Washington DC Events

First held in 1966, Washington DC's Sakura Matsuri festival is a huge celebration of Japan's distinctive culture. Martial arts demonstrations, food stalls and Taiko drummers rub shoulders with origami, calligraphy and traditional storytelling along Pennsylvania Avenue. The festival celebrates the relationship between the US and Japan each spring, just as the cherry trees that were a gift from Japan to the city in 1912 come into blossom. If you're hungry, the Taste of Japan offers everything from sushi to Japanese candy. The Ginza Arcade recreates Japanese shopping in the heart of Washington and presents an array of goods including antiques, kimono and Japanese kokeshi dolls.

With an annual attendance of around 80,000, the event is now one of the most popular fixtures on Washington's calendar.