Japanese Festival returns to Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis this weekend

The annual event transforms the garden into a vibrant showcase of Japanese cuisine and culture

The Missouri Botanical Garden will host the highly anticipated 47th annual Japanese Festival over Labor Day weekend, from Saturday, Aug. 31, to Monday, Sept. 2. This year’s event will transform the garden into a vibrant showcase of Japanese cuisine and culture, featuring an exceptional lineup of food, drinks and entertainment that highlights both traditional and contemporary Japanese traditions.

Festival-goers can embark on an unforgettable culinary journey with a diverse selection of Japanese cuisine. The food court will feature 15 local vendors offering a range of dishes from classic sushi and gyoza to teriyaki and modern creations like sushi bowls. Notable vendors include Drunken Fish, Top Sushi and Poke Doke, which will offer the festival-exclusive Sakura Rose bubble tea. Japanese International Harvest Church will also serve taiyaki, a traditional fish-shaped pancake, for an authentic Japanese treat. Additionally, Jessika Eidson, public information officer for the Missouri Botanical Garden, shared that the beloved green tea ice cream from Confluence Zen Center will make a return this year.

Beyond the delicious food, attendees can sample a variety of Japanese beverages, including sodas, kombucha and green tea. The opening ceremony will feature traditional Japanese music, a performance by the St. Louis Osuwa Taiko drummers, and the kagamiwari ritual, where a sake barrel is ceremonially opened. Sake cups will be available for purchase exclusively near the Opening Ceremony stage on Saturday. Visitors can also enjoy a diverse selection of Japanese beers, sake and sake cocktails throughout the weekend.

The festival will host live cooking demonstrations, tea ceremonies, and cultural performances presented by renowned Japanese experts each day. “Everything at the festival is family-friendly,” said Eidson, with activities for children including calligraphy, balloon art and origami. A highlight of this year’s festival will be the art of wagashi, with intricate Japanese sweets demonstrated by Noriyuki Kamiyama, one of Japan’s most masterful wagashi makers. “These sweets are so detailed, you won’t believe they are made out of sugar,” added Eidson.

The Japanese Festival runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. Parking is available in the main lot and the secondary lot at Shaw Boulevard and Vandeventer Avenue, with shuttles running throughout the weekend. Tickets can be purchased online or at the festival. For a full event itinerary, a complete list of vendors and more details, visit the Missouri Botanical Garden website.