Sendai Tanabata Matsuri - Japan's Largest Star Festival

The Sendai Tanabata Matsuri is one of Japan's largest star festivals, held annually in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. Based on the ancient Chinese legend of Weaver Girl and Cowherd who meet once a year across the Milky Way, this historic festival has been cherished for generations. Unlike many other Tanabata festivals, it uniquely takes place in early August according to the lunar calendar, transforming the shopping arcades around Sendai Station, including Ichibancho and Chuo-dori, into a vibrant tapestry of colorful decorations. The festival's main attraction lies in the magnificent bamboo decorations and traditional Japanese paper ornaments handcrafted by local shopping districts, schools, and citizens. The spectacular sight of "fukinagashi" (long paper streamers) and decorative "kusudama" (flower balls) suspended above creates a breathtaking canopy of colors and patterns that fills the entire arcade streets. Seven traditional decorations known as "nanatsu kazari" each carry special meanings and wishes: tanzaku (wish papers), paper cranes, paper clothes, casting nets, purses, waste baskets, and streamers. Visitors can write their own wishes on tanzaku strips and tie them to bamboo branches, participating in this beautiful tradition that connects them to centuries of Japanese culture. Experience the unique harmony between modern commercial districts lined with large shopping complexes and traditional Japanese aesthetics, creating a distinctive atmosphere that represents this iconic summer tradition of the Tohoku region. The festival beautifully showcases how contemporary urban life and ancient cultural values can coexist in perfect balance.