Tanabata: Celebrating Japan’s Star-Crossed Lovers Festival

"True love stories never have endings," American writer Richard Bach once said. No other words could ever describe the essence of Tanabata. A romantic legend, the story of Japan's best-known lovers has endured for centuries, and this year again, we celebrate romance—on this one very night when love prevails.

Tanabata is one of Japan’s most beloved summer festivals. Celebrated annually on and around July 7th, the word Tanabata literally means “the seventh night.” Also known as the Star Festival, this event traces its origins to a Chinese folktale and has been observed in Japan since the Heian period (794–1185). Though there are a few variations about the origins of Tanabata, they all revolve around two lovers who have to cross the Milky Way to be with each other only for one single night each year.

Japan most commonly celebrates Tanabata by writing their wishes on colorful pieces of paper—tanzaku—and hanging them on bamboo tree branches. While the event usually revolves around the beginning of July, it is also celebrated in late July or early August in some areas of Japan.

A Legend of Eternal Love & Patience

© Photo by iStock: chikaphotograph

The legend goes that Orihime (a weaving princess) and Hikoboshi (a cowherd) met and fell truly, madly, deeply in love with each other, and eventually tied the knot. But love—being the only thing on their minds—shifted their attention from work to each other. Making them—in the eyes of others—lazy and demotivated. Orihime’s father, the King of the Heavens, furious at their negligence of other essential affairs, separated them, sending the two to opposite sides of the Milky Way. Orihime became the star Vega and Hikoboshi, the star Altair.

Heartbroken, Orihime cried her heart out day and night, which didn’t help much in getting her back on track, as her father had hoped. Moved by Orihime’s tears, the king agreed to allow the couple to meet only once a year—on July 7. And that is how Tanabata was born.

The Most Famous Tanabata Festivals in Japan

© Photo by iStock: nikoniko_happy

Check out one of the following festivals and admire beautiful Tanabata displays and tanzaku all over Japan. Make your wish today, and take some notes for next year!

1. Shitamachi Tanabata Festival (Tokyo)

© Photo by Shitamachi Tanabata Festival

The highlight of the Shitamachi Tanabata Festival, located near Asakusa, is its exciting parade, which is held throughout the weekend. You’ll enjoy the street performances, marching bands and dance parades. The fun doesn’t end after the parade, though! There will be plenty of food stalls, craft markets and other festival games. The festival is held around the Kappa Bridge main street near Asakusa Station. The main festivities will be held on Saturday and Sunday but the decorations will be up over a five day period.

• Date: Thu, Jul. 4 – Mon, Jul. 8, 2025
• Address: Kappabashi Main Street, Taitō-ku, Tokyo
• Closest Station: Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
• Ticket Price: Free!

2. Zojoji Temple Tanabata Festival (Tokyo)

© Photo by Zojoji Temple

Zojoji is perhaps one of the best spots in Tokyo to visit this time of the year. There are several giant bamboo branches on which you can write and hang your paper wishes. With Tokyo Tower as a backdrop, this is a really beautiful and very Insta-friendly Tanabata spot. In addition, the “Washi Candle Night” is a unique event in which hundreds of Japanese paper lanterns are decorated like the Milky Way on the path leading to the Temple. The candles will be lit on Tanabata, forming a beautiful and romantic spot. The candle festival is scheduled from 6 pm to 9 pm.

• Date: Sun, Jul. 6 – Mon, Jul. 7, 2025
• Address: 4-7-35 Shibakoen, Minato City, Tokyo (Google Map Link)
• Closest Station: Shiba-Koen Station (Toei Mita Line), Daimon Station (Toei Asakusa/Oedo Lines)
• Price: Free entry!

3. Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival (Kanagawa)

© Photo by iStock: JianGang Wang

The Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival was launched to revive the area after World War II. More than 500 kinds of decorations—some of them over 50 meters high—adorn the shopping arcade around JR Hiratsuka Station. Moreover, over the three days, parades, street performances—for some reason, dinosaurs and motor shows, too—will entertain the crowds to their best.

• Date: Fri, Jul. 4 – Sun, Jul. 6, 2025
• Address: Hiratsuka Station area, Kanagawa Prefecture (shopping arcade)
• Closest Station: Hiratsuka Station (JR Tokaido Line)
• Price: Free entry!

4. Sendai Tanabata Festival (Miyagi)

© Photo by Sendai Tanabata Festival

Celebrated for three days at the beginning of August, this Sendai Tanabata Festival features a variety of events throughout the day and night. It is perhaps the most famous Tanabata festival in Japan. Every year, nearly two million tourists flock to see the thousands of wishes and beautiful decorations hung along the shopping arcade, starting from Sendai Station. Not only is it a spectacular sight, but also a fantastic opportunity to experience a breathtaking firework display on the evening before the main festival begins.

• Date: Wed, Aug. 6 – Fri, Aug. 8, 2025 (Fireworks: Tue, Aug. 5, 7:15–8:30 p.m.)
• Address: Sendai City central arcades (Ichibancho, Chūō-dōri, etc.)
• Closest Station: Sendai Station (Tohoku Main Line)
• Price: Free entry! (Reserved firework seatings are available from ¥4,000)

5. Anjo Tanabata Festival (Aichi)

© Photo by Anjo Tanabata Festival

The popular and picturesque Anjo Tanabata Festival boasts one of the longest Tanabata-decorated streets in Japan. It is also known for breaking the record of the most significant number of “make-a-wish” papers on bamboo branches in the world in 2013. Another popular event is the “make-a-wish” candle making, in which participants write their wishes on a paper candle to see their wishes light up one by one. The candles softly illuminate the dark Anjo Tanabata Shrine and make it, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful and romantic summer events you’ll ever see in Japan!

• Date: Fri, Aug. 1 – Sun, Aug. 3, 2025
• Address: Anjō City Central Shopping Street, Aichi Prefecture
• Closest Station: Anjō Station (Meitetsu Nishio Line)
• Ticket Price: Free entry! (Balloon release optional, fee TBD)

6. Tanabata Lantern Festival (Yamaguchi)

© Photo by Tanabata Lantern Festival

Originating in the Muromachi era (1336-1573), the summer night Tanabata Lantern Festival lights up over 100,000 paper lanterns, creating one of the most romantic nights one can possibly imagine. You’ll also find plenty of food stalls in the evening, accompanied by cheering festival tunes.

• Date: Wed, Aug. 6 – Thu, Aug. 7, 2025
• Address: Yamaguchi Station area, Yamaguchi Prefecture
• Closest Station: Yamaguchi Station (JR San’yō Main Line)
• Ticket Price: Free entry!

7. Kyo No Tanabata (Kyoto)

© Photo by Kyo No Tanabata

Though held at several locations, most people will visit this festival for the Horikawa and Kamogawa spots, characterized by beautifully decorated bamboo branches, lit-up streets and various Tanabata-inspired exhibitions. Hirokawa has a beautifully illuminated Milky Way-inspired tunnel. At the same time, at the Kamogawa site, visitors can sit along the river and enjoy the splendid sight of wind chimes created using traditional Kyoto craftsmanship.

• Date: Tue, Jul. 1 – Sun, Aug. 31, 2025
• Address: Along Horikawa River and Kamogawa River, Kyoto City
• Closest Station: Kyoto Station / Sanjo Keihan Station (Hankyu Line)
• Ticket Price: Free entry!

Check out this article for fun ways to celebrate Tanabata with your kids! What are your plans for Tanabata this year?

This article has been updated with the latest information for 2025.

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