Event Archive

This year’s fireworks festival in Ise City will be held on Saturday July 16 along the Miyagawa River (see this map). If you are planning a visit to Ise on Saturday, it would be a great way to spend the night in along with many locals and visitors alike. Please see the details below:

Date: Saturday, July 16
(In the event of heavy rain, high winds or the river is too high because of excessive rain, the festival will be postponed until July 17th or July 18th. If the festival cannot be held on July 17th or July 18th, it will be rescheduled in September.)

Time: approximately 19:25 to approximately 21:15.

How to get there:
There will be a shuttle bus from both Ujiyamada Station (Bus Stop #3) and Ise-City Station (Bus Stop #2) to the festival location for ¥180 (for adults) or ¥90 (for kids) between 17:00 and 19:30. Return trips will run from the festival location back to both train stations beginning at 20:00. The shuttle will depart every 30 minutes.

Where to watch:
There are many large areas along the river near Miyagawa Tsutsumi Park where anyone can watch for free. And in addition to the free areas, there is a special “up close and personal” area that is lined with tarps along the upper banks of the river. If you are interested in watching the fireworks from this area, you need to buy a ticket in advance. For more information about that, please check this site (sorry, Japanese only).

Every year, over 220,000 people visit Ise City to attend this festival. I hope this year, you have the chance to experience this great summer event. I hope to see you there!

On Saturday night, August 7th, Ise City will be a little brighter as the city will hold a candle festival along the Seta River. Candles will be placed along the river for a stretch of about 10 kilometers through Ise City.

Traditionally, the Seta River was a lifeline for the people of Ise City when waterways were more common modes of transportation and delivery. But after people, goods and services began using alternate methods of movement, the Seta River became a place of refuse rather than a vital part of the local economy.

In recent years, however, Ise City and a legion of volunteers have tried to get this river back its position of prominence. And it has worked! The water quality has increased and the river’s inhabitants have been flourishing. The effort to restore the Seta River continues on and on and the Candle Night event is one way people are recognizing the efforts that have been made and also part of their dream to make the Seta River a vital part of the city again.

The Candle Festival will feature all the wonderful sights, sounds, and flavors of a usual summer festival in Japan—food, drink and lots of laughs.

To take part in the celebration, head toward to Kawasaki district in Ise City (please see the map). It is only a few minutes walk from either Ujiyamada or Ise City train stations. Once you are in Kawasaki, you can’t miss it.

The candles will be lighted at 17:30 and should burn about 5 to 6 hours—plenty of time for everyone to fill their bellies and rejuvinate their spirits! Tell all your friends to join you and I hope to see you there!

There will be a firework festival in Ise City on Saturday July 17 along the Miya River. If you are visiting Ise around on Saturday, please check it out—they are usually pretty good. The details are as follows:

“58th Miyagawa Firework Festival”

Date: July 17, Saturday
(If there is heavy rain, high winds or the river is too high because of excessive rain, the festival will be postponed until July 18th or July 19th. In the case that none of these days are suitable, the festival will be rescheduled to either September 11th or 12th.)

Time: approximately 19:25 to approximately 21:15.

How to get there:
There will be a shuttle bus from both Ujiyamada Station (Bus Stop #3) and Ise-City Station (Bus Stop #2) to the festival location for ¥180 (adults) and ¥90 (kids) between 17:00 and 19:30. Return trips will run from the festival location back to both train stations beginning from 20:00. The shuttle will depart every 30 minutes.

Where to watch:
There is free space along the river near Miyagawa Tsutsumi Park where anyone can watch for free. If you are interested in watching from their special sheeted area, you need to buy a ticket in advance. For further information about that, please check this site (sorry, Japanese only).

I wish I could say, “see you there…” but sadly and Ironically, I have to be away from Ise because my dog is very afraid of fireworks!