Ojiya in Summer

Summer in Ojiya moves through a clear sequence of events. Fireflies glow in Funaoka Park through June. On alternate years in August, the slopes of Yamamotoyama Highland turn yellow with thousands of sunflowers, planted in rotation with spring rapeseed. Mid-July brings the Nikko Shrine Shishimai Festival, where performers dressed as lions dance through the city center accompanied by puppet shows and traditional music. The Ojiya Festival in late August runs three days, with Bon dances, paper floats, fighting bulls, and around 7,000 fireworks on the second night, finishing with the memorably named Ultra-Wide Vesuvius Super Star Mine.