Sendai Tanabata Festival

What is the Sendai Tanabata Festival?

Tanabata or ‘Star Festivals’ are held across Japan every year, but the Sendai Tanabata is one of the largest and most famous. Each August, the festival celebrates a legend where two stars, Altair and Vega, cross paths. 

Elaborate paper and bamboo decorations are put proudly on display throughout the main shopping districts and include long colorful streamers as well as other small, paper decorations such as cranes, which symbolize a long life and nets for a good harvest.

Need to know

The festival opens with a large  and vibrant fireworks display on the banks Hirosegawa River that is not to be missed. The festival also includes live music, traditional dance and plenty of delicious food stalls.

Did You Know?

Tanabata is a very ancient tradition. The festival is of Chinese in origin and was introduced to Japan by Empress Kōken in 755. However, it wasn’t until the early Edo Period around 1600 that the festival began to gain traction and was celebrated on a large scale throughout Japan.

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