Celebrating Spring!
The Grand Parade on April 21, featuring taiko drummers, dancers, and decorative floats. The parade will begin at Civic Center Plaza at 1 p.m. and proceed north on Polk Street before turning west onto Post Street and finishing in Japatown at Fillmore and Post.
The very first Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival took place in late March of 1968 right after the opening of the Japan Trade Center (now Japan Center Malls), and we are grateful for the many local community groups who came together in a spirit of unity to contribute their cultural crafts. Over five decades later, the Festival has grown to encompass the many facets of traditional and contemporary Japanese and Japanese American culture, and now takes place during the two middle weekends of April. Learn more about our cultural programs that take place over the course of the Festival’s two weekends, including:
Bonsai 盆栽 & Suiseki 水石 - Miniature Japanese trees
Chanoyu 茶の湯 - Way of Tea CHA-NO-YU (literally, hot water for tea)
Dance 踊り - Experience contemporary and traditional styles of odori (Japanese dance) on the Japantown Peace Plaza Stage…
Dogs 犬 - The Festival is honored to invite Akita and Shiba to participate in informational meet and greet booths and to stroll with their owners in the Grand Parade.
Doll Making 人形 - Washi Ningyo, Mataro Dolls Washi Ningyo 和紙人形 (3D Japanese Paper Dolls) F
Go 囲碁 - Go, also known as “Igo” in Japan, is a traditional board game with a rich history and cultural significance in Japan and around the world.
Hyakunin Isshu 百人一首 - Karuta (Japanese poetry card game)
Ikebana 生花 - Flower Arrangement
Japanese Pop Culture ジェイポップ - Cultural highlights include Japanese cinema icons like Godzilla and Pikachu, Sailor Moon, J-Pop music, more…
Kendama けん玉 - Kendama is a traditional Japanese toy, referred as the Japanese version of a cup-and-ball game.
Martial Arts 武道 - Learn about the ways of the mind, body and spirit through many unique forms of Japanese martial arts including judo, karate, kendo, naginata, and shorinji kempo.
Music 音楽 - The Festival features many facets of traditional and contemporary Japanese music culture.
Origami 折紙 - The Art of Paperfolding Origami means “folded paper” and encompasses the art of paper folding.
Shishu 刺繍 - Japanese Traditional Embroidery Silk and metal thread embroidery
Shodo 書道 - Japanese Calligraphy
Swords 日本刀 - Appreciation of Japanese swords and armor
Taru Mikoshi 樽神輿 - Traditional Japanese portable shrine
Visit the Cherry Blossom Festival site for more information and schedule of events.