5. Events: Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai

The Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai is an annual fireworks festival held on the last Saturday in July, over the Sumidagawa near Asakusa. Unlike fireworks displays on other parts of the world, the Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai follows the Japanese tradition of being an intense competition between rival pyrotechnic groups. Each group tries to out-do the last and the result is an incredible variety of fireworks, not just un different colors and patterns, but forming shapes as complicated ad Doraemon, Pikachu, or Kanji.

It is a revival of celebrations held in the EDO period, and annually attracts close to a million celebrants. Similar events are held at the same time of year at many other sites throughout Japan.

The Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai of this year is on July 27 YAY!! :D
In 2014 it's on July 26.