Tanabata to Kyoto 七夕
With love in the heavens
Lovebirds from all over the world gather to Kyoto to embrace each other under pastel cherry trees or flaming maples. But those who are lucky enough to be there during Tanabata, "the feast of the stars", can also celebrate the most heavenly of love stories.
According to legend, Orihime, daughter of the universe god "Tentei", spent her days weaving fabulous clothes on the banks of the amanogawa, literally "the river of the sky", the Milky Way. Her father admired the unparalleled beauty of her creations, but the young girl despaired that she would never be able to find love. Tentei then introduced him to Hikoboshi ("the male star"), who lived on the opposite bank of the Milky Way. From their first meeting, the two young people fell head over heels in love. Orihime gave up his work and Hikoboshi let his flock roam the skies. Furious, the god of the universe separated them by forbidding them to cross the Milky Way to reunite. But moved by the tears of his daughter, he allowed the two lovers to meet once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month.
The Kyotoites celebrate their reunion around August 7, according to the lunar calendar. They write their wishes, often in the form of poems, on small pieces of paper, the tanzaku, which they then hang on bamboo trees. The festivities take place along the Horikawa and Kamogawa rivers.
Note: The festival takes place during the shooting star period. Head to the rsustic district of Arashiyama. West of Kyoto and at the foot of the mountains, the night sky is crystal clear, far from urban light pollution. Its famous wooden bridge, the Togetsukyo (literally the bridge that crosses the moon) offers you the most poetic observatory there is.
Address, timetable & access
Address
Timetable
JR Sanin line, exit at Arashiyama station.
