The Sendai Tanabata Festival is a unique and romantic summer event that captivates visitors with its vibrant atmosphere.

Held along shopping streets in and around central Sendai, this festival offers an unforgettable experience for all attendees.

The main highlight of the festival is the mesmerizing display of large, colorful streamers that adorn the entire city, eagerly anticipated by the people of Sendai each year.

In preparation for this article, we had the privilege of interviewing the Sendai Tanabata Festival Support Association (Bureau: Sendai Chamber of Commerce and Industry), gaining valuable insights and expert advice on how to make the most of this enchanting celebration.

The main venue for the festival is the shopping street near Sendai Station, and it will also be held in surrounding areas, saturating the entire city of Sendai with the vibrant colors of Tanabata.

Please refer to the official Sendai Tanabata website for updated information (Japanese and online automatic translations available).

Tanabata is a vibrant traditional event that originated in ancient China and blends several cultural elements.

In Japan, it is best known as a summer festival where wishes are written on strips of paper called tanzaku and hung on trees.

The first feudal lord of Sendai, Masamune Date (1567 to 1636 C.E.), promoted Tanabata as a festival to wish for craftwork proficiency and an abundant harvest. As a result, the event is celebrated annually from August 6 to 8, regardless of the day of the week. This enchanting summer festival attracts about 2 million visitors each year.

One of the most memorable aspects of Sendai's Tanabata Festival is the spectacular sasakazari decorations. These elaborate paper bamboo leaves are hung from tall structures along the arcade leading from the West Exit of Sendai Station on the JR Lines.

Made from colorful Japanese washi paper, the drooping leaves are arranged in a fukinagashi or windswept style. Walking between the long rows of these decorations creates a festive atmosphere. They symbolize the heartfelt wishes for the health and prosperity of the residents who crafted them with care.

The Sendai Tanabata Festival is renowned for its beautiful and large handmade streamers, each weighing up to five kilograms and costing hundreds of thousands of yen (thousands of dollars) to create. These elaborate decorations, crafted by shop owners, showcase the festival's artistic highlights.

In 2020, the Sendai Tanabata Festival was canceled for the first time since Japan's postwar era, a heartbreaking decision. However, to keep the spirit of the festival alive, shopping streets sold mini-Tanabata decorations and other trinkets to raise funds for future events while adhering to COVID-19 safety measures. This maintained the festival's purpose of celebrating wishes and prayers.

The festival is crucial for promoting Sendai's economic growth. The 2020 cancellation significantly impacted the local economy, but the smaller-scale 2021 festival helped revive Sendai's shopping streets despite the ongoing pandemic.

A festival director suggests a fun activity of searching for award-winning streamers throughout the event. Each year, gold, silver, and bronze awards are presented before noon on the first day, creating an entertaining challenge for visitors to guess the winners and enjoy delightful surprises along the way.

The best way to fully experience the festival is to start at Sendai Station and walk through the arcade street adorned with paper bamboo leaves, making your way toward Kotodai Park.

Other parts of the city also host festive events and display sasakazari during this period, so exploring these areas can be enjoyable too!

For more information, visit the official festival website at https://www.sendaitanabata.com/map, which offers a guide map in English, Traditional Chinese, and Thai.

From Sendai Station, take the Nanboku Subway Line for a quick 3-minute ride to Kōtōdai-Kōen Station. Exit at Park Exit 2 to reach the main venue, Kōtōdai Park Civic Square, also known as "Omatsuri Hiroba" (Festival Square).

At the venue, you'll find stages for singing and dancing performances, along with a "Wish Tanzaku Writing Corner" where you can write and hang your wishes on paper strips. Numerous food stalls surround the area, offering Sendai specialties such as Sendai gyutan (grilled ox tongue) and Miyagi oysters.

As evening falls, experience the traditional Japanese festival dance, Bon Odori. Even beginners can join in with the provided instructions to learn the dance steps. Don't hesitate to participate and immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere.

