Final update date: July 7, 2025 at 1:29 PM
The Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival is a traditional Tanabata festival held annually in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, and this year marks the 73rd time it has been held. This festival is an event to celebrate Japan's Tanabata (July 7th) traditions and enjoy the local culture and arts.
The main venue, Shonan Star Mall and Benitani Pearl Road, are filled with over 300 gorgeous bamboo decorations.
The bamboo decorations also feature decorations that reflect the social climate, and featured Kitagawa Utamaro's ukiyo-e (the Oiran Dochu of the Five Generation of the Segawa River) and Onosato Seki, who became a yokozuna with the fastest record in the history of sumo.
The 73rd Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival was held on the following schedule:
- Three days from Friday, July 4th to Sunday, July 6th, 2023
- The Tanabata Festival ends at 8:00 pm (7:00 pm on the last day)
The gallery that follows will include the venues of the Tanabata Odori Parade 2025 (video) and the Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival.
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Tanabata Odori Parade 2025: Orihime (YouTube)
Orihime will perform Tanabata dance at the parade that will color the beginning of the Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival. At the end, you can also join in and join.
Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival 2025 Gallery (Daytime session)
Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival 2025 Gallery (Night Session)
Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival 2025 Food stalls
The eye-catching image is of the stall area in front of Mitsukedai Park. After the COVID-19 pandemic, this year marks the first time in six years of stalls opening on the streets. Approximately 100 food stalls lined up.
I bought a few and served as a snack for dinner and dinner, but the hatgus I bought at a stall in the shopping district area was the most consistent and delicious.
It's not that tasty, but I thought Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki would cost 700 yen and takoyaki would be too expensive 😥
Even though I know it's bad, I can't help but end up buying it when I get the festive atmosphere.
Tanabata decorations were sold at the main venue for 1,800 yen. In the past, takoyaki was sold for 400 to 500 yen, while Tanabata decorations were sold for 1,000 yen, so it may be an inbound price, but it's a pretty expensive item.
In addition, Gyoza no Osho's yakisoba and fried rice, located at the west exit of Hiratsuka Station, cost 500 yen each. The taste is mediocre, but it's worth the price.
On Saturday nights, I went to Iroha Sushi from "OLD BOY"
On Saturday, July 5th, after a tour of the Tanabata Festival, we will be waiting for an American bar in Hiratsuka. OLD BOY I went for a drink.
We had a great time with our regular customers and enjoyed ourselves!
After that, I was a little hungry, so it was a long time Iroha Sushi I had some special sushi. Recently, I've always been Sushiro's sushi, but I've come to realize once again that sushi that's not in the conveyor belt is really delicious.
