Last night around 6pm we headed over to the Kintai Bridge for the Kintaikyo Fireworks Festival.  It’s one of the biggest festivals here in Iwakuni and it is part of the Nishiki River Water Festival.  It was scheduled for the first weekend of August but due to thunderstorms was postponed to the last weekend of August.  It was a perfect night to watch fireworks.  Very warm and comfortable.

We went with some friends who had an extra “mamachari” bike for me to ride.  There were thousands of people down by the river, many had arrived at noon to stake out a good spot.  People arrive by train, bus, car, foot but the best way is by bike.  And every available vacant lot is made available for bike parking.  Not only that, but it’s free AND it’s very organized.

At every festival there are lots of vendors with food and drinks and kiddie carnival-like games.  And lots of vendors with anything and everything “on a stick.”

There are many fireworks festivals in Japan and they are quite spectacular lasting over an hour.  This one went on for an hour and a half.

KA BOOM!

A very fun evening right in our own home town.  Tonight after doing a bunch of errands Chris barbecued on our new little barbecue in our new little back yard.

We had a little beef and a little salmon and some delicious sake with our stir fried vegees and rice.  Life is good here in Japan.