Overview of 2025 event

calendar_month Date

Wednesday, August 6, 2025 - Friday, August 8, 2025

location_on Venue

Sendai city center and surrounding local shopping streets

footprint Access

5 minutes walk from JR Sendai Station

Tanabata Festival also encouraged by Date Masamune

In Sendai, it is called "Tanabatasan" and is a historical festival that has been going on since the days of Date Masamune. It is held for three days from August 6th to 8th, with Chunichi on August 7th, which is a month later than July 7th, and is considered one of the three major festivals in Tohoku. It is a Sendai summer tradition that is visited by more than 2 million people every year. Tanabata originates from a Chinese legend in which the stars Hikoboshi and Orihime can cross the Milky Way and meet once a year. An event called ``Kikoden'', where people pray for improvement in handicrafts in memory of Orihime, who was good at weaving, was introduced to Japan during the Nara period, and during the Edo period it was counted as one of the five seasonal festivals and became popular throughout the country. It is said that from around this time, strips of paper and streamers began to be attached to the bamboo that we often see today at Tanabata. This Edo-style Tanabata was also adopted in Sendai, and the current Sendai Tanabata Festival is said to have started when the founder of the domain, Date Masamune, encouraged the Tanabata Festival in the hope that his children would improve their skills (there are various theories). In the early days, the Tanabata Festival was a simple and humble festival to pray to the ancestors for improvement in handicrafts and a bountiful harvest.However, the Tanabata Festival declined due to the Meiji Restoration and the adoption of the new calendar, and after a period of suspension due to the war, it was revived in earnest in 1945, and has developed into the gorgeous festival it is today. Some of the decorations are nearly 5 meters long, and the sight of them lined up in an arcade is a sight to behold with their rich colors and beauty.

Wish put into the seven decorations

On Tanabata, it is common to write wishes on strips of paper and decorate them with bamboo leaves. However, in Sendai, in addition to ``tanzaku'' that pray for improvement in academics and calligraphy, ``kinchaku'' (wealth, savings), ``zukubaso'' (cleanliness and frugality), ``casting nets'' (rich catch), and ``origami cranes'' (wealth and savings) are used. Decorate your wishes with seven kinds of "seven ornaments" such as "long life", "windsock" (improvement in craftsmanship), and "paper clothes" (improvement in sewing, protection against illness and disaster). Another feature is that there is a round decoration called ``kusudama'' at the top of the streamer.

The whole city is vividly colored

During the period, the entire city center of Sendai and the surrounding local shopping streets will be filled with elaborate and colorful decorations. The most spectacular sight is the gorgeous Tanabata decorations that line the arcade. We also recommend strolling around the city while looking for the Seven Decorations that are unique to Sendai! In addition, there are usually many Tanabata-only events at the Civic Square, such as stage events, exhibits where you can learn about the history of Tanabata, and stalls where you can sample Miyagi's delicious gourmet food.

Learn more about and enjoy Sendai Tanabata Festival