Isshinden Tanabata Festival

Held in the Isshinden temple town of Tsu City, the Isshinden Tanabata Festival unfolds before Senju-ji, the National Treasure head temple of the Takada branch of Shin Buddhism. Local residents decorate the streets with handmade bamboo and Tanabata ornaments, and the grounds fill with a mini steam train, games, and food stalls. Koto-taiko drumming and yosakoi dance enliven the stage, and at dusk the bamboo decorations glow under soft lights, blending the atmosphere of the old temple town with festive color.