2024 - 62nd Annual Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival - Largest Celebration of Japanese Culture in US (2 Days) #FindJapanNEW

'The Sakura Matsuri -- Japanese Street Festival event is the largest one-day exhibition event of Japanese culture in the United States, drawing over 160,000 visitors in just one day.

The Sakura Matsuri covers six square blocks of downtown DC. It will take place on Saturday after the Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Sakura Matsuri Festival Dates
April 13 - 14, 2024 (Saturday & Sunday)

Performance Schedule  Map

Festival Times
Sat: 10:30 am - 6:00 pm
Sun: 10:30 am - 4:00 pm

Over two days, Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival brings Japan into the heart of the Nation’s Capitol. Stretching from 3rd to 7th streets NW on Pennsylvania Ave at the base of Capitol Hill, the festival features over 24 hours of Japanese cultural performances, authentic Japanese food and beverages, handmade Japanese crafts, and so much more.

Japan-America Society of Washington DC’s Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival, along with our National Japan Bowl Japanese Language Competition, celebrate the cherry trees that Japan gifted to the United States over 110 years ago, and which have come to define springtime in the Nation’s Capitol. We are proud to join this cooperative effort alongside the Embassy of Japan, the Government of the District of Columbia, the National Park Service, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., National Conference of State Societies, and many other dedicated partner organizations. The Sakura Matsuri is proud to participate in the National Cherry Blossom Festival as a Premier Event.

Rain or Shine

Sakura Matsuri Festival Location
Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd & 7th Street NW
555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001

Festival Background
Sponsored by the Japan-America Society of Washington DC, the Sakura Matsuri is centered at 12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, with easy access from the Metro Federal Triangle stop.

Japanese food and music, arts and crafts, geisha, sumo, anime and manga, martial arts, sake, taiko drums, ikebana and bonsai. No matter what, if it's Japanese, it's at the Sakura Matsuri.

'Last year the Matsuri drew over 160,000 visitors,' said Ambassador John R. Mallot, President of the Japan-America Society of Washington DC. 'That's because it's fun, it's free, and it's family-friendly. The parade and the Sakura Matsuri make a great double-header, and they're a fantastic way to spend the day.'

Traditional Japanese performing Arts on these stages -- including koto music, classical and folk dances, the dramatic taiko drums, Japanese street performers, and a special appearance by four geisha, direct from Tokyo.

Martial Arts demonstrations on Freedom Plaza, including karate, aikido, sumo, and kyudo.

Japan Arts, Crafts, Culture, and Game demonstrations and displays, where visitors meet the artists and craftsmen and touch, see, and learn all about Japan.

J-Pop Land celebrates Japan's modern, youthful culture, from pop music to anime and fashion. It includes a special pavilion to introduce Japanese pop culture, sponsored by Westwood College and shops that appeal to the young at heart.

The Ginza Marketplace, features Japanese products for sale -- from kimono to Japanaese dolls. Among new vendors this year are Wuhao (Japanese tenugui textiles), Utsuwa-no-Yakata (Japanese dishes and pottery), and Greeting Life (Japanese greeting cards).

Taste of Japan is the most popular area of the festival, with 15 Japanese and Asian restaurants, two Japanese Beer Gardens with Kirin Ichiban beer, and a sake tasting are with a range of products Hakutsuru, one of Japan's leading sake brewers.

Four Matsuri Markets sell a wide variety of soft drinks from Coca-Cola, matsuri T-shirts, Ito-en Tea, and Japanese snacks.

A new Children's Corner, an interactive hands-on area where volunteers from the JET Alumni Association will introduce a variety of traditional Japanese activities, from origami (Japanese paper-folding) to Japanese games, language, and story-telling.

Sakura Matsuri Festival
The Annual Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival - Japan-America Society of Washington

Festival Title
Annual Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival (Largest Exhibition Event of Japanese Culture in the United States)

Hash Tag
#FindJapan