Kyo no Tanabata (Star Festival of Kyo), Kyoto

“Kyo no Tanabata” (Star Festival of Kyo) is an event that colors summer nights in Kyoto with light. It is held in Kyoto city every August, on the theme of “Wish”, after “Tanabata”, an event that wishes once a year. Fantastic art of light that colors the river and riverbanks of Kamogawa is amazing. This event is becoming popular every year since you can enjoy fantastic light up in various places in Kyoto. It is also recommended for those who want to travel slowly in Kyoto during this time when the Gion Festival in July was over and a little calm.
Tanabata’s festival to do “a wish once a year”. “Kyo no Tanabata” (Star Festival of Kyo) which is an event to reconsider its significance and origin, began about 10 years ago. Various events have been held and it is becoming a summer tradition of Kyoto as a modern Tanabata Festival.
An event is planned every year in each area, and the side of two rivers flowing through the city of Kyoto called “Horikawa” and “Kamogawa” becomes the main area. In addition to that, “Nijo Castle“, “Kitano-kamiyagawa area” around Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine, “Okazaki area” centering on Okazaki Park and Heian Jingu Shrine, “Umeokoji area” with Kyoto aquarium and Kyoto Railway Museum etc. will also be the venue. In each area, private enterprises and civil society organizations collaborate and events such as light up will be held.
In the event, “wishes” are gathered from the whole country through the Internet, visitors can write on wishes on a “‘tanzaku paper” (100 yen) at the venue limited sale and decorate the bamboo. The wishes given to you are burned up at “Kyoto Gozan Okuribi” and Kiyomizudera Temple and delivered to Heaven.
“Kyo no Tanabata” full of beautiful light-ups and fun events. Why do not you go out to the city of Kyoto, cool off at night, avoiding hot days.

Based on the theme of having a wish once a year after the Tanabata festival’s legend

The “Kyo no Tanabata” (Star Festival of Kyo) is crowded with about 650,000 visitors each year. It is a festival with a history that is held as a summer tradition of Kyoto. Tanabata is an old traditional legend that Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair) can meet only once a year, on July 7th. This festival is based on the theme of having a wish once a year after the Tanabata festival’s legend. It will be held in the vicinity of Horikawa River and Kamogawa River for about a week from August 6, the Tanabata of the lunar calendar.

Unique festival in Kyoto

While taking over the tradition, it is held as a unique festival in Kyoto, such as promoting new industries and kimono. It is a festival where anyone can participate by writing wishes in strips of postcards and attaching them to bamboo grass.

There are many events using light

“Kyo no Tanabata” is held at two sites, the area of Kamogawa River and Horikawa River. At the Kamogawa site, there are many events using light, with the “bamboo and lighting” road and the bamboo gigantic arches lit up with LEDs directing the Milky Way. You can also see demonstration of Yuzen Nagashi (the process of removing glues and extra dyes in a clean river) and Maiko’s dance unique to Kyoto.

Creating a fantastic atmosphere

The “Milky Way of the Light” will take place from “Nijo Street” near “Ebisugawa Street”. The Milky Way, where Orihime and Hikoboshi were allowed to meet on the evening of Tanabata, is reproduced by the bamboo and the blue LED depicting the arch. This “Milky Way of the Light” changes the color with the time, creating a fantastic atmosphere that you can not think of as a real world.

Like a magical feel as if you were in the Heian erae

The “Lamp of Wind Chime” will be installed from Sanjo near Oike and Donguribashi to Bukkoji Temple. Traditional wind chime of Kyoto was put in bamboo basket, and it is lit by LED. You can taste like a magical feel as if you were in the Heian era.

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