Tanabata: Celebrate the Japanese Star Festival at Kew Gardens

Japan Society, Kew Gardens, the Embassy of Japan and Japan House London welcome all visitors to celebrate Tanabata. Enjoy a range of workshops, activities, tours and performances marking this ancient summer event. 2 and 3 August.

Workshops, performances, trail and tour
Try your hand at Japanese calligraphy and write your wishes on colourful tanzaku (wish strips) during our all-day workshops. You can also learn how to make the best origami, follow the Tanabata Treasure Trail, discover the fascination of Tanabata story through kamishibai (Japanese storyboard theatre) performances by A Thousand Cranes theatre company, and tour Kew’s famous bamboo collection

New - Open Weave Tea Room
New for this year, we are delighted to present an installation of the Open Weave Tea Room by Japanese architect Shinichiro Hashiguchi as part of the Tanabata event. Fine twisted strings used in making fusuma (sliding doors) create an enchanting space which demonstrates the delicate craft of the loom, refined and perfected over the years.

Visitors will also be able to observe a tea ceremony, performed by Akemi Kamimura of Waso Japan, and learn more about the project from Shinichiro Hashiguchi. We are grateful to Canton Tea Co., who have kindly supplied tea for tastings to accompany the tea ceremony.

Standard Kew admission fee

No booking required – just turn up on the day!