Guides

Know before you go

Short, practical guides to the festivals themselves: what they mean, what happens, and how to take part respectfully.

• Festival etiquette, accessibility, and what to bring

  Practical advice for first-time visitors: respect, photos, food lines, accessibility questions, weather, and how to confirm details before going.

  Updated July 4, 2026

• Mochitsuki and Oshogatsu: Japanese New Year events

  How mochi pounding and Oshogatsu celebrations show up in North America, what to expect, and when dates usually appear.

  Updated July 4, 2026

• Taiko at festivals: a first-timer's primer

  What taiko is, why it appears at so many Japanese cultural festivals, and how to enjoy a performance respectfully.

  Updated July 4, 2026

• Taking your kids to their first matsuri

  A family guide to Japanese festivals: when to arrive, parking and transit, food kids will eat, strollers and seating, quiet corners, and weather.

  Updated July 2, 2026

• The Japanese festival year in North America

  How the festival calendar runs in the US and Canada: mochitsuki and Oshogatsu, sakura season, Obon, fall festivals, and how event dates get announced.

  Updated July 2, 2026

• Matsuri food, explained: what to eat at a Japanese festival

  A guide to festival food at Japanese events in North America: takoyaki, yakisoba, dango, imagawayaki, shave ice, rough costs, and how to handle cash and lines.

  Updated July 2, 2026