FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Japan returns to the heart of DC on April 15-16, 2023 at the Japan- America Society of Washington DC’s (JASWDC) Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street Festival.
Washington, DC – Sakura Matsuri 2023 will feature over 24 hours of Japanese performances and cultural presentations, authentic Japanese food and beverages, handmade Japanese crafts, and more.
The festival’s feature exhibit, Beyond Tokyo Pavilion: Regions of Japan, will introduce attendees to less-known areas of Japan and how best to travel to these regions. The Japan Smart Infrastructure Pavilion will showcase some of the cutting-edge Japanese technologies, products, and services that will help define the future infrastructure of American life. JASWDC is also thrilled to announce the return of the Culinary Arts Pavilion and Stage, showcasing Japanese food culture, from the delicious art of Japanese sweets (wagashi) to the unique flavors of umami.
The Matsuri’s four stages and five unique areas will return with a mix of new and legacy exhibitors, welcoming back performers from Japan. Attendees will be thrilled by the famous Martial Arts stage, with everything from karate to kendo. The Taste of Japan area invites attendees to explore the flavors of Japan with over 20 food vendors, four Kirin Beer Gardens, and the Hakutsuru Sake Tasting Pavilion. Attendees can engage in hands-on cultural experiences in the Arts & Culture area with 30 Japanese exhibitions, from doll-making to calligraphy. For those in the mood to shop, the Ginza Marketplace and Japan Now areas are guaranteed to tempt with a colorful array of authentic Japanese products. Finally, the Matsuri’s Children’s Corner is perfect for family-friendly activities for children of all ages. Check sakurmatsuri.org for performance and feature updates as April 15th approaches.
Japan-America Society of Washington DC is proud to welcome back Presenting Sponsor Kirin Beer.
The Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street Festival marks the importance of the United States-Japan relationship in our Nation’s Capital and Japan’s significant legacy in the District of Columbia since its gift of cherry trees to our region 110 years ago. Japan-America Society of Washington DC’s Sakura Matsuri-Japanese Street Festival is proud to participate in Washington DC’s National Cherry Blossom Festival as a Premier Event.
Tickets
Earlybird One-Day: $10
Earlybird Two-Day: $15
Family Pass: $50 (one-day)/$70 (two-day)
Sake Tasting Pavilion (Matsuri entry included): $50 Children under 12: Free Entry
Regular-priced one-day tickets ($15) will be available online and as walk-up sales on April 15 & 16. JASWDC encourages all participants to purchase tickets in advance to expedite entry at sakuramatsuri.org. In addition, local high schools may inquire with sakuramatsuri@jaswdc.org about the availability of complimentary tickets through JASWDC’s Sakura Matsuri in Local Schools (SMILES) program.
Matsuri App
The official app for Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street Festival 2023, powered by Guidebook, is now available. With this resource, you have access to the most up-to- date information. Search “JASWDC Guides” in the App Store or Google Play to download the guide on your iOS and Android devices.
Hours of Operation, Location & Entrances
10:30 AM-6:00 PM, Saturday, April 15th
10:30 AM-4:00 PM, Sunday, April 16th
The Matsuri will be held at Pennsylvania & Constitution Ave. 3rd-7th St NW, Washington DC. There will be entrances to the Festival at Penn Ave and 7th, Constitution and 6th, and John Marshall Park. Entrance lines can be long, so check the festival map on the day to find the most convenient entrance.
Press Contacts
For more information regarding the Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street Festival, please contact Jessica Webster with the Japan-America Society of Washington DC at jwebster@jaswdc.org or call (202) 833-2210. For media information, please contact Olivia Kent at okent@jaswdc.org.
About the Japan-America Society of Washington DC
The Japan-America Society of Washington DC is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the relationship between Japan and the U.S. at the grassroots public diplomacy level. Our programming aims to bring Japanese and American people closer together in the Nation’s Capital area.
About The National Cherry Blossom Festival
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the world’s great celebrations of spring. The 2023 Festival, March 20-April 16, includes four weeks of events featuring diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit. Leadership Circle Sponsors for the 2023 National Cherry Blossom Festival are Events DC and Amazon. Add the 2023 Festival dates and signature event dates to your calendar, and visit NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org or call 877.44.BLOOM for more information. Get the latest updates via email, and be sure to follow the Festival on Facebook (@CherryBlossomFestival), Instagram (@CherryBlossFest), Twitter (@CherryBlossFest) and YouTube (@CherryBlossFest).
