Hiratsuka, which has a beautiful beach on the Shonan coast in Kanagawa, is also known for hosting one of the largest Tanabata festivals in the Kanto region. Tanabata also known as the Star Festival is a Japanese festival, originating from the  famous Chinese folklore story, “The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl”. According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. It is said that the Tanabata event was introduced to Japan from China during the Nara era, … Continue reading Tanabata, Star Festival in Hiratsuka