfect spot.
Right behind us, the Tokyo Skytree stood tall.
I always thought you’d need to arrive super early to get a decent spot, but surprisingly, it worked out.
Honestly, this might be the best central spot I’ve ever had with such a clear view!
And… it’s starting!
Oh, my God!
Whistles blowing everywhere — it honestly felt like a festival crowd!
Thanks to all the inbound visitors, there were tons of tourists too.
Apparently, even Lizzo, who was in Japan for Fuji Rock, showed up!
It had been a while since I last went to a fireworks festival — it really felt like a classic summer day.