Asagaya Tanabata Festival

Festival highlights

The main highlight is the large haribote figures painstakingly made by shops in the shopping street and nearby schools.

Popular characters and topical themes feature among the subjects, and the figures decorate the arcade alongside kusudama decorations and streamers.

Larger works can take more than 1 month to plan and complete, giving visitors a close-up look at the ingenuity of handmade creations.

Colorful bamboo decorations and stalls also contribute to the festive atmosphere.

Asagaya’s Tanabata shopping street, adorned with handmade haribote figures

What to expect

At the venue, you can walk along Asagaya Pearl Center Shopping Street and view the streamers, bamboo decorations, and handmade haribote figures in sequence.

Food stands and stalls run by individual shops offer snacks, games, and festival-period-only menu items.

Visitors can be seen walking along the shopping street admiring the decorations and sampling food as they go.

Families and groups from the general public can also take part by making and exhibiting petit haribote figures.

Source: ８月 阿佐谷七夕まつり｜すぎなみ学倶楽部

How to take part

General visitors can enjoy the festival by walking around the venue to see the decorations and visiting food stalls and temporary stalls in the shopping street.

Families and groups can also take part by making and displaying petite papier-mâché figures using a set of supplied materials.

In 2024, about 50 petite papier-mâché figures were on display.

For the 2026 application requirements and process for the petite papier-mâché figures, please check the information provided when the festival is held.

You can visit the festival without a reservation.

For those taking part in making and exhibiting petit haribote figures, one suggested option is to use a kit containing the materials.

Source: 【詳細データ】 - 第70回 阿佐谷七夕まつり(東京都杉並区) - 夏休みおでかけガイド2026

Location and access

Venue and address

Asagaya Pearl Center Shopping Street.

From the area around the south exit of JR Asagaya Station, through the shopping street to the entrance on the Ome Kaido side.

The address is around Asagayaminami, Suginami City, Tokyo.

Train and bus

A 1-minute walk from JR Asagaya Station.

The JR Chuo Line and JR Sobu Line are available.

Minami-Asagaya Station is also a 1-minute walk away, with access to the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line.

Source: 第70回「阿佐谷七夕まつり」

Address Around Asagayaminami, Suginami City, Tokyo

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Dates and season

2026 event information (the published dates have passed)

The 2026 festival was held from August 7 (Friday) through August 11 (Tuesday, a public holiday).

It was scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., ending at 9 p.m. on the final day.

The 2026 festival has ended.

It is usually held over 5 days, centered around August 7, though the dates are adjusted from year to year.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

Since the festival involves walking through the shopping street arcade to view decorations, keep your distance from others in crowded periods and be considerate about where you stop.

Sunlight streams in during the day, making this a suggested time to take a leisurely look at the Tanabata decorations.

When visiting stalls or food stands, avoid obstructing pedestrian traffic, and remember to stay hydrated when going out in hot weather.

There is an announcement that the festival will proceed in rainy weather, but visitors should be mindful of weather and traffic conditions.

Origins and History of Asagaya Tanabata Festival

The Asagaya Tanabata Festival began in 1954 to bring life to the shopping street during a period when hot weather kept people away from the area.

It was first held after the event planners visited summer festivals around Japan and decided that a Tanabata festival would suit Asagaya.

Over time, the festival developed its own character, incorporating haribote figures reminiscent of Aomori’s Nebuta Festival while also taking inspiration from Sendai’s Tanabata Festival.

Haribote-making is said to have begun around 1963, as the shopping street’s arcade was being developed.

Official information

The official website provides information from Asagaya Pearl Center.

Dates, times, stalls, and participation activities can be confirmed through the organizers’ announcements for each edition.

Asagaya Tanabata Festival at a Glance

The Asagaya Tanabata Festival is a summer Tanabata festival held at Asagaya Pearl Center Shopping Street, where visitors can enjoy bamboo decorations, streamers, kusudama decorations, and handmade haribote figures.

The festival was held from August 7 through the 11th in 2026, with stalls and food stands at the venue.

Conveniently located a 1-minute walk from JR Asagaya Station and Minami-Asagaya Station, the festival offers a variety of ways to enjoy it, including viewing decorations, sampling food, and making petit haribote figures.