Two years ago, this annual event moved to Steel Indian School Park in downtown Phoenix. This festival that began in 1984 has more vendors and more outdoor space than when it was held at its prior location-Heritage Square. The surroundings are simpler and bare at the park but droves of people still make the trek here to experience the culture and the food of Japanese heritage. One stand I always visit is the Arizona Buddhist Church. I buy their homemade mochi manju (soft round mochi with sweet anko dark bean paste inside) and their shiroan mochi manju (has a sweet white bean paste filling.) It's like the ones my grandma used to make. Tips:arrive early for the best parking options. :bring some greenbacks-some vendors only accept cash. :sunscreen-there aren't many areas with shade. :eat the manju when it is fresh, the same day or else it hardens. :bring water and bring a bag if you plan on purchasing any goods. Some vendors run out of bags and you may be stuck carrying your things and not have enough hands to enjoy the food items ;) Leave your worries at the gate and just have fun at this outdoor festival. read more

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Great festival. Get there early. Lots of fun foods to try and I enjoyed the exhibitions read more

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We attend Arizona Matsuri, a festival of Japanese culture, every year. This year we arrived early--about 9:45-- because this festival gets packed! There a procession of musicians and dancers, and performers on two stages and an amphitheater. We saw Taiko drums, traditional Japanese dancers, martial artists, a K-pop dance group, and musicians. There are lots of booths with all kinds of Japanese and anime items, and even a bunch of gachapons. Unfortunately, we missed the cosplay contest--we have been in past years and it is so fun. The contestants go all out dressing as their favorite characters. Of course there are a lot of food booths, which come with long lines. It's worth standing in line! We got taiyaki, gyoza, okonomiyaki, sata andagi, and nikuman. We had a great time early in the day and managed to get out as the masses of people were arriving. The festival is all weekend, but I didn't know how busy it gets on Sunday. read more

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We're so lucky to have our very own Arizona Matsuri Festival right here in the Phoenix area! I look forward to the festival every year for delicious food, great entertainment, cool merchandise interesting displays ands more! We didn't take any pictures this year but will need to remember to do so next year! Taking the light rail might be a good option for some as parking can sometimes be inconvenient and expensive. There are several parking garages and lots around the festival that take credit cards. Some years the weather has been a bit warm so don't forget to bring an umbrella if you need some shade. There are a few tables and chairs near the food booths. There are a few shade trees so bringing a picnic blanket is highly recommended so you can easily have a place to sit and eat just about anywhere. Most vendors take credit cards but some prefer cash. There are a few ATM machines around the festival but in the past they have had high transaction fees. Many of the vendors come from out of state with a few of them that come for other events like the art festivals and Aloha festival. I already can't wait for next years festival! read more

Arizona Matsuri is a yearly free event in Steele Indian School Park. Despite there being a myriad plethora of vendors, only the center of the park is really used. However, the parking for this public place is extremely limited. Parking for this event is going to cost you $10-$20. One of the food trucks personally told me that the rates were so high to be there that they had to raise the prices of all their food items just to make up for it. Thus, this event may be grand and big but expect to pay higher prices at each of these vendors. It's also nice to see the various cosplay of the festival goers. Overall, it's worth going to at least once if you even have a slight interest in Japanese culture. read more

This is my 2nd or maybe even 3rd time being able to attend the Matsuri Festival. With each year, they continue to improve and grow bigger. More and more offerings, vendors, activities, performances, etc. I also absolutely commend them for continuing to keep the price of admission to FREE. Compared to the "Taste of Japan" event held in Downtown Phoenix's Heritage Square, I'd say it is much much more enjoyable of an event. Sure, I know ToJ focuses more on experiencing a more "authentic" Japanese cuisine but aside from the food demonstrations, there is barely anything else to actually do or enjoy. Matsuri had a bunch of Japanese businesses come from all over, notably Los Angeles's Little Tokyo district. I've never seen a wider more abundant selection of Japanese clothing like happi coats, yukatas, haoris, bows, obis due to the presence of these Little Tokyo vendors at any such AZ event. They also even had a few food vendors from LA as well (though we have many Japanese restaurants in AZ, I don't think we have many food trucks or traveling vendors). They invited various local partners such as the Phoenix Shogi Club, the folks from the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Origami Society, and many many others. Though there were limited slots and you had to reserve your spot, Matsuri even offered a chance to experience an authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration ($20). They also had a fun raffle with tons of different prizes, the grand prize being a round-trip flight to Japan from Japan Airlines. I wish they had a few more food vendors so help shorten the lines a bit. There were tons of merchandise booths, artisans, local businesses, cosplay, and other things to check out. Overall, for a free event, it was very fun. read more

