Fussa Tanabata Matsuri

Tanabata, the festival that celebrates the star-crossed lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi, takes place across Japan both in early July and in early August. You'll find one of Tokyo's longest running incarnations in the western town of Fussa: while other such festivals tend to be fairly low-key affairs, this one (now into its 64th year) is packed with events, including a 'Princess Orihime contest', folk dancing, parades and plenty of irresistible food.