Hirakata Park

Tanabata celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, the star-crossed lovers that only get to see each other once a year – on July 7. Hirakata Park’s Tanabata festival features a special indoor lantern area, where lanterns filled with wishes are launched. Summer festival stalls offer carnival games like superball scooping, yo-yo fishing and shooting. There are also workshops that allow you to paint masks and make flower crowns or have your face painted. Consider picking up a ¥200 fortune-telling slip that reveals your future when placed onto water. What’s more, guests that come dressed in yukata get special photo privileges and will receive a free fan during the event. A limited number of tickets are available at the door for a flat rate of ¥2,600, although an additional admission ticket for Hirakata Park must be purchased (¥2,000 for adults, ¥1,200 for elementary school children and younger). We recommend getting your tickets in advance online through the ticketing website, where the price for a combined event and park admission ticket is ¥4,500 for adults and ¥3,700 for children of elementary school age and younger.