What other travelers are saying about Abe River Fireworks Festival
This first-class river flows through Shizuoka City and empties into Suruga Bay. Its sources lie at Otanimine, Hakkomine, and Abe Pass, and the entire river basin is within Shizuoka City. Its underground water is so clear that it is used as the city's tap water, and it has been selected as one of the "100 Famous Waters of the Heisei Era."
During the Edo period, bridge construction was prohibited for defense reasons, so travelers crossed the river by porter's shoulders or by ferry. This is depicted in the novel "Tokaido Chu Hizakurige."
Tokugawa Ieyasu's construction of the entire country improved the river's flow, and it also merged with the Warashina River during this period. Ieyasu also intended to build a canal on the left bank of the Abe River and build Kawabe Castle, a magnificent castle where ships from the Western Barbarians could dock. However, due to the Abe River's raging waters, the plan was abandoned, and the current Sunpu Castle was completed as an expansion.
The "Satsuma Dote" embankment remains, quietly telling the story of history as a civil engineering heritage. Satsuma Dote is an early Edo period levee still standing in Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City. It was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu to protect the Sumpu Castle area from flooding along the Abe River. Officially known as the Sumpu Oka Koizutsumi, it was recognized as a Civil Engineering Heritage Site by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers in 2017.
Abekawa Mochi, a simple rice cake dusted with soybean flour, is a favorite among locals.
The Abe River is also a popular fishing spot for anglers, particularly those seeking to catch mountain stream fish such as ayu, amago, and rainbow trout. Fishing is prohibited in some areas near the river mouth, and strict environmental conservation and safety management measures are in place.
More about Abe River Fireworks Festival from our blog
Frequently Asked Questions
The main viewing area is along the banks of the Abe River, near the Shizuoka City area. Early arrival is advisable to secure a good spot, as the festival attracts large crowds.
The festival is free to attend, though there are designated paid seating areas closer to the river, offering an unobstructed view of the fireworks.
It's recommended to bring a picnic blanket or portable chairs for seating, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a jacket or blanket as it can get cooler in the evening.
The festival features a variety of food stalls offering traditional Japanese festival foods such as yakisoba, takoyaki, and taiyaki, as well as drinks and snacks.
Someone wrote that the Abe River never dries up, but the water sometimes dries up around the current Driver's License Center. I've caught carp and turtles there. The locals go out with buckets to catch fish, even though it's a race against the birds.
The river never dries up and is one of Japan's cleanest first-class rivers. Serpentine (also known as mugwort stone here) is abundant here. Shizuoka City is proud of this river.
This is a first-class river where Abekawa Mochi originated. The fragile geology of the riverbanks has caused them to collapse in many places, filling the river with sediment. Upstream is the secluded Umegashima Onsen hot spring.
