Summer only! Must-see! Echigo's three major fireworks festival, the Kashiwazaki Fireworks Festival, a fantastical sight of 15,000 fireworks blooming over the sea
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The once-in-a-lifetime "Kashiwazaki Fireworks Festival" that colors the sea and sky! Enjoy the spectacular fireworks of about 15,000 shots from a comfortable pair of seats. A luxurious plan to enjoy summer in Japan with all five senses, from the Kiyotsukyo Gorge Tunnel where art and nature are woven together, to the historic pilgrimage of Zenkoji Temple, to a walk around the cool breeze of Karuizawa.
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We offer a variety of travel services, mainly in the Kanto area, that allow you to enjoy the charms of each season, such as skiing, fireworks festivals, and experience plans. In the summer, tours of famous fireworks festivals around Japan and unique experience programs in Tokyo are popular. In the winter, we offer all-inclusive ski tours by bus from the Kanto region to popular ski resorts in Nagano and Niigata! If you're looking for a special trip to Japan, we'll suggest the perfect plan for you.
Required time
2 days/1 night
Transportation
Bus
Kashiwazaki Fireworks Festival: One of the "Echigo Three Major Fireworks Festivals"
The Kashiwazaki Fireworks Festival, held every year on July 26th, is known as one of the "Three Great Fireworks Festivals in Echigo," along with the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival and the Kabe Fireworks Festival. The Kashiwazaki Fireworks Festival is also called "Kashiwazaki of the Sea" because it is launched over the sea!
Kashiwazaki fireworks have a long history, dating back to the end of the Edo period. Not only is it a memorable and representative event for local residents, it also attracts over 200,000 spectators every year. Its greatest feature is the massive number of fireworks that are launched in succession, with over 100 at a time, with a maximum range of over 1.5 kilometers. Approximately 15,000 fireworks are scheduled to be launched during the 1 hour and 30 minute fireworks festival.
A huge fireworks display that embodies the wishes of the citizens!
The Kashiwazaki City Show will be held over a super wide area using a 600-meter-long embankment, and the curved fireworks that can only be launched at sea will draw a beautiful semicircle in the sky! It will end with 300 fireworks that will be launched continuously for about 6 minutes. The moment the fireworks are launched is a touching and memorable moment that will stay with you forever!
A popular photogenic spot: Kiyotsukyo Gorge Tunnel
Kiyotsukyo Gorge is counted among the "Three Great Valleys of Japan," and is known for the dynamic natural beauty of its steep V-shaped rock walls and clear streams. The Kiyotsukyo Gorge Tunnel, about 750 meters long, is built within the valley and has been developed as a safe walking course that allows visitors to enjoy the valley, and allows them to experience the beautiful scenery of the four seasons up close.
In recent years, many contemporary art installations have appeared inside the tunnel. The floor, like a water mirror, reflects the scenery of the canyon, creating a fantastical world. It is also a very popular photo spot, and is a hot topic on social media. It is a breathtaking scenic spot where art and nature come together.
A journey to experience the spirit of Shinshu - Zenkoji Temple
Zenkoji Temple is a famous temple in Nagano with a history of about 1,400 years, and it is said that everyone should visit Zenkoji Temple at least once in their lifetime, attracting many devotees from all over Japan.
The main hall, a national treasure, is a masterpiece of wooden architecture that combines a solemn atmosphere with traditional beauty. One experience you should definitely try at Zenkoji Temple is the "kaidan meguri" (walking around the temple's premises). Walking through the pitch black passages in the basement of the main hall and searching for the "lock to paradise" in complete darkness symbolizes a connection with Buddha and leaves a deep impression on visitors. It is a precious opportunity to experience a spiritual culture that believes in things that cannot be seen. Along with a sense of tranquility in your mind, you will be able to experience a special spiritual experience.
In front of the gates of Zenkoji Temple, there are many long-established soba restaurants serving Shinshu's specialty, hand-made soba. Nagano Prefecture is known as one of the leading soba producing areas in Japan, and a classic pastime is to enjoy "Shinshu soba" along with visiting Zenkoji Temple.
Each store offers a unique flavor, such as "Nihachi Soba" with a rich buckwheat flavor, "Juwari Soba" with a smooth texture, and the specialty "Kurumi Sauce Soba." Enjoy the traditional flavors and relaxing Japanese atmosphere to fully experience the food culture of Shinshu.
Shiraito Falls: A scenic spot created by the natural beauty of Karuizawa
Shiraito Falls, a popular tourist spot in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, got its name from the way the groundwater flows quietly down the rock face in countless thin threads that look like "white silk threads." This delicate and fantastical scenery is a famous spot that attracts many tourists.
The amount of water is stable throughout the year, and the lake shows different faces with each season. In spring, it is filled with fresh greenery, in summer it is a great place to escape the heat, in autumn it is filled with autumn leaves, and in winter it is covered in snow, so no matter what season you visit, you will be greeted by soothing scenery.
Old Karuizawa Ginza Street: A historic shopping street that has been a summer resort since the Meiji era
Located in the center of Karuizawa, "Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza Street" is a popular shopping street that blends history and modernity. While still retaining a retro atmosphere, it is lined with cafes, stylish general stores, and souvenir shops that use local ingredients, and you can enjoy a stroll in the relaxed atmosphere of the highlands.
