The Tenjin Festival, dedicated to Sugawara Michizane (the god of science and learning), takes place annually from June to July and includes a variety of events. Since it is one of the most famous festivals in Japan, many people flock to the Okawa River in Osaka to see the Hommiya firework display on July 25th.

It's no secret that fireworks festivals are held all over Japan in the summer. However, I think that it is in Osaka that the whole spirit and beauty of the fireworks is revealed. The reason is simple - geography. Osaka is called the Venice of Japan for its 15 canals and rivers with over 1,300 bridges that meander through the city.

I decided to go about an hour before the start to get a comfortable seat. Having already left the house and turning onto the street leading towards the river, I saw a lot of people hurrying with the same goal. It seemed that the whole city had gathered. Here the Japanese organizers helped a lot. The police and volunteers directed the streams of people, helped to disperse crowds and suggested the best view.

Of course, spending time just waiting for an hour-long show would be boring if not for the ubiquitous Japanese food stalls. They have really become a national tradition and an integral part of any holiday. There was a lot of food, from yakitori to grilled seafood.

Of course, I also could not resist and took a try of hashimaki. The queue turned out to be frightening only at first glance. I have wanted only for 4 minutes. The guys worked just unrealistically fast! Returning to my seat, I enjoyed my meal while waiting for the start. The fireworks are difficult to describe. It was truly incredibly beautiful.

Share your experience about festivals in Japan in the comments!