Hakodate Port Festival

Held in August in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, this Tanabata festival features vibrant bamboo decorations filling shopping districts. Millions of ornaments hang from bamboo branches in elaborate displays. Blending Edo-period traditions with modern presentation, it attracts approximately 2 million visitors annually, making it one of the largest summer festivals in Japan's northeast.

A Tanabata festival held in August in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. Colorful streamers adorning bamboo fill the streets, brightening Hokkaido's summer. Notable for distinctive decorative styles born from local creativity. Well-recognized as a tourist destination.

A summer festival held in Hakodate, Hokkaido in August annually. Features Hakodate's unique decorative lanterns and dances distinct from Nebuta and Neputa traditions. Reflecting the city's history as a port town, it attracts approximately 2 million visitors and is one of Hokkaido's most representative festivals.

A premier summer festival of the Tohoku region held every August in Aomori City. Enormous illuminated warrior-themed floats called nebuta parade through the streets while dancers known as haneto leap to the chant of 'Rassera.' It is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.

Japan's largest Bon dance festival with over 400 years of history in Tokushima Prefecture. Known for the chant 'It's a fool who dances and a fool who watches—if both are fools, you might as well dance,' it is held annually during the Obon period in August. Groups called 'ren' dance through the streets to distinctive rhythms.

A traditional summer festival held on July 7th, based on the legend of the Weaver Princess and Cowherd Star. Tradition involves writing wishes on paper strips and attaching them to bamboo branches. Celebrated nationwide with unique regional styles, with Sendai Tanabata famous for its elaborate decorations and parade.

Tanabata festival held in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in August. Bamboo decorated with ornamental strips of paper, characterized by elegant and delicate decorations. Attracting over 2 million annual visitors, it's one of Tohoku's largest festivals. With Edo-period tradition revived and developed post-WWII, it's Sendai's signature summer festival, highly regarded internationally.