Tanabata Star Festival at Kongoji

The Tanabata Star Festival at Kongoji commemorates the annual meeting of the celestial lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi. Located near Odawara in Kanagawa Prefecture, this historic Zen temple hosts a festive display of about 60 bamboo trees that decorate the main street leading to the temple grounds. The event provides a traditional atmosphere for locals and visitors to celebrate one of Japan's most beloved summer traditions.

Participants can participate in the custom of writing wishes on "Tanzaku" paper strips, which are then hung on bamboo branches. At Kongoji, the color of the strip corresponds to the nature of the wish: white for life goals, red for relationships, purple for academic pursuits, green for love, and yellow for career success. During the afternoon, visitors can also view the temple's dry stone garden, while a photo booth is available for couples near the main hall.

As evening approaches, the bamboo decorations are lit up, creating a scenic night view between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM. During these hours, a food truck is stationed at the end of the street to provide refreshments. The temple is easily accessible via a 10-15 minute walk from Daiyuzan or Fujifilm Mae stations on the Daiyuzan line, and the organizers suggest using public transport due to limited parking availability.