Tohoku Tanabata Star Festivals

16 events

16 Tanabata events in Tohoku. 15 with 2026 dates, 1 showing the last edition's dates (next dates not yet announced). Featured: Sendai Tanabata Festival.

EndedPick

Aug 6 – Aug 8, 2026

Sendai Tanabata Festival

Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi

One of Japan's largest Tanabata festivals, with roughly 400 years of history dating back to feudal lord Date Masamune. Around 3,000 lavish bamboo decorations fill central Sendai's arcades, drawing over two million visitors each year.

Ended

Aug 6 – Aug 8, 2025Last edition

Fukushima Tanabata Festival

Fukushima City, Fukushima

A Tanabata festival held August 6–8 along central Fukushima's Paseo-dori and Bunka-dori. More than a hundred colorful bamboo decorations fill the streets, bustling with stalls and festival booths.

Ended

Jun 27-28, 2026

Kitakata Retro Yokocho (Tanabata Decorations)

Kitakata, Fukushima

An event usually held in mid-July (moved to June 27-28 in 2026) along Kitakata's Fureai-dori shopping street. Vivid citizen-made Tanabata decorations greet visitors amid a Showa-retro theme of festival booths and stalls.

Ended

Jul 1-31, 2026

Shonai Shrine Enmusubi Tanabata Festival

Tsuruoka, Yamagata

A matchmaking Tanabata festival held from July through August at Shonai Shrine in Tsuruoka, Yamagata. Grounds illumination, Yamagata cast-iron wind chimes, and colorful tanzaku adorn summer visits.

Ended

Jul 1-5, 2026

Kiyokawa Checkpoint Tanabata Festival

Shonai Town, Yamagata

A Tanabata festival held in early July at Kiyokawa History Park in Shonai Town, Yamagata. Decorations made by local children fill the halls, with a choral concert and limited-edition menus.

Ended

Jul 17 – Jul 19, 2026

Hachinohe Tanabata Festival

Hachinohe, Aomori

A Tanabata festival held each July along Hachinohe's central shopping district. Vivid decorations color the streets, with large streamers, flowing dances, and street live performances.

Sponsored

Ended

Jul 24 – Jul 26, 2026

Misawa Tanabata Festival

Misawa, Aomori

A Tanabata festival held in late July along Misawa's central shopping district and America Square. With over 70 years of history, it bustles with colorful decorations and stage events.

Ended

Aug 1 – Aug 7, 2026

Morioka Tanabata Festival

Sakanacho, Morioka, Iwate

Held in early August along Morioka's nostalgic Sakanacho shopping arcade. Handmade, individually crafted Tanabata decorations adorn the 365-meter covered street.

Ended

Aug 1 – Aug 2, 2026

Kosaka Tanabata Festival

Kosaka, Akita

A Tanabata festival held in early August along Kosaka's Meiji Hyakunen-dori. Floats bearing warrior figures reminiscent of Aomori's Nebuta parade through town to a distinctive chant.

Ended

Aug 2, 2026

Osaki Furukawa Festival (Tanabata)

Furukawa, Osaki, Miyagi

A summer tradition in Furukawa, Osaki, held since 1947, with beautiful Tanabata streamers filling the central shopping district. The 78th edition in 2026 was consolidated into a single day, August 2, with the Osaki Fireworks Festival held the evening before on August 1.

Ended

Aug 2 – Aug 3, 2026

Noshiro Tanabata Tenku no Fuyajo

Noshiro, Akita

A Tanabata festival held August 2–3 in Noshiro, Akita. Towering castle-shaped lanterns, including the 24.1-meter 'Chikasue'—Japan's tallest—parade through the city to drums and music.

Ended

Aug 5 – Aug 7, 2026

Tanabata Edoro Lantern Festival

Yuzawa, Akita

A Tanabata festival with roughly 300 years of history, held August 5–7 in Yuzawa, Akita. Over a hundred painted lanterns depicting ukiyo-e beauties turn the streets into a glowing nightless city.

Sponsored

Ended

Aug 6 – Aug 7, 2026

Sakari-cho Lantern Tanabata Festival

Sakari, Ofunato, Iwate

A traditional Tanabata festival held August 6–7 in Sakari, Ofunato. Centered on the Sakari Chuo-dori shopping street, classic Tanabata decorations and ornate festival floats parade through town.

Ended

Aug 6 – Aug 8, 2026

Iwaki Tanabata Festival (Taira Tanabata)

Iwaki, Fukushima

The historic 'Taira Tanabata,' held August 6–8 along the shopping streets near Taira Station in Iwaki, Fukushima. Over 100 lavish decorations fill the town, and the final day features the Iwaki Odori dance.

Ended

Aug 7 – Aug 9, 2026

Ichinoseki Summer Festival

Ichinoseki, Iwate

A summer festival held in central Ichinoseki in early August. Tanabata decorations, citizen dance parades, and the Iwai River fireworks display make it the city's signature summer event.

Ended

Aug 7, 2026

Esashi Summer Festival (Tanabata)

Esashi, Oshu, Iwate

A Tanabata festival held every August 7 in Esashi, Oshu. The Kuramachi Mall and Kawaramachi shopping street glow with Tanabata decorations and illuminations, alongside stage shows and night stalls.