Kobe City

The Minato Kobe Port Marine Fireworks Festival is a great way to spend a hot summer night in Kobe. One of the biggest and best fireworks festivals in all of Kansai, as many as 250,000 people attend every year. The festival has a long history, dating back to 1971. Until 2019, it was held in August, but it now takes place over five weekdays in October with the aim of boosting nighttime activity in the Kobe Waterfront area. Where to See the Fireworks Since the fireworks are launched from barges around Kobe Harborland and Port Island, the main spot to view the fireworks is Meriken Park. The advantage is it’s free — the downside is it tends to attract big crowds. An unofficial option is Port Island station, where you’ll find far fewer people. Another is Venus Bridge, where the fireworks are farther away, but it’s quite a romantic location. What to Expect In 2026, the festival will run between October 19 to 23. This year, the fireworks will be synchronized to music from large speakers to make the event that much more spectacular. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. and lasts 20 minutes, during which time you’ll see close…