I’ve been consistent about this: cameras (especially cellphone cameras) suck for fireworks. They’re an experience best experienced live. But I decided to post a few shots from the Kobe Port Hanabitaikai anyway. I’m lucky in that I was able to just pop up to the roof of my apartment and get a great view of them (if I calculated the speed of sound correctly, the barges were about 8000 feet away) – bypassing the 250,000 people who descend on Harborland to try and see them from close up.
The Kobe Port Fireworks are considered one of the biggest and best in West Japan, and it’s easy to see why – you won’t get much of a sense of it here, but they were spectacular. The show lasted a full hour (with a few breaks to reload) and, like the best Japanese fireworks displays, had a real sense of artistry to it. Nothing says summer in Japan like a hanabitaikai (apart from searing heat, perhaps) and as the cries of “Tamaya!” wafted up from the city below, it was a blast to watch them with the smattering of seniors and moms with kids from my building.
Snowball
August 4, 2018 at 11:39 amThere’s always something to celebrate in Japan no matter the season which is what I loved about living there. Matsuris and hanbitaikais were definitely the highlights of summer and they were only a stone’s throw away from where I lived. Hope you are coping well with the heatwave.
Guardian Enzo
August 4, 2018 at 4:33 pmAs well as one can. I mean, it’s harder here than when I was in Tokyo and one could pretty much live underground if they wanted.
Yann
August 4, 2018 at 6:58 pmI’ve been wondering about this but… I don’t know how to ask this 😛 What’s with the 8 sec videos? Do you have an older phone or…?
Guardian Enzo
August 4, 2018 at 7:46 pmEh?? No, just don’t like taking long videos unless it’s something really spectacular.
mika163
August 6, 2018 at 1:06 amLucky you! I had to brave the huge crowds and elbow my way to an empty spot to watch the hanabi in Tokyo. I think it was at Tokyo bay or thereabouts
Guardian Enzo
August 6, 2018 at 1:25 amThat’s a big one. There are secret spots for every Tokyo hanabitaikai, if you Google hard enough…