Photo by Sendai City Tourism Division

Photo by Sendai City Tourism Division

  • Held every year on August from 6 to 8, the Sendai Tanabata Festival is held. It is the largest Tanabata celebration in the entire country, with over two million visitors attending each year! The Tanabata holiday is based on Japanese legend in which a separated couple, represented by two stars in the sky, are able to meet once a year in the summer. While most Tanabata festivals in Japan are typically held in July, the celebration in Sendai takes place on the same dates every year in August.

    The Sendai Tanabata Festival is known for its gorgeous, colorful decorations on display across the entire downtown area of Sendai. The event is so famous that it is known as one of the Three Great Festivals of Tohoku, along with by Akita's Kanto Festival and Aomori's Nebuta Festival. Visitors can walk through the beautiful streamers and take Instagram-worthy photos against the backdrop of vivid decorations and bustling city streets. A large fireworks display typically kicks off the event on the evening of August 5. Food stalls, carnival game booths, and the like are set up throughout downtown Sendai.

    This is the ultimate celebration of Japanese Tanabata tradition, so don't miss out on these three days of food, fun, and breathtaking decorations!

    Sendai Tanabata's 53rd Fireworks Display

    Start off your Tanabata celebrations with a bang on Friday 5 with this epic firework display right in the middle of Sendai's downtown area. The show consists of 10 000 dazzling fireworks powerfully illuminating the city's starry night sky!
    Date: August 5 (Friday)
    Time: 7:15 p.m.–8:15 p.m.
    Venue: Sendai Nishi Park and surrounding areas
    Admission: Free and payed seats available
    Note: The firework show will be held rain or shine but canceled in the event of severe weather

    http://tanabata-hanabi.jp/

    Loople Sendai Tanabata Night Bus

    The Loople Sendai Tanabata Night Event is the perfect opportunity to enjoy Sendai by night alongside the beautiful decorations that color the city during the Star Festival. Hopping on and off Sendai's iconic bus is a fun way to visit the city and its many nighttime Tanabata related events!
    Dates: August 6–8
    Service Hours: 5:20 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
    Location: Departs from Sendai Station every 20 minutes (1 loop takes approximately 1 hour)
    Main Stops: Sendai Station → Zuihoden Mausoleum → Site of Sendai Castle → Jozenji-dori Ave. / City Hall → Sendai
    StationFare: Adults 260 yen, children 130 yen
    Note: The Loople Sendai will operate normally during the day

    https://loople-sendai.jp/en/event/

    Zuihoden Tanabata Omotenashi

    Enjoy the incredible bamboo lantern light up of the Zuihoden Mausoleum grounds, as well as the unique traditional Tanabata decoration displays that differ to those found downtown!
    Dates: August 6–8
    Hours: 9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. (last entry 7:30 p.m.)
    Admission: 570 yen (460 yen for Loople Sendai Tanabata Night Bus Passengers)
    Note: This event may be canceled in the event of rain

    https://www.zuihoden.com/summer/2188

    Aoba Castle Ruins Night Event

    Enjoy a stroll up the illuminated path to Sendai's Aoba Castle Ruins by a light-up spanning from the Tatsumi Gate ruins to the Sawa Gate ruins, a stage performance by the local group that impersonates warlords and historical figures: Date Bushotai, and much more.
    Dates: August 6–8
    Time: 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
    Admission: Free

    https://www.sendaitanabata.com/related-event

    Local foods to try during the Sendai Tanabata Festival

    - Sendai Grilled 'Gyutan' Beef Tongue
    - Sweet Edamame Paste 'Zunda' Mochi
    - 'Sasa Kamaboko' Grilled Fish Cakes
    - Sendai Nigiri Sushi
    - 'Hiyashi Chuka' Chinese Style Cold Noodles
    - Sendai Beef

    Official Website:

    https://www.sendaitanabata.com/

    In the event of theft or your child goes missing, contact the Sendai Chuo Police Station at: 022-222-2256
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    Last Update
    February 14, 2019

    Area Sendai

Details

MAIN LOCATION

Central Sendai and neighboring shopping districts

ACCESS BY PUBLIC TRANSIT

A short walk from Sendai Station, Hirose-dori Station (Sendai Subway Namboku Line), or Kotodai-koen Station (Sendai Subway Namboku Line)

ADMISSION

Free

LANGUAGES

English

OFFICIAL URL

https://www.sendaitanabata.com/en

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