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On the grounds of Shinoda Jinja Shrine is this large wooden panel with a large design. It is about 15 meters high and 20 meters wide. Held annually on May 4 at Shinoda Shrine, the Shinoda Hanabi display is a surprisingly spectacular fireworks display.
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If you think it looks pretty plain and unimpressive, you'll be in for a big surprise later in the evening. MAP
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This is actually an ancient form of Japanese fireworks called wabi 和火（わび).
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People sit to reserve a good spot for viewing the fireworks.
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First we heard taiko drum beating and they entered the shrine at around 8:30 pm.
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Later, young men carried this huge column made of straw looking like a torch. Are they gonna light this too??
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Meanwhile, they had a good number of fireworks-shooting torches.
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They erected the straw column next to the one that was already standing.
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Next, they had some great fireworks in the sky and everybody watched.
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Boom!
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At 9:45 pm, they lit a smaller panel which burst into colorful fireworks to form a picture. They used this small rocket mounted on a wire speeding to the panel. The little thing lit up the panel.
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The smaller panel which burst into colorful fireworks to form a picture.
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Unfortuntaely, the smoke blew in front of the design so we could hardly see it.
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Next was Niagara Falls.
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Niagara Falls, a crowd pleaser.
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Shinoda Fireworks
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Finally at 9:50 pm, they shot a small rocket to the big panel which then exploded loud enough to knock your pants off.
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The huge explosion was followed by loud whistles and smaller pops and crackles.
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A potpourri of firecrackers, twirling lights, and everything else lit up and blew up like pandemonium.
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Shinoda Fireworks climaxed with an incredible spectacle of sight and sound. The ancient Japanese sure knew how to make and show fireworks.
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Finally, things calmed down after about a minute and this picture appeared.
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Even the moon on the upper left.
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This is the glowing picture on the huge wooden panel. I then had to rush back to the train station to catch the last train home.
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Shinoda Shrine address: 滋賀県近江八幡市上田町1613
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