Tanabata

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Near: Sendai  (Event is Free)

Event Date(s): Aug. 5, 2025 • Aug. 6, 2025 • Aug. 7, 2025
Dates are subject to change without notice. Check with the official organizers before making travel arrangements.

Tanabata or Star Festival is a festival that is held all over Japan, the city of Sendai claims fame to having the best Tanabata. According to a legend, two stars Vega (the diety Orihime) and Altair (Hikoboshi) whom are separated lovers... are allowed to meet each other across the Milky Way only once a year, therefore lavishly decorated "Tanabata" are created and hung all over the city.  In other parts of Japan, bamboo branches are set up in gardens where  people attach pieces of paper apon which they write poems, words and music. This festival is actually an ancient Chinese festival (the Qixi Festival) that was "imported" by Empress Koken in 755. It became very popular among the Japanese and has remained a "main" large festival in Japan ever since.

Sendai, Tokyo Japan

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Website: Tanabata Homepage