The Tanabata Matsuri (Star Festival) usually occurs in early July, celebrating the one day per year when two star-crossed lovers of legend can meet across the Milky Way.
However, in some prefectures, Tanabata is celebrated later, which is why the wonderfully colorful Asagaya Tanabata Festival in Tokyo occurs in August.
For the festival’s duration, Pearl Shopping Street, one minute away from Asagaya station, is decorated with enormous paper mache constructs and flowing paper ribbons. The shapes vary yearly, including animals, the Japanese soccer team, famous cartoon characters, food items, and even a few bits of political satire.
On Tanabata, it is traditional to write down your wish on a slip of paper, and then tie it to a decorated stalk of bamboo. Thus, you can find these ‘wish stations’ dotted around the shopping street, should you wish to join in on the fun.
Amongst the paper mache creations, there are food stalls galore, ranging from the festival staple of takoyaki (cooked ball-shaped batter filled with octopus pieces) to ice cream and other sweets.
I recommend going on a weekday if you want to beat the crowd, but in any case, it is a lot of fun and makes for spectacular photos.
Asagaya Tanabata Festival: https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/asagaya-tanabata-matsuri-2
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hGnaJYNsejvBze9B9
Interested in learning about more cool places in Tokyo? Check out my blog here:
http://moveovergodzilla.blogspot.jp