First Shells Light Up Tokyo Bay as Fireworks Show Begins

The first fireworks of the Tokyo Bay Grand Fireworks Festival lit up a misty sky on Saturday evening, October 24, as spectators in rain ponchos watched from Hinode Pier.

X user bustopher.j filmed the opening of the show from the pier, as red, green and purple bursts rose over the dark water, their colours reflecting on the bay while small boats sat below and rows of hooded viewers held up their phones.

“Hinode venue. It’s started,” the filmer wrote.

The 90-minute display began at 5:30 p.m., with around 12,000 shells fired from the sea off Harumi Pier. Light rain fell throughout, but organisers kept to the plan and asked ticket holders to wear raincoats because umbrellas were not allowed.

The festival had not been held since 2015, after the Harumi area that served as its main viewing spot was chosen for the Tokyo 2020 athletes’ village. Chuo and Minato wards revived it this year to mark their 80th anniversaries, drawing about 110,000 spectators.