What is the Tanabata Festival and why does the Japanese fall in love with it every July?

Every July, the streets of Japan are filled with colors, decorated bamboos, and thousands of wishes written on paper. It is the Tanabata Festival, also known as the festival of the stars, one of the most magical celebrations of the Japanese summer. Believe me, if you’re ever in Japan at this time of year, experiencing Tanabata is like stepping into a romantic tale under the starry sky.

But where does this tradition come from? What does it mean? And why is it so special for the Japanese? In this article we are going to dive into the origin, customs and celebrations of Tanabata, so that you understand why this festival makes both locals and travelers from all over the world fall in love.

Tanabata (七夕) literally means “the night of the seventh”. It is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month, according to the lunar calendar, although today most cities celebrate it in mid-July following the Gregorian calendar.

It is a festival that mixes love, tradition and astronomy, as it is inspired by the alignment of two well-known stars: Vega and Altair, which on this date seem to approach each other in the summer sky.

Beyond the astronomical, Tanabata is a profoundly human festival: it symbolizes the hope that wishes will be fulfilled and the possibility that dreams – no matter how impossible they may seem – will come true when they are written down and delivered to heaven.

Tanabata has its origin in China, in the festival called Qi Xi, but with the arrival in Japan during the Nara period, it was mixed with Shinto and local agricultural rituals. From there, a unique celebration was born, which unites legends, spirituality and Japanese customs.

The protagonist of the legend is Orihime (the star Vega), daughter of the god of the sky, known as a weaver who made the most beautiful fabrics. One day she met Hikoboshi (the star Altair), a humble oxherder. The two fell madly in love and married, but they put aside their obligations: Orihime neglected her loom and Hikoboshi abandoned her flocks.

The god, angry, separated them with the Milky Way, forbidding them to see each other again. He only gave them one day a year, the seventh day of the seventh month, to meet again if they had fulfilled their duties.

On that night, according to tradition, the crows form a bridge over the celestial river so that lovers can cross and embrace.

Tanabata has roots in the People’s Republic of China, where Qi Xi is still an important holiday. There he is also linked to textile crafts and prayers to improve in trades, especially weaving.

When the legend arrived in Japan in the Heian era, it was adapted to the Japanese calendar and linked to Shinto practices of asking for good harvests.

During the Edo period, the custom of writing wishes on paper became very popular among families, and gradually spread throughout the country. After World War II, festivals such as the one in Sendai became symbols of hope and unity, especially in times of reconstruction.

Today, Tanabata is an event that combines the spiritual, the festive and the touristy, attracting millions of visitors from all over the world.

The most well-known tradition is to write wishes on colored papers called tanzaku. These are hung on bamboo branches, which grow tall and straight as if connecting the earth to the sky. Calligraphy is key here: writing carefully reflects respect for desire and increases its chances of being fulfilled.

Bamboo, present in many Japanese legends, is associated with purity and strength. That’s why it’s the perfect support for hanging wishes.

• Paper cranes: Symbol of longevity and good luck.
• Lanterns: To light the way for star lovers.
• Streamers (fukinagashi): They represent the threads woven by Orihime.
• Kusudama: Decorative spheres that have become authentic works of art.

The most famous in all of Japan is Sendai, in the Tōhoku region. It originated in the Edo period, but gained special importance after World War II as a symbol of peace. Sendai is filled with gigantic fukinagashi, live music, processions, and fireworks that light up the sky as if the Milky Way descended on the city. Food stalls (yatai) offer everything from yakisoba to typical sweets such as kakigōri (shaved ice).

• Hiratsuka (Kanagawa Prefecture): Su Tanabata is one of the largest in the Kantō region, very popular among Tokyoites.
• Mobara (Chiba Prefecture): Smaller, but with a cozy atmosphere that mixes parades, music and local gastronomy.

Tanabata is not only a romantic festival: it is also a time to reflect on wishes and hopes. Students ask to pass exams, workers want success at work, and many people write wishes related to love or health.

Tanabata has become a tourist and cultural engine. Cities such as Sendai or Tokyo receive visitors from all over Japan and abroad, making it a showcase of Japanese tradition in the middle of summer.

They symbolize Orihime’s skill at the loom.

Works of craftsmanship that reflect peace and prosperity.

To give a festive and magical atmosphere to the streets.

The streets are filled with floats, dances, and traditional music celebrating the love of Orihime and Hikoboshi.

Hanabi are the icing on the cake: every summer they light up the Japanese sky, and in Tanabata they represent the union of the stars.

There is no Japanese festival without street food: takoyaki, yakitori, okonomiyaki… and of course, cool drinks to withstand the summer heat! Traditional games such as water balloon fishing are also organized.