WakayamaLeisure

Shingu Station (新宮駅)

Flow of the course

Previous stop: Visit the site tied to the Jofuku legend behind the festival's name, building anticipation for tonight's festival

About 15 min from the previous stop

About 120 min here

About 60 min to the next stop

Next stop: Watch about 6,000 fireworks reflected on the Kumano River, one of the largest summer fireworks displays in the Kinan region

About this spot

Shingu is a port town facing the Kumano-nada Sea (熊野灘), also known as a food town rich in catches of saury, tuna, and other local fresh fish. Restaurants serving local food are scattered around the station area, and if you go before the evening on the day of the fireworks festival, you can still find a table during a less crowded window. Pressed saury sushi is a signature local dish of Shingu, available at restaurants and souvenir shops around the city. Having a proper dinner and building up your strength before heading to the riverbed will make the long evening of viewing more enjoyable. Since the surrounding area starts getting crowded from the evening on the day of the festival, an early dinner is the smart choice.

Tips

The area around JR Shingu Station (新宮駅) is where restaurants cluster within walking distance. Crowds are expected on the day of the fireworks festival, so it's ideal to start your meal by around 5 p.m. It's reassuring to also pick up takeout snacks for the riverbed. It's recommended to prepare more drinks in advance than you'd get near the venue.