Every year, I’ve managed to post something about Tanabata. This year, there were a lot of bamboo plants in Shonandai Station where you can write your wish and tie it on a branch. I did that last week. Here’s the picture.
Tag Archives: Tanabata
2010 Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival
On July 4th, I attended the 2010 Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa. This festival is the largest Tanabata festival in the Kanto region of Japan, and is 4 days long. It begins on the first Thursday of July. Tanabata for much of Japan is on July 7th.
The festival, which is also known as the Star Festival, celebrates 2 legendary figures, Orihime (the star Vega) and Hikoboshi (the star Altair). The Milky Way, a river of stars, separates these two lovers, but they are allowed to meet only once a year on the 7th day of the 7th month. For more information, please read about it on Wikipedia.
I attended on a very hot and sunny day. It was about 32 degrees, so quite uncomfortable in the sun. But it was great weather to get some pictures. The festival is held on the north side of Hiratsuka station, and was very easy to find. Just follow the crowd! Enjoy the pictures.
Just outside Hiratsuka station, it's very crowded. The festival was very nearby.
There are very colourful decorations above the crowd.
Here's Kintarou!
More colour and more crowds.
There are many food vendors at the festival. I had jagabataa (potato and butter).
Here are more decorations to enjoy.
There's a large variety of decorations.
At the festival, there were several marching bands from universities. Here's the first one.
Here are two girls in front of their university's marching band.
And here's a third marching band.
A closeup of some decorations.
A final look at some more decorations. It was very colourful.
I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Have you been to this festival before?
Filed under Festivals & Events, Hiratsuka, Japan, Kanagawa
Picture of the Week 6 – Tanabata, the Star Festival
It’s getting close to the time of the year for Tanabata, or the Star Festival. I’d already posted a picture about this last year, but I think this picture is much better. Tanabata is on July 7th.
Very colourful decorations for Tanabata.
Filed under Isogo-ku, Japan, Kanagawa, Picture of the Week, Yokohama
More Tanabata
Nothing is happening yet for Tanabata. It’s too early. But here are a couple more festival decoration pictures.
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Tanabata
It’s the time of year for Tanabata, or the star festival. Outside my school, there are many decorations. Here they are!
