Tanabata Summer Festival in Oita

Hello everyone!

For many of us with feet that are itching to travel, opportunities to explore Japan can't seem to come soon
enough. So while we keep an eye on good news for travel, many of us hope that our prayers for fast travel
recovery will be answered during Japan's Tanabata Festival. On July 7th, Tanabata (七夕), also known as the
Star Festival, celebrates the once-a-year meeting of two star-crossed lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, who are
allowed to meet on this evening after being separated by the Milky Way for the rest of the year.

One of the popular customs of this summer festival is to write one's wish on a colorful slip of paper called
tanzaku that are hung on branches from a bamboo tree. If you're walking the streets of Oita, you'll find these
displays adorned with handwritten messages adding a festive mood to the main shopping streets and outside
shops and houses.

A proper summer festival in Japan doesn’t end at dusk but continues into the night, and Tanabata is no
exception. At a Tanabata event in Oita, you'll find plenty of food stalls, lively performances, and festival games
like yo-yo tsuri (yo-yo scooping) to keep festival-goers entertained throughout the evening.

Okonomiyaki, a griddle-fried dish of cabbage, batter, various meats (and often a drizzle of mayo and sauce), is
one of the popular dishes to try at a Tanabata festival. And don't forget that kakigori shaved ice to cool you
down on those hot summer days and nights!

To experience Tanabata like a local, put on a summer yukata (a light, cotton kimono) and head down to the
summer festival for a night of eating, games, and a finale of fireworks. As we wait for our Tanabata wishes for
travel to come true, we look forward to when we can meet you again soon in Oita!