tanabata matsuri, a Japanese festival

July in Japan means Tanabata, a little holiday that falls on the 7th, which literally means “evening of the seventh.” It’s the one night where the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi are able to meet over the Milky Way. Even though it fell on the 26th, the Tanabata Matsuri (festival) in Ogawamachi, Saitama was one of the biggest summer omatsuri that I’ve been to so far in Japan. Ogawamachi is about 2 hours away from Tokyo – big suburban area which is a nice change from the busy city life. The festival was so colorful with all the beautiful decorations, the food stands and toys for children. I was even lucky enough to make wash (Japanese paper) for free. And the hand-made life-like Godzilla figure was just something. The local artist that created it was nice enough to let people pull a rope that emits a spray of water from Godzilla’s mouth, all the while blasting the classic soundtrack from the original Japanese film from huge speakers.

I think the most special part of attending this festival was wearing the yukata (summer version of the kimono) my grandmother made for my mother. My grandmother is so talented when it comes to sewing and Japanese traditional kimonos and yukatas. I didn’t get the chance to wear this pretty handmade yukata last year, so I was excited to wear this to a grand festival.

Are there any special summer events are festivals in your country? I would love to know in the comments!

Thank you so much for all the feedback on my last post! I will be returning comments soon 🙂 Have a great week ahead!

38 Comments

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Aibina Yeshkeyeva

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July 28, 2014 at 4:38 pm

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Beautiful! <3

Ramida Dusdeevutikul

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July 28, 2014 at 5:20 pm

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you look gorgeous! looks like an awesome festival!

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xx

Jenny Scott Russell

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July 28, 2014 at 5:24 pm

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You look amazing and I'm in love with the print on your Kimono! x
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July 28, 2014 at 6:01 pm

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hi my dear!!How are you?? 🙂 i really love your post…So beautiful photos and you really enjoy that day!!! 🙂 If you want you can take a look on my blog and tell me your opinion about my post 🙂

Have an amazing day..
xoxo Stephania
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Victoria Maybe Tonight

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July 28, 2014 at 6:32 pm

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aw that's so cool!
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nancy @ adore to adorn

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July 28, 2014 at 6:41 pm

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what a beautiful event. and how amazing you got to wear this traditional outfit passed within your family. =) so special
xo,
nancy

Jovie

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July 28, 2014 at 7:21 pm

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I would love to visit Japan someday! You look gorgeous in your yukata:)

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Reneta Kanevska

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July 28, 2014 at 7:30 pm

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Incredible style and blog! 🙂

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melissa

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July 28, 2014 at 9:02 pm

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I love you are so in touch with your culture!

Sonia De Macedo

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July 29, 2014 at 3:54 am

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That Godzilla is pretty impressive. I can only imagine the vibe of this festival that would be emanating here. it must have been magical!

SDMxx
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Alexis Grace of North On Harper

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July 29, 2014 at 10:03 am

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Your Yukata is beautiful and the Godzilla quite frightening! What a great festival— I am heading to Germany in a few weeks to attend a wine festival in a small village. The town is where my dad grew up and we still have a family house there, it will be my husband's first chance to attend the festivities and I'm super excited!

Style and Paper

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July 29, 2014 at 10:57 am

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So beautiful!!

xoxo
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Lia Crystal

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July 29, 2014 at 1:13 pm

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Wow great pics and festival, looks amazing. You look so beautiful in the version of kimono, it´s great that it´s handed over generations. 🙂
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MITCH

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July 29, 2014 at 4:07 pm

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Your grandmother made such a pretty yukata! Love the festival, looks so fun 🙂

xx
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Monika Ozdoba

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July 29, 2014 at 8:46 pm

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You look so stunning and gorgeous honey. Love it! ♥

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xoxo
Monika
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ediot

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July 30, 2014 at 12:13 am

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wow. it looks like so much fun. thanks for sharing the photos
you look great

ediot

Kim Alston

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July 30, 2014 at 12:46 am

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what a festival it is sam! so gorgeous. love the vendors there and you look beautiful. we have FOOD festivals in new orleans: shrimp, gumbo, tomato, seafood, poboy, oyster festival etc. lol
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Bianca

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July 30, 2014 at 3:51 pm

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Lovely! xx

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Kurumi

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July 31, 2014 at 6:26 am

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Wow, interesting:з

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Gail J

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July 31, 2014 at 6:30 am

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This is one of the reasons why I wanna go to Japan! To experience life and food and everything!

Hélène Heath

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July 31, 2014 at 2:05 pm

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I love that your grandmother made this traditional garment, it's just so gorgeous and the entimental value of it makes it even more special. You wear it so well and look like a perfect Japanese doll. This festival looks like so much fun, too!

xx Hélène
http://www.FashionOverReason.com