JapanFest is coming to the ATL for its 39th year, and we can’t wait for all the fun, culture, and activities. Keep scrolling for all the details!
What is JapanFest?
Every year, nearly 25,000 visitors check out Atlanta’s JapanFest, and this year is expected to be even bigger and better than ever before!
Organized by the Japan Chamber of Commerce and the Japan-America Society of Georgia, and supported by the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta, the JapanFest’s goal is to foster a greater cultural understanding between the Japanese community and Americans in the Southeast.
With tons of incredible cultural programming, from performing arts to demonstrations to hands-on workshops, and exhibitions, a trip to JapanFest will make you feel like you’ve stepped right onto the streets of Japan!
What can festival goers expect at JapanFest?
From watching Ninjutsu, an ancient martial art from feudal Japan, to a trip down Ginza Street on Natsumatsuri, a traditional Japanese summer festival, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at JapanFest!
Here are some of the highlights:
Sports Highlights (not all sporting events are listed)
- Sumo (Japanese style of wrestling with origins in ancient rituals performed to entertain Shinto deities)
- Taido (a Japanese martial art founded in 1965, combines traditional Okinawan karate with innovative techniques to overcome limitations observed in existing martial arts)
- Kendo (traditional Japanese martial art that originated from the ancient samurai swordsmanship known as kenjutsu)
- Ninjutsu (an ancient martial art from feudal Japan, involving unconventional warfare tactics and espionage)
Omikoshi
According to the festival,
The mikoshi (Omikoshi) is a portable shrine for the gods, carried around the neighborhood of a regular shrine by local volunteer bearers dressed in festival costumes called Hanten. They carry the mikoshi on their shoulders, shouting, ‘Washoi, Washoi!’.
The purpose of this ceremony is to absorb and eliminate bad luck and impurities, pray for a bountiful harvest, and heed the people’s wishes.
Food Vendors
- You’ll be able to enjoy tons of delicious Japanese cuisine, from sweets and desserts to filling meals! Come hungry!
Hands-on Experiences Highlights (along with many more!)
- Learn about the living art of Bonsai
- Ikebana, also known as Kado, is a traditional Japanese flower arrangement with seasonal elements chosen to symbolize a theme or complement a room’s decoration with colors.
- Shodo Japanese Calligraphy
- Kimono Dressing & Furoshiki Wrapping
- Virtual Reality Japanese Games
Ginza Street
- At Ginza Street, festival-goers can get excited for the atmosphere of Natsumatsuri, the traditional Japanese summer festival with authentic games, gifts and toy shops, Mizuame, and festival snacks.
Wanna see all the other fun experiences? Check out JapanFest’s website, here!
Okay, I’ve GOTTA check this out! Gimme the details.
Where: Gas South Convention Center | 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, Georgia 30097
When: September 19th – 20th, 2026
- Saturday, Sept. 19th from 10am – 6pm
- Sunday, Sept. 20th from 10am – 5pm
You can either buy a weekend ticket pass OR a single day ticket. Parking passes are also available for purchase! Learn more on JapanFest’s website, here!
Don’t miss out on all the fun, Atlanta! Head to JapanFest this September!