A Tanabata festival with around 250 bamboo decorations brightening the streets of Hashimoto
Hashimoto Tanabata Festival
The 2026 edition of Hashimoto Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/07 〜 2026/08/09Ended
- Season / frequency
- The first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of August / Every year
- Location
- JR Hashimoto Station north exit area; around the north exit of Hashimoto Station
- Area
- Kanagawa Prefecture・Sagamihara City(From Tokyo: approx. 30 min–1 h · train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Wish strips are free.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A Tanabata festival held throughout the local area of Sagamihara, with colorful bamboo decorations brightening the area around the north exit of Hashimoto Station. Visitors can enjoy food stalls, stage events, and an activity for writing wishes on tanzaku strips.
About Hashimoto Tanabata Festival
The Hashimoto Tanabata Festival is a community-wide Tanabata festival held around the north exit of Hashimoto Station in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture.
The festival began to promote the shopping district. Bamboo decorations made by local groups, students, and others line the pedestrianized Tanabata Street area and its surroundings.
This event offers a chance to enjoy community connections and lively festivities through colorful decorations, food stalls, and stage events.
Source: 橋本七夕まつり - Wikipedia / 橋本七夕まつり - ぐるっと緑区 ミドナビ
Festival highlights
The highlight is the around 250 bamboo decorations brightening the area around the north exit of Hashimoto Station.
From preschoolers and university students to businesses and organizations, people take part in making the decorations, which line the streets in a variety of creative designs.
The bamboo decoration contest is also a regular feature. Visitors can enjoy it along with food stalls and several stage events while exploring the pedestrianized venue.
Source: 開催概要 | 橋本七夕まつり
A Tanabata festival with around 250 bamboo decorations brightening the streets of Hashimoto
What to expect
At the festival, you can stroll through the pedestrianized area around the station’s north exit, admire the Tanabata bamboo decorations, and enjoy food stalls and stage events.
Local groups, students, volunteers, and others help make and put up the bamboo decorations, supporting the festival in various ways.
In 2026, an activity inviting visitors to write wishes on tanzaku strips and hang them up was also announced, adding a classic Tanabata experience.
Source: 交通アクセス及び交通規制のご案内 | 橋本七夕まつり / HOME | 橋本七夕まつり
How to take part
General visitors can walk around the venue and enjoy the bamboo decorations, stage, and food stalls.
In 2026, visitors were invited to write wishes on strips of paper and hang them up, offering a way to share their own Tanabata wishes.
Volunteering, performing on stage, and setting up a stall are subject to separate recruitment or conditions, so they are not treated the same way.
In 2026, visitors were invited to write wishes on strips of paper and hang them up; the strips were free.
No information has been provided about advance registration to visit and explore the festival venue.
Anyone interested in volunteering, performing on stage, or setting up a stall should check the separate recruitment information, apart from general visitor information.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The area around the north exit of JR Hashimoto Station.
The festival is held around the north exit of Hashimoto Station, centered on Tanabata-dori.
- Train and bus
A 1-minute walk from Hashimoto Station on the JR Yokohama and Sagami Lines or the Keio Sagamihara Line.
Bus and taxi stands at the north and south exits of Hashimoto Station operate as usual.
- By car
Traffic restrictions are in place at the venue during the festival, so visitors are advised to use public transportation.
- Parking
There is no parking at the main festival venue.
Event venue 神奈川県相模原市 JR橋本駅北口エリア
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
The 74th Hashimoto Tanabata Festival in 2026 was held from August 7 (Friday) through Sunday the 9th.
The announced hours were 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the 7th and 8th, and 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the 9th. The event was scheduled to go ahead in rain and be canceled in severe weather.
It is usually held on the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of August.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
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 Kanagawa Prefecture / Sagamihara City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The venue becomes pedestrian-only, and traffic restrictions are imposed on festival days.
In 2026, restrictions were announced from August 7 through the 9th, each day from 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
There is no parking or bicycle parking at the venue, so visitors are advised to travel by train or other public transportation to Hashimoto Station.
Nearby attractions
亀ヶ池八幡宮
神奈川県相模原市中央区にある神社
氷川神社
神奈川県相模原市中央区にある神社
神明大神宮
神奈川県相模原市緑区にある神社
Origins and History of Hashimoto Tanabata Festival
The Hashimoto Tanabata Festival began in 1952, organized by around 50 member shops of the Hashimoto Shopping Association to boost the local postwar economy.
It was initially held for 5 days around July 7, but was moved to its current August schedule to avoid overlapping with the Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival and damage to the decorations from the rainy season.
Since 1995, the festival has been held over 3 days, and the bamboo decorations have evolved from simple tanzaku displays into a diverse range of artworks.
Official information
The official Hashimoto Tanabata Festival website provides information on the festival overview, venue, transportation, traffic restrictions, and activities.
Information was also published for the 74th festival in 2026, including the dates and times, venue, pedestrianized area, and tanzaku activity.
Hashimoto Tanabata Festival at a Glance
The Hashimoto Tanabata Festival is an urban Tanabata festival set around the north exit of Hashimoto Station, where visitors can enjoy around 250 bamboo decorations made by the local community.
Along with food stalls, stage events, and a bamboo decoration contest, an activity for writing and hanging up tanzaku strips was also held in 2026.
The venue is close to the station and pedestrianized, making this an event where visitors can arrive by public transportation and enjoy the Tanabata atmosphere on foot.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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