Koto Fireworks looks simple on a Tokyo map: take the Tozai Line east and walk from Minami-sunamachi Station to the Arakawa. The 2026 event needs a more exact plan. Entry near the venue is restricted to ticket holders, the official walking route changes with the lettered area on your ticket, and non-resident ticket sales may not happen if Koto residents buy the available seats first.
The reward is an unusually close riverfront display. Approximately 6,000 fireworks are scheduled from a barge, with the viewing area about 150 meters from the launch point. This guide turns the ticket, train, heat, rain and exit rules into one practical plan for an international visitor.
- Quick answer: the Koto plan in 60 seconds
- Koto Fireworks 2026 at a glance
- Which ticket and viewing option should you choose?
- How to reach the venue from central Tokyo
- What time should you arrive?
- What to bring for heat, rain and waiting
- Crowd rules and etiquette that matter
- Protect the return trip before the show starts
- What if tickets sell out or the event is canceled?
- Koto Fireworks 2026 FAQ
- Official links and next step
Quick answer: the Koto plan in 60 seconds
- Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026, a Japanese national holiday.
- Ceremony: 7:00 p.m.
- Fireworks: 7:10 p.m.-8:00 p.m., scheduled; approximately 6,000 launches.
- Venue: Arakawa / Sunamachi Mizube Park, between Kasai Bridge and Kiyosuna Bridge.
- Entry: a paid-seat ticket or a winning Koto resident-seat ticket is required for the venue and its restricted surroundings.
- Nearest station: Minami-sunamachi Station (T15) on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line.
- Official station exit: Exit 4. Then follow the color route for the A-D, E-J or K-R area printed on your ticket.
- Non-resident sales: scheduled from 10:00 a.m. on August 1 if seats remain after the Koto resident priority sale. If the priority allocation sells out, there will be no general sale.
- Weather: light rain does not automatically stop the event; severe weather can cancel it, with no postponement date.
- Transport: there is no event parking or bicycle parking, and the organizer asks visitors not to call a taxi near the venue.
Do one thing now: open the official ticket page, check which sale applies to your residency, and save the lettered seat area before planning the walk.
Koto Fireworks 2026 at a glance
| Item | Official 2026 information |
|---|---|
| Event | Koto Fireworks 2026 / 江東花火大会2026 |
| Date | Tuesday, August 11, 2026, national holiday |
| Ceremony | 7:00 p.m. |
| Display | 7:10 p.m.-8:00 p.m., scheduled |
| Scale | Approximately 6,000 fireworks |
| Venue | Arakawa / Sunamachi Mizube Park, between Kasai Bridge and Kiyosuna Bridge |
| Viewing distance | Approximately 150 meters from the launch area |
| Seating | All assigned; chairs, paired stair seats, three-person benches and four-person garden seats |
| Public access | Ticket-required venue and restricted surroundings |
| Severe weather | Cancellation possible; no rain date |
The fireworks are launched from a barge in the Arakawa. The organizer highlights music-synchronized sequences, river reflections and the short distance between the seats and launch point. The assigned-seat format also removes the need to claim a viewing patch during the hottest part of the day.
Do not confuse “assigned seat” with “walk in at the last minute.” The station, three approach routes, ticket checks, toilet queues and post-show exit still require a crowd plan.
Which ticket and viewing option should you choose?
The first question is not chair versus bench. It is whether you qualify for the sale currently open.
Ticket-sale calendar
| Sale | Who can use it | 2026 timing |
|---|---|---|
| Koto resident priority paid sale | Purchaser and companions are Koto City residents | July 18 at 10:00 a.m. to July 31 at 11:59 p.m., or until sold out |
| General paid sale | People outside Koto City | From August 1 at 10:00 a.m., provided seats remain |
| Koto resident free seats | Eligible Koto residents who applied and won the lottery | Applications closed June 19 |
This sequence matters for travelers. Staying in a Koto hotel does not make a short-term visitor a Koto resident. During the priority period, the organizer says both the purchaser and companions must be Koto residents and may be asked for identification. Do not select the resident checkbox unless the requirement is true.
The sale uses Ticket Pia. Registration is free, payment is by credit card or convenience store, and tickets can be issued at Seven-Eleven or FamilyMart or sent by post. Issuing fees are added and depend on the receipt method. Build enough time to collect the physical ticket before event day.
Seat types and prices
| Seat type | Capacity | Listed price | Practical fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipe chair | 1 | ¥5,000 | Solo visitors or groups wanting individual chairs |
| Stair seat with sheet | 2 | ¥10,000 per pair | Couples or two travelers comfortable with stepped seating |
| Bench | 3 | ¥15,000 per bench | A group of three wanting to sit together |
| Garden seat with table | 4 | ¥30,000 per group | Four people prioritizing a table and fixed group space |
The ticket page lists the first three products at ¥5,000 per person and the garden seat at ¥7,500 per person. You may choose an area, but not the exact seat inside it. The official venue map uses A-R letters and places different seat types in different sections, so check the area on the final ticket rather than relying on the product name alone.
