Tanabata (七夕) meaning "evening of the seventh" is a Japanese festival that originates from the Chinese Qixi Festival. It is in celebration of the meeting of the deities (and lovers) Orihime and Hikoboshi, and according to legend, they are only allowed to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. In Japan, it is celebrated by writing your wish on a piece of paper and attaching it to a bamboo tree. At Tanabata festivals, tons of intricate and flashy streamers are hung along large walkways, and you can play typical Japanese festival games, and try typical Japanese festival food such as kakigori, takoyaki, and candy fruits!
The Shitamachi Tanabata festival features dancing, food stalls, and live entertainment that include traditional dancing, and musical performances. Along the road, tons of traditional Tanabata streamers are hung up, and attendees can write their wish on a piece of paper and tie it to one of the bamboo branches. As you can see in photos, the combination of the Tanabata decorations with Tokyo Sky Tree at the end of the street is quite breathtaking.
Note: The decorations are usually up for a few days before the actual festival (which are typically around the 6th to 8th, make sure to check their website) If you just want to see the decorations and not deal with the crowd, we recommend going on those days. There won't be any performances or food stalls though.
Where: 3-18-2 Matsugaya, Taito, Tokyo 110-0036 Japan
When: Around July 6th-8th (check website closer to the date)
How Much: Free!
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