Overview

The small towns of Setouchi beside the Seto Inland Sea traditionally hold summer festivals in July and August. People, especially the young, dress in colourful yukata summer kimono and throng streets lined with stalls selling festival food and trinkets. When night falls, there’s a firework display, often with up to a thousand shots. Japanese fireworks are particularly elaborate, with many unique and creative designs.

The best place to see these displays is from the sea aboard a boat. It’s cooler out on the water, and the bright stars and rockets are reflected in the water with the mountains behind.

Over the summer months, we’re offering four separate half-day trips to enjoy these firework festivals. Genuine fishing boats depart from the harbours at Akitsu and Takehara, loaded with provisions. These towns are known for developing ginjō sake, and we provide a selection for your enjoyment with the fireworks, along with other drinks.

The trip on 29 July 2026 departs from Akitsu Station at 15:30. Your guide takes you on a walk through this small port town. At 17:00, you depart from Akitsu Hayatawara Port for the uninhabited island of Ryūōjima where you enjoy some free time and a BBQ dinner with drinks. Then at 20:30 you head out to watch the fireworks. You return to port at 21:15 where a private bus waits to take you to Hiroshima, arriving around 23:00.

The trips on 25 July, 13 August, and 14 August 2026, depart from Takehara Station at 15:30. Your guide takes you on a walk through this small port town with a visit to a traditional café. At 17:30, you depart from Takehara Port for a slow cruise to Ōsaki Kamijima island where you enjoy a boxed dinner with drinks. The fireworks start at 20:30. You return to port at 21:30 where a private bus waits to take you to Hiroshima, arriving around 23:00.

This is a public tour open to everyone. You can join as an individual or as a group. There’s a maximum of 8 people per boat, and we have 10 boats. If you’d like to charter a boat for exclusive use, let us know.

Features

• Explore a beautiful seaside Setouchi town with a guide.
• Cruise the Inland Sea on an authentic fishing boat captained by a local fisherman.
• Enjoy a BBQ or boxed dinner with fine local sake.
• Watch a firework display from the ultimate ‘box seats’.