What kind of scenery comes to mind when you hear of Kamakura in summer?
Lush green mountains and historic temples and shrines.
The Enoden train leisurely running through the town.
The vast blue sea and the beach at sunset.
And large fireworks blooming across the night sky.
The Kamakura Fireworks Festival is an event that attracts many people every year.
In 2026, it is scheduled to be held on Friday, July 10th.
Last year, unfortunately, the event was canceled due to high waves and strong winds.
Therefore, this year will mark its return after two years, and it is expected to be a day eagerly awaited by many.
The Kamakura Fireworks Festival: 78 Years of History
The Kamakura Fireworks Festival began in 1948 (Showa 23), just three years after the end of the war.
It started with the wish to console the war dead and to bring hope and cheer to people embarking on post-war reconstruction.
This year marks the 78th festival. Even as times change, the scene of many people gathering on the same beach to look up at the night sky in summer has been passed down through generations.
People who come with family.
People laughing with friends.
People quietly waiting for the fireworks with loved ones.
Each summer memory is gradually accumulating on this seashore.
Knowing such a history, the fireworks festival feels less like an event and more like a part of Kamakura's summer scenery.
Wake up a little early and head to Kamakura
On the day of the Kamakura Fireworks Festival, Kamakura Station and the Enoden train get increasingly crowded as evening approaches.
Long queues form at restaurants, people start securing spots on the beach to watch the fireworks, and the entire town gradually transforms into a summer festival atmosphere.
If you want to enjoy Kamakura at a leisurely pace, it's best to arrive in the morning.
In the morning, Kamakura still has a relaxed atmosphere.
Enjoying breakfast at a cafe or restaurant that opens early and starting your day slowly is a luxury unique to this time.
At the Aomono Market, known as Renbai (Kamakura City Agricultural Cooperative Federation Immediate Sale Center), which starts at 8 AM, farmers display freshly picked vegetables, and locals and chefs from nearby restaurants come to shop.
The aroma of freshly baked bread wafts through the air, and locals on bicycles go about their shopping—a morning scene bustling with everyday life.
Unlike the crowded tourist hours, this is a time to experience the peaceful side of the town.
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.