The Tanabata Festival is celebrated throughout Japan, but depending on the region, the date may differ due to different calendars (Gregorian or Lunar). The largest one takes place in Sendai in August, which we were able to go to!
The story behind the festival is actually inspired by a Chinese one. A princess, Orihime, worked hard to weave beautiful clothes by the heavenly river (the Milky Way) but was sad that she couldn’t fall in love. Seeing this, her father introduced her to Hikoboshi, a cow herder from the other side of the river. They fell in love instantly and both stopped doing their jobs. This angered Orihime’s father, and he forbade them from being together, separating them with the Milky Way. Orihime pleaded with him, so he allowed them to meet once a year on the 7th day of the 7th month. That day is the Tanabata Festival!
In Sendai, the festival runs from August 6-8, with fireworks on August 5th. That night, we headed to Nishi Park to check out the festivities and fireworks.
The park was so packed! It was filled with rows and rows of food stands, and many people were also picking out spots to watch fireworks from. Police had closed off streets nearby, so people could watch from there too.
The crazy thing was that even though it was insanely crowded, I never felt squished or pushed around. There were times where we were at a stand-still because there were so many people trying to move in opposite directions, but even in those times, no one tried to shove people out the way. Everyone was so respectful of each other’s space. I don’t think anyone even touched me! As someone from the US and has visited China before, this was truly amazing to me.
But anyway, my husband, friend, and I split up and bought a few things to share from the food stands: karaage (fried chicken), dumplings, and some sort of rolled pancake. Then right at 7:00pm, the fireworks started. Unfortunately, we realized that the park wasn’t a good place to watch because the trees were in the way. We knew our hotel room faced the park though, so we took a gamble and walked back to it.
It paid off! The fireworks were still going on for another hour, and the view from our hotel room was amazing. I got so many great photos!
The next day (8/6) was the first day of the festival, so we stayed in Sendai the whole day. There are two shopping streets, Clis Road and Vlandome, where large paper decorations are hung up. They were beautiful to see, and I loved seeing all the different themes.
Various other activities were going on like dances and festival stands in the parks. I also wore my yukata (summer kimono) that my husband bought me earlier this year!
We took a break part way through the day, and then headed out again at night to Kotodai Park, where the main festivities were happening. Every night during the festival, there was a live concert and a bunch of festival stands set-up. Some were food, some were selling masks, and others were festival games for children.
This was my first time attending a major festival in Japan, and I really loved the feeling the whole city had! It was so lively 🙂 There were decorations everywhere, people wearing yukatas, and various entertainment. Though the festival lasted a couple more days, we spent the next two days doing day trips to nearby cities. I will write about those next time!
Wow at the firework photo! I’m glad you had the opportunity to check out a Japanese festival! I haven’t yet, but I hope to one day! It looks amazing seeing all the people dressed up in traditional festival outfits and such! All the decorations there are so neat. 😀 I’m glad you shared your experience with us! ^____^
how fortunate of you to be able to witness the tanabata festival. I have this mindset that festivals in Japan are always so delicate and beautiful, especially tanabata.
I wouldn’t be surprised at how proper and disciplined Japanese are. unlike locals in China who are super rude and urgh I can’t stand them at all, Japanese have more patience and are less rude or maybe not rude at all, although this is such a generalization. anyway, everything looks so beautiful!
I love how there are always a story behind festivals.. At the same time, I can’t believe how controlling people were back then. Good that times have changed! It’s awesome how everyone gathered around to celebrate the festival. The food that was served there sounds delicious!!! Your fireworks photography is amazing; teach me your secret!! XD. You look super cute with the yukata.
Oh wow, the fireworks look amazing! Beautiful photos! The paper decorations are gorgeous too, it definitely looks festive 😀
It would be so cool to visit Japan some day, it seems to be such an interesting country.
The Tanabata Festival sounds so amazing. I love that everyone was so respectful. What a wonderful experience you all had. The fireworks WOW! I am in awe with those photos! The paper decorations are amazing and so colorful and beautiful. You look so precious in your yukata and it’s just so wonderful that you had this amazing trip. I’ve always wanted to visit Japan. This is the one place where my heart truly lies if I ever had a chance to go abroad. I cannot wait to read the next part of your adventures. 🙂
The Tanabata Festival looks wonderful and just plain amazing! ^^ The fireworks are amazing and it makes me wanna visit Japan even more! Man, I’m so jelly that you got to go to Japan, because now I have the travel bug. One day, I’ll go!
What a wonderful festival and with a great story behind it too 😀 It looks like such a fun and wonderful festival, I really like your outfit. I’m a sucker for pretty kimonos! I wish I had an excuse to wear one here in the UK.
The firework display looks unreal, I bet it was even more magnificent in real life 😀
The festival looks so much fun! I also really like the story behind why the festival is held. I always love trying all the food at the different stands.
Oh my goodness, what a wonderful view of the fireworks! Your pictures are amazing! I can’t believe how long they went on for either. Normally our community fireworks around fourth of July are about twenty or thirty minutes, so that’s awesome!
I’m not sure who the guy in the green is, but I love his Dunder Mifflin shirt!
This festival has a great story behind. That is so sad :(. He put the whole Milky Way between them :(.
This festival looks amazing. I am glad you had fun and I envy you so much that you have an yukata. I saw them in movies, but I’d love to try one. They look so classy and elegant <3. I would buy one but I don't know if I can find one around here, and if I do, probably they are really expensive because of the import taxes.
Wow. That Yukata looks so pretty on you… and the sandals too. ♥ Back home in the Philippines, I really never liked Festivals coz’ I hate being pushed around in the crowd. This Blog just raised my Love Meter for Japan. Great shots and the Fireworks look awesome. And I especially like the shot with the boys dancing. They really look like they enjoy it. ^.^