A romantic evening for the Cowherd and Weaver Girl at the Qixi Festival

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department
 
Qixi, thanks to the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, has become a romantic and beautiful festival. Unlike in Taiwan, Japan celebrates Qixi on July 7th of the Gregorian calendar. Among the many summer festivals in Japan, the Qixi Festival stands out with its fireworks, parades, large wish cards, and traditional Japanese snacks. Locals dress in yukata on this day, hanging their poetic wish cards and colorful decorations on bamboo branches to pray for good fortune. Travel agencies have released a list of Japan’s 8 most popular Qixi festivals, hoping that couples can enjoy an unforgettable summer.

• Tokyo Shitamachi Qixi Festival (Asakusa ~ Ueno)
Dates: July 6–11, 2016
Along the approximately 1.2-kilometer-long “Kappa Hashimoto Dori,” various exquisite Qixi decorations and lanterns are hung, creating a spectacular sight along both sides that the Japanese liken to the “Milky Way.” The Tokyo Qixi Festival is held here, where you can enjoy food stalls offered by shops and explore traditional Japanese craft booths. There are also parades and performances on-site, making it the most bustling and grand time of the year for the shopping street.

•Kanagawa Shonan Hiratsuka Qixi Festival (Hiratsuka City)
Dates: July 8–10, 2016
The Hiratsuka Qixi Festival, famous for its luxurious decorations, celebrates its 66th anniversary. The event features over 10-meter-tall giant colorful decorations, well-known celebrity characters, and animal-themed ornaments. Everywhere you look is a jubilant beauty, making it highly popular among tourists. In addition to the parade, there are various cultural activities that keep visitors entertained.

•Saitama Prefecture Ogawa Machi Qixi Festival (Ogawa Machi)
Dates: July 23–24, 2016
With a history of 67 years, the Ogawa Machi Qixi Festival features decorations all made by local shops in Ogawa Machi. The two-day event includes dancing, fireworks shows, and more, with a colorful and romantic atmosphere lighting up the Qixi night sky.

•Aichi Prefecture Ichinomiya Qixi Festival (Ichinomiya City)
Dates: July 28–31, 2016
Legend has it that Ichinomiya City is blessed by the “God of Textiles,” and the area boasts a thriving textile industry. During the harvest-symbolizing Qixi, the city holds a four-day “Textile Gratitude Festival,” attracting about 1.3 million visitors each year, culminating in a splendid finale on the last Sunday of July.