Hiratsuka Grand Tanabata Festival

photo by rinia · CC BY-SA 3.0

photo by Nesnad · CC BY 4.0

One of the three biggest Tanabata festivals in Japan, with decorations over 10 metres.

Along the covered avenue of Hiratsuka's central shopping centre, every summer dozens of giant paper-and-bamboo decorations are raised for Tanabata (some are over ten metres), themed on the fashions of the moment, popular characters and sports stars of the day. Started after the war as a commercial revival initiative, it is now considered one of the three biggest Tanabata festivals in Japan along with Sendai's, and draws about one and a half million visitors over three days.

A summer festival that started in 1951 as a commercial revival initiative for central Hiratsuka, inspired by the Sendai festival; it is held along the Shōnan Star Mall and the streets of the city centre.

ℹ️ Free entry to the decorated streets. In 2026 (74th edition) it is held 3–5 July; on the 3rd and 4th until 20:30, on the 5th until 19:00.

🚉 Hiratsuka · 10 min walk

Sources: ja.wikipedia.org · sustabi.com · city.hiratsuka.kanagawa.jp

All series · Open the map