Name: Hachinohe Tanabata Festival
Start: 2026-07-17
End: 2026-07-19
Location: Hachinohe Central Shopping District (Sanmachi, Jusan Nichimachi, and Yagura Yokocho)

This summer event fills Hachinohe Central Shopping District with colorful Tanabata decorations, along with street dances, live performances, and hands-on activities.

About Hachinohe Tanabata Festival

The Hachinohe Tanabata Festival is a summer event held in Hachinohe Central Shopping District.

Tanabata decorations line Sanmachi, Jusan Nichimachi, and other streets, brightening the town with creations by local businesses, students, organizations, and residents.

A summer tradition in Hachinohe since 1951, it is now co-hosted by the Hachinohe Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Machizukuri Hachinohe, with the Chamber’s Downtown Area Committee serving as the organizing body.

Festival highlights

Highlights include the Tanabata yagura strung with colorful decorations and the Street Tanabata decorations displayed between the streetlights.

Decorations sponsored by local businesses line the northern section, while those created by students and local organizations line the southern section.

At night, the decorations are illuminated, and street dances, live performances, circle dances, and other activities take place throughout the shopping district.

Tanabata decorations and dancing brighten Hachinohe, with lively evenings

What to expect

In 2026, street events—including a corner to write wishes on tanzaku, ring toss, and shooting galleries—were held each day from 18:30 to 20:30 on the streets of Sanmachi and Jusan Nichimachi.

There were also workshops to make original fans, a flower treasure-box craft, a hockey shooting challenge, and a police car display.

Live performances took place at venues across the festival’s special stages, and on the first day there was also the Hachinohe Kouta street dance and a special circle dance at Machiniwa.

Location and access

Venue and address: Hachinohe Central Shopping District (Sanmachi–Jusan Nichimachi, Jusan Nichimachi, Sanmachi, and Yagura Yokocho) / Address: Sanmachi–Jusan Nichimachi, Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture
Train and bus: About a 10-minute walk from Hon-Hachinohe Station on the JR Hachinohe Line / Hachinohe City Bus and Nanbu Bus: “Jusan Nichimachi” and “Hachinohe Central District Terminal Stop ① (Sanmachi).” These stops cannot be used on the day due to traffic restrictions; use nearby stops such as “Nijusan Nichimachi,” “Hachinohe City Hall,” and “Hachinohe Central District Terminal Stop ② (Yokaichi).”
By car: About 20 minutes from Hachinohe Station / About 10 minutes from Hachinohe IC on the Hachinohe Expressway
Parking: Use a nearby paid parking lot

Address Sanmachi–Jusan Nichimachi, Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture

Travel by taxi PRFind a taxi or private transfer for your journey.Find a taxi on Kiwitaxi Long-distance buses are another option PRFind routes and fares from your departure point to your destination.Find highway buses on Rakuten Travel

Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)

2026年7月17日（金）17:00～21:00、7月18日（土）・19日（日）18:00～21:00。

17日17:30から第56回八戸小唄流し踊りが行われました。

Accommodation and hotels PR

Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Aomori Prefecture / Hachinohe City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

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写真：Junpei Satoh / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)

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Origins and History of Hachinohe Tanabata Festival

The festival that preceded the Hachinohe Tanabata Festival was held in Sanmachi and Jusan Nichimachi around Showa 26 or 27, and it is said that the Hachinohe Tanabata Festival began 1 or 2 years later.

At first, it was held in early August at the same time as the Hachinohe Fireworks Festival, but it is said to have moved to July after the Hachinohe Sansha Taisai changed its schedule around Showa 35.

Since Reiwa 5, it has been co-hosted by the Hachinohe Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Machizukuri Hachinohe, with the Chamber’s Downtown Area Committee serving as the organizing body.

Official information

The event is hosted by the Hachinohe Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Machizukuri Hachinohe Co., Ltd., with the Chamber’s Downtown Area Committee serving as the organizing body.

For inquiries, contact the Hachinohe Chamber of Commerce and Industry at 0178-20-9272.