More than 120 people were unable to board the final Shinkansen after the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival on the night of August 3, according to 新潟日報. The stranded attendees were allowed to stay overnight at the Aore Nagaoka facility, marking its first-ever use as an emergency shelter for this purpose.
The crowd surge occurred after the evening's fireworks display ended, with a large number of spectators converging on the station simultaneously. Local reports indicate that the congestion prevented over 120 passengers from fitting onto the last Tokyo-bound train, leaving them with no immediate way home. In response, city officials opened Aore Nagaoka, a convention and event complex near the station, to accommodate the stranded crowd until the next morning's first service.
The Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, held annually in Niigata Prefecture, is one of Japan's largest and most attended fireworks events. This year's edition drew significant attention, with the return of the Niagara Falls-style display after a three-year absence, as reported by dメニューニュース. The festival also featured a chartered aircraft viewing tour priced at 69,800 yen per pair, according to the same outlet. Additionally, the event carried its traditional memorial significance, marking 81 years since the Nagaoka air raid, with a "White Chrysanthemum" fireworks tribute reported by TeNY NEWS NNN.
The overnight sheltering underscores the logistical challenges posed by the festival's massive scale. Organizers and local authorities will likely review crowd management and transport planning ahead of next year's event to prevent similar disruptions.