Churches where history and tranquility live on ── Heartwarming places in Karuizawa
If you walk slowly down Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza Street, you will see two beautiful churches standing in the sunlight filtering through the trees. One is St. Paul's Church, designed by the master of modernist architecture Antonin Raymond. The warmth of the wood and the innovative form are impressive, and it continues to quietly protect a space for prayer.
Source: Wikipedia
The other is the Karuizawa Shaw Memorial Chapel. Built in honor of the missionary Mr. Shaw, who established the summer resort culture in Karuizawa during the Meiji period, this church can be said to be the origin of Karuizawa's history. In the silence where time seems to stand still, nature, history and prayer resonate together, creating a place of clarity and clarity of mind.
These churches form a beautiful landscape that blends in with the natural surroundings of Karuizawa, and are attractive spots for those who enjoy photography and historical walks. When you visit, please enjoy the history and architectural beauty while respecting the tranquil atmosphere.
Day 1
Meeting time: 7:45 AM Departure time: 8:00 AM Meeting place: Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Large Bus Parking Lot *Please arrive at the meeting place with plenty of time on the day of departure. The meeting place is a parking lot for large buses near the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, within walking distance of Shinjuku Station. An attendant will guide you on site, so you can participate with peace of mind.
1
Echigo Yuzawa Station
Here you can enjoy local cuisine and souvenirs made with Koshihikari rice, as well as various types of sake at reasonable prices. On your way to the fireworks venue, you can enjoy eating and looking for souvenirs. At "CoCoLo Yuzawa" inside Echigo Yuzawa Station, you can easily enjoy local sake at "Ponshukan Echigo Yuzawa Station Store." Here, the "Kikizaka Station" where you can sample sake from sake breweries in Niigata Prefecture for 500 yen is popular.
Travel by bus
2
Kiyotsu Gorge
Kiyotsukyo Gorge is one of the "Three Great Gorges of Japan," and shows different faces with each season. Various artworks are displayed inside the tunnel, and the water decoration at the very end of the tunnel is a spot where many visitors can take beautiful photos. It is a must-see spot for photography enthusiasts.
Travel by bus
3
Gion Kashiwazaki Festival Sea Fireworks Display
The Gion Kashiwazaki Festival Sea Fireworks Display is said to be one of the three major fireworks displays in Echigo, and is crowded with many people every year. The spectacular fireworks that unfold on the sea stage are a masterpiece. The underwater large star mine that spreads over the sea surface and the wide star mine that stretches for 600 meters are worth seeing.
After the fireworks display, we will return to the hotel by bus.
After the fireworks display, we stayed overnight at Mercure Matsushiro Onsen Resort.
After the fireworks display, we stayed overnight at Mercure Matsushiro Onsen Resort.
4
Mercure Nagano Matsushiro Resort & Spa
Mercure Nagano Matsushiro Resort & Spa is located in a quiet location surrounded by the nature and mountains of Shinshu, offering a relaxing stay.
The rooms are over 35 m2 in size, and from the windows you can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons, so you can spend a relaxing time bathed in the morning sun.
The buffet restaurant in the hotel offers dishes made with seasonal ingredients from Shinshu and Nagano. You can enjoy the local flavors in a relaxed atmosphere.
The hotel also has relaxation facilities such as an open-air bath, large bath, and sauna. You can spend a moment to relax and unwind from your travels in a quiet space where the sound of water resonates.
Mercure Nagano Matsushiro Resort & Spa offers a variety of services and facilities to make your stay comfortable, providing a simple and comfortable time.
Day 2
5
Zenko-ji Temple
Zenkoji Temple in Nagano Prefecture is a famous Buddhist temple with over 1,400 years of history. The principal image, the "Ikko Sanzon Amida Nyorai Statue," is said to be one of the oldest Buddhist statues in Japan. In particular, the main hall, designated a national treasure, conveys the grandeur of traditional Japanese architecture to the present day and is important as a religious center. The "kaidan meguri" tour of the temple grounds involves groping your way through pitch-black underground passages in search of the "key to paradise," and it is said that finding it will connect you to the Buddha. It is a valuable experience both as a form of spiritual and physical training.
Travel by bus
6
Shiraito Falls
Shiraito Falls is one of Karuizawa's most famous tourist attractions, and is known for its fantastical scenery. Countless thin streams of water flow down the rock face like silk threads from the 3-meter-high, 70-meter-wide waterfall, creating a natural curtain of water. Unlike typical waterfalls, the water source is an underground spring, and flows directly down the rock face, creating a calm, tranquil beauty.
Travel by bus
7
Karuizawa Ginza Shotenkai
Karuizawa Ginza Street is the oldest shopping street in the Karuizawa area. Distinctive churches such as St. Paul's Church and Karuizawa Shaw Memorial Chapel are also dotted around the area. Along the street, there are a variety of miscellaneous goods and souvenir shops selling jams, miso, local beer, tea, Western sweets, bread, and more, making it an unmissable spot.
Travel by bus
8
JR Shinjuku Station
Spots introduced in this itinerary
We offer a variety of travel services, mainly in the Kanto area, that allow you to enjoy the charms of each season, such as skiing, fireworks festivals, and experience plans. In the summer, tours of famous fireworks festivals around Japan and unique experience programs in Tokyo are popular. In the winter, we offer all-inclusive ski tours by bus from the Kanto region to popular ski resorts in Nagano and Niigata! If you're looking for a special trip to Japan, we'll suggest the perfect plan for you.
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.
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