From July 1 to 7, Odakyu Department Store, Shinjuku will be holding a fair to celebrate the Star Festival in Japan. The Star Festival, known in Japan as "Tanabata", originates from a Chinese legend of two deities who were in love called Orihime and Hikoboshi and could only meet once every year. Their meeting is represented by the stars Vega and Altair. Every year, Japan celebrates their meeting around the months of June and July with the Star Festival. The fair at Odakyu Department Store will be called Odakyu no Tanabata.   Head to basement floor 2 of the department store's main building where the traditional Japanese wagashi sweets are usually sold to discover the Tanabata desserts that are a popular craze year after year when the festival is held. These desserts are so beautiful that you will not want to eat them. 

Patisserie Mon Cher, Summer Friendly: ￥1,404／18cm  c'76,'19 SANRIO APPR.NO.S600927

This popular Dojima Roll Cake is decorated with Hello Kitty and My Melody mousse. You just have to try these cute cakes.  

GRAMERCY NEWYORK, TANABATA　 ￥1,944／12cm diameter

This dessert consists of peach Bavarian cream which is decorated with a rainbow of colourful fruits, sparkly jelly and a Milky Way motif.

Tsuruya Yoshinobu Co.,Ltd., Tanabata:　￥1,296／1 block

This is a yokan dessert; a thick jelly made from red bean paste, agar, and sugar​. As the reunion of the two deities Orihime and Hikoboshi is the main theme of the fair, this sweet is decorated to represent the milky way.   Come join in the Tanabata celebration and send your tastebuds on an adventure out of this world!

Last year, Starry Night Company (SNC) brought the Tanabata Sky Lantern Festival to Osaka. This year, they are set to host it in Tokyo and Osaka simultaneously on July 6 and 7. A total of 20,000 individual lanterns will be released over the two-day period in an even bigger and better festival than before.   Most lantern events held around the world use lanterns lit with fire, but for this event LED sky lanterns will be used to ensure safety. All lanterns are also fitted with a cord. One of Japan's major lantern festivals, the event is made possible by SNC who developed the world's first LED sky lantern. Japanese actors Sho Aoyagi and Tsubasa Sakiyama will feature as guest speakers at the events.   Sky lanterns offer an entirely different kind of experience from other Japanese cultural traditions, such as summer fireworks. Those in Japan this summer won't regret taking their special someone to this sky lantern festival.

Hi everyone, this is Midori from MMN's Editorial Department. Are you familiar with Japan's Star Festival called Tanabata? According to a legend that originated in China, two deities that were in love called Orihime and Hikoboshi could only meet once every year. Their meeting is represented by the stars Vega and Altair.  To celebrate the Star Festival, Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea are holding a special event to celebrate called Tanabata Days . This event will run from June 6 to July 7, 2019. There will be so much going on, but one thing I'm super excited about is the Tanabata Greeting Parade!   From Mickey and Minnie who will make an entrance by rickshaw, there are so many characters you just have to see. Mickey and Minnie will be dressed as the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi. Mickey and Minnie are always riding the giant floats at parades. As the rickshaw is so small in comparison to the floats, this is an opportunity to feel closer to them both.Mickey and Minnie's friends will be joining in the celebration in a completely brand new way. They will be dressed in Japanese-style clothes holding bamboo leaves. Donald and Daisy will be on the floats, but all the others will be taking part in the parade on foot! This is a fantastic way to get up close to your favourite characters. Disney Princes and Princesses will also be making an appearance at the Tanabata Greeting Parade. On a normal day, you can sometimes see the princes and princesses around the park greeting the guests, however seeing a princess walking romantically with her prince is a completely rare and precious sight! The princesses will also not be riding on the floats so you can feel close to them. Happily Ever After ♡   The music includes Disney arrangements of children's Star Festival songs such as Bamboo Leaves are Rustling (Sasanoha Sarasara) and the nostalgic Tanabata Sama. These are songs that Japanese people grew up with and have heard many times. The park will definately deliver a very special arrangment of these songs!   Come enjoy the fun of the star festival this year with your favourite Disney characters!© Disney

