Utsunomiya Orion Tanabata Festival

The Utsunomiya Orion Tanabata Festival is held along the Orion-dori shopping arcade and at Orion Square in central Utsunomiya, Tochigi. Usually staged from late July to early August, it is planned for July 31 to August 3 in 2026. Bamboo decorations and wish strips line the covered arcade, where visitors can write and hang their wishes. Stage events, workshops and food booths enliven the downtown during the festival. It is a popular city-style event that lets residents and visitors enjoy a Tanabata mood in the heart of Tochigi's prefectural capital.