One preschool child per adult may sit on the adult’s lap. Children of elementary-school age and older need tickets. Ticket checks can happen inside or outside the venue, identification may be requested, and tickets bought through resale sites are refused.
The official ticket page separately links a hometown-tax return-seat offer and marks it on sale as of this article’s July 18 check. Koto residents are excluded from that return gift. It is a donation product with separate conditions, not a normal general-sale ticket, so read the linked terms and current availability before considering it.
How to reach the venue from central Tokyo
The rail plan is straightforward: reach the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line and travel east to Minami-sunamachi Station (T15).
- From the Tokyo Station area: use Otemachi Station (T09) and take an eastbound Tozai Line train to Minami-sunamachi.
- From Nihombashi: take the eastbound Tozai Line directly.
- From Asakusa: one simple rail plan is the Ginza Line to Nihombashi, then the Tozai Line east.
- From Shinjuku: transfer to the Tozai Line at a central interchange such as Otemachi or Kudanshita, depending on your starting line and current service.
Use a live route planner for the railway portion, but use the organizer’s map for the final walk. Event controls can override the ordinary walking suggestion shown by a map app.
Exit 4, then match the route color to your ticket
The 2026 organizer map explicitly tells Minami-sunamachi users to take Exit 4. This is important because Tokyo Metro reopened Exit 3 in March 2026, and an ordinary station map may make another exit look convenient.
| Ticket area | Official route color | General direction from Exit 4 |
|---|---|---|
| A-D | Green | East along Eitai-dori, then to the middle entrance south of Kasai Bridge |
| E-J | Blue | East along Eitai-dori, then to the southern entrance by Kiyosuna Bridge |
| K-R | Red | North via Maruhachi-dori, then east along Kasai-bashi-dori to the northern entrance near Kasai Bridge |
These are summaries of the 2026 organizer map, not turn-by-turn navigation. Open the official access page and save the recommended-route PDF. The organizer has separate entrances for A-D, E-J and K-R; approaching the river at the wrong point can add a long detour through controlled streets.
Koto City describes the venue as about a 15-minute walk from Minami-sunamachi in normal conditions. Treat that as a location reference, not an event-day promise. Add time for the correct exit, the area-specific route, pedestrian controls and ticket checks.
For Tokyo rail basics, see our Tokyo Trains Guide. Load your IC card before the evening crowd and save the hotel name and route offline.
What time should you arrive?
As of the July 18 check, the 2026 official pages publish the ceremony and fireworks times but do not state a venue opening time. The schedule below is a Real Japan Guide buffer, not an official admission timetable. If the organizer later posts a gate time or traffic notice, use that update.
Lower-stress plan
- 4:30-5:00 p.m.: reach Minami-sunamachi Station.
- Before the final walk: buy water, food and rain protection; delivery into the venue is prohibited.
- 5:00-5:45 p.m.: leave Exit 4 and follow the route color for your ticket area.
- After entry: identify your seat, nearest toilet, assigned exit and a group meeting point.
- By 6:30 p.m.: finish food purchases and toilet visits before the 7:00 p.m. ceremony.
- 7:10-8:00 p.m.: fireworks, scheduled.
Reserved seating protects your viewing space, so there is no benefit in claiming land early; the organizer prohibits pre-event place holding and removes unattended sheets. The reason to arrive early is operational: heat breaks, supplies, route controls and ticket checks.
If you have children, a stroller or limited walking tolerance, start closer to 4:30 p.m. The venue has wheelchair seating and three accessible toilets, but a stroller must be folded and kept inside your seating space because there is no stroller storage.
What to bring for heat, rain and waiting
August heat is part of the event plan even when the seat is reserved. Carry a compact kit:
- the physical ticket and identification, protected from rain;
- water and an electrolyte drink, plus essential medication;
- a hat, small towel and a portable cooling item for the walk;
- a poncho or raincoat;
- phone, power bank and offline screenshots of the ticket area and official route;
- an IC transit card with return fare loaded;
- compact food or snacks bought before entering;
- tissues, sanitizer and portable toilet paper.
The organizer prohibits delivery into the venue, so arrange food and drinks before entry. Avoid carrying a large setup that blocks your assigned seat or aisle.
Umbrellas cannot be used while watching because they obstruct and affect nearby guests. A forecast showing rain does not automatically mean cancellation; pack a poncho even if the event remains scheduled.
For reusable preparation, see the Japan Heat Survival Guide and Japan Rain and Typhoon Plan.
Crowd rules and etiquette that matter
Koto Fireworks does not operate like an open riverbank picnic. The controlled area protects residents and keeps the assigned-seat crowd manageable.
- Do not enter the venue or restricted surroundings without the appropriate ticket.
- Do not watch from private land, roads or the river island.
- Do not claim a place in advance; unattended blue sheets are removed.
- Do not drive, cycle to the event, or request a taxi near the venue.
- Do not bring pets, except guide, assistance and hearing dogs.
- Do not fly a drone or use a selfie stick in the seating area.
- Smoke in a designated place when one is announced; walking while smoking is prohibited.
- Use the venue garbage stations.
