
Jul 7, 2026
Okawa River (Tenmabashi to Hachikenya)
Chuo Ward, Osaka (Okawa River near Tenmabashi)Kansai
Countless blue wish stars drifting on the river
Reiwa OSAKA Milky Way Legend is an event unique to the water city of Osaka in which glowing LED 'wish stars,' carrying people's wishes, are released onto the Okawa River—closely tied to the Milky Way legend—to draw a fantastical river of stars across the water on Tanabata night. Begun in 2010 as the Heisei version, it has carried on into the Reiwa era. Tens of thousands of blue lights flow together along the river from Tenjinbashi to Hachikenya and Tenmabashi, joined by water-and-light shows. Visitors can write a wish and release a star, watching from riverbanks or cruise boats.
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Tenjinbashi, Kita Ward, Osaka~1km
Passing through seven chinowa rings for blessings
Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka~9km
Light displays across the arched bridge and gardens
Kuraji, Katano, Osaka~18km
Five-colored wish cards on eight-meter bamboo
Higashinada Ward, Kobe, Hyogo~22km
Wish cards on large bamboo along the shopping street

Miwa, Sakurai, Nara~36km
Tanabata bamboo before the hall facing sacred Mt. Miwa

Sumadera-cho, Suma Ward, Kobe, Hyogo~36km
Temple-town stalls and bamboo decorations
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