Tanabata is a traditional Japanese seasonal festival celebrated every year on July 7.
The festival is based on a romantic legend about two stars, Orihime and Hikoboshi, who are separated by the Milky Way and allowed to meet only once a year.
Long ago, Orihime, the daughter of a heavenly god, was a hardworking woman known for her excellent weaving skills.
The god introduced her to Hikoboshi, a hardworking cowherd, and the two eventually married.
However, they became so happy together that they neglected their work.
As punishment, the god separated them to opposite sides of the Milky Way.
But after seeing how heartbroken they were, he allowed them to reunite once a year — on the night of July 7.
This became the origin of the Tanabata story.
In the night sky, Orihime is often associated with the star Vega in the Lyra constellation, while Hikoboshi is associated with Altair in the Aquila constellation.
During Tanabata, people write wishes on colorful strips of paper called tanzaku and hang them on bamboo branches.
Bamboo has long been considered a strong and sacred plant in Japan, believed to ward off evil spirits and carry wishes up to the heavens.
Near 茶寮一松Charyo Ichimatsu, where 和茶子-wasako- holds tea ceremony experiences, the Shitamachi Tanabata Festival takes place each year from July 3 to July 7 along Kappabashi Hondori Street.
“Shitamachi Tanabata Festival” is a lively local festival held along the approximately 1.2-kilometer-long Kappabashi Hondori shopping street, stretching from the Asakusa area toward Ueno.
During the festival, visitors can enjoy:
- Beautiful Tanabata decorations
- Local street vendors and shops
- Traditional music and dance performances
- Seasonal festival foods and entertainment
The colorful decorations and festive atmosphere create a wonderful opportunity to experience a traditional Japanese summer celebration.
In the world of tea ceremony, Tanabata is also considered an important seasonal occasion.
Tea rooms often incorporate seasonal decorations and themes inspired by the festival, allowing guests to experience the atmosphere and stories of Tanabata through tea.
At Wasako, guests can enjoy beautiful matcha and seasonal Japanese sweets inside a peaceful traditional tea room.
Spending quiet time in a tea room while feeling the atmosphere of the season may be one of the uniquely beautiful experiences of Japanese culture.
If you visit the Shitamachi Tanabata Festival in Asakusa, we warmly invite you to stop by Wasako as well and enjoy a relaxing tea ceremony experience during your summer journey in Japan.
「七夕（たなばた）」とは、毎年7月7日に行われる、日本の伝統的な年中行事です。
織姫（おりひめ）と彦星（ひこぼし）という、天の川を隔てた二人が、年に一度だけ会えるという伝説に由来しています。
昔々、天の神様の娘である織姫は、機織り（はたおり）がとても上手な働き者でした。
神様は、同じく真面目に働く牛飼いの彦星を紹介し、二人は結婚します。
しかし、仲が良すぎて仕事をしなくなってしまったため、神様は二人を天の川の両岸に引き離しました。
けれど悲しむ二人を見て、
「一年に一度、7月7日の夜だけ会うことを許す」
と言ったのが、七夕伝説の始まりです。
夜空の星でいうと、織姫 → こと座の「ベガ」、彦星 → わし座の「アルタイル」
ではないかと言われています。
七夕では、笹の葉に「短冊（たんざく）」と呼ばれる色紙を飾り、願い事を書きます。
笹は生命力が強く、邪気を払う植物と考えられていたため、願いを天へ届ける意味も込められています。
茶寮一松CharyoIchimastuの近くにあるかっぱ橋本通りでは７月３日から７月7日にかけて「下町七夕まつり」というイベントが開催されます。
「下町七夕まつり」とは浅草六区の西から道具街を横切り、上野にかけて1.2キロメートル続く「かっぱ橋本通り」にて毎年催されるおまつりです。七夕飾り、地元商店の出店、そして音楽や踊りなどの様々な企画が催されます。
茶道の世界でも、七夕は大切な季節行事のひとつ。
その時期ならではの季節感や物語を、お茶を通して楽しみます。
和茶子-wasako-の茶室でも素敵な抹茶や和菓子が堪能できます。
静かな茶室で季節を感じながら過ごす時間は、日本文化ならではの豊かなひとときかもしれません。
「下町七夕まつり」の寄り道がてらぜひ和茶子-wasako-にもお越しください。
Would you like to experience a tea ceremony in Tokyo? Do you like matcha? Wasako is the perfect place for you.
東京で茶道体験・抹茶といえば和茶子-wasako-の茶室