Higashi-Izu Machi Kanko Kyokai tourism association is holding their 17th evening firefly-watching event to be held in a local hot spring village of Higashi-Izu. The Higashi-Izu Machi Onsenkyo Hotaru Kansho no Sakuya” will be held from Sunday 2nd to Tuesday 11th June. Free yourself from everyday life and watch the night light up as a mystical scenery filled with fireflies descends upon you. This experience will take your body and mind to a whole new world!   The event will be held at the natural Okawa Takegasa Koen; a park which is listed to have one of Shizuoka’s 100 top waterfronts. You can feel the seasons changing here, and during June, you can see a clear stream of fireflies dancing. The warm colours of their glow will put you at ease for hours.  Numerous other events will take place alongside the firefly-watching event, such as the “Chochin walk” where you can enjoy a peaceful stroll at night with a warmly lit paper lantern. You can also stop by the “firefly town” (Hotaru-shi) where you can browse lots of local goods during the night market, or take part in the “otanoshimi chusen kai” lucky lottery where many prizes can be won. Shizuoka DC has also planned a special prize-giving program, where visitors who arrive at the park in a Yutaka (summer kimono) on a weekday of the event will be given a small gift!Enjoy a mystical and extraordinary night of nature at Higashi-Izu. This is your chance to relax under the light of fireflies and explore the numerous shops at the firefly town!

When May rolls around in Japan, ticket sales open for the country's many firework festivals. It is the season when Japanese people start checking their calendars so they don't miss out on the summer fireworks and being drawing up any travel plans if they are attending a faraway festival.   Today we will take a look at the Top 10 firework events to attend in Japan this summer as ranked by Hankyu Travel International from the number of attendees from last year's festivals.   1st Place: Omagari Fireworks Festival (Daisen, Akita Prefecture) Soaring in at No. 1 is the Omagari Fireworks Festival. Boasting a bright history of over 100 years, this famous festival enjoys an attendance rate exceeding 700,000 every single year. As well as the general display, the event also holds a firework competition which sees firework masters from all across Japan come together in a battle to put on the best light show. Some of these experts have received various awards such as the Prime Minister Award and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Award. Omagari is also the only place in Japan to hold a firework competition in the late afternoon. The theme for 2019 is Heizei Rinrin ("the awe-inspiring ordinary"). In the latter half of of the program, a display will be held called "Firework Musical Reiwa Festival" where over 2,000 fireworks will be launched. It will commemorate the new Reiwa era of Japan with hit songs from the Heisei period and more.   Date: August 31, 2019Time: Afternoon Fireworks - From 17:15 / Evening Fireworks - From 18:50Location: Omagari, Daisen, Akita Prefecture (大仙市大曲 雄物川河畔)Access: 30-minutes on foot from JR Omagari Station   ▼Omagari Fireworks Festival Details & Tour (Japanese)https://www.hankyu-travel.com/kokunai/event/oomagari/?p_baitai=9599   2nd Place: Nagaoka Fireworks Festival (Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture) On August 1, 1945, the lives of 1,488 locals were taken during the Bombing of Nagaoka. The following year, a festival was held in an effort to aid in restoring the destroyed town. This is the precedent to the annual Nagaoka Festival which includes a firework display. It has been held every year for over 70 years with people from all over the country travelling to attend it. It is considered one of the main three firework festivals of Japan.   2019's program has several famous fireworks lined up for the display as well as the Phoenix, a firework to commemorate the restoration of the Chuetsu area of Niigata Prefecture from the earthquake back in 2004.   Date: August 2, 2019 - August 3, 2019 (*Nagaoka Festival will take place on August 1)Time: 19:20-21:15Location: Riverside of Shinano River under the Chosei Bridge in Nagaoka, Niigata PrefectureAccess: 30-minutes on foot from JR Nagaoka Station   ▼Nagaoka Fireworks Festival Details & Tour (Japanese)https://www.hankyu-travel.com/kokunai/event/nagaoka-hanabi/?p_baitai=9599   3rd Place: Huis Ten Bosch Fireworks Festival (Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture) The Huis Ten Bosch Fireworks Festival is the biggest in all of Kyushu. Fireworks can be enjoyed at Huis Ten Bosch all throughout the year, but what's special about this year's festival are two particular displays: one which will be combined with music from Studio Ghibli films and another being a competition between firework experts from all around the world. The estimated number of fireworks to be launched is around 22,000. Don't miss out!   DatesGhibli Music Fireworks: July 13, 2019Summer Special Fireworks: August 10, 2019Kyushu Fireworks Competition: September 21, 2019   Location: Huis Ten BoschAccess: 5-minutes on foot from JR Huis Ten Bosch Station   ▼Huis Ten Bosch Hotel Tour & Information (Japanese)https://www.hankyu-travel.com/kyushu/nagasaki/huistenbosch/?p_baitai=9599   4th Place: Ashikaga Fireworks Festival (Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture) This year will mark the 105th run of the Ashikagawa Fireworks Festival which takes place beside the Watarase River. Last Year, Hankyu Travel International offered a tour plan consisting of both the Ashikagawa Fireworks Festival and the Kiryuyagibushi Festival. The latter gained popularity for its program which included a Blue Impulse performance, an aerobatic demonstration from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The finale of this year's Ashikagawa festival will feature an 800 meter firework display.   Date: August 3, 2019Time: 19:00-20:45Location: Under Tanaka Bridge near Fujioka Watarase Sports Park and the riversideAccess: 5-minutes on foot from Ashikaga Station via the JR Ryomo Line   5th Place: Kachimai Fireworks Festival (Obihiro, Hokkaido) The Kachimai Fireworks Festival is organised by Tokachi Mainichi News which celebrates 100 years since launching this year. The first run of this festival dates back to 1929 when it was the first ever fireworks festival to be held in Hokkaido. In recent years, the company have set up a live VR stream which offers a a 360° view of the fireworks and festival. This year, to celebrate Tokachi Mainichi's 100th anniversary, they will also hold a demonstration on how fireworks are launched for the first time. The finale will be the Nishikikamuro, a special firework launch synonymous with the festival, which will light up the night sky with a spectacular display.   Date: August 13, 2019Time: 19:30-21:00Location: 400 meters along the Tokachi Ohashi Bridge in Obihiro, HokkaidoAccess: 30-minutes on foot from JR Obihiro Station   ▼Kamachi Fireworks Festival Tour (Japanese)https://www.hankyu-travel.com/kokunai/keyword/%E5%8B%9D%E6%AF%8E%E8%8A%B1%E7%81%AB%E5%A4%A7%E4%BC%9A/?p_baitai=9599   For numbers 6-10 on the list check out Hankyu Travel International's website below.

