Watarase Balloon Race

■Address: Fujioka, Fujioka-cho, Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture
■Photographable subjects: Balloons (on race days)
■Suggested season: Autumn
■Recommended times: morning, noon
■Parking: Available
■Admission fee: None
■Limit on admission time: No
■Toilets: Available

The Watarase Balloon Race is one of Japan's largest hot air balloon festivals, offering the spectacular sight of countless colorful balloons taking flight simultaneously against the vast sky. Set against the expansive natural backdrop of the Watarase Flood Control Reservoir, the view of hot air balloons soaring high into the sky is truly breathtaking!

Watarase Balloon Race｜Preparing Balloons in the Pre-Dawn Stillness

This photograph captures the atmosphere of the quiet dawn hours at the Watarase Balloon Race, before the morning sun breaks through, and the scene of preparations before the balloons are fully inflated.

DecemberYear 2025December 2025morning glowMorning glow and evening glowTochigi prefecture (Kantou area)balloonWatarase Balloon RaceVarious Scenery

Watarase Balloon Race｜Hot air balloons begin to rise with the sunrise

This photograph captures the hot air balloons beginning to rise into the sky at the Watarase Balloon Race, timed to coincide with sunrise, along with the spreading morning light.

DecemberYear 2025December 2025morning glowMorning glow and evening glowTochigi prefecture (Kantou area)balloonWatarase Balloon RaceVarious Scenery

Watarase Balloon Race｜The Moment the Sunrise Meets the Red Balloon

This photograph was taken at the Watarase Balloon Race, capturing the moment when the red balloon overlapped with the rising morning sun.

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Watarase Balloon Race｜Colorful balloons rising one after another

This photograph captures the dynamic scene of colorful balloons rising one after another at the Watarase Balloon Race.

DecemberYear 2025December 2025Tochigi prefecture (Kantou area)balloonWatarase Balloon RaceVarious Scenery

Watarase Balloon Race｜A Colorful Sky Bathed in Morning Light

This photograph was taken at the Watarase Balloon Race, capturing the scene of colorful balloons and the soft light of the morning sun coloring the sky.

DecemberYear 2025December 2025Tochigi prefecture (Kantou area)balloonWatarase Balloon RaceVarious Scenery

Watarase Balloon Race｜Beautiful Dawn Before the Race

This photograph captures the beautiful dawn sky before the start of the Watarase Balloon Race.

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Watarase Balloon Race｜Preparations Begin Under the Morning Glow

This photograph captures the preparations at the Watarase Balloon Race, where balloons gradually begin to inflate beneath the morning sky.

DecemberYear 2025December 2025morning glowMorning glow and evening glowTochigi prefecture (Kantou area)balloonWatarase Balloon RaceVarious Scenery

Watarase Balloon Race｜Yellow Balloons Soaring into the Blue Sky

This photograph captures the moment a yellow balloon takes flight at the Watarase Balloon Race, shot from below looking up with the blue sky.

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Watarase Balloon Race｜The Thrilling Moment of Ignition

This photograph captures the moment the burner of the red balloon is ignited at the Watarase Balloon Race, consciously shot to emphasize the power of the flames.

DecemberYear 2025December 2025morning glowMorning glow and evening glowTochigi prefecture (Kantou area)balloonWatarase Balloon RaceVarious Scenery

Watarase Balloon Race｜Silhouettes of Burners Floating in the Morning Glow

This photograph captures the silhouette of a hot air balloon's burner against the backdrop of the dawn sky at the Watarase Balloon Race.

DecemberYear 2025December 2025morning glowMorning glow and evening glowTochigi prefecture (Kantou area)balloonWatarase Balloon RaceVarious Scenery

Watarase Balloon Race｜Yellow Balloons Leading the Way in the Sky

This photograph was deliberately composed to capture the yellow balloon, already ascending into the sky, appearing small beside the red balloon at the Watarase Balloon Race.

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Watarase Balloon Race｜The Decisive Moment When Flames Rise

This photograph captures the moment when the burner of the red balloon is ignited at the Watarase Balloon Race, sending a powerful burst of flame skyward.

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Watarase Balloon Race｜Mornings Where Balloons and People Meet

This photograph captures a scene from the Watarase Balloon Race, showing a red balloon alongside the people preparing and watching over it.

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Watarase Balloon Race｜Colorful Balloons Against the Blue Sky

This photo captures the simple combination of colorful balloons and a clear blue sky at the Watarase Balloon Race.

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Watarase Balloon Race｜The Exhilarating Moment They All Take Flight

This photograph captures the thrilling moment just before the start of the Watarase Balloon Race, when all the balloons begin inflating simultaneously.

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Watarase Balloon Race｜Red Balloons Advancing Across the Blue Sky

This photograph captures an impressive image of the red HONDA balloon soaring gracefully through the blue sky at the Watarase Balloon Race.

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Watarase Balloon Race｜Three Balloons Creating a Sense of Depth

This photograph captures three colorful balloons lined up at the Watarase Balloon Race, composed with an emphasis on depth.

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Watarase Balloon Race｜A Bustling Morning Begins to Swell

This photograph captures the bustling scene of preparations at the Watarase Balloon Race, where numerous balloons begin inflating one after another.

DecemberYear 2025December 2025Tochigi prefecture (Kantou area)balloonWatarase Balloon RaceVarious Scenery

Watarase Balloon Race｜Balloonists lining up and taking off

This photo captures the moment when colorful balloons rise and line up beautifully at the Watarase Balloon Race.

DecemberYear 2025December 2025Tochigi prefecture (Kantou area)balloonWatarase Balloon RaceVarious Scenery

Watarase Balloon Race｜Preparation scene with foreground and background overlapping

This photograph captures the scene at the Watarase Balloon Race, showing not only the colorful balloons in the foreground but also additional balloons waiting in the background.

DecemberYear 2025December 2025Tochigi prefecture (Kantou area)balloonWatarase Balloon RaceVarious Scenery

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