- Follow police, security and staff instructions during a sudden thunderstorm.
Toilets are installed at several locations. The organizer says women’s facilities have been increased but warns that queues form near the start, so use them early. The venue map also marks information, first aid, nursing space, accessible toilets, garbage stations and smoking areas.
Mobile service may become unreliable as the start approaches. The organizer notes that calls through messenger apps can be difficult and recommends the telephone network for contact. A pre-agreed meeting point is still safer than depending on a message being delivered.
Our Japan Festival Survival Guide covers more reusable clothing, etiquette and crowd basics.
Protect the return trip before the show starts
The scheduled finish is 8:00 p.m. The assigned-seat format limits venue capacity, but guests still leave toward the same Tozai Line station within a short period.
Choose one exit strategy before 7:10 p.m.:
Leave before the finale
If staff permit an early exit, this sacrifices part of the display but may help families, travelers with limited standing tolerance or anyone protecting a fixed connection. Follow the exit route in use; do not cut through another seat area.
Watch the full display, then let the first wave move
If staff allow a short pause, remain calm and let the tightest surge clear. Do not assume the venue, toilets or vendors will stay open for an extended wait.
Stay with the controlled route
Follow staff and police directions back toward Minami-sunamachi. Do not improvise a river crossing, roadside pickup or alternate station while traffic and access controls are active. Once outside the controlled area, open the return route saved earlier.
Give the group a precise meeting point and waiting time. “At Minami-sunamachi” is too broad; choose a landmark outside the strongest pedestrian flow. Keep the hotel address offline and preload the IC card so a fare top-up machine is not your first stop after the finale.
What if tickets sell out or the event is canceled?
If tickets sell out
The public sale planned for August 1 depends on stock remaining after the Koto resident priority period. If the 9,000 paid seats sell out first, the organizer says it will not hold a general sale.
Do not travel to the venue perimeter hoping to find an informal free view. The organizer says people without paid or resident-seat tickets cannot enter the venue or nearby restricted area, and it prohibits viewing from private land, roads and the river island.
Instead, recheck the official ticket page for an authorized option, read the separate hometown-tax offer conditions if relevant, or choose another scheduled display in our Japan Summer Fireworks Guide. Do not buy from a resale site; the organizer refuses those tickets.
If severe weather cancels the event
There is no postponement date. Check the official Koto Fireworks homepage and its linked X account before leaving.
The ticket page says a canceled event will be refunded later, but no refund is available after the performance has begun. Keep the physical ticket because it is required for the refund procedure, and follow the current Ticket Pia instructions rather than discarding it.
If the event proceeds in light rain, use a poncho and follow staff instructions. If a sudden thunderstorm arrives at the venue, do not leave against a controlled flow; respond to directions from police, security and event staff.
Koto Fireworks 2026 FAQ
Is Koto Fireworks 2026 confirmed?
The organizer lists Koto Fireworks for Tuesday, August 11, 2026. The ceremony starts at 7:00 p.m. and fireworks are scheduled from 7:10 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Severe weather or another safety condition can still cause cancellation.
Is Koto Fireworks free to watch?
There is no general free-viewing area near the venue. Entry is for paid-seat ticket holders and successful Koto resident-seat applicants, and surrounding access is restricted. Do not plan to watch from roads, private land or the river island.
Can a non-resident buy a Koto Fireworks ticket?
Yes, but the general paid sale is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on August 1 provided seats remain after the Koto resident priority sale. If the priority allocation sells out, there will be no general sale.
How much are Koto Fireworks tickets?
Pipe chairs, paired stair seats and three-person benches are listed at ¥5,000 per person. Four-person garden seats are ¥7,500 per person. Ticket-issuing fees are extra and depend on the receipt method.
Which station and exit should I use?
Use Minami-sunamachi Station (T15) on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line and take Exit 4. Then follow the official green, blue or red route for the A-D, E-J or K-R area printed on your ticket.
What time should I arrive?
The organizer had not published a 2026 opening time at this article’s July 18 check. Real Japan Guide suggests reaching Minami-sunamachi around 4:30-5:00 p.m. for supplies, the area-specific walk and ticket checks. Recheck later official notices.
What happens if it rains?
Light rain does not automatically cancel the event, but severe weather can. There is no rain date. Umbrellas cannot be used while watching, so bring a poncho and check the official homepage before leaving.
What happens if Koto Fireworks is canceled?
The official ticket page says a canceled event will be refunded later, but there is no refund after the performance begins. Keep the physical ticket for the procedure and follow the current Ticket Pia refund instructions.
Official links and next step
Use the organizer and transit operator as the final authority because ticket stock, restrictions and event-day service can change:
- Official event outline
- Official ticket page
- Official recommended route and venue maps
- Official FAQ
- Koto City event notice
- Tokyo Metro Minami-sunamachi Station
Next action: check the official ticket page now. If you are not a Koto resident, set an August 1 reminder and prepare Ticket Pia registration, but do not assume a general allocation will remain. If you already have a ticket, save the official route PDF and match its color to the A-R area on the ticket.
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