Jul 5
~
Jul 6

Shitamachi Tanabata

10:00am – 7:00pm
Free

The festival is known for its colorful decorations and events that celebrate the annual Tanabata holiday on July 7.

What is Tanabata?

Tanabata comes from the story of two star-crossed lovers meeting on the Milky Way every year. It is a time to write your wish on a strip of paper and tie it to some bamboo.

What happens?

Decorations will last a few days, but there will be parades and performances on the main weekend of the festival.

Suggested Activity
Get Tickets To the Samurai Restaurant in Shinjuku (Up to 30% Off)
Experience one of the craziest, most colorful places in Tokyo — the all-new Samurai Restaurant, from the creators of the Robot Restaurant. Get your tickets and sit back for a wild show of lasers, lights, samurai, dancers and other uniquely Japanese weirdness.

Schedule 2025

The Tanabata decorations will be put up from July 4 to 8. The main events are a parade on Saturday, July 5 ( time to be decided) and street performances on Sunday. The parade will include a procession of motorbikes as well as various police troupes. Sunday’s entertainment usually includes street performers, jugglers, and Awa Oori dance troupes. In addition, there will be shamisen and taiko performances.

The full schedule for this year is yet to be released, so watch this space.

How to get there

The parade will take place along Kappabashi Hondōri which runs from next to Asakusa Station to the vicinity of Ueno Station. On the Saturday and Sunday of the festival, it will be a “pedestrian paradise” (closed to regular traffic).

Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.

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