From Sendai Station, take the Loople Sendai sightseeing bus for a 15-minute ride to the Zuihōden-mae stop, where you'll find Zuihōden, the mausoleum of Date Masamune. Here, the Zuihōden Tanabata Night event decorates the mausoleum with Tanabata decorations.

As you step off the bus, you'll encounter the stone steps leading to Zuihōden. Bamboo lanterns with candles light the path, creating a soft, enchanting ambiance, accompanied by the melodies of the shakuhachi flute. At the entrance to Zuihōden's grounds, admire traditional Tanabata decorations passed down through generations.

Additionally, enjoy small concerts featuring local Miyagi artists. Take a seat on the provided chairs and relax with a leisurely performance.

Another must-see night event during the festival period is the Sendai Castle Ruins Night Event, held at the Sendai Castle Ruins, a popular tourist spot.

To get there, take the Loople Sendai tour bus from Sendai Station. The journey takes about 20 minutes. The Sendai Castle Ruins, once the residence of the Date clan, are situated high on a hill, offering a stunning view of Sendai city.

From 8 to 9 PM during the festival, the Oshu Sendai Omotenashi Shudan Date Bushotai performing arts group will present an impressive martial arts performance, with performers dressed as Masamune Date. There will also be occasional stage shows featuring Sendai mascot characters.

For a great selfie, visit the illuminated Equestrian Statue of Masamune Date during this period to capture the best shot of the year!

Local residents of Sendai start their festivities on August 5 with the Sendai Tanabata Fireworks Festival. To experience the festival like a local, head to this event near Sendai's West Park, within walking distance from Omachi Nishikoen Station, two stations away from Sendai Station via the Tozai Line.

On the night of August 5, about 16,000 fireworks will light up the sky above Tohoku University, creating a dazzling display. The venue will also host stage events, attracting excited concert-goers and enhancing the festive atmosphere. The park offers a fantastic view of the fireworks, so arrive early to secure a good spot.

On August 6, the sasakazari decorations will be up from around 10 AM, making the morning the perfect time to stroll through the city's major streets. From noon to evening, the roads become crowded with visitors and festival participants. For a more relaxed experience or to take photos of the sasakazari without the rush, visit during the morning hours.

To get to the Sendai Tanabata Festival, take the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Sendai Station.

Upon exiting from the Sendai Station West Exit, you'll be greeted by a shopping street adorned with large streamers. This is the main streamer decoration venue, easily accessible with a short walk.

Beyond the streamer decoration venue lies the main event area, which you can reach by walking through the streamer decorations or by taking the Sendai Subway.

Many other events take place around Sendai during the festival period, so we recommend researching additional activities to enhance your visit!

Boasting one of the most impressive shopping districts in the Tohoku region, the great city of Sendai has many traditional Japanese inns! Accommodation is generally available, but prices may go up during the festival season. The Sendai Station area is especially popular, so we recommend booking rooms in advance!

For those seeking accommodation away from the station, we suggest booking a place along the scenic coastline of Matsushima Bay, renowned as one of Japan's three most picturesque locations. Traveling from Sendai Station to Matsushima-Kaigan Station on the JR Senseki Line takes approximately 40 minutes, granting you access to the stunning vistas that make this area a must-visit for breathtaking views.

The striking streamers found throughout the Sendai Tanabata Festival enhance Sendai City’s beauty. Here you can experience a unique, romantic atmosphere! We also recommend stopping at the Tanabata Museum, operated by KANEZAKI Co., Ltd. (Website available here.)

This museum lets you experience the wonder of the Sendai Tanabata Festival year-round! It’s an exceptional facility for those who want to learn more about streamers - the festival’s main attraction!

Written by: SHOE PRESs/Shitamachi Kizoku (Interview of Sendai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and updates)

*This article was originally published in May 2020 and updated in May 2024. For updated information, please refer to the official websites.