Written by Patrick Balfe
Researched by Aarohi
Tanabata festivals are a yearly signal that summer is underway. Also known as “star festivals”, they exist in several cultures, taking names such as Qixi Festival in China and Chilseok in South Korea. If you’re looking for somewhere to get involved in the tradition in or around Tokyo, we’ve got you covered with our favorite tanabata events below.
What is Tanabata?
Tanabata is based on the legend of two star-crossed lovers: Orihime and Hikoboshi. According to the story, they were separated by the Milky Way and allowed to meet only once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month.
Today, in Japan, Tanabata is celebrated by writing wishes on colorful paper strips called tanzaku and hanging them on bamboo branches.
Festivals often feature decorations, parades, and evening illuminations. Many events take place around July 7, but some are held around August 7 to follow the traditional Japanese lunar calendar.
7 Tanabata festivals worth checking out in and around Tokyo
Here are some of the best ways to celebrate the Star Festival.
For more summer ideas, see our roundups of July’s top Tokyo events and the city’s best beer gardens.
Tokyo
Tanabata events in the Tokyo metropolitan area:
Tokyo Tower Tanabata Festival
June–September 2026Shibakoen
Tokyo Tower’s Tanabata Festival is more accurately described as a loosely connected series of events taking place during and beyond Tanabata, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth checking out.
Top picks in 2026 include the Milky Way Illumination, the Asian Night Market, and the City Pop Connection DJ party. While you’re there, pop over to Zōjō-ji Temple to check out their Tanabata festivities, too.
Shitamachi Tanabata Festival
July 3–7, 2026Kappabashi
The Shitamachi Tanabata Festival takes over a 1.2 km portion of Tokyo’s downtown district every year. Centered on Kappabashi’s main street between Ueno and Asakusa, the streets are lined with stalls from local merchants and filled with parades of dancers, marching bands, and motorbikes.
Asagaya Tanabata Festival
August 7–11, 2026Asagaya
The Asagaya Tanabata Festival takes place every year in the Asagaya Pearl Center (a shopping street) and is filled with dangling decorations and children’s cartoon characters.
It was established in 1954 by merchants seeking to attract more customers, and it’s become famous for its papier-mâché recreations of cartoon characters, traditional Japanese games, and a variety of foods lining the street.
We went to check it out a couple of years ago, and had a grand time.
Fussa Tanabata Festival
August 7–9, 2026Fussa
Fussa’s Tanabata Festival is a more local affair taking place around Fussa Station on the western edge of the Tokyo Metropolis.
Also started in the 1950s to reinvigorate the local shopping district, the event features stage performances by local artists, a folk dance parade, food stalls, and more.
Kanagawa
Tanabata events in Kanagawa Prefecture:
Shōnan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival
July 3–5, 2026Hiratsuka
Hiratsuka’s Tanabata Star Festival is the biggest in the Kantō region and is known for its grand decorations, some over 10 meters tall. The festival includes parades and contests and typically attracts a whopping 1.7 million visitors over its three days.
Yokohama Tanabata Festival
July 4–5, 2026Yokohama
The Yokohama Tanabata Festival promises two luminous nights packed with displays, a place to write your wishes, live performances, and food stalls. Expect food, drinks, and family-friendly workshops to round out the day-to-night festivities.
Saitama
Here’s a big one in Saitama Prefecture:
Tanabata Sky Lantern Festival
July 17–23, 2026Saitama
Describing itself as Japan’s biggest lantern festival, the Tanabata Sky Lantern Festival sees a synchronized release of 3,000 lanterns into the sky each night of the event.
It boasts everything you want from a classic summer festival — games, food stalls, and live performances — and takes place over one week in Saitama before heading to Kyoto in early August.
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While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change.
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