Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival, originates from a traditional folklore story about two celestial lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, who are separated by the Milky Way and can only meet once a year. Many places across Japan host Tanabata festivals in celebration of this, and a popular one in Toyama Prefecture is the Toide Tanabata Festival.
The four-day event is set to include 1500 large and small Tanabata decorations – including an 18 meter tall jumbo Tanabata – which fill the town center to create a tanabata tunnel. After dark, lanterns illuminate the festival area, creating a magical atmosphere.
The festival has been running for almost 60 years now, and is often referred to as the best Tanabata event on the Sea of Japan side of the country, and Japan's most beautiful Tanabata festival.
