Sendai Tanabata Festival 2024

The Sendai Tanabata Festival (Tanabata Matsuri in Japanese), one of the three major festivals in Tohoku, attracts about 2 million people each year.

Contents

What is Sendai Tanabata Festival
Highlights of the festival
How to get there
Sendai Tanabata Festival 2024 basic information
The Tohoku Three Major Festivals

Sendai tanabata festival 2024

What is Sendai Tanabata Festival

The Sendai Tanabata Festival is a historical festival that has been going on since the Edo period. The streets in front of Sendai Station, the central shopping district, and the surrounding areas are adorned with handmade bamboo decorations created by individual shops, all competing for the most luxurious displays.

Tanabata is an event held on the night of July 7th, when Orihime and Hikoboshi cross the Milky Way and meet only once a year. On this day, people write their wishes on strips of paper and decorate them with bamboo. It used to be held on July 7th in the lunar calendar, so it currently corresponds to early to late August.

Citation: What is Tanabata? Introducing the meaning and origin of the event, how to make Tanabata decorations, and the food! ｜Jalan News

Highlights of the festival

Beautiful bamboo decoration

The most attractive part of the Sendai Tanabata Festival is the gorgeous bamboo decorations. The handmade Japanese paper decorations, crafted anew each year, are detailed and look wonderful as they flutter in the wind.

Sendai Tanabata Fireworks Festival

Approximately 16,000 fireworks are set off during the display held on the eve of the Sendai Tanabata Festival, colouring the night sky over Sendai with vibrant bursts of light.