Ogawamachi Tanabata Festival

The Ogawamachi Tanabata Festival began in 1949 to wish for the post-war revival of Ogawa, the home of washi papermaking, and reaches its 78th edition on July 25-26, 2026. Around Ogawamachi Station and throughout the town, residents and businesses display colorful bamboo decorations made from local Ogawa washi, lending the streets a delicate beauty unique to handmade paper. Events include float-pulling, a town stamp rally and papermaking experiences, with fireworks on the first night. It is an elegant summer festival in the home of Hosokawa-shi, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage paper.