Went to Oyama's Annual Fireworks Festival on July 31st!
This was the second year that we took the children over to watch the fireworks festival. This festival in Oyama (approx 1hr 30 mins train ride from Ueno Station in Tokyo) is top just over the two hours. If you live close to Omiya Saitama area, I strongly recommend you visiting this festival rather than those taking place in Kanagawa or Tokyo.
There is another Fireworks Festival of the same magnitude scheduled for Saturday 6th August at Koga City. It is approximately 1hr 10minutes away from Ueno station on the Utsunomiya Line. It is a great cheap way to enjoy uniquely Japanese custom of enjoying fireworks in the summer!
Here are a Few Tips to Make the Most Out of the Fireworks Festival with the Kids
明るいうちに会場チェック! Check Out the Location During the Day Before Dark
◆トイレの場所の確認、できればきちんとしたお店トイレで会場に行く前に済ませてください。はぜひ済ませてください。 のんびり見物できるための通路から離れた場所を確保するのことをお勧めいたします!暗くなってからの花火大会はだいたい6時頃から会場がすごく込みます。それまでに子供たちの食事、トイレなどを済ませ明るいうちに良い場所を確保しましょう! Please make sure to check out the location of toilets and make sure to eat and finish taking the children to the toilet well in time. After 6pm, the area will be extremely crowded. It is advisable to secure your observation space by spreading the camping sheet while it is light out, away from the passages so that you could enjoy the fireworks in peace!
◆電車の場合は帰りの券も買っておきましょう!Make sure to buy your return ticket when you arrive at the station!
持ち物リスト - Things to Take List
◆大き目のシート 1(ピクニック用では不十分!キャンプなどに使う大人も4人寝転べるしっかりした大きいサイズが快適です)1 Large Camping Sheet (large enough for 4 adults to lie down flat on the back!) ◆ピクニック用のシート 1(雨の時、家族でかさ代わりに使えます)Standard size picknick sheet ◆子供の数だけのバスタオル (お布団、枕、もちろんタオルとしても大活躍)Bath towels for each child (used as blanket, pillow, towel, etc) ◆大人の数のスポーツタオル汗ふき、おしぼりにもなりあると便利です。Sports towels for adults ◆スポーツドリンク (お近くならクーラーボックスにビールでも良いでしょうが、とにかく河川敷は湿気がすごいですので大人の分ももあると安心です。)Sports Drink & maybe some beer for the dad... but make sure you have plenty of isotonic drinks due to high temp & humid weather! ◆解凍して食べれる枝豆(手間なしで、ヘルシーなおつまみ)Frozen Boiled Edamame Beans (ready salted) Handy and great nutricious munchies for the whole family ◆柿の種、焼き鳥、から揚げ、ポテチなど (現地ではお高かったり、コンビにもすべて売り切れになります)and yakitori roast chicken and fried chicken, potato chips (as they are very expensive there, or the store shelves could be empty!) ◆飴 (我が家はのど飴、天然しお入り飴、黒飴などちょっとミネラル補給になるタイプを持っていきます)(candies -with natural sugar and mineral salts to replace minerals lost in the hot humid weather) ◆虫除けスプレー (insect repellant spray) ◆虫刺され用の薬 (ointment for mosquito bites) ◆殺菌用ウエットティッシュー (antiseptic wet tissues) ◆うちわ (人数分)"Uchiwa" hand fans
しっかり準備していけば、子供連れでものんびり楽しめます!素敵な日本の夏の風物ですよね!
Once you are well prepared, this is a great inexpensive way to spend a memoriable time with your family! Let's hope the typhoon and the rain stays away this weekend!
通勤2時間!愛する子供たちのためなれない環境でいかにGENKIにFAMILY LIFEをENJOYするかで悪あがき中ののワーキングママです。Growing and struggling with my loving kids,a long-distance working bilingual mom's seek for sanity in life in a bedtown...