Obon Festival

Celebrate Obon and Japanese arts and culture throughout the Sasebo Japanese Garden. The evening includes traditional tea ceremonies, taiko and shamisen music, bonsai and ikebana displays, calligraphy, origami and hands-on discovery stations. Each event ticket includes one floating lantern that can be decorated and launched on the pond in memory of a loved one. Families can also make origami cranes for the bamboo grove and watch Japanese-garden raking demonstrations.

Performance and activity highlights

• Main Plaza: opening procession at 6:25 p.m.
• Showroom: tea ceremonies at 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15 p.m.
• Festival Green: taiko at 6:50, 7:30 and 8 p.m., followed by a closing performance at 8:40 p.m.; discovery stations cover Obon, chile, haiku and origami, with calligraphy demonstrations, live beetles and community booths.
• Orangerie: ikebana and bonsai displays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
• High Desert Rose Garden: lantern pickup and decorating, plus cherry-blossom painting, koi and sumi-e activities.
• Sasebo Japanese Garden: three lantern-launch sites, origami cranes and raking demonstrations; taiko begins on the deck at 8 p.m., with shamisen music throughout the evening.

Families may bring a picnic and chairs, or purchase Japanese food and refreshments. Discovery tables operate from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Heritage Farm and BUGarium will be closed, and some paths close at 8:30 p.m. for safety.

Advance tickets are strongly recommended. The Garden opens at 6:30 p.m., last entry is at 8 p.m., and the festival proceeds rain or shine. Tickets are delivered electronically for scanning at the entrance. Member cards and IDs are checked at the gate.