Biwako Grand Fireworks Festival Viewing Area (Waters off Otsu Port) (びわ湖大花火大会 観覧エリア・大津港沖水面)

Flow of the course

About this spot

The Biwako Grand Fireworks Festival, in which about 10,000 fireworks are launched from the waters off the Shiga Prefectural Otsu Port in Otsu City, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 6, 2026. With the vast surface and night sky of Lake Biwa, one of Japan's largest freshwater lakes, as the stage, a variety of displays, from star-mine sequences to large shells, unfold one after another. The sight of the upside-down fireworks reflected on the lake, spreading in tandem with the real ones, has a unique beauty unmatched by seaside or land-based fireworks festivals. With nothing around to block the view and the sky wide open over the lake, the fireworks fill your field of vision no matter where you're watching from. The moment when the rapid-fire finale wraps the whole of Lake Biwa in light is the climax where every hour of the day converges.

Fireworks details

Tips

Check the festival's official announcement for whether it will proceed in bad weather. After it ends, the area around Biwako-Hamaotsu Station (Keihan) and JR Otsu Station gets extremely crowded. Lingering on the spot for a while after the finale to enjoy the afterglow before moving makes it easier to avoid the crowds. Check the return train times in advance, and plan with plenty of time to spare in preparation for congestion. Some areas underfoot are dark, so make use of a light.

Best time to visit

Time your visit to the 7:30-8:30 p.m. schedule. Secure your viewing spot 30 minutes before the start.

Access & map

Shiga Prefecture, Otsu City - Waters off the Shiga Prefectural Otsu Port