The scorching sun is already shining on Sanrio Puroland as it announces its special summer event Puro Summer Festival 2019 which will take place from July 12 to September 1.   The festival will centre around three elements: music, food and beach. Guests can look forward to enjoying the park's first ever festival-themed live show as well as an exciting beach event which will see the appearance of the indoor "Puro Island," tasty food from meat to desserts, and lots more. For the live show, costumed characters will take to the stage to perform a mix of rock, hip-hop, techno, disco and soul music while beckoning the crowd in fun call-and-response segments. The beach will be brought to those who head into the entertainment hall where cute and colourful sea-themed decorations and motifs will be scattered around. Look out for the mascot characters wearing their summer costumes including a tanned Hello Kitty. Guests who pay a fee can also participate in a summertime-only "greeting" where they can meet the characters. Peckish guests are invited to the Puro Meat & Dessert Festival where they can try wolfing down a "mega" portion of the Gudetama Roast Beef Don which has 1.8x more meat than the regular size, or they can cool themselves down with special ice candy made in collaboration with Cold Stone Creamery.   Sanrio fans can get their hands on exclusive summer themed merchandise too from toys to folders and more. And if you dress for the occasion you'll even get a discount on entrance passports (the name for tickets at the park). Details below.   ©1976,2009 SANRIO CO., LTD.　 ©1976,1988,1990,1996,1999,2001,2013,2019 SANRIO CO., LTD.