Printable Tanabata Lantern Craft for Japan’s Star Festival

June 12, 2026 June 12, 2026 by Ayelet Keshet in ,
Make a colorful Tanabata lantern with this printable paper craft for kids! Learn about Japan's Star Festival and create a hanging decoration inspired by the Tanabata celebration.

Today I want to celebrate summer and explore some of Japan’s beautiful culture. For that, we’re making a printable paper lantern craft inspired by the Japanese Star Festival, Tanabata!

This printable Tanabata craft is a colorful decoration that sways beautifully in the wind. It is inspired by one of Japan’s most popular summer events. I created a printable template with a cute design that you can print, cut, and assemble at home to make your own Tanabata lantern.

What Is Tanabata?

Tanabata is a Japanese festival celebrated each summer. It is known for its colorful decorations, wishes written on paper strips called tanzaku, and bamboo branches decorated with handmade ornaments.

If you’re looking for Japan craft ideas or a Japanese culture craft for kids, Tanabata is a wonderful place to start.

A Love Story in the Stars

Tanabata is based on the story of Orihime, a weaving princess, and Hikoboshi, a cowherd. They are represented by the stars Vega and Altair.

Orihime and Hikoboshi fell in love, but became so distracted that they neglected their work. As punishment, they were separated on opposite sides of the Milky Way and allowed to meet only once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month.

The cute couple appears on this printable lantern too!

Make a colorful Tanabata lantern with this printable paper craft for kids! Learn about Japan's Star Festival and create a hanging decoration inspired by the Tanabata celebration.

For couples in Japan, Tanabata is a romantic festival. For kids, it’s a colorful and happy event. For us, it’s a chance to make a Japan craft for kids and learn about Japanese culture together.

How to Make a Tanabata Lantern

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You will need*:

* Includes Amazon affiliate links

Steps:

1. Print the Tanabata Lantern Template and cut out the two parts of the paper lantern.

Printed Tanabata lantern template with both lantern pieces cut out and ready to assemble.

2. Cut out the windows of the lantern along the grey solid line.

Cutting out the lantern windows from the printable Tanabata craft template.

3. Glue (or tape) pieces of colorful cellophane behind the windows.

Gluing colorful cellophane behind the lantern windows to create a stained-glass effect.

4. Glue (or tape) pieces of parchment paper or baking paper behind the cellophane.

Adding parchment paper behind the cellophane to diffuse the light inside the paper lantern.

5. Fold the lantern parts along the dashed lines.

Folding the printable Tanabata lantern pieces along the dashed lines.

6. Spread glue on the glue tabs and stick both parts of the lantern together, as shown in the picture.

Gluing the lantern sections together to form the printable paper lantern craft.

7. Close the lantern by gluing the remaining tab to the other edge of the lantern.

Closing the paper lantern shape by attaching the final glue tab.

8. Cut strips of colorful crepe paper and glue them around the bottom of the lantern on the inner side. Make sure the ends of the crepe paper don’t cover the lantern windows.

Gluing colorful crepe paper streamers inside the bottom of the Tanabata lantern.

9. Cut a strip of colorful paper or cardstock and glue it to the top of the lantern as a hanger.

Attaching a paper handle to the top of the printable Tanabata lantern decoration.

And your handmade paper Tanabata lantern is ready!

Completed Tanabata lantern craft for kids inspired by Japan's colorful Star Festival.

I would love to hang my Tanabata lantern on a bamboo branch, but I don’t have one, so I’ll choose another spot with sun and summer breeze. I hope you’ll have fun making one too!

* All the free printables in my website are for personal, non-commercial use only. Kindly refrain from sending them directly to others. Instead, feel free to share the link to the relevant post. Thanks!