Tanabata Festival August 7 2010, 1:29am via japanskiexperience.com

Tanabata, the Japanese Star Festival, is held each year on the 7th of July or 7th August and is one of the most colourful and vibrant festivals in Japan. It is a tradition for people write their wishes on small, colourful strips of paper and hang them on bamboo branches.

Decorated bamboo branches are also placed outside houses. Many large municipal areas, especially shopping malls and main streets in towns and cities, are decorated with large, colourful streamers.

As the 7th August falls on a weekend this year you can expect to see many people out on the streets, dressed in kimono and enjoying special events such as parades and firework displays. Large-scale Tanabata festivals are held in many places in Japan.

The most famous Tanabata festival is held in Sendai from the 6th to the 8th of August. Like other Japanese festivals, or matsuri, many outdoor stalls sell food or provide games and entertainment, all of which add to the festive atmosphere. In some regions, people float bamboo leaves or light lanterns and let them float them down the river.

Millions of visitors are attracted to Tanabata celebrations each year. If you’re lucky enough to be in Japan at this time, make sure you’re one of them!

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