[category]
[title]
Now that summer has officially arrived, Japan’s festival season is about to swing into full gear, and one of the first major celebrations on the calendar is Tanabata, or the Star Festival. Based on a beloved folktale, Tanabata celebrates the annual reunion of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, who, according to legend, are separated by the Milky Way and permitted to meet just once a year.
While Tanabata is now most commonly celebrated on July 7 – which falls on a Tuesday this year – some event organisers still go by the traditional lunar calendar, meaning festivities can continue into August. The festival is known for its spectacular displays of colourful streamers, as well as the custom of writing wishes on strips of paper and hanging them from bamboo branches. One of Japan’s most vibrant seasonal celebrations, Tanabata offers plenty of festive atmosphere and photogenic sights. If you’re in Tokyo between July 3 and 7, these festivals are worth adding to your calendar.
Shitamachi Tanabata Matsuri
July 3-7
Asakusa's Kappabashi – the famed mecca for Tokyo chefs and homecooks looking to kit out their kitchens – is festooned with vibrantly coloured streamers and decorations during this annual summer festival. Though it runs from July 3 to 7, the best time to visit the Shitamachi Tanabata Matsuri is over the July 4-5 weekend, when local businesses put out stalls and hold parades and street performances.
The street parade on July 4 will begin at 1.15pm near the Ueno Gakuen Junior and Senior High School, and slowly make its way through Kappabashi Main Street towards Asakusa. Expect to see a parade of local kindergarteners, police and primary school marching bands, plus special appearances by a local Morioka Sansa traditional dance troupe and the Metropolitan Police's all-female motorcycle brigade.
On Sunday July 5, Kappabashi will be hosting street performances of all sorts throughout the day, ranging from Sado Okesa dances from Niigata to Awa Odori dances from Tokushima.
Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival
July 3-5
Located just over an hour from central Tokyo, Hiratsuka hosts one of the largest Tanabata celebrations in the Kanto region. The city’s shopping arcades are adorned with around 100 colourful streamers suspended from ornamental balls known as kusudama.
Drawing nearly two million visitors over three days, the Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival transforms the city into a vibrant celebration of colour and festivity. Alongside the spectacular street decorations, expect parades, live performances, stalls selling local products, and plenty of technicolour-fuelled buzz throughout the July 3-5 weekend.
Zojoji Tanabata Festival
July 6-7
Zojoji Temple's version of this annual celebration features a beautiful candle light-up on Monday and Tuesday from 6pm to 9pm. Hundreds of washi paper lanterns are arranged in the shape of the Milky Way along the staircase that leads up to the temple’s main hall.
Make sure to write down your wish for Tanabata on a colourful strip of paper, which you can get for ¥200 each. The temple priests will conduct a special ceremony at 5.30pm on July 7, where they’ll bless your wishes.
For this special occasion, Zojoji is selling a beautiful Tanabata-themed omamori lucky charm (¥3,000). If you’d like to get your hands on one, we recommend buying yours in advance via the temple’s online shop, since stock is limited. When you’re making the purchase, don’t forget to write your name in the column for additional notes, as the priests will read out your name at a special prayer on the night of July 7. The omamori will be shipped after the event (from July 8).
Kanda Shrine Tanabata Festival
July 7
While it’s a more intimate celebration than some of the region’s larger Tanabata festivals, Chiyoda ward’s Kanda Shrine offers a charming and atmospheric way to experience the Star Festival. Head to the shrine and write your wish on a tanzaku paper strip during its annual Tanabata celebration.
If you’re into collecting omamori lucky charms, the shrine is also offering a beautiful Tanabata-themed amulet featuring a colourful pink-and-turquoise tanzaku.
More from Time Out Tokyo
Summer Sonic just announced additional David Byrne, Holly Humberstone and Steve Lacy shows in Tokyo
Shinjuku’s legendary Dug Jazz Cafe & Bar closes its doors on June 27
Bruno Mars is returning to Japan for a 12-show dome tour
FIFA fever: where to watch the World Cup in Tokyo
This new Tokyo exhibition recaps the career of anime auteur Mamoru Hosoda
Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan.