Every Labor Day weekend, the Missouri Botanical Garden invites visitors to immerse themselves in the culture of Japan at the annual Japanese Festival.
Starting over 40 years ago as a gift from the interment camp families to the city that welcomed them, the Japanese Festival is a St. Louis staple and one of the oldest and largest events celebrating Japanese culture in North America.
Here, guests can witness traditional activities like sumo wrestling, marvel at the beautiful and historical kimono fashion, delight in delicious regional cuisine, and learn more about Japan’s rich history and culture.
In 2024, the Japanese Festival takes place August 31–September 1 | 9 a.m.–9 p.m. and September 2 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m.).
In this blog:
- What to Do at Japanese Festival
- How to Get Tickets to the Japanese Festival
- Where to Park During Japanese Festival
What to expect: Japanese Festival is one of the largest festivals hosted at the Missouri Botanical Garden, and expect over 40,000 to attend the three-day festival. Expect large crowds with some lines, loud music and noises, and to cover a lot of ground to see all the festival has to offer.
What to Do at Japanese Festival
The Japanese Festival welcomes guests of all backgrounds to experience and learn more about Japan’s culture throughout the weekend.
Whether you consider yourself a foodie, a history buff, are coming with friends, or bringing the family – there is something for everyone to enjoy at this event.
Watch Performances and Demonstrations
From world’s heaviest and highest-ranking sumo wrestlers to renowned storytellers and artists, there is no shortage of entertaining and educational performances at Japanese Festival.
Featured Performer
Rakugo Storyteller Kanariya Eiraku
Explore the Japanese art of solo storytelling from renowned storyteller and teacher Kanariya Eiraka.
Below is a small sampling of the many performances happening during the festival.
Festival Procession and Opening Ceremony
Spink Pavilion to the Japanese Garden
SAT. 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Honored guests, including government officials and
dignitaries from sponsoring organizations, will officially
open the Japanese Festival. Opening ceremonies will
include music, remarks by distinguished guests, the ritual
of kagamiwari (breaking into the sake barrel), and
a performance by the St. Louis Osuwa Taiko drummers.
Tip: Sake cups are available for purchase near the Opening Ceremony stage on Saturday only. $10 per cup.
Sumo
Cohen Ampitheater
SAT. 3–4 p.m. & 5–6 p.m.
SUN. Noon–1 p.m. & 5–6 p.m.
MON. Noon–1 p.m. & 4–5 p.m.
Sumo is a form of full-contact wrestling and Japan’s national sport which originated as a religious performance to
the Shinto gods. The basic rules of sumo are simple:
the losing wrestler (rikishi) is the one who either first touches the floor with something other than the sole of his foot or leaves the ring (dohyo) before his opponent.
This year, we have partnered with USA Sumo to bring you three of the most popular rikishi in the world: Hiroki, Ichi,
and Mendee.
Bonsai Demonstration
Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center Meeting Rooms
SAT. 10:30–11:30 a.m.
SUN. 10–11 a.m.
MON. 10–11 a.m.
Learn about bonsai, the art of growing trees and plants on a scale that makes the plants far smaller than they would be if they were left in the wild. Bonsai plants are not special varieties, but rather specially pruned and kept in small containers to limit their growth. They will live and be healthy just as long as if they were full-sized plants.
Bonsai and Ikebana will be on display in Farr Auditorium throughout the festival.
Kimono Show
Bayer Event Center
SAT. 12:30–1 p.m. & 1:30–2 p.m.
SUN. 12:30–1 p.m., 1:30–2 p.m., & 2:30–3 p.m.
Learn about the formal art of kimono dressing and see the variety of styles based on season and formality.
Cosplay Your Favorite Character
Along with highlighting the history of Japan, the Japanese Festival also showcases some of the more modern culture with an anime screening and cosplay competition.
Enjoy the cosplay showcased on Saturday from Noon–13:20 p.m. at the Cohen Amphitheater.
Anime fans can also find merch of their favorite characters at several of the festival’s vendors.
Some cosplay guidelines:
- Shirts and shoes are required at all times. Please note that the festival stretches across 75 acres, so keep this in mind when selecting shoes.
- No clothing that with profanity, vulgar, racist, sexist, or sexually suggestive content, including slogans/illustrations.
- No weapons, firearms, or fireworks of any kind. This includes prop weapons.
- Clothing changes (including those for photography shoots) are not permitted inside or outdoors.
- Smoking, tobacco products and devices and electronic smoking devices are not allowed on Garden property (including the parking lot).
- No balloons, open flames, or sparklers.
- No plants, flowers, flower petals, glitter, confetti, or candles.
- No sporting equipment.
Shop Unique Souvenirs at the Marketplace
Shop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs at the Cultural Marketplace and learn about local Japanese-American organizations. The Marketplace will be set up at the Linnean Plaza throughout the entirety of the Japanese Festival.
Shop for your own bonsai, find merchandise from your favorite anime, or capture your memories in the photo booth.
Try Authentic Cuisine and Watch Live Cooking Demos
Enjoy fresh sushi, Japanese style sandwiches and more during Japanese Festival by visiting the Food Court in the East Lot of the Missouri Botanical Garden. In 2024, we have more food vendors than ever before, so there is a little something for everyone to enjoy.
Foodies and cooking enthusiasts can also learn more about the art of Wagashi, see live cooking demonstrations, and explore the language of tea ceremonies throughout the weekend.
Events Made for Kids
All of Japanese Festival is family-friendly and a great place for kids to learn more about culture, try new foods, and have some fun.
Here are a few exhibits specifically designed with little ones in mind:
Children’s Activities All Day
Spink Pavilion
SAT. 1–5 p.m.
SUN. & MON 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Let your little ones learn about Japanese culture as they try their hand at calligraphy, origami, and Japanese games of of kendama, otedama, menkom, and fuki-warai.
Ikebana Hands-on Demonstration for Kids
Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center Meeting Room
SUN. 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Ikebana (literally “living flowers”) is the unique Japanese art form of arranging flowers and other natural materials for display.
Although attractive arrangements are created in ikebana, this is not actually the purpose of the art. Rather, the ikebana enthusiast uses flowers to express a deep awareness of life, and to bring themselves into a closer identification with nature. This demonstration will teach kids about the art form and its meanings.
Yasu the Magician
Throughout the Garden
SAT. 1–1:30 p.m. & 7–7:30 p.m.
SUN. 2–2:30 p.m., 3–3:30 p.m., 6:30–7 p.m.
MON. 11–11:30 a.m., 3:30–4 p.m., 4:30 –5 p.m.
Combining traditional Japanese theatre, music, origami, magic, and storytelling; Yasu Ishida will guide you to the
enchanting land of Japan.
Yasu will have performances in several locations throughout the festival. Check the festival program to see where you can spot him.
The Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden will be open during the fest. Regular admission rates apply for the Children’s Garden.
Take Part in The Candlelight Walk and Toro Nagashi
Late summer in Japan means Obon, the festival when spirits of the dead return to spend time with the living.
The Toro Nagashi ceremony celebrates this. Lanterns are inscribed with the names of those deceased, then lit and set afloat as a way of accompanying the spirits as they depart for another year.
Participants can take part in in this ceremony on Saturday and Sunday 7:30.–9 p.m.
You can also enjoy self-guided, evening-hour tours around the Japanese Garden, splendidly illuminated by shoji lanterns on Saturday and Sunday 8–10 p.m.
How to Get Tickets to the Japanese Festival
Japanese Festival is one of the Garden’s most popular signature events, brining in around 40,000 people each Labor Day Weekend.
To ensure you have a ticket and help you avoid waiting to get into the festival, we recommend reserving your tickets to the Japanese Festival in advance either online or at the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center.
As a reminder, the Missouri Botanical Garden never sells tickets on third-party platforms, including social media.
- General Adult Admission (13+) | $18
- General Children’s Admission (12 and under) | $9
- Garden Member Adults (13+) | $9
- Garden Member Children (12 and under) | Free
- Festival-Level Members | Free + 6 Free Tickets
Purchase Tickets in Advance
Where to Park During Japanese Festival
The Garden offers parking outside of the Visitor Center, including several EV charging stations.
There is no charge for parking at the Missouri Botanical Garden. In the event that the parking lot is full, visitors should use the free parking at the overflow lots at the corner of Shaw Boulevard and Vandeventer. Shuttles will be running from this parking lot to the Visitor Center throughout the festival.
As leaders in sustainability, we are also big fans of walking, biking and public transportation. We offer bike parking near the Visitor Center and are conveniently located near two Metro bus stops.
Jessika Eidson | Public Information Officer
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