Japan · Fireworks · Nara
Kashihara Manyo Fireworks 2026 — the English viewer's guide
A first-of-its-kind night for Kashihara: the city marks its 70th anniversary with "KASHIHARA SKY PALETTE" — a free daytime festival, an evening live performance by JO1's Kono Junki (a Nara native and the event's official ambassador), and then 30 minutes of music-synced fireworks over Kashihara Sports Park. Here is how the day is structured, how tickets work, and the weather rules.
| Event | KASHIHARA SKY PALETTE Manyo Fireworks supported by Anker — first edition, for Kashihara City's 70th anniversary |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, November 22, 2026 |
| Time | Daytime programme 11:45–15:45 (free); evening programme 17:00–19:00, with fireworks 17:30–18:00 JST |
| Venue | Kashihara Sports Park, Unate-cho, Kashihara, Nara |
| Free viewing | Daytime programme is free for everyone; the fireworks seating is all paid, and no official free fireworks viewing area is announced |
| If weather turns | Rain or shine; cancellation only for severe weather — no postponement |
| Nearest station | Bojo Station (Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line), about 10 minutes on foot |
A 70th-anniversary first edition
Kashihara has never held this event before. It was created for the city's 70th anniversary, in the year the "Asuka-Fujiwara Palaces" were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the production pedigree is serious: GREAT SKY ART, the collective behind Hokkaido's Geijutsu Hanabi and Japan's representatives at the Montreal international fireworks competition. The evening is built as a show, not just a launch: from 17:00 there is an opening and a special live performance by Kono Junki of JO1 — the event's official ambassador, who comes from Nara — before the fireworks at 17:30, a 30-minute music-synced display that includes JO1 songs and blue-themed original fireworks from title sponsor Anker. Earlier in the day, a free programme (calligraphy, music and comedy performances, a lantern garden, e-sports) runs 11:45–15:45, and food and merchandise stalls stay open until 19:00.
Tickets: the 2026 situation & your realistic options
Fireworks viewing is all paid seating — seat brands include Anker Premium (including box seats), Anker Dynamic, Anker Panorama and wheelchair seats. Channels are Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, FamilyMart (EVENTIFY) and Kintetsu Ticket E-Mall. Ticket status as of October 20, 2026: general sale is running and continues until 15:00 on the day itself (November 22), first-come until the allocation runs out — but there are no ticket sales at the venue, so you must buy and issue your ticket in advance even if you decide on the day.
Can't use the Japanese ticket sites?
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Message me on Ko-fiGetting there — and getting home
- Use Bojo Station (Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line), about 10 minutes on foot from Kashihara Sports Park.
- Come by train: the park's car parks cannot be used on the day and there are road restrictions in the area — the organisers ask everyone to use public transport.
- Plan the whole day: doors for the daytime programme open at 11:30, the free programme runs 11:45–15:45, the evening programme starts at 17:00 and the food and merchandise area stays open until 19:00.
- Going home: the fireworks end at 18:00 and the event wraps up at 19:00; the Bojo-bound flow will be heaviest right after the finale.
- Weather check: watch the official website on the day for any cancellation announcement.
What to bring
- Your ticket, issued in advance — there are no sales at the venue on the day.
- A compact raincoat — the event is rain or shine.
- Warm layers — a late-November evening outdoors in Nara, especially if you arrive for the daytime programme.
- A portable battery — for the official announcements and the ride home.
Planning more than one night?
My Full Trip Ticket Concierge builds your whole Japan/China ticket run — fireworks, attractions and trains — into one written plan within 72 hours.
See the concierge on Ko-fiQuick FAQ
Is any of it free?
Yes — the daytime programme (11:45–15:45) is free and open to everyone. The evening fireworks seating is all paid, and no official free fireworks viewing area is announced.
Where do I buy, and until when?
Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, FamilyMart (EVENTIFY) and Kintetsu Ticket E-Mall. General sale runs until 15:00 on November 22 — but nothing is sold at the venue, so buy and issue in advance.
What if the weather is bad?
Rain or shine, but severe weather (strong wind, lightning, a typhoon) or major transport disruption can cancel it — cancellation only, no postponement. Tickets are fully refunded if the show is cancelled before the first shell.
Who performs before the fireworks?
The evening programme (from 17:00) opens with a special live performance by Kono Junki of JO1, the event's official ambassador — the fireworks follow at 17:30.
Facts checked against the official event website (sky-palette.hanabifes.com), including its ticket page and ticket terms, on October 20, 2026. Availability changes quickly — confirm the latest status on the official site before travelling.