[Sendai Tanabata Festival] A seasonal summer event! Just a short walk from Sendai Station

• Table of Contents
• Sendai Tanabata Festival Season and How to Enjoy It
• Tanabata viewing spots map
• Please come and join us at the Sendai Tanabata Festival!

Sendai Tanabata Festival Season and How to Enjoy It

Source: Sendai City Tourism Division

The Sendai Tanabata Festival, famous as one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region, is held over three days every year on August 6th, 7th, and 8th.
The eve of the festival is held on August 5th, the day before. There will also be fireworks, and it is a major event that is a seasonal feature of summer in Sendai, attracting many local residents and people from inside and outside the prefecture to enjoy.

The Sendai Tanabata Festival dates back to the time of Lord Date Masamune, the lord of the Sendai domain, and is a historic festival that has been loved by people as a symbol of the revitalization and reconstruction of the city after the war.

There are many ways to enjoy Tanabata, such as writing your wishes on a strip of paper, finding your favorite decorations and taking commemorative photos, etc. Furthermore, some shopping arcades sell kits that allow you to make miniature Tanabata decorations at home.

In addition to the traditional Tanabata decorations that pray for peace and health, there are also stylish decorations that incorporate the image colors of the stores in the shopping district, and decorations that resemble popular characters for children. Just looking at the colorful Tanabata decorations will make you feel excited.
It's also fun to look for the gold, silver, and bronze award-winning works that are given to each shopping district.

Tanabata viewing spots map

If you're planning on going out, we recommend the Sendai Kokusai Hotel, which is easily accessible and just a 5-minute walk from Sendai Station!
If you get tired of walking, you can return to the cool hotel for a short rest, or if you've enjoyed shopping in the shopping district, you can leave your souvenirs in your room before heading out again. It's nice to have a spot that you can easily come and go to.

Sendai Kokusai Hotel

4-6-1 Central, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture 980-0021

5 minutes walk from the station, specializing in gourmet food.

Make a reservation here

Tanabata Festival Map

The main venue for the Sendai Tanabata Festival is the arcade shopping street in front of Sendai Station, where visitors can enjoy the many decorations.

Nishi-koen Sendai Tanabata Fireworks Festival (August 5th) venue

There are about 200 cherry trees, and many tourists visit in the spring to view the flowers.
Along with Sakuraoka Daijingu Shrine located within the park, this is a historic site associated with Date Masamune.
During the fireworks display, there are also stalls set up, creating a festive summer atmosphere.

Source: Sendai City Tourism Division

From Sendai Station, take the Sendai Municipal Subway Tozai Line bound for Yagiyama Zoo, and get off at "T05 Nishi-koen" station, two stops (about 3 minutes) from Sendai Station. It is immediately outside the "Nishi 1 Nishi-koen Exit."

It is also located very close to Jozenji Street, the symbol of the City of Trees, so we recommend combining your visit with a stroll along the zelkova tree-lined street.

Nishi-koen also has a preserved and exhibited C60-1 steam locomotive that was in service from 1953 until the electrification of the Tohoku Main Line was completed in 1968. If you visit, be sure to take a photo with it.

Nishi-koen C60-1 steam locomotive outdoor display

By the way, it is about a 20-minute walk from Sendai Kokusai Hotel(a 5-minute walk from Sendai Station) via Minamimachi-dori and Nishi-koen-dori.

Ichibancho Street Zone

This is one of the main areas where the following three arcade shopping streets are connected, stretching from the area of ​​Kotodai Park and Sendai Mitsukoshi (department store) to Minamimachi Street.
・Ichibancho 4-Chome Shopping Street
・VLANDOME Ichibancho Shopping Street
・SUNMALL Ichibancho

The closest entrance to the Sendai Kokusai Hotel is the entrance to Sun Mall Ichibancho facing Minamimachi Street. How about walking to Kotodai Park, where various events are held, while looking at the Tanabata decorations?

You can also get to Kotodai Park by subway.
From Sendai Station, take the Sendai Municipal Subway Namboku Line bound for Izumi Chuo, get off at "N08 Kotodai Park" station, two stops (about 3 minutes) from Sendai Station, and it is about a 4-minute walk from "South 4" exit.

Central Street Zone

This is the main area that stretches from Fujisaki Department Store towards Sendai Station and connects the following three arcade shops.
・Marble Road Shopping Street
・CLIS ROAD Shopping Street
・Hapina Nakakecho Shopping Street

The closest shopping streets to the Sendai Kokusai Hotel are the Marble Road Shopping Street and the CLIS ROAD Shopping Street, both facing Higashi Nibancho Street. CLIS ROAD Shopping Street is home to the Aeon Sendai store, where you can enjoy festival food from the stalls.
There is also a Don Quijote at Hapina Nakakecho near Sendai Station, which is also recommended for shopping.

Please come and join us at the Sendai Tanabata Festival!

In addition to the main venue introduced above, you can enjoy Tanabata decorations all over the city.

Like in front of the station, large and gorgeous decorations can be seen inside train stations and airports. Local Tanabata decorations in small shopping streets and markets are also recommended as they are full of atmosphere. Come and see the special look of the town that can only be seen at this time of year.

During the Tanabata season, Tanabata decorations will be on display inside the hotel. Please come and see them.

Sendai Kokusai Hotel

4-6-1 Central, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture 980-0021

5 minutes walk from the station, specializing in gourmet food.