2026 Suimu Shrine Grand Festival: Kiso Fukushima Fireworks Festival, A Full-Day Course

Centered on the Suimu Shrine Grand Festival: Kiso Fukushima Fireworks Festival, held on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 in Fukushima, Kiso Town, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture, this course takes you through a post town on the Nakasendo over the course of a day. At midday, walk through Kiso-Fukushima, a post town where houses built on cliffs still stand today, and at the Yamamura Daikan Residence, feel the history of Kiso and the charm of a samurai residence. At the site of the former Kiso-Fukushima checkpoint, known as the foremost checkpoint on the Nakasendo, visit historic remains that tell the story of how demanding travel was in the Edo period. In the evening, visit Suimu Shrine, the star of the festival, and take in the atmosphere of its grounds as they prepare for the Grand Festival. As the sun sets, night stalls line the banks of the Kiso River, heightening the festival mood even further. At 7:50 p.m., about 1,000 fireworks launch from the riverbed of the Kiso River, creating a breathtaking sight as their sound echoes off the surrounding mountains. Watching fireworks while enjoying the cool mountain-valley breeze is full of the charm unique to the Kiso road. This is the definitive summer plan for Kiso-Fukushima, letting you enjoy a generous helping of historical strolling and fireworks in the mountains.