Cheapo Weekend for July 4-5: Bamboo Wishes

This weekend will see two tanabata festivals, where custom has you write down a wish on a strip of colourful paper (sometimes in the form of a poem) and tie it to (usually) bamboo. Tanabata is an ode to a legend of two lovers who are allowed to meet but once a year—on the 7^th day of the 7^th lunar month.

The fun doesn’t stop once you’ve hung your wish. The tradition is usually accompanied with parades and street performances.  The Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival is the biggest of its kind in the Kanto region and goes from Fri, July 3^rd to Sun, July 5^th.

Another, the Shitamachi Tanabata Festival, will have its main events take place on Saturday (parade) and Sunday (traditional street/shamisen/taiko performances).

If you’re craving some Thai festivities, there’s a Thai Fair in Hibiya Park spanning the weekend starting from 10 am and going until 7 pm. It comes complete with food, music and a flea market.

Happy Weekend!