Japan's Largest Lakeside Fireworks Show: Suwa Lake Festival Lakeside Fireworks Festival One-Day Tour (Departing from Nagoya)

First, a Japanese-speaking guide, a Mandarin-speaking guide, and two drivers accompanied us on the bus. We stopped at 3 rest areas along the way because the fireworks venue didn't open until 3:00 PM. We arrived at the venue at 3:10 PM, thanks to the drivers' hard work and punctuality in getting us there. This allowed us to stand in the front row of the area! The fireworks were huge, and it felt like the entire sky was surrounding me. The colors were beautiful, and I personally think it was worth the price! The only downside was that the bus was a bit hot, probably because there were many people, and the space wasn't very big, which might be hard for guests who don't like sitting for long periods. However, the guide explained that Japanese law prohibits long driving hours, and the start and end times were clearly stated in the order details. Personally, I think the guides and drivers managed their time well, and it was in line with the order details. Overall, I was very satisfied and grateful for bringing me such a wonderful day!

Departed from Nagoya at 10 AM and arrived at Lake Suwa at 3 PM. Stopped at three rest areas along the way, which were very crowded. The tour guide recommended eating/buying lunch at these stops, and we were allowed to eat on the bus. After arriving at the fireworks festival, the guide provided access to the "Shoren" area, where we needed to find our own spots. Each person received a cushion, so we didn't need to bring our own. The view was decent, with no smoke obstructing the fireworks, and there were food stalls (yatai) right behind us, making it convenient to buy food and drinks. It was very windy and extremely sunny during the day, but cold in the evening with the wind, so I recommend bringing a light jacket. Also, there were countless ants on the grass, so if you're afraid of insects, I suggest bringing a small stool (the key is not to block anyone's view). Leaving the venue was a nightmare, incredibly crowded, and the restrooms had long queues. Additionally, due to Japanese law requiring drivers to have sufficient rest time, we stopped at a rest area around 1 AM for 3 hours, not resuming our trip to Nagoya until 4 AM. We finally got off the bus at 4:30 AM. Be prepared for a long bus ride where you can't stretch your legs and the seats are very hard. It's also difficult to get a taxi/Uber, though the tour guide will let you leave if you manage to get one. Overall, it was okay. If you can't book a hotel last minute or want to do a day trip, this might be worth considering.

The bus ride back is about three hours, but departing at 10 PM means we won't be dropped off at the meeting point until 5 AM, making it a full seven hours on the bus. When asked why it takes so long, the tour guide said Japanese law prohibits drivers from driving for extended periods. On the way back, during the first rest stop, the tour guide said we would stop at the service area at 3 AM and leave at 4 AM. However, we were dropped off in the parking lot at 1:20 AM without being told how long we would be staying or when we would be leaving. It's only 17 kilometers to our meeting point, but he just won't leave. I want to know why? It's less than a half-hour drive, yet we're stuck here for three hours. For those of us traveling, time is precious. This way, we can't get a good night's sleep, and we'll have to sleep at the hotel the next day, wasting a whole day. This arrangement is completely unreasonable and wastes our time. Negative review.

The car was too small, it was a very uncomfortable squeeze! The worst part is that we have to stop at a rest stop for 2 hours on the way back.