Arizona Matsuri - One of the vendors - Festivals Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Japanese culture is awesome. Went to check out the event. Located at Steele Indian School Park. Sat. 22 & Sun. 23, 2025 from 10am-5pm.It had lots and lots of food vendors. Some people were dressed up in their anime costumes. I tried to taste some of the food but the lines were extremely long. I took a few pictures of the vendors and I'm gonna try out their business. I really enjoyed the Kodo performance. They are staged in front of the grass so you can enjoy sitting down.This event is dog friendly but beware lots of people in crowded areas. Not only was there a lot to eat but other vendors selling clothes, hats, toys and other Japanese memorabilia. Since this event is in a public park there are public bathrooms but is used alot by the homeless. They have a temporary ATM on the premises. read more

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Lots of food, merchandise vendors, activities, displays & shows! One of the largest Japanese Festivals in the nation! A must go event in Phoenix! read more

Walking and biking through this lovely park is such a joy. During my visit, I came across an adorable dog without a collar or chip. I would love to reunite this sweet pup with his owner! read more

I'm Japanophile Left much to be desired One and done for me I was really looking forward to checking out this Festival today. Sorry to say, but I was pretty disappointed. If crowds aren't your thing, this is not the place for you. It was jammed today. All of the lines for food were ridiculously long and slow. Waited in line for an hour for some Yakisoba which was not very good at all. The lines for beer were not nearly as bad. However, they only have one beer available - Asahi Super Dry. I was really looking forward to trying some Japanese beers that I haven't had before. At least it was only five bucks a beer. It was fun seeing some of the youngsters dressed up as anime characters and I got a really cool "Drunk King" T-shirt from Sumo Fish. Two saving graces. Two stars. read more

Arizona Matsuri - Festivals Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I loved all the different food booths. I appreciated how organized it was. Everyone seemed in a good mood

Cool Japanese festival in February in Heritage Square, Downtown Phoenix. Tons of people, Taiko Performances, Cosplay Contest, Martial Arts Demonstrations, Bonsai Exhibition, Arts & Crafts, Public Awareness Booths, and Food, Food, Food..., Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki, Mochi, Shaved Ice, Manju, Beer, Sobayaki, Bento Boxes, ....Usually runs 10am to 5pm on the third weekend in February. Had to dress warmly for the 2019 festival. read more

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Yearly affair in February, in downtown Phoenix, AZ. A must go to event for me. Cosplay abounds but no weapons even in cosplay terms. They are very serious on it. So if your are in a samurai outfit, get a Hello Kittty toy as your weapon to carry around. Food is everything at this event. Long line means great food! Go early and avoid the crowds. 2 days only on a Sat & Sun. Google Arizona matsuri to get the latest details. read more

I've been coming to AZ Matsuri almost every year for over 10 years now. It is held at the Heritage & Science Park, free admission but parking garage nearby is $12. Restroom facilities available but porter potty only...so you know. They have several stage areas where I enjoyed watching performance (dance, drums). Numbers of food vendors increased over the year, so many people are here now, expect a long line (also sold out if you come late). Merchandises vendors are here to sell all kinds of Japanese stuff. I shouldn't have done it but I ended up buying a bonsai plant. I don't keep anything live in my house but they looked very nice, I purchased one without thinking through the consequences. If you have kinomo at home, wear one to this event. Some wear them casual but I saw several of them wearing kimono properly. Since it took me 45 mins to get dressed, I thought about walking up to them ask, how they did that so nicely. Also you will see lots of people dressed in cosplay. Some are done really well. Fun place to come out for people watching. They do have a small area serving Japanese beer. Mostly family friendly events with some free kids activities area. read more

