Near Tokyo! Atsugi Ayu Festival 2024: Schedule, Food Stalls, and Fireworks

Atsugi Ayu Festival: Atsugi’s Biggest Summer Festival and Fireworks

Atsugi Ayu Festival is held every year in early August in Atsugi, a city neighboring Tokyo to the southwest. The area, known for its thriving ayu (sweetfish) fishing, is believed to have begun launching fireworks with the lifting of the sweetfish fishing ban during the Taisho period.

The festival is scheduled to be held on a grand scale over two days in 2024. It is filled with events and festivities for residents to participate in, including a dance contest, parade, a fireworks display featuring 10,000 fireworks lighting up the night sky, and sweetfish-grabbing.

Atsugi Ayu Festival’s Grand Fireworks Display. Picture courtesy of PR Times
The Atsugi Ayu Festival’s Grand Fireworks Display, which takes place on the first night of the festival, is an incredibly popular event that attracts over 500,000 people each year. Our writer, who lives in Kanagawa Prefecture, has heard from her acquaintances that “you should attend at least once!” and “I go every year with my family!”

This article covers in detail the 2024 Atsugi Ayu Festival’s date and schedule, highlights, the fireworks display, food stalls, and more so keep reading!

Atsugi Ayu Festival Highlights and Tips

4 Atsugi Ayu Festival Highlights
Grand Fireworks Display Viewing Area and Tickets
Dates, Schedule, and Venue
Festival Food Stalls
Festival Precautions
Enjoy the Festival

Enjoyable for All Ages! 4 Atsugi Ayu Festival Highlights

Many festivities and events are held at the Atsugi Ayu Festival. In this section, we introduce four highlights you’ll definitely want to keep your eye on.

1. The Atsugi Dance Legend Dance Contest

Atsugi Dance Legend (Japanese) is a dance contest sponsored by the Atsugi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Young Entrepreneurs Group. The event is filled with energy and excitement as more than 100 teams participate, showcasing dance performances judged by spectacular guests.

2. Children’s Sweetfish-Grabbing

Photo by Pixta
This event for children takes place on the riverbanks of Sagami River. The challenge is to see if you can catch sweetfish placed in the shallow waters of the river with your bare hands! Any sweetfish caught by you and your children can be taken home. The 2023 festival required pre-registration (via lottery with no participation fees) and was held on the morning of the second day. The event is divided into two sessions based on age group.

3. Parade, Mikoshi Show, and Traditional Folk Dance

Atsugi Nakacho Street. Photo by Pixta
You can enjoy the parade as it livens up the festive mood around Atsugi Nakacho Street, and watch as the mikoshi (portable shrines) parade through the streets.

4. Atsugi Ayu Festival’s Grand Fireworks Display

Atsugi Ayu Festival’s biggest attraction is the spectacular fireworks display. The fireworks are launched from a spot where Sagami River along with two other rivers converge about 15 minutes on foot from Hon-Atsugi Station.

Without further ado, let’s check out the highlights of the fireworks display, date and time, and how to get tickets!

10,000 Fireworks! Highlights of the Grand Fireworks Display

Atsugi Ayu Festival’s Grand Fireworks Display, held on the first night of the festival, is an incredibly popular event known for impressive fireworks that can be enjoyed from viewing areas near the launch site.

Approximately 10,000 fireworks are launched, one of the largest displays in the prefecture, with a dazzling finale inspired by Niagara Falls that is a must-see. In 2024, the event’s astounding scale and beauty are sure to captivate a large audience.

Viewing Areas and Ticket Information

There are typically four viewing areas each year: the riverbanks of Sagami River in Atsugi and Ebina, the Kaneda Second Youth Plaza, and the Asahimachi Sports Plaza.

Paid viewing seats are provided along the riverbanks, with four types of seats available on the Atsugi and Ebina sides. Prices range from 6,000 yen to around 20,000 yen. For the 2023 festival, tickets went on sale on July 1 and were available for purchase at 7-Eleven stores or through 7-Ticket.

The 2024 festival is anticipated to follow the same sales method, so we recommend purchasing tickets early.

Atsugi Ayu Festival Dates, Schedule, and Venue

Atsugi Ayu Festival 2024 Festival Dates

This year, 2024, will be the 78th Atsugi Ayu Festival. The festival will take place over two days on August 3rd (Sat) and 4th (Sun). The Grand Fireworks Display will be held on the night of the 3rd.

2024 Festival Dates
Dates: August 3 (Sat) and 4 (Sun), 2024
* The Grand Fireworks Display will be on August 3rd (Sat)
* Check the official website (Japanese) for the latest information.

2023 Schedule

The schedule for this year’s festival has yet to be announced, but the following was the 2023 schedule (an excerpt of the main events schedule).

Day 1
10:00 ~ Citizens’ Food Stall Village, Atsugi Dance Legend (Atsugi Central Park)
12:30 ~ Opening Ceremonies, Opening Parade (Chuo Street ~ Atsugi Nakacho Street)
19:00 ~ Grand Fireworks Display begins (the banks of Sagami River)

Day 2
9:15 ~ Children’s Sweetfish-Grabbing (the banks of Sagami River)
10:00 ~ Citizens’ Food Stall Village, Atsugi Dance Legend (Atsugi Central Park)
12:00 ~ Atsugi Ayu Festival’s Dream Festival (Atsugi Park)
12:15 ~ Mikoshi Show (Atsugi Nakacho Street)

Venues

The main venues are Atsugi Nakacho Street, Atsugi Ichibangai Shopping Street, Atsugi Central Park, and the banks of the Sagami River. The nearest station is Hon-Atsugi Station on the Odakyu Odawara Line, which is located about 10 minutes on foot from each venue.

Try Atsugi’s Local Specialties at Food Stalls!

Photo by Pixta
When it comes to festivals, it’s all about the food stalls, right? At the Atsugi Ayu Festival, numerous food vendors and experience booths are planned to set up stalls in various locations including Atsugi Central Park and Atsugi Ichibangai Shopping Street.

At the food stalls, you can enjoy staple festival foods like shaved ice and chicken karaage. You should definitely give Atsugi’s unique local specialties a try. Some of the foods that will be available include ayu shioyaki (grilled sweetfish with salt), Atsugi shirokoro horumon (grilled stuffed offal), and tonzuke (grilled miso pork). Moreover, food trucks and local restaurants will also set up stalls, so how about challenging yourself to try various types of foods?

For those with children or who want to relax and sit down, we recommend using the dining areas set up in places like Atsugi Central Park.

Precautions: Traffic Regulations and Heat Safety

Photo by Pixta
During the Atsugi Ayu Festival, traffic regulations will be put into place on roads near Hon-Atsugi Station, so we recommend taking public transportation when possible. If you are traveling to the festival by car, then make sure to head out only once you have checked the route and parking lots beforehand.

The roads and station, even as a pedestrian, will be extremely crowded once the Grand Fireworks Display is over. Follow the signs or instructions from guides and allow yourself extra time to get home.

Additionally, the annual heat wave is expected in early August. Please take precautions when going out, such as using a parasol or hat, staying hydrated, and avoiding overexertion by taking breaks.

Enjoy Fireworks and Food at the 2024 Atsugi Ayu Festival

The Atsugi Ayu Festival offers a full day of enjoyment with a spectacular fireworks display, dances, parades, and food stalls. Why not consider making your way out to Atsugi for summer 2024?