Study Abroad in Japan :): Adachi Fireworks!

I just came back from the best fireworks show I've ever seen in my life... It was held in Adachi district, which is up north from downtown Tokyo. The fireworks location was at the Arakawa river. So basically, the fireworks was split into 4 sections for a total of 70 minutes long fireworks show!! But before we get to that part, let me talk about the stands and vendors along the way from the Kitasenju station to the location of the fireworks (which was about a 15 minute walk). There were so many people and so many vendors selling takoyaki (octopus balls), yakisoba (noodles), baby castella cakes, Japanese cucumber on a stick, fruits on a stick, cheese sticks, everything looked so yummy!

the view right when we exit the station

Picture of Kitasenju Station

The sky was beautiful! Look at the clouds!

melons on a stick!
what more can you ask for??

melon buddies!

I decided to get a cucumber on a stick..
it's actually very very yummy!

Busy street leading to the fireworks location

Me blending into the the busy street

Beer stands!

Baby castella cakes! This man even does tricks with the cakes ^^

Osaka Special yaki!

Some amazing Chicken Yaki or Beef Yaki

THE BIGGEST TAKOYAKI I've ever seen!

When we got to the location of the fireworks, every Japanese family/couple was prepared! They came with their own blankets, some even taped theirs down and reserved it by writing their names on it, to put on the grass and sit on top to enjoy the fireworks. Many had brought food with them to eat and there were about 10 sections to sit. It was really really really long, and along the river!!

Past this hill is the river!

Once again, beautiful skies!

This is what's on the other side of the hill, leading to the river!

There was a mini festival before hand, but the finale is the fireworks.
beautiful skies!!

The mass of people in just one tiny section.

Almost to the start of the fireworks!!

The pictures and videos below will describe how beautiful these fireworks were :) Sorry, my iPhone camera isn't amazing but this was the best I could do! Enjoy!

Look at all that smoke..

There were pieces of ash and big chunks of IDK what that fell on us... haha

Including this... This thing fell on my nose.. haha

How bright the field in front of us got when a bajillion
fireworks were going off. If you look closely, there's three men
sitting at the field right in front of the fireworks...

How bright it got!

This was one of my favorites! There was a wire. And each piece of
wire went off one by one, creating a line and then a mountain because
the theme of this one was "Mt. Fuji"

You can get a better sense of the mountain shape!!

Please Please watch these videos! If you just want to watch the most amazing one, then watch the last one :)

this was the first fireworks show I've heard heard music with!!

this is the ending of the video previous to it!

The most amazing one of the night!!
I love the connecting of the wires with the fireworks,
and everything was so pretty!!

I definitely can't explain in words the experience of this fireworks show!! It was amazing :)

However, leaving the place and getting back to the station was too crazy for me. My roommate and I ran for our lives after the fireworks was over because so many people were trying to leave the place at once. There was a bridge that we had to cross to get down to the sidewalk area and basically you just stand there, and people will move you pushing you away.. it's ridiculous! people almost ran each other over.. but after we got to the main streets, it was a lot better. with more room to walk and move around.

Some men in their yukata!
walking around in the streets

Street leading to the station!

For dinner, I had McDonald's for the first time in Japan!! The menu is definitely different and everybody has been telling me that the Ebi (Shrimp) burger is amazing here! But I wanted to try the Special burger that's only available right now, called the Tsukimi Burger (literally means moon viewing burger). It's basically a patty topped with egg bacon, and then cheese. It was really yummy!! ^^ I was a happy one after that.