UPDATE : ITS OFFICIAL. THE TOKYO BAY FIREWORKS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED FOR OLYMPIC VILLAGE CONSTRUCTION WORK. NO FIREWORKS NEXT AUGUST FOR THIS SPECTACLE WHICH STARTED IN 1988. SAD BUT THE DECISION HAS BEEN REACHED TODAY, JANUARY 25, 2016.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT : THE WARD COULD NOT FIND A BIG ENOUGH ALTERNATIVE TO HOST SUCH A BIG EVENT(区内に大規模な観覧場所の確保は困難). CHUO-KU WILL SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVE SPOTS BY REQUESTING NEIGHBOURING WARDS, UNTIL THEN THE FIREWORKS REMAIN SUSPENDED
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: I remember watching the Tokyo Bay Fireworks for the first time in I think 2000 or 2001, from Ariake and the visual and sound impact was so awesome that I have been a Hanabi fan like millions in Japan over the years. Sumida River fireworks and Tokyo Bay fireworks are my favorites in Tokyo and it was a shock in March when I heard that the Tokyo Bay Fireworks might end this year in 2015. I treated it as a rumor earlier, but mainstream media now confirms it that Olympics 2020 will bring a lot of construction activity and the Olympic Village will soon be built on the vacant plot of land that the bulk of the spectators use today.
Japantimes is reporting the official statement that “The festival has been part of local (tradition) for more than 25 years, so it’s regrettable we won’t be able to host it,” said Kazuhiro Mashimo, director of the community development section at the Chuo Ward Office, which organizes the festival. THATS PRETTY HORRIBLE….
The event will be held this year in 2015 on August 08 and this will be the last chance to behold the spectacle overlooking the Rainbow Bridge. Sucks… Here are some snaps from earlier years of the Hanabi event. Beautifully well lit boats gather around Odaiba area before the fireworks begin.
The festival features 12,000 fireworks launched from the sea in front of Harumifuto Park. Some of the best locations to watch the Hanabi includes the Lalaport at Toyosu! My favorite.
I remember viewing this Hanabi from my brothers office in 2006 from the and is best viewed from slightly further away like Tokyo Tower or even Roppongi Hills Tokyo City View Observatory. Try getting a location farther this year since its going to be the last one time I am sure it will be HEAVILY CROWDED around Odaiba area, unless you are cool with the crowds..
The overall impact of the fireworks does not need a mention, the most picturesque fireworks festival in Tokyo. Don’t plan for the reserved seating, the tickets sell out so quickly that you are already LATE.
SO IS THIS THE END OF THE FIREWORKS IN ODAIBA? : With Olympics we will see the last one of the Tokyo Bay Fireworks this year, but there are a few fireworks conducted on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge in the cold month of DECEMBER!!!!!!
You can enjoy this on Saturdays in the winter month of December, although the viewing pleasure is muted given the freezing temperatures you have around that time.
The Odaiba Fireworks will be a great memory and a reminder that nothing lasts for ever. Something more grand will eventually come around, but this firework festival will be sorely missed.
In summary last of the Tokyo Bay Fireworks, enjoy the last year if your schedule permits, since there will be no hanabi the next year at Odaiba, atleast not at the same location and not in the same format. One can always hope….