This Labor Day Weekend, the Missouri Botanical Garden continues its annual tradition of hosting one of the largest and longest-running celebrations of Japanese culture in the country.
The annual Japanese Festival features local and international performers, authentic cuisine, unique merchandise, hands-on classes, demonstrations, and more.
Since 1977, the Garden has partnered with local Japanese American organizations to host this event. This collaboration continues to provide authentic Japanese music, art, dance, food, and entertainment for a festival that reaches over 50,000 visitors each year.
In 2025, the festival will offer guests of all backgrounds an opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of Japan. The festival takes place August 30–31, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. and September 1, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m.).
What to expect: Japanese Festival is one of the largest festivals hosted at the Missouri Botanical Garden, and expect over 50,000 to attend the three-day festival. Expect large crowds, some lines, loud music and noises, and to cover a lot of ground to see all the festival has to offer.
What to See and Do at the Japanese Festival in 2025
This year’s festival features the return of familiar favorites like sumo wrestling, dance performances, and martial arts demonstrations.
Visitors will also enjoy new performers, vendors, and interactive activities over the three-day weekend.
Featured performers
The three-day festival offers a full schedule of performances and demonstrations. Visitors of all ages can enjoy authentic Japanese music, art, sports, and dance across the entire festival grounds.
Sumo Wrestling
Zorig, measuring 6’3″ and 310 pounds, will be performing for the first time at the Japanese Festival in 2025. 
Mendee, measuring 5′ 10″ and 340 pounds, is a four-time US Sumo Open Champion. 
Hiroki, measuring 6’4″ and 570 pounds, is the heaviest sumo wrestler in the world. 
Ichi, measuring 6’4″ and 540 pounds, hold the highest honor in sumo – Pro Sumo Emperor’s Cup Winner. Photos courtesy of US Sumo.
Always a favorite of the festival, US Sumo will return with four notable sumo wrestlers. Sumo, Japan’s national sport, originated in ancient times as religious performances to the Shinto gods. Nowadays, many ancient rituals are still followed.
Guests can learn the rules of the sport, see live demonstrations, interact with the wrestlers, and take photos at the Cohen Amphitheater throughout the festival.
NEW! Bentenya Street Performers
Guests will be delighted by Bentenya, a chindon group traveling throughout the festival grounds with glamorous kimonos, colorful wigs, and lively music. This unique street performance style is used in Japan as a way to promote businesses with theatrical flair.
Hailing from Nagoya, the all-female Bentenya group is performing for the first time at the Japanese Festival in 2025. They are well-known internationally for their performances in theaters, on television, and on musical tours.
Visitors will encounter Bentenya throughout the festival grounds all weekend long and can catch them at the Cohen Amphitheater Stage once each day.
Bonsai and Ikebana Demonstration On the Big Stage
Guests who want to learn more about the botanical and floral art of Japan will enjoy bonsai and ikebana demonstrations throughout the festival.
Bonsai is 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.
Ikebana, meaning “living flowers”, is the unique Japanese art form of arranging flowers and other natural materials for display. Although attractive arrangements are created in ikebana, the main purpose is to express a deep awareness of life and foster a connection to nature through the flowers.
Each year, flower and garden enthusiasts flock to demonstrations by expert growers and artisans. In 2025, bonsai and ikebana demonstrations move to the Bayer Event Center, welcoming larger crowds.
Additionally, the Bonsai Society of Greater St. Louis and the Ikebana International St Louis Chapter will display their work throughout the entire festival in the Farr Auditorium, inside the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center.
Cosplay and Anime
Along with highlighting traditional Japanese customs and culture, the Festival also showcases aspects of modern culture. Anime and manga fans can take part or watch the Cosplay Showcase. The showcase takes place 11:30 a.m.–Noon on Saturday, August 31.
Cosplay guidelines to keep in mind:
- 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.
Anime fans can also enjoy a special screening of “Mary and the Witch’s Flower”. This family-friendly film was created by former animators of the iconic Studio Ghibli and will be shown in English to be accessible to all guests.
Shop Unique Souvenirs at the Marketplace
Take home a piece of the Japanese Festival and support local business owners, artists, and cultural organizations by shopping ay the Cultural Marketplace.
Shop for your own bonsai, anime merch, mini figurines, kimonos, fans, artwork and more.
Try Authentic Cuisine and Watch Live Cooking Demos
Enjoy fresh sushi, Japanese-style sandwiches, green tea ice cream, vegetarian-friendly dishes, and more at the Food Court in the East Lot of the Missouri Botanical Garden.
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.
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 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. Last entry will be at 9 p.m. both evenings.
How to Get Tickets to the Japanese Festival
Japanese Festival is one of the Garden’s most popular signature events, bringing in around 50,000 people each Labor Day Weekend.
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. This year, parking will also be available at Mullanphy Elementary School.
Shuttles will run from the overflow parking lot to the Visitor Center throughout the festival.
As leaders in sustainability, we are also big fans of walking, biking, ridesharing, 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
Leave a Reply