2025 8/3-4 Niigata: Nagaoka Fireworks Festival & Farm Tour

Highlights

・Enjoy exclusive group seating at the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival!
Settle into reserved seats right at the heart of the venue and take in the spectacular display up close. With clear views and ample space, this is the perfect way to experience one of Japan’s top three fireworks festivals.

・Travel stress-free with two private buses!
Skip the crowds and long walks—our private buses will take you directly to a reserved parking area near the fireworks site, ensuring a smooth and comfortable journey.

・Savor a countryside feast at Kayamori Farm in Kamo, Niigata!
Delight in a hearty, home-cooked meal made with freshly harvested summer vegetables, served at a traditional farmhouse surrounded by rice fields and gardens.

・Experience the rare tradition of summer mochi pounding!
Take part in a fun and meaningful mochi-pounding session, a New Year ritual rarely experienced even by many Japanese today. Connect with local elders in a warm, family-style atmosphere.

・Unwind at a historic hot spring inn in Yutagami Onsen!
Soak in the healing waters of “Yakushi no Yu” at Wakatake Inn, a 250-year-old ryokan steeped in tradition. Enjoy a restful night and a seasonal Japanese breakfast the following morning.

Full description

Day1 [August 3, 2025]

◆Meet at JR Tsubamesanjo Station (11:30 AM)
Your journey begins in Tsubamesanjo, a city renowned for its traditional metal craftsmanship. Please arrive by 11:25 AM and meet at the Shinkansen ticket gate on the 2nd floor of JR Tsubamesanjo Station. Look for our guide holding a LAMBDA・JAPAN flag. We’ll take a private bus to Yutagami Onsen in Tagami Town for a quick stop at the hotel to check in and drop off any large luggage.

・Tsubamesanjo Station[Google Map]

◆Check-in and Luggage Drop-off at Wakatake Inn (12:10 PM)
Check in and leave your large luggage at Wakatake Inn, a traditional hot spring ryokan in Yutagami Onsen, so you can enjoy the rest of the day hands-free before returning in the evening.

・Wakatake Inn
　[https://www.oyado-wakatake.co.jp/]
　[Google Map]

◆Afternoon at Kayamori Farm in Kamo City (12:40 PM)
Immerse yourself in the charm of rural Niigata at Kayamori Farm, a family-run estate in Kamo. Enjoy a delicious countryside meal made with freshly harvested summer vegetables, and take part in a traditional mochi-pounding experience—a New Year ritual so rare that even many Japanese today have never tried it. You’ll also have the chance to connect with local elders in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Step inside a spacious farmhouse featuring tatami rooms and a large Shinto kamidana (household altar), surrounded by beautiful rice fields and vegetable gardens. It’s a rare opportunity to experience the depth of local life and spirituality.

・Kayamori Farm
　[https://www.kayamorinouen.com/]
　[Google Map]

◆Transfer to Nagaoka Fireworks Festival Venue (4:00 PM, approx. 1.5 hrs)
Travel comfortably aboard two private buses with direct access to a reserved parking area near the fireworks venue—no crowds, no long walks, no stress.

◆Watch the Fireworks Show (7:10–9:10 PM)
Experience the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, one of Japan’s top three. Unlike typical fireworks events that use 2.5–5 inch shells (approx. 7.5–15 cm), Nagaoka showcases massive 10-inch (30 cm) shells and beyond. Thanks to the expansive Shinano River riverbed, this venue allows for wide-scale, synchronized launches that are simply unmatched elsewhere. It’s more than a fireworks show—it’s a symphony of light, sound, and emotion across the summer sky.

・Nagaoka Fireworks Festival
　[https://nagaokamatsuri.com/]
　[Google Map]

◆Return to Wakatake Inn by Bus (arrive around 11:00 PM)
End the evening with a relaxing soak at Wakatake Inn, a hot spring retreat with over 250 years of history. Unwind in the healing waters of Yakushi no Yu, known for its therapeutic effects. The open-air bath, crafted from natural stone and nestled in a Japanese garden, offers a refined and peaceful atmosphere. This onsen is also drinkable, and is said to benefit those with diabetes or obesity.

Day2 [August 4, 2025]

◆Breakfast at the Inn
Enjoy a beautifully prepared traditional Japanese breakfast made with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients from Tagami Town. This meal captures the flavors of the region and the time of year, offering both nourishment and a taste of local culture.

◆Check-out (10:00 AM)

◆Transfer to Tagami Station (Shinetsu Line)
The tour officially ends at Tagami Station, but we can arrange a taxi to JR Tsubamesanjo Station upon request (fare not included). The 30-minute drive offers peaceful countryside views and glimpses of the Shinano River, Japan’s longest.

・Tagami Station
　[Google Map]

If you have extra time, we recommend a visit to Chinjuso, a lavish former residence built by the wealthy Tamaki family. This historic estate features stunning temple-style architecture, a dry landscape garden (kare-sansui), and intricate woodwork using rare timber from across Japan. Admission: 400 yen (adults)

・Chinjuso
　[https://sites.google.com/view/chinjuso/home]
　[Google Map]