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Tanabata - Make a Wish with Tanzaku
EVENT
Saturday, July 5th & Sunday, July 6th
During Summer Operating Hours,
General Admission
Tanabata – Japan’s Star Festival at the Garden
This year, we are not hosting a festival-style Tanabata event. Instead, we invite you to experience the heart of this cherished tradition in a peaceful, reflective setting at the Garden.
Tanabata, or Japan’s Star Festival, is celebrated on July 7th and is rooted in the romantic legend of two lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, who are allowed to reunite once a year by crossing the Milky Way. In Japan, people honor this occasion by writing their hopes and wishes on colorful paper strips called tanzaku, which are then hung on bamboo branches in the hopes that their dreams will come true.
At the Garden, you can participate in this meaningful custom by writing your own wish and hanging it on our decorated bamboo display. Join us in celebrating Tanabata through creativity, tradition, and heartfelt wishes beneath the summer sky.
Purchase a general admission ticket for July 5th and July 6th to participate in celebrating Tanabata at the garden.
Morning Session: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Last admission at 11:30 AM)
Evening Session: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
(Last admission at 7:00 PM)
Families and guests of all ages are also welcome to register for the Family Drop-in Craft Activity with an additional cost on Sunday, July 6th, where you can create paper decorations to add to the bamboo tree or take home with you as a keepsake.
The Garden will be decorated with traditional Tanabata ornaments, including handmade kusudama balls and colorful streamers, bringing the spirit of the season to life. We invite you to participate in this meaningful cultural tradition by writing your wishes on colorful tanzaku papers and hanging them on a decorated bamboo tree in the Garden—just as families in Japan do during Tanabata.Come stroll through the serene garden, enjoy the seasonal displays, and learn about this beloved summer custom. It's a gentle and inspiring way to connect with Japanese culture.
