14 Must-Visit Japanese Festivals in America 2020

by Will Heath | Updated Feb, 2020 | TRAVEL

© Christopher Lance / Creative Commons, Nisei Week

Japanese culture is one of the most celebrated and well-known across the world. People from almost every nation enjoy aspects of Japan, whether it be the food, the theater, the fashion, the literature, anime, film… I could go on. Japan itself celebrates its own culture almost constantly with festivals (matsuri) dedicated to various traditions and seasons.

While it is wonderful to attend a matsuri in Japan, if you live in North America a lot of these festivals and celebrations of Japanese culture come to you! Here are some of the most exciting and enthralling Japanese festivals in the US in 2020.

February 2020

Arizona Matsuri, Phoenix

The Arizona Matsuri takes place at the Steele Indian School Park in central Phoenix on February 22-23, and its 2020 theme is Samurai. If you have any interest in the history, culture, fashion, and traditions of the legendary Japanese warriors, this is a festival you’re going to want to attend. The festival stages performances including martial arts and taiko drumming, while also offering traditional street foods from a wide selection of vendors. You can find out more at azmatsuri.org.

March 2020

Kanpai Chicago Japanese Matsuri, Chicago

One of the most popular parts of modern Japanese cuisine is the nation’s alcohol! From traditional sake to modern Japanese beers and whiskeys, alcohol is certainly celebrated in Japan. The Kanpai Chicago Japanese Matsuri on March 14 is a one-day event where visitors can sample and enjoy an enormous range of Japanese drinks of every kind, brewed all over the country. You can purchase tickets through eventbrite.

Sakura Matsuri, Washington, D.C.

The Sakura Matsuri in Washington DC is the largest festival of Japanese culture in the entire United States, and it comes around every year during cherry blossom season. In April, Washington, D.C. turns pink, and the Sakura Matsuri takes full advantage of this to put on a massive show. From March 20 to April 4, 2020, you’ll be able to take part in a wealth of interactive arts and culture events where you can learn some basics of Japanese language, traditional painting, the art of the tea ceremony, and more. There’s also the Ginza Marketplace which specialises in selling hand-crafted traditional goods from Ginza. To learn more, visit sakuramatsuri.org.

April 2020

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, San Francisco

This cherry blossom festival in San Francisco takes place over two weekends in April (11-12 & 18-19), at the height of cherry blossom season, with a grand parade scheduled for the final day of the festival (April 19th). The arts and culture events which you can attend and learn from at this festival are hugely varied. From bonsai to doll-making; from tea ceremonies to origami and sword making, there is a wealth of historic arts and culture to be enjoyed at this festival. Learn more at sfcherryblossom.org.

Cherry Blossom and Japanese Culture Festival, Seattle

The Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Culture Festival, April 24-26, is a free event that’s open to the public, celebrating both Japanese and Japanese-American culture. The original aim of this festival was to strengthen cultural bonds between Japan and the United States, and it is timed with the blossoming of the sakura in Seattle, Washington. The festival celebrates Japanese fashion, art, and music, with performances of taiko drumming and martial arts. The fact that this festival is free means anyone in Seattle who is interested can happily attend and explore the festival to their heart’s content. You can learn more by visiting cherryblossomfest.org.

May 2020

Japan Festival, Houston

Running at the same time as the Sakura Matsuri in Washington (April 14-15, 2018) is the Japan Festival Houston. Set to align with the same spring time party season in Japan, this event is all about building a connection between the US and Japan. There are workshops, performances, food (of course), and more business focused exhibitors like the JET Alumni Association who can help you with the logistics of a life in Japan. If you’re in the area during mid-April this is one event you can't miss. Check out houstonjapanfest.org for all the details.

Japan Day, NYC

Japan Day occurs on May 12th in New York City’s Central Park. While there are live on-stage performances of Japanese pop, dance, taiko drumming, and more, one of the most unique aspects of Japan Day is its mini-marathon, known as Japan Run, which takes place on a track around Central Park and out into the streets of Manhattan for four miles. Japan Day also showcases an artist competition where competitors can enter a painting that follows the themes of Japan and New York to produce an original painting that fuses the cultures of Japan and the US together. The winners over the years have produced some stunning and innovative works, and 2020 will prove no different. To learn more, visit japandaynyc.org.

June 2020

Japan Fest, Chicago

In previous years, Chicago’s Japan Festival has featured live performances from a range of different arts and disciplines across Japanese culture, from taiko drumming to archery, a kendo dojo, and even cosplay. In 2020 the festival will take place on June 14th and will likely feature many of the same activities and performances, as well as some exciting special guests. Find out more at japanfest-chicago.org.

Cherry Blossom Festival, Denver

With free admission, this sakura festival in Denver, Colorado is taking place in the fittingly named Sakura Square on the last weekend of June (27-28). Here, you’ll find a huge marketplace with arts, crafts, and other wares being sold, as well as a wide selection of Japanese foods and drinks, including street foods and sake. There are also live performances that range from taiko drumming to martial arts and folk dancing. Visit cherryblossomdenver.org for more info.

July 2020

Seattle Bon Odori, Seattle

Obon is a festival that evolved over time out of a Buddhist custom to honour one’s ancestors. Today, the Obon festival also features the bon odori (bon dance), which is a kind of folk dance that welcomes the spirits of the dead. In Seattle, there is an annual bon odori which takes place each year, and the event from July 18-19 2020 will be the 88th. This particular bon odori goes far beyond a dance, however, and also incorporates plentiful Japanese food and drinks, as well as live entertainment and games to play. It takes place at the Seattle Buddhist Church and you can find out more at japanese-city.com.

August 2020

Nisei Week, Los Angeles

While a lot of the Japanese festivals found around the US last one to two days, or sometimes two separate weekends, Nisei Week in Los Angeles lasts a whole eight days and covers an enormous and breathtaking amount of sports, arts, music, and community events. Grown out of the world-famous Little Tokyo community in LA, Nisei Week is now an enormous celebration of Japanese culture. There is also a competition for the crown of the Nisei Queen, which the winner holds for a year and provides her with the chance to travel to sister cities and spread awareness of Nisei Week and the culture that forged it. This year’s events will take place from August 15-23. Learn more at niseiweek.org.

September 2020

Japanese Festival, St Louis

This warm and welcoming Japanese festival takes place after Labor Day Weekend in the Missouri Botanical Gardens, September 5-7. Each day of the festival offers something unique to experience, including taiko drumming bon odori, and even a candlelit walk through the botanical gardens. The garden setting really adds some originality to the atmosphere of the Japanese festival. Find out more about it at missouribotanicalgarden.org. You can also learn more about Japanese Gardens in America here.

Aki Matsuri, Albuquerque

Closely inspired by Japan’s own autumn festival, Albuquerque’s Aki Matsuri features musical performances that are on the more traditional side, incorporating Japanese folk instruments and folk dance performances. On the more modern side, you’ll also find people out cosplaying at this festival, and even a car show. For more info, visit nmjacl.org.

December 2020

Oshogatsu, Los Angeles

Oshogatsu is the Japanese new year celebration, and LA offers its own oshogatsu on the first day of every year (which means this festival will actually take place on January 1st 2021, and will be the 23rd annual oshogatsu in LA). Each year, festivities include taiko drumming, folk music and dance, martial arts performances, calligraphy, and even mochi pounding. It is a true celebration of Japanese traditional festivities and is a great way to reign in the new year in LA. You can learn more at japanese-city.com.

Do you know of any events or festivals that should be included? Let us know in the comments below!