Do you want to see Tokyo’s biggest fireworks festival and one million spectators? That sounds like a recipe for disaster for a people-shy photographer like me. In July 2016, armed with a camera, I braved throngs and went to the Sumida River to photograph it. A night of thunderous explosions followed. I got my photos in the end.
The number of people at the event shocked me. I found out later that the audience numbered 957,000! It is the biggest fireworks festival in Tokyo. It’s an enormous tourist attraction.
This event takes the word crowded to a new level. It is insane. Stay away from the Sumida River Fireworks if you dislike crowds. But I had a regret that night. I didn’t stop to take pictures of them. I needed to find a spot for my camera before the fireworks started.
After walking what seemed like miles, I finally found a spot in Hashiba. That was far from the action. An ocean of people surrounded me and I squeezed my camera between them on a tiny patch of grass. Blue sheets were everywhere.
I was lucky. From my spot, I could see enough of the fireworks. Over 20,000 rockets went skyward to create a rainbow of colors above. They were spectacular and noisy! The explosions were nonstop for two hours. They were so loud that some people wore earplugs.
One thing surprised me. I saw so many cameras on tripods. The Hashiba area had a sea of them. Had everyone brought one?
The Sumida fireworks are in summer. It will be hot and humid so:
You might think that such a huge number of people created pandemonium for getting home. Well, crowd control was impressive. The police knew their job. They placed their big buses so people couldn’t wander into side streets and get lost. That funneled everyone in the right direction, back to the train stations.
There are many options. Two popular places are the Taito Riverside Sports Center and Komagata Bridge. If they are too crowded, keep walking until you find a spot. You’ll find something.
Pro tip: Check Google Maps satellite view beforehand to scout for open areas near the river.
Was it worth it? Final thoughts
The Sumida River Fireworks are fantastic despite the huge crowds. Yep, they made me uneasy, but I’ll go again. My Pentax 18-135 mm lens lacked reach and lowlight performance. It struggled. I’d love to get better photos. What’s the most crowded event you’ve ever photographed? I’d love to hear your story.
Rohan has been photographing Tokyo since 2011. He knows his way around the city.
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