Tanabata in Yukata, Travel to Myoko by Train! 'Arai Tanabata Festival 2026' to be held on July 4th with Free Train Rides for Elementary Students in Collaboration with Echigo Tokimeki Railway

Revitalizing a summer tradition for the Arai Station area.

The Arai Station Festival Executive Committee and Echigo Tokimeki Railway Co., Ltd. will hold the '4th Arai Tanabata Festival' on Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 15:00 to 20:30 at the Arai Station Square (Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture).

This event was launched with the goal of invigorating the area around Arai Station, where store closures have been on the rise, and helping children grow more fond of their local community. This year, management has been passed on to the younger generation, and the event is being built through the unified efforts of local schools, companies, and facilities.

Highlight 1: Collaboration with Echigo Tokimeki Railway
On the day of the event, elementary school students and younger will ride the Tokimeki Railway for free, and a special Tanabata-themed train is scheduled to run. We recommend traveling by train.
〈Scheduled Times for Tanabata-themed Trains〉
Naoetsu 17:56 departure → Arai 18:22 arrival
Arai 19:45 departure → Naoetsu 20:12 arrival
*Times are subject to change. Please check the Echigo Tokimeki Railway website for the latest information.

Highlight 2: Walking through the town decorated for Tanabata in a Yukata
From around June 20th to July 12th, Sendai-style handmade Tanabata decorations will appear at Arai Station, the shopping street, and Machinaka+.
Attendees wearing yukata will receive special benefits!
Starting this year, a yukata rental and dressing service will be available (July 4, 15:00–19:45 / Machinaka+ 2F, advance reservation required via the website by June 28th).

Highlight 3: Content for both children and adults
- 10:00–15:00: Tanabata Workshops (Machinaka+)
- 15:00–17:00: Tokimeki Tanabata Festival/Machi-kon (Matchmaking event) (Machinaka+)
- 15:00–20:30: Beer garden, food stalls (20+ shops), children's carnival, jazz band, street performance, hopscotch arena, hula dancing, Bon dance, fire performance

Highlight 3: Experiential 'Machi-kon' for up to 50 people
In conjunction with the festival, an experiential matchmaking event, 'Tokimeki Tanabata Festival,' organized by e-lamp Inc., will be held on the same day. Join the large-scale matchmaking event and find new connections with the town's Tanabata decorations as the backdrop.

Event Overview
Event Name: 4th Arai Tanabata Festival
Date/Time: July 4, 2026 (Sat), 15:00–20:30
Venue: Arai Station Square (Myoko City, Niigata)
Admission: Free
Co-organizers: Arai Station Festival Executive Committee / Echigo Tokimeki Railway Co., Ltd.
Support: Myoko City, Arai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Myoko Tourism Management