Arizona Matsuri - Bonsai tree - Festivals Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Walking through historic Heritage square right in the heart of Phoenix, I was overwhelmed deep within a crowd of vibrant kimonos and elegant Japanese robes. Paper umbrellas, origami cranes, and various garments of attire are a few of the products being offered upon rows and rows of vendors. Delicious smoked teriyaki aromas drift down from far away, enticing its passerby's to stop for a while. To my left, I hear the quick crackling of wooden Katanas; a demonstration by the local Arizona Aikido practice. To my right, the harsh and pulsating beating of the Taiko drums melodically draw me in. Straight ahead, I see a giant cosplay of Pikachu, enthusiastically taking pictures with fans. Taking in a deep breath and appreciation of my surrounding, I couldn't help but smile. For years it has been a tradition of mine to stop by the Matsuri during the faithful time of February. However, in recent years the Matsuri has evolved into a multi-cultural celebration of arts. No longer are the few vendor booths, longingly awaiting for a visitor. Instead, white tents are stretched across in columns far and wide as the eye can see. Shaded structures are strategically placed where expositions booths can be seen; this way, the bright sun does not interfere with the spectator's viewing angles. For all of those who have been to the Matsuri Festival in years' past, or for the curious at heart, I would definitely recommend stopping by when the opportunity arrives. The Matsuri is an amazing celebration of Asian cultures, arts, and lifestyles, that works in culmination with the urban society of Phoenix, to create a downtown street festival unlike any other. I have very fond memories of the Matsuri, which will only continue to grow! read more

Arizona Matsuri - Arizona Matsuri Festival - Festivals Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This event was pretty good. Lots of vendors. The different events were interesting. Cosplay all over which was fun for people watching. The food stalls were good, really long lines though, which just shows they were good. The ramen was pretty bad though, and after parking I had quite a long walk. read more

Arizona Matsuri has become an annual event that my girlfriend and I go to. Every year it's always a joy to walk around heritage square or sit in the Asahi beer area and people watch. You never know what people are going to come dressed as or how many Akita and Shiba you'll see walking around. The range of food vendors provides enough variety for novice and adventurous eaters. One of my favorite parts of Matsuri is watching the drum performances! Usually we spend 2-3 hours at Matsuri but I have friends who stay all day. Did I mention it's FREE?! read more

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Great time, good food and culture. We enjoyed visiting the merchant booths. We'll be back next year.

Only a few food trucks, lines were an hour, long and food was way too expensive for a tiny serving. Basically zero activities, just a bunch of people dressed up in anime, not even Japanese culture. read more

Pretty nice festival albiet smaller than Japanese festivals/gatherings than I'm used to. Food vendors, craft booths, stage competitions, bonsai showcase, live music and tons of cosplayers. The setup is is pretty standard and was great to walk around to see what they had to offer. The crowds were definitely at it's peak by the time I stopped by and lines for food were massive. As expected food was also expensive, but appreciated that they took cash and card. It's easy to go through the entire festival unless you have live performances or shows to watch. Parking isn't that much of a hassle at all either. Wish there were more to see and had more variety of foods as the only popular booths were that of ramen, takoyaki and boba. read more

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Thank goodness they moved the festival to Steele Indian School Park this year; it is now more accessible to me because I live in the area. The festival is a really fun assortment of a lot of food boots, more than in most festivals and mostly Japanese of course. Expect long - even very long - lines for some of them. There are cultural presentations and numerous merchandise booths as well. But a big part of the fun is watching people wearing kimonos and anime cosplay. The draw of the event is such that even though this year it rained on the morning of the festival's first day (Saturday), when the weather cleared up in the afternoon the festival was totally packed, even with the muddy grounds from the rain earlier. While parking is not usually a problem in the park, the festival is so popular that the parking areas fill up very fast so it is a good thing that the light rail station is close by. read more

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What a fun festival! Great food&drink, fun children activities, great Japanese performances and love the anime costumes that young people dress like their favorite characters. Can't wait to go for next year matsuri fest 2018. read more

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おめでとうございます！ Been coming to Matsuri year after year since I was a wee high schooler. From anime to yukatas; takoyaki to shaved ice; cosplay contests; singing and dancing performances; ribbon-fish origami; Shiba Inu pups; bonsai trees; Miss Cherry Blossom; Asian ball-jointed doll meetups; and more, Matsuri has it all! It's crazy to see how big Matsuri has grown! I remember when there was plenty of room to roam around Heritage Park. You can stop and shop and there would be plenty of room to navigate your way from booth to booth. Now you can't even get some snacks and food without waiting an hour or two in line! While I love Matsuri, I'm not sure when I'll be back. They have greatly outgrown this venue. read more

It's been a few years since I've been to this annual event. The good news is that the number of food booths and merchandise vendors has increased in number and quality. The bad news is that the event is perhaps becoming a victim of its own success, very nearly outgrowing its location. I love the fact that so many local restaurants have set up booths and that other food vendors earmark proceeds for charity. Very hot and crowded this day, however, with very long lines for much of the food. The food is not that cheap for the most part and it's unlikely that you'll find a true bargain among the imported merchandise, but did you really expect anything different at an event like this? The food is varied and enjoyable and there is merchandise you won't see everyday, at least not in downtown Phoenix. Need a Bonsai tree? Not everything offered is genuinely Japanese, but it bothers me not as long as there is fun to be had. There is an arts and craft setup for the kids ($1 donation), but no large play area. Entertainment was solid during the time we were at the festival (three stages!!!). Lots of families in attendance. Lots of dogs. Lots of people dressed up as their favorite Anime characters. Very fun. Even though there is no admission charge for the festival, parking in downtown Phoenix can be a hassle or expensive. We chose to simply park a couple of blocks away for free (to the north and east) and enjoyed a leisurely walk with the dogs to the festival. We attended the annual Phoenix Chinese Week festival just a couple of weekends ago at Hance Park. Matsuri has the more diverse food, vending and entertainment of the two Asian festivals, but we had a much more relaxing time at Chinese Week. Less crowded and more for young kids to do (bouncy houses). There is, however, more choice in entertainment for older kids and adults at Matsuri. Personal preference. Good food and friendly people at both events. We intend to return to both. read more

Arizona Matsuri - Festivals Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I like the idea. I feel that they need a different venue than Steele Indian School Park. It was so crowded. We were unable to get food or see much due to the shoulder-to shoulder people. Literally hundreds of people in line for food. We were unable to get food or drink. We parked in the 5 story parking garage, south of the park. When we got to our car, we got in line in garage to drive out. It was so gridlocked that there was no car movement anywhere in our immediate area for at least 12 minutes. Drivers were so frustrated. We parked again in our same spot after seeing that there was complete stillness among the line of cars trying to exit. We walked 5 stories out of the parking garage, hungry, thirsty and disappointed. We were happy to find Yoshi's Japan bowl restaurant on the corner and ate there, which was good. We rode the light rail toward home and walked the rest of the way to our house, leaving our car stranded. We returned at 10 pm that night to get our car. This festival is in need of a new location! I won't go again unless it moves. read more

This festival is PACKED so make sure you're there for both days if you want to experience everything (specifically Sunday since there'll be a lower attendance). There's a lot of food stands but I mainly focused on shaved ice, takoyaki, fishcakes, refreshments and okinomiyako (I think that's how you spell it? Sorry it's late at night). The prices are a little higher than I had expected and MAKE SURE YOU BRING CASH. There are atms scattered around but there's always a long line - not worth it. There's three stages around the festival and I would recommend watching when you're resting! Really fun overall read more

We look forward to Matsuri every year. We arrived around 2 pm on a Sat and it was quite packed. Especially when heading down on 7th St from the I-10. But once we passed Heritage Square, the traffic freed up and I was able to score a free street parking....yeah! This year's event seemed to have gotten bigger: more food vendors, shopping booths & performers. New this year was the Asahi beer garden, Kendama contest (a traditional Japanese game of scooping up a wooden ball and catching it in a cup) & Yomatsuri (after party night festival) with karoke, dancing). There were 3 stages you can watch all sorts of performances from taiko, karate and even a Japanese anime costume contest. The kiddies got to make paper koi nobori (fish streamers) and color koi on plastic films. This is event is free but a donations are nice. Overall the prices were reasonable but the food lines were a little backed up. Just hope next year's event won't occur during a incoming storm. read more

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I have been going to this event for so long that I can't even count on my hands. It's gotten bigger and bigger every year. Now there's even more vendors, more people, more activities, more cosplaying, more everything! I am guessing around 5 to 6 thousand people over the weekend and possibly more. Well, if you haven't been here, you should come. A lot of local Asian restaurants set up in tents to serve you their food. However, the food is expensive. There's other organizations here too from non-profit to schools to other random clubs. And then there are merchandise vendors selling trinkets, souvenirs, anime, plants, etc. If you are not in the mood to buy food or merchandise, you can always come hang out. It's free! There's also a beer garden area... not free though. Haha. Besides just looking around at food and merchandise, there are plenty of performances on 3 stages throughout the festival ranging from dances, kendo demonstrations, cosplay contests, concerts and much more. It's a packed schedule and everyone that sets up this entire event does a really good job. It's a great place to spend on Saturday or Sunday, and this only happens once a year. It's like the Renaissance Festival except Japanese stuff. And the younger people dress up as fictional characters from the favorite Japanese anime or game instead of knights and kings at the Ren Faire. And some dress in kimonos or other Japanese outfits. Well, 90% of the people are in normal clothes so don't worry... Just come enjoy the good times and warmish weather. :) read more

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A fun little festival in the historic Heritage Square (emphasis on the little, it's only about 20 vendors and then 2 stages). Stepping out of the parking garage, I felt transported to Japan (or at least how I imagine Japan... never been there)! It smelled like street food cooking/being fried everywhere, the crowds were bustling and a little pushy, and there was an overall air of chaos and unique outfits/hair/costumes. Lines for the food were looooong. So long I didn't even bother getting something to eat although the Snoh ice booth caught my eye, as well as the Takoyaki. I watched a few shows on one of the stages. There was a J-pop dance group/band... I think called Pink Sugar? I can't say that's my type of music, but I thought they put in a good effort and had good energy. I also watched some of the shinkendo dojos perform (my boyfriend included in there). That was also entertaining and I liked how the announcers narrated and explained things. It was an educational experience! Overall, a great little event. Fun way to spend some time with family and friends a learn more about another culture. read more

food is great. service is great with employees. chill vibes. come to find out owner keeps tips. low rating due to owner keeping tips. tips do not go to employees!! read more

In short, the matsuri is fun, lots to see and do. The food overall is a big disappointment. From the sukiyaki to the nikuman and the kremepan, everything was overpriced for mediocre flavors and inauthentic dishes. If you are interested in buying Japanese stuff, this is a great place to get bargains. I can't believe how inexpensive some of the things are here. My son, who just returned from Japan on his mission, just kept shaking his head and saying these things should not be cheaper here as an import. There are fun acts to catch on the stages. You will have a variety of cultural offerings. I just wish some of these Caucasians would learn the correct pronunciation of the Japanese words and terms. It is free to get in but you will need to pay for parking somewhere. We paid $8 at the Catholic Diocese right across the street. My son paid $12 at another garage. They really need to figure out the foot traffic by the food booths. Just too crowded. Overall, wonderful event. read more

Great place to spend the day! Check out the festival program to see when the martial arts and music performances begin. The food is as delicious as it smells. Don't forget to check out the bonsai tree display! Been going here for years and the event keeps getting bigger and better. read more

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It's not the biggest or most extravagant festival but you can tell these folks really put their heart into it. Had an opportunity to meet the Japanese General Consul and what a sweet man. The demonstrations were great from Kyudo archery, Bujinkan jujutsu, folk dancing, and of course Taiko drums. My family had a great time and it was enough to tucker out my 3 year old for a good afternoon nap. We met some great artists and there was a decent showing of different foods. read more

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Matsuri is a yearly festival that takes place in downtown Phoenix every spring. I have been attending (and volunteering) at this festival for more than 5 years and it's grown overwhelmingly in that time. Matsuri started as a major showcase and auction for koi owners in the valley but it has grown to a big event that's enjoyable for everyone. The festival features vendors selling native and pop-culture items from Japan, a display of Bonsai and fine art, and entertainment of martial arts, music and fashion. Keep an eye on the website for dates and information. read more

Arizona Matsuri - Festivals Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I'll freely admit this event was WAY bigger than I anticipated. I knew this event took up most of Heritage Square, but the entire Matsuri also extends to the Mercado across the street. There's no shortage of things to see and do at Arizona Matsuri and the festival does a pretty amazing job encompassing as many facets of Japanese culture as possible into two city blocks. At times walking through the crowds felt like walking through a Comicon convention as many were decked out in Anime costumes and other mythical characters. While still others were dressed to the nines in authentic traditional Japanese attire. Its no wonder then that on mid-Sunday the festival was packed with patrons when I arrived. Admission is free to the Matsuri and Heritage Square is decked out for the occasion. You'll see Japanese Bonzai tree displays, an area where tea ceremonies are performed, and the dome archway of the square is lined with Japanese lanterns and various glass designs. And of course along the main walkways you'll see tons of vendors. In fact the vendor booths extend all the way along Monroe Street from 5th to 7th Streets. I also counted four performance stages (2 in the Mercado, 2 in the square) where various performances of Japanese music, dance, fighting styles and historical reenactments were taking place. The vendor booths included Geishas doing face paintings, vendors selling comic books, Japanese traditional clothing vendors, Buddhist art vendors, and various others. And of course there were the food and drink vendors, which of course was my main motivation for making an appearance. I couldn't honestly tell you how authentic most of the vendors were as my experience with Japanese cuisine is limited primarily to seafood and rice dishes. That said, it just so happens the festival is right at the front door step of Nobuo, arguably Phoenix's best Japanese restaurant. Nobuo is run by James Beard award winning chef Nobuo Fakoda and is located right in Heritage Square across from Bar Bianco. I've been to Nobuo a couple of times and the food is excellent (albeit pricey) and is not just some sushi or teppanyaki restaurant. No, chef Nobuo is serving many Japanese items you likely haven't seen or heard of here in the valley, but I can say from experience its worth the adventure. The restaurant was open during the festival, but as I'd already been to Nobuo I decided to take a shot at the outside vendors this go around. I had $20 to spend so I looked to stretch my dollars as best I could. The one dish that was selling like hot cakes was takoyaki (basically little battered balls of mined octopus). I would've tried it but the lines for these things were insane at every vendor selling them, so I looked elsewhere. Instead I started with a Chicken Katsu combo plate from Nagasaki Grill. This dish included fried panko chicken strips, an egg roll, chicken yakatori, macaroni salad, gyoza, white rice, and half an orange. Total cost, $10. I really liked the gyoza and the macaroni salad especially. The rest of the dish was fine, not great, but fine. Next I went to the Arizona Buddhist Temple booth where they were selling Nikuman. A steamed bun (I absolutely love steamed buns) stuffed with ground beef, pork, and veggies. Total cost, $3. Bun was steamed perfectly and the meat and veggies were delicious. While watching one of the performances I also grabbed a Teriyaki Chicken Stick from food truck Island Loco. For $2 you get about 5-6 pieces of cooked teriyaki chicken lined up on a stick for easy consumption. That'll do. And finally for dessert I skipped the snoh vendors this go around and instead went to the Asahi Bakery booth. There they had a giant piece of baked cheesecake for $5. I simply cannot say no to cheesecake. This version is more of a dried cheesecake rather than the cold dense versions I'm used to. Still, plenty of flavor and a nice hearty portion to finish off my culinary adventure. The organizers definitely worked in as many tables and chairs as possible for the event, but with crowds this large, finding places to sit down was a little bit a challenge. Fortunately there's plenty of green space in Heritage Square so I grabbed a spot on the lawn while eating my goodies. There's also a beer garden (albeit a small one) setup next to Royal Coffee in the square. All things considered, a really cool event and a great showcase of Japanese culture in all its various forms. Long term, the event may need a bigger venue to accommodate the throngs of festival goers and the numerous vendors that operate here. But for now this is definitely an event that I could bring groups of friends and family to and enjoy for hours. Just remember to get there early if you've got a hankering for some takoyaki. read more

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Way too crowded. I know that's not the festivals fault and really, it's a good thing but there's not enough space for a festival this size. The lines for the food are crazy and the prices are way too high for very unimpressive food. And of course the lines go right through the walking path. The beer garden is an awesome shaded spot with breathing room though! And come on, moms! I'm a mom too and I would never be obnoxious and bring a giant bulky-ass stroller. Get a sitter. Your baby doesn't care about this. They're not missing out. No joke, one inconsiderate bitc...woman had a freaking 8 year old in one! There were a few things that were cool like the drum performance and story telling but really this is just a gathering for anime nerds. Not a lot of vendors selling cultural items mostly just pokemon crap. But if you're into that this festival is for you. It's basically a mini comicon. I really don't want to be negative but honestly this wasn't worth the drive or parking charge. read more

Being big fans of Japanese culture, the lovely lady and I were quite excited to discover there is an annual 'Festival of Japan' in downtown Phoenix. The Japanese are cool people... let's get this straight... whenever you come across something in life that is awesome; nine times out of ten you'll find yourself saying "Hey... I think that started in Japan". (My blatant love of everything Japan is probably coming through quite loud and clear here...) Even though it was quite rainy the weekend of the festival, we decided it was still worth it to brave the harsh weather (harsh weather = it was sprinkling, and there were a few small puddles to hop over... hey it's Arizona!). We went on Sunday and despite being a little worried that they'd be wrapping everything up... the festival was pretty much in full swing. There were probably about 50-60 vendors sprinkled around and in Heritage Square (In case you didn't know, as a point of reference Heritage Square is where Pizzeria Bianco is). On top of the vendors there were probably 8-10 different food places, some offering extensive menus and others offering more specific things. The high point of the vendors for us was the bonsai trees... which were so damn cool... we've known about bonsai trees for a long time but somehow seeing these ones in person made us leave with a "must get a bonsai tree" mindset. The food was pretty tasty... we indulged in quite a few random things like mochi, spicy noodles, a chicken skewer, and some shaved ice. The food wasn't jaw droppingly good, but it did the trick and was pretty good for what it was. The main reason you should go to this though isn't the food or the vendors... it's for the dyn-o-mite people watching! The cosplayers were out in full effect for this and there were all sorts of weird, wacky, and flat out interesting outfits. If seeing overweight middle aged men dressed in odd ninja outfits and young women randomly sporting furry tails sounds interesting to you... then you'll probably have as much fun as we did. I sure hope this festival continues, Phoenix really needs more local flavor like this throughout the year to keep things interesting... we'll definitely be back next year! read more

Great festival! Because my husband lived in Japan for several years, we had to go both days this year. Ate, watched the entertainers, ate again, went through the booths, ate some more. You get the idea. If you are planning on a meal, I would suggest going late morning or late afternoon. The food area was horribly crowded from about 1-3. My favorite things this year were the drummers, bonsai trees, and getting my name written in Japanese calligraphy on a very pretty paper! It's over for now, but there's always next year! read more

I go to this festival every year and it is always pretty much the same. 4 stars because the food lines are always so long, take up a bunch of space and just never get better. You would think after all these years of activating in this space they would figure better options. Overall I enjoy the festival and will return for years to come! read more

Even though it was rainy and chilly, we had a fun time at Matsuri. It's a two day festival celebrating Japan. The event is held at Heritage Park downtown. The food was delicious, and there was about 10food vendors to choose from. There were even more merchandise vendors that I imagined there would be. I ended up purchasing a wind chime, a couple bonsai trees, and a sushi making kit. It was a little pricey, but there were many options to choose from, so not so shabby. The musicians and performers were truly amazing. I can not recall the name of the group performing with all the drums, but they were so exciting! Please go check this our next spring if you don't have plans! Make these your plans. read more