Japan-Related Celebrations in the United States
Enjoy Japanese Culture in the United States
The strong and lasting friendship between the United States and Japan is bolstered not only by strategic military considerations and historical connections, but also community ties. Communities throughout the United States hold Japan-related celebrations inspired by traditional festivals (matsuri), in efforts to strengthen bonds between both nations. These celebrations also serve as learning opportunities for individuals curious about or interested in Japan and Japanese culture, as they often offer activities, performances, demonstrations, and delicious food.
Springtime celebrations of Japanese cherry blossom (sakura) trees have experienced tremendous popularity in the United States. Crowds flock across the country to witness the beauty of the blooming sakura, a symbol now synonymous with the arrival of spring. The most historic of these celebrations is the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., a festival that traces its roots back to 1927 as a commemoration of the gift of more than 3,000 cherry blossom trees sent from Japan in 1912. Ever since, cherry blossom celebrations have grown larger in scale and number throughout the nation. Macon, Georgia, known as the “Cherry Blossom Capital of the World,” holds the International Cherry Blossom Festival every March, when the city’s 300,000+ cherry blossom trees bloom. Cherry blossom festivals also take place in Seattle, Nashville, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and more.
Other festivals take inspiration from Japanese cultural traditions, like lantern festivals, traditional New Year’s celebrations, or the Buddhist summer Bon Festival. With the explosion in popularity of Japanese pop culture, conventions have also gained prominence in recent years, attracting fans of anime, manga, J-pop, and more. Some cities also commemorate their relationship with their Japanese sister cities through special celebrations. For example, Newport, Rhode Island and its sister city Shimoda, Japan, both celebrate an annual Black Ships Festival, while Cupertino, California, celebrates and promotes its sister city relationship with Toyokawa, Japan, through an annual cherry blossom festival.
Below, you can find a list of annual Japan-related festivals and celebrations throughout the United States. The list is not comprehensive, so be sure to stay on the lookout for other possible events in your area.
Know of an event we missed? Send us the details: JUMProgram@spfusa.org.
(Washington D.C. photo by Joy Champaloux.)
Japan-Related Festivals in the United States
Northeast
- April 28-29, 2018: Brooklyn Botanic Garden Sakura Matsuri [New York City, NY]
- April 28-29, 2018: Japan Festival Boston [Boston, MA]
- May 2-6, 2018: Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival [Buffalo, NY]
- May 6, 2018: Cherry Blossom Friendship Festival [Fairhaven, MA]
- May 13, 2018: Japan Day [New York City, NY]
- July 2018: Black Ships Festival [Newport, RI]
- March 2019: Japan Week [New York City, NY]
- April 2019: Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival [Philadelphia, PA]
Southeast
- April 21-22, 2018: Hatsume Fair [Delray Beach, FL]
- May 25, 2018: Daikin Festival [Decatur, AL]
- June 23, 2018: Tampa Natsumatsuri [Tampa, FL]
- July 28, 2018: NC Japan Summer Festival [Raleigh, NC]
- August 25, 2018: Greenville Bon Dance Festival [Greenville, SC]
- August 2018: Charlotte Bon Odori [Charlotte, NC]
- September 15-16, 2018: JapanFest [Atlanta, GA]
- September 30, 2018: Memphis Japanese Festival [Memphis, TN]
- October 2018: New Orleans Museum of Art Japan Fest [New Orleans, LA]
- October 2018: Lantern Festival [Delray Beach, FL]
- January 2019: Japanese New Year’s Festival [Washington, DC]
- January 2019: New Year’s Festival [Delray Beach, FL]
- March 22-31, 2019: International Cherry Blossom Festival [Macon, GA]
- March 2019: Birmingham Cherry Blossom Festival [Birmingham, AL]
- March 20 – April 14, 2019: National Cherry Blossom Festival [Washington, DC]
- April 2019: Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival [Washington, DC]
- April 2019: Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival [Nashville, TN]
Midwest
- May 20, 2018: Fort Wayne Cherry Blossom Festival [Fort Wayne, IN]
- June 2-3, 2018: Japan Festival Chicago [Chicago, IL]
- August 10-12, 2018: Ginza Holiday Festival [Chicago, IL]
- August 2018: Lantern Lighting Festival [Minneapolis, MN]
- September 1-3, 2018: Missouri Botanical Garden Japanese Festival [St. Louis, MO]
- October 6, 2018: Kansas City Japan Festival [Kansas City, MO]
- March 2019: Dublin Japanese Festival [Dublin, OH]
Southwest
West
- April 14-15 & 21-22, 2018: Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival [San Francisco, CA]
- April 20-22, 2018: Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival [Seattle, WA]
- April 21-22, 2018: Monterey Park Cherry Blossom Festival [Monterey Park, CA]
- April 28, 2018: Nihon Matsuri [Salt Lake City, UT]
- April 28-29, 2018: Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival [Cupertino, CA]
- April 29, 2018: Nikkei Matsuri [San Jose, CA]
- May 6, 2018: Sonoma County Matsuri Festival [Santa Rosa, CA]
- May 6, 2018: Children’s Day [Portland, OR]
- June 8-10, 2018: Pan-Pacific Festival [Honolulu, HI]
- June 23-24, 2018: Cherry Blossom Festival [Denver, CO]
- July 7, 2018: Tanabata Star Festival [Portland, OR]
- July 7-8, 2018: Japan Fair [Bellevue, WA]
- August 2018: ObonFest [Portland, OR]
- August 11-19, 2018: Nisei Week [Los Angeles, CA]
- September 22, 2018: Matsuri Kauai [Honolulu, HI]
- September 23-25, 2018: O-Tsukimi Moonviewing Festival [Portland, OR]
- October 20, 2018: Akimatsuri [Las Vegas, NV]
- January 2019: New Year’s ‘Ohana Festival [Honolulu, HI]
- January 2019: Portland Mochitsuki [Portland, OR]