July to August is fireworks season in Japan, and many fireworks festivals will be held near the Tobu Railway lines, spanning across Tokyo and four surrounding prefectures. One of the most popular amongst them is the Sumida River Fireworks Festival. Held this year on the 29th of July, Saturday, the Sumida River Fireworks Festival is Japan’s oldest fireworks festival. It has its origins in the Edo period of Japan, when the very first fireworks were launched at the Sumida River area in the year 1733, and has become an annual tradition since.
Popular tourist spots Asakusa and TOKYO SKYTREE, the world’s tallest tower, are located nearby. This fireworks festival emblematic of Japan is watched by more than 900,000 people each year, with approximately 22,000 fireworks launched in total from the first site near Sumida Park (between Sakurabashi and Kototoibashi) and the second site close to Kuramae Station (between Komagatabashi and Umayabashi). 
Many food stalls are set up near the site, offering you various delicacies such as yakisoba (Japanese fried noodles), takoyaki (Octopus balls), and yakitori (grilled chicken skewers). You can purchase a plastic sheet from a nearby convenience store to sit on the ground and enjoy the fireworks while enjoying the street food.
Also, TOKYO Solamachi, a shopping complex located at the foot of TOKYO SKYTREE, will be holding a summer festival from 1st – 3rd August (Tuesday to Thursday), allowing you to experience the Japanese cultural tradition of ‘Bon Odori’. A special ice cream perfect for summer will also be on sale. This summer, how about coming to experience Japanese culture and enjoy some fireworks?
Recommended Viewing Spots for Sumida River Fireworks
For those who want to relax and sit to watch the fireworks, the area around Kuramae Station is recommended as it is easier to secure a viewing location there. Each year, the streets Edo-dori and Kasuga-dori are closed off around Kuramae station to allow you to sit on the road and enjoy the fireworks.
If you check out the stalls around Sumida Park and Senso-ji Temple after 3pm, and move to the Kuramae Station area by 6pm with a plastic sheet, you can enjoy both the street food and the fireworks.
Recommended Pre-festival Activities
Located on the fourth floor of the shopping complex ‘EKIMISE’ directly connected to the TOBU SKYTREE Line Asakusa Station. To enjoy fireworks in traditional Japanese yukata reminiscent of summer, ‘NADESHIKO’ will be renting out women’s yukatas for 5,400 yen (to be returned by 7pm).
Also, TOKYO Solamachi, the commercial complex located at the foot of TOKYO SKYTREE, will be selling special ice cream for the summer and hors d’oeuvres to accompany fireworks viewing. 
Other summer activities at TOKYO Solamachi
From 1st to 3rd August (Tues – Thurs), TOKYO Solamachi will be holding a summer festival where you can experience the Japanese cultural tradition of Bon Odori.Bon Odori, also known as Bon Festival dance, consists of simple dance steps to rhythmical ‘taiko’ music. A summer tradition in Japan, anyone can join in. Shops and food stalls will also be set up, allowing you to enjoy Japanese summer traditions.
Also, from 16th June to 24th September, there will be specially-prepared sheets at the foot of TOKYO SKYTREE as well as a beer garden, for you and your loved ones to lie down and enjoy the view of the tower with a beer in hand. 
Other fireworks festivals accessible by train from Asakusa and Ikebukuro
Besides the Sumida River Fireworks Festival, there are other various fireworks festivals scheduled to be held along the Tobu Railway lines. Here, we’d like to introduce some of the main fireworks festivals that can be reached by train from the TOBU SKYTREE Line Asakusa Station and Tobu Tojo Line Ikebukuro Station.
1. 39th Adachi Fireworks
The earliest summer fireworks festival in Tokyo is the Adachi Fireworks festival, which launches about 12,000 fireworks over the span of an hour. Since the fireworks site is located near a riverbed, you can sit on the banked slopes for viewing.
Date: 22 July 2017 (Sat.) | Time: 7.30pm – 8.30pm *Cancelled in the case of bad weather | Venue: About 15 minutes by foot after getting off at Kosuge Station, approximately 20 minutes from the TOBU SKYTREE Line Asakusa Station
2. 103rd Ashikaga Fireworks Festival
Started in 1903, the traditional Ashikaga Fireworks Festival launches about 20,000 fireworks. You can enjoy a magnificent light and sound show with your loved ones.
Date: 5 August 2017 (Sat.) | Time: 7pm – 8.45pm *Will be held the following day in case of bad weather | Venue: About 5 minutes by foot after getting off at the Ashikagashi Station, about 1 hour and 10 minutes via the Limited Express ‘Ryomo’ from the TOBU SKYTREE Line Asakusa Station
3. Fireworks Illusion Summer 2017
Fireworks Illusion is a fireworks festival held at the Tobu Zoo, an area which comprises a zoo, amusement park, and water park. The program will incorporate special effects such as lasers and flames, and will launch approximately 2,000 fireworks.
Date: 5, 12 & 19 August 2017 (Sat.) | Time: 7.30pm – 7.50pm *Cancelled in case of bad weather | Venue: About 10 minutes by foot after getting off at the Tobu-dobutsu-koen Station, approximately 50 minutes after transferring to Hikifune Station from the TOBU SKYTREE Line Asakusa Station
4. 34th Asaka City Festival ‘SAIKASAI’
The SAIKASAI is a full-scale fireworks festival, launching approximately 10,000 fireworks in a short span of time in an urban city area. The fireworks can be viewed from as close as 110 meters.
Date: 5 August 2017 (Sat.) | Time: 7.15pm – 8.15pm (Tentative) *Will be held the following day if bad weather | Venue: About 5 minutes by foot after getting off at Asaka Station, approximately 20 minutes from the Tobu Tojo Line Ikebukuro Station
Tobu Railway is a major railway covering the Kanto area, mainly spreading throughout Tokyo. The railroads provide access to popular destinations, including attractive sightseeing spots such as Asakusa, home to Senso-ji Temple, TOKYO SKYTREE, the world’s tallest tower, world heritage site Nikko Toshogu Shrine, and Kawagoe, an area where the classic “kura-style” houses are preserved till this day.
