Yukata & Street Food at Sumida Fireworks – 3 Must-Know Tips for a Perfect Night

It’s that time of the year again – fireworks festival season!

The Sumida River Fireworks Festival in 2019 will be held on July 27th (Saturday) from 19:00 to 20:30.
(※ In case of bad weather, it will be postponed or rescheduled to July 28th, Sunday).

When it comes to fireworks festivals, the most captivating sight is undoubtedly the large, colorful fireworks lighting up the night sky. But of course, you can’t miss out on the food stalls!

This time, we will introduce a fun way to enjoy the food stalls with peace of mind when renting a yukata at the Sumida River Fireworks Festival.

How to Enjoy Food Stalls at the Sumida River Fireworks Festival

The Sumida River Fireworks Festival is divided into two main venues due to its large scale: the first venue and the second venue.

The first venue is from downstream of Sakura Bridge to upstream of Kotohira Bridge, while the second venue is from downstream of Komagata Bridge to upstream of Umaya Bridge.

Around the first venue, there are many food stalls near places like Asakusa Temple and Sumida Park.

As the start time for the fireworks display approaches, it tends to get extremely crowded, so we recommend heading out with plenty of time. Stalls may start opening as early as around 3:00 PM.

Let’s have a meal during the daylight hours and enjoy the fireworks leisurely.

A recommended item from the food stalls is the “Light Bulb Soda.”

Surprisingly, it contains a colorful drink inside a light bulb. Its vibrant and cute colors are sure to make it Instagram-worthy!

Guaranteed to be Instagram-worthy!

Secret Items to Enjoy Sumida River Fireworks Festival Food Stalls in a Yukata

If you’re going to the fireworks festival, you’ll probably want to wear a yukata. However, you might be a little worried about walking in unfamiliar geta sandals…

For those of you concerned about this, it’s a good idea to tape your toes with something like an inconspicuous adhesive bandage between your big toe and index finger in advance.

If you happen to get blisters on your feet, it can be painful and make it difficult to walk, so don’t forget to bring spare adhesive bandages.

Furthermore, when it comes to enjoying the food stalls, you may be worried about staining your yukata.

While tucking a handkerchief into the hem of your yukata sleeve is a good idea, we recommend carrying a tissue (known as “kaishi”) in your pocket. Kaishi is a small, thin sheet of Japanese paper typically used in traditional tea ceremonies and dining.

You can use it as a substitute for a handkerchief or tissue, or even as a makeshift plate. There are various ways to use it.

When there are no trash cans nearby, if you tuck it into your yukata hem, you won’t have to worry about litter.

The graceful act of smoothly pulling out a tissue from your pocket adds a touch of elegance to your appearance.

For a Romantic Experience at the Sumida River Fireworks Festival in a Yukata

The Sumida River Fireworks Festival is a hugely popular event with over 700,000 attendees every year.

Navigating through the crowds in an unfamiliar yukata can be challenging. The manners and gestures for traditional Japanese clothing are different from Western attire.

If you move as if you’re wearing your usual Western clothing, it can unexpectedly lead to disarray in your attire.

Since you’ve taken the effort to wear a yukata, do so with elegant gestures for a romantic experience.

Firstly, when walking in geta sandals, take small steps with minimal lifting of your feet.

When encountering stairs or steps, gently gather the fabric around your thigh with your right hand and take one step at a time with your legs close together.

This will improve your footwork and give you a more elegant appearance. When extending your arms, use the opposite hand to hold the yukata’s hem.

It’s also a good idea to learn some quick fixes for any disarray in your attire.

If the collar becomes loose, causing your chest to be exposed, pull the upper part of the collar downwards, and insert your hand from the side opening (underarm) to adjust the collar.

If the backside starts to feel bulky, place both hands on the sides of your back and pull the lower part downward.

How was it? Be sure to visit the Sumida River Fireworks Festival food stalls early! We’ve provided tips for enjoying food stalls while wearing a yukata.

Please feel free to use this article as a reference and have a wonderful time.

Author of this article

Kyoto Kimono Rental Rika Wafuku operates four kimono rental shops in Kyoto city, including locations in Arashiyama, Gion, Kiyomizu Temple, and in front of Kyoto Station. In 2023, they served over 230,000 customers in the Kyoto area!
They offer affordable plans, with a kimono dressing plan starting from 3,500 yen, and a hair setting plan from 5,500 yen.
Close to popular tourist spots such as Togetsukyo Bridge, Kiyomizu Temple, Yasaka Koshindo, and Yasaka Shrine!
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