40,000 shimmering "Blue Tears of the Sea" form the "Tanabata Blue Tears" phenomenon—4 must-see Tanabata events in Japan

▲ Osaka’s limited-time "Blue Tears" are created using tens of thousands of LED flow lights. (Photo provided by GM)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Tanabata in Japan is celebrated annually on July 7th, when starry rivers descend upon the earth, creating breathtaking celestial streams at major tourist spots for visitors to enjoy up close. Here are 4 unmissable Tanabata celestial river attractions. If you're in Japan now, consider adding a nighttime outing to your itinerary for a romantic Tanabata night.

▲ The first floor of the Tokyo Tower Main Deck has been transformed into a 360-degree celestial river this year. (Photo from the Tokyo Tower official website)

1. Tokyo – Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower traditionally holds a celestial river event every summer. This year, the first floor of the Main Deck is adorned with aqua-blue LED lights under the theme "A Summer Night Sky Where the Galaxy Flows." For the first time, the entire observation deck is surrounded by lights 360 degrees, showcasing a magnificent galaxy scene. Reflected through the large glass windows, it weaves together a dazzling landscape.

▲ The stairs leading up to the Main Deck are also decorated with romantic LED lights. (Photo from the Tokyo Tower official website)

Additionally, the 600-step staircase connecting the Main Deck and the first floor is decorated with blue LED lights during the event period, allowing visitors to ascend the observation deck step by step among the stars, walking into the celestial river. This romantic spectacle runs from now until August 31st, with lighting from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM.

2. Kyoto

[Kyoto Tanabata 2016 Schedule Announced!]

This year, the event will feature a Milky Way corridor along the Mikaku-dori to Ichijo-bashi area, as well as light-themed yuzen dyeing and Tanabata decorations for visitors to take photos. There will also be live performances and hands-on experiences of Nishijin-ori and Kyoto yuzen. The Kamogawa venue will include wind chime lights and a lantern-lit stroll path between Bishamon-do-dori and Mikaku-dori, along with Kamogawa Noryo (summer evening events)—all unmissable activities. pic.twitter.com/5bxDQU25yc

— Kyoto Tanabata Executive Committee Office (@kyonotanabata) April 29, 2016

The ancient capital of Kyoto will also create a celestial river on Earth this summer. The "Kyoto Tanabata" series of events this year, themed around prayers and wishes, will take place from August 6th to 12th, with main venues at the Horikawa and Kamogawa areas.

The Horikawa venue will set up an entire Milky Way corridor and light-themed yuzen dyeing and Tanabata decorations around the Mikaku-dori to Ichijo-bashi area, where visitors can take photos. There will also be live demonstrations and hands-on experiences of Nishijin-ori and Kyoto yuzen. The Kamogawa venue will feature a stroll path with wind chime lights, bamboo, and lanterns between Bishamon-do-dori and Mikaku-dori, along with Kamogawa Noryo events—both are must-see attractions.

▲ Osaka’s limited-time "Heisei Osaka Celestial River Legend" is created using tens of thousands of LED flow lights. (Photo from the Celestial River Project fan page)

3. Osaka – Heisei Osaka Celestial River Legend
Osaka’s most romantic annual event, the "Heisei Osaka Celestial River Legend," will also take place on the evening of July 7th this year at 7:07 PM. Approximately 40,000 "Wishing Stars" glowing in aqua-blue will be released into the water, drifting from Tenma Bridge to Kitahama. These starry orbs, carrying countless wishes, will present a magical flowing celestial river spectacle.

To personally release a Wishing Star into the water and make a wish, visitors can purchase one in advance or on the day from the organizers. There will also be special booklets to write wishes in, which can be placed at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine or Ikukunitama Shrine after the event.

4. Fukuoka – Fukuoka Tower


From now until July 7th, Fukuoka Tower will use its entire exterior wall to display a 150-meter-long galaxy, wrapping around the tower as if stretching from the ground to the sky. Starting at 8:00 PM on July 7th, a heart-shaped light show will be projected onto the exterior wall every hour, where angels will descend from the night sky and shoot hearts with bows and arrows—creating an unmissable enchanting scene for Tanabata night.

Additionally, Fukuoka Tower has created a wishing space inside its 123-meter observation deck, where visitors can freely write their wishes on paper slips, hang them up, and after the Tanabata event, these wish notes will be sent to the Dazaifu Taisya Shrine, famous for matchmaking.