4. The Tondabayashi Festival, Osaka, Japan

Every summer there are hundreds of firework (hanabi) festivals around Japan. One of the biggest is the Tondabayashi festival outside of Osaka, which draws up to 1 million spectators. Head to the Church of Perfect Liberty on August 1, when up to 120,000 are fired into the air, including a grand finale that can include up to 7,000 fireworks at once.

Are you checking out fireworks on the Fourth? What are your favorite?

For more of Peter’s best places, check out past Friday slideshows including:

• The Best Places to Pick a Fight
• The Best Places to Visit Farmer’s Markets
• The Best Places for Bookstore Browsing
• The Best Signature Dishes
• The Best Places for White Water Rafting
• The Best Places to Ride Roller Coasters

By Peter Greenberg, excerpted from The Best Places for Everything (Rodale)