I've always loved going here over the past decades, but I hadn't been in awhile. For me, it was the first time I'd had their yakisoba noodles. They are definitely one of the more recent additions. I LOVED them - very flavorful, even though they were only veg. Gobbled down half of one while there and returned later to pick up 2 more to go. I will be getting these again for sure. Nice to have the chi chi dango as well. I'd say this item is also a more recent offering. On the other hand, I was disappointed in the amount of beef on the teri beef skewers for the price. Not sure if this was intentional or not, but they wrapped them up very carefully (perhaps to hide the paltry offering?). Also in the past, I believe you got a discount if you purchased a set quantity (maybe 3?), but that was no longer an option. Or maybe that's only at a different Obon in the area. read more

This year was our first time going to the Obon Festival in Mountain View. I had been to the temple for a different event but was excited when I heard they had an obon festival! Before you go, you have to keep in mind the type of event you are attending. This is held at a Buddhist temple and all of the food, activities, and items for sale are organized by volunteers. So, you can't go expecting amazing gourmet food. However,I think they do a wonderful job planning the annual event. Parking-They had parking attendants directing cars where to park. They have an impressively large parking area (yes it's dirt and not paved). Parking is free. You can also look for parking on nearby streets but it's a little tricky. Food- They have outdoor booths where you can order food individually, or you can line up inside (to avoid the hot sun) and order everything together and pay at the register. There was udon, chicken salad, chicken teriyaki, gyoza, hot dogs, spam musubi, manju, sushi, tempura, chi chi dangos, corn, iced tea, shaved ice, etc. Prices are pretty reasonable but remember to bring cash. They have plenty of indoor seating inside the auditorium. Activities- Carnival children's games like ring toss, fishing for a plastic duck, ping pong toss, etc. Games were very inexpensive (think 50 cents per turn). BINGO and raffle with cash prizes. They also had taiko drumming while we were there. read more

Mountain View Obon Odori - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Sorry to disagree so much with the FTR but, we went to this 'festival' on Saturday at 4pm and there was nothing... to... do. Exhibits had signs saying they wouldn't be open until Sunday and the small small festival had very little to do or see. We watched 2 performances of the drums, I bought some strawberry shortcake (which was only ok) and then we headed south to Los Gatos for the day. I felt jipped that I went to all the trouble to go but when I got there, there was nothing to do or see. There was a reallllllllllllllllly long line to get into some building by the flowers but we were really done by that point. We felt like we'd been lured there when they weren't ready for the public, just so they could get some dinero or something. Maybe Sunday was better? :-( I'm only giving 2 stars cause the FTR likes it so much... read more

Mountain View Obon Odori - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Mountain View, California

First time to Mtn View Obon Festival Sun 7/22/12. I've been to the SJ Obon before & this one is smaller. Parking is available in a dirt lot behind the church, I did park in Safeway lot though they have signs that say No Obon Parking, nobody enforced it when I went. You do take your chances though. Pay for the food in the booth, I don't know why they have Cashier for, people can write checks up to $150 with ID & get CASH Back I guess. Food I got: Yellow corn with or without butter is 1 for $3 or 2 for $5. A girl buying just one went in with me so we each saved 50c!! Sushi combo box $5 - premade. 3 veggie kind, 2 of those tofu/rice ones. ok. Manju - Japanese sweets $5 - premade & bagged. Will eat them later. Spam Musubi $3 ea- premade & Saran-Wrapped. Thought it was ok, they cut in 2 pieces. I wanted Shave Ice priced $2-$4.50 - line was way long so skipped it. at 12:30pm I watched Taiko drummers - It went on for about 1/2 hr. So hot & I was standing, some seats for Seniors, or just sit on the hill or on curb to watch. There's an indoor dining area - but line was really long so skipped it. Cultural Area indoors - Flower arrangement was nice to take pics of; Rock Art; Rock Dolls. Nice to look at. I didn't stay for the dancing in the evening - that's nice to see. Money spent just on food: $15.50 CASH! read more

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Guess who was in the South bay again! that's two wk ends in a row that i was down south, and darken my farmers tan -___-; Having just been to the SJ Obon Odori, it was nice to go to the Mountain View Obon festival! The sun was out once again so i got to work on my tan even tho I didn't want to darken my farmers tan -_-. The setup is more of a mixture of things to do compared to the SJ obon fest. The carnival games and food stands were alot better and the prizes were not as cheap. The food ranged from chicken teriyaki, beef teriyaki, corn, polish sausage, shaved ice and a few other items that i can't remember. I didn't reallie come for the food, came to check out the performances and games. The games were pretty fun, gf and i played Bingo for a while and another challenging but fun game was trying to toss ping pong balls into this small lil glass jars of water. if you got one in you get a gold fish and when you get it in the very center one tat was stacked on top of another one u get an even better gold fish! I won two, one cheaper gold fish and one reallie nice gold fish! :D http://media1.px.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/t-TMLiK65cQztLRkcXt5lg/l They had a beautiful selection of flowers and potted plants for sale as well as other Japanese items. The cultural center was filled with students works of art set up as well as ikebana and various different Japanese trees.The taiko performances were good but it was hard to actually see what was going on even after standing on top of a picnic table. Overall the Mtn View Obon was very fun and i will look forward to heading down south again next year for it. Usually the Mtn. View Obon follows the SJ Obon festival. just so happens this was the wk end after the SJ one. *ikebana- the art of arranging flowers or way of the flowers http://media1.px.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/bQDEqGTQIXkgV-5eO20i6w/l http://media1.px.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/aSi9xdaDt_F0Tq4qdGF7jw/l read more

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This was a smaller festival, with taiko drum performances and food booths outside with food in the gym as well.There were more different kinds of food in the gym, but the lines were HUGE!!!!!The line literally was as long as the building!I had food from the booths outside including chicken teriyaki and Hawaiian shave ice with bean dessert and sweet condensed cream.The chicken teriyaki was very big--a good deal for five bucks!The dessert was good as well, and I also had sake.A common theme with Obon festivals seem to be gigantic lines for food.If there was a way to space things out a bit, that would be an improvement.it probably doesn't help that the festival doesn't start until noon, though.The tour of the temple was very interesting,and quite educational to non-Buddhists.The minister was from Obama,Japan.I really enjoyed the tour. read more

Mountain View Obon Odori - At the Mountain View obon Odori festival. - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Not gonna lie, I feel almost guilty for liking the festival at Mountain View a lot more than the one in San Jose... See I'm a born and raised San Jose-ian, and I suppose I SHOULD prefer the festival closest to me, but... Mountain View's Obon festival takes the cake. The activities are way more personal. The drum show is just amazing, the singing is amazing, the booths are amazing, and just about everything else is amazing. You feel a real sense of community at this event because it's much smaller than San Jose's Obon Festival, so you see the same folks over and over again. You come here, you go get their shaved ice.... because that's all you'll need to worry about. One thing San Jose has over Mountain View is the group line dance which I've always found to be really fun and really laid back. I highly recommend attending this event! read more

I enjoy going to all the Bay Area obons during the summertime, but the Mountain View is one I definitely go to every single year. First we hit the dining area where we pile up on hot udon (I would've ordered it cold had it been a much hotter day), teriyaki chicken and manju (the chestnut kind is the best!). Then, after a little digestion time looking at the plants and flowers and then the cultural exhibits, we watched all the games for