Summer in Japan means hanabi taikai (firework festivals), and if you're unprepared you may find your night quickly fizzling out.
When arriving at a fireworks spot by train, make sure to charge your Suica or Pasmo card, or buy a return ticket for the journey home in advance. The last thing you want to do is end a fun night waiting in line to get a ticket.
It starts to get busy about two hours before the fireworks begin. You can beat the crowd by arriving even earlier, and use the extra time to enjoy the numerous food and activity vendors — there will often be traditional snacks such as kakigori (shaved ice) or games like kingyo-sukui (goldfish scooping).