Based on a traditional folk lore, Tanabata (Star Festival) is celebrated in Japan each summer in early July. To celebrate street are bedecked with colourful paper ornaments known as tanzaku.
The Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival is regarded as one of the top three in the Kanto region, drawing almost 2 million visitors over the three days. Aside from the impressive vibrant street decorations, you can expect parades, live performances, vendors selling local products and plenty of technicolour-fuelled buzz from July 7 to 9.