Tanabata Matsuri
MatsuriTohoku(Miyagi)
Annual eventDates
2026-08-06 — 2026-08-08
Venue
Sendai City center shopping arcades
Admission
Free
Crowd Level
Extremely crowdedSendai's Tanabata festival with elaborate bamboo decorations across the city.
Sendai Tanabata Matsuri is one of the three great Tohoku summer festivals and the largest Tanabata celebration in Japan. The city's shopping arcades are adorned with thousands of elaborate bamboo decorations (sasatake kazari) featuring streamers, paper cranes, and colorful ornaments. Each decoration can cost over one million yen and takes months to create by hand.
Highlights
Thousands of elaborate bamboo decorations in the shopping arcades; Eve festival fireworks on August 5; Traditional Tanabata craft workshops and food stalls
Access
Direct access from JR Sendai Station. The main decorations line the Clis Road, Marble Road Omachi, and Vlandome shopping arcades, all within walking distance.
Tips for Visitors
The eve festival fireworks on August 5 are a great addition. Visit in the morning for fewer crowds. Each arcade features different themed decorations, so walk through all of them. Rainy weather can affect the decorations.