The latest in 2024! Sendai Tanabata Matsuri, Japan's largest Tanabata festival in Miyagi, Miyagi, Japan.

  • Miyagi
  • Sightseeing
Gorgeous Tanabata Decorations

Sendai Tanabata Festival" that even Lord Date Masamune was reminded of.

The Sendai Tanabata Matsuri is a traditional event that has continued since the Edo period (1603-1867), and has spread to the general public since it was encouraged by feudal lord Date Masamune, and is now a nationally renowned event. Although the Tanabata Festival was originally held on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar and is popular throughout Japan, the "Sendai Tanabata Festival" is held every year from August 6 to 8 of the current calendar, using the "Chu-ryaku" calendar, which is the calendar with one month added to the new calendar.
Official Poster for the 2024 Sendai Tanabata Festival

Delicate Japanese paper decorations fluttering in the wind

Decorations decorate the streets of Sendai during the festival, but the details are kept a secret until the day of the festival! The decorations are handmade and prepared months in advance by the individual stores, and the decorations are put up around 8:00 a.m. on August 6, the first day of the festival. The price of one decoration is said to range from several hundred thousand to several million yen. The custom of Sendai Tanabata is to decorate a set of five "blow torches," which are long and thin decorations attached to the bottom of a kusudama ball.

In addition to the decorations, each shopping district will also judge the decorations. The judging will be held on the afternoon of the 6th, and gold, silver, and bronze prizes will be awarded to the decorations. Plates for the gold, silver, and bronze awards will be attached to the base of the decorations, so please pay attention to the base of the decorations as well.
A shopping street bustling with tourists
The enemy of Tanabata is rain! When it starts to rain, each store rushes to put away their decorations in plastic bags to prevent them from getting wet. It would be a pity if it should rain, but you may be able to see a precious sight.
Splendid Tanabata decorations line the streets.

The city of Sendai will be decorated with Tanabata decorations for three days from August 6 to 8.

From Sendai Station, Tanabata decorations can be seen along Chuo-dori and Ichibancho-dori arcades, which are crowded with many people during the festival. Taking time to wade through and look at the Tanabata decorations is one of the best parts of the Sendai Tanabata Festival. Once inside the arcade, the blowing streamers of Tanabata decorations sway in the wind, making you forget the summer heat. In addition, there are many other simple and nostalgic Tanabata decorations in the surrounding shopping streets, and enjoying the atmosphere of the festival in a relaxed atmosphere is also recommended.
Attention is paid to every detail.

Explanation of the wishes expressed in the Tanabata decorations!

Many people may imagine Tanabata decorated with tanzaku (paper strips of paper) on bamboo branches. In the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri, the seven decorations, which include tanzaku strips, are indispensable. They are decorated with wishes for prosperous business, good health, and so on. Each of the seven decorations has its own wish, so you will surely enjoy your visit to Sendai even more after you learn about them.

Seven Wishes

Tanzaku (tanzaku): Improvement in studies and calligraphy
Kamigoromo (paper robe): To ward off illness and misfortune, and to improve sewing
Orizuru (paper crane): Domestic safety and longevity
Kinchaku (purse): Business prosperity
Toami (cast net): Good catch and harvest
Kuzukago (waste basket): Cleanliness and thrift
Fukinagashi (blowing stream) (Tanabata Festival) (a decoration with a kusudama, often seen at Tanabata festivals)...a thread of woven fabric offered to the weaver
Colorful and photo-worthy "blow-up streamers".

Message from the Sendai Tanabata Festival Office

Sendai Tanabata Festival has been a traditional event since the time of Lord Date Masamune, the founder of the Sendai clan. Today, it is famous throughout Japan as one of the summer festivals in Tohoku, combining the elegance of the ancient Japanese star festival with the splendor of the decorations. We hope you will visit the festival.
Some decorations look like cherry blossoms.

The excitement starts the day before the festival! Sendai Tanabata Fireworks Festival

On August 5, the night before the festival, the annual Sendai Tanabata Fireworks Festival will be held. This is also a very popular event. Let's make the "Sendai Tanabata Festival" more exciting by watching the fireworks, a summer tradition, before the festival! For more information, please visit the "Sendai Tanabata Fireworks Festival" website.
For more information on the "Sendai Tanabata Fireworks Festival", please visit

Take your favorite train and lodging combination for a budget-friendly trip!

You can create your own original trip!

The " JR East View Dynamic Rail Package " is a variable-price individual travel product sold exclusively through the Internet that allows you to choose your train and accommodations freely and make a reservation at once. Depending on the timing and conditions of your reservation, you may be able to save even on the day of departure at the earliest! We also offer one-day trip plans! Please enjoy your own trip according to your schedule and purpose.

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For JR + lodging [Miyagi area] reservations, please contact [ JR East View Dynamic Rail Package ]
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