Celebrate Tanabata with a magical family afternoon at National Museum of Scotland.

Discover fascinating objects in our East Asia gallery and don't forget to make a wish and tie it to our bamboo tree. Activities feature Japanese music, storytelling, costume, performance and craft.

Music and Dance Performance
Traditional Japanese music and dance.
12:00, 14:00, 15:30 (15 mins)

Wish writing
12:00 - 16:00
Tie your wish to our bamboo trees.

Tanabata Storytelling
11:00 and 14:00 (15 mins)
Stories from Japan.

Kimono Corner
12:00 - 16:00
Try on traditional outfits and take a picture.

Flower Arranging (Ikebana)
12:00 - 16:00
Learn the art of flower arranging.

Introduction to Japanese writing
12:00 - 16:00
Learn a few of the basics of Japanese writing.

What is Tanabata?
Tanabata, or the Star Festival, involves a Japanese tradition in which people write their wishes on small, colourful strips of paper (tanzaku) and hang them on the branches of a small decorative bamboo tree. It’s widely celebrated all over Japan, typically on the seventh day of the seventh month (7 July). It is based on a story of star-crossed lovers and is among Japan’s most vibrant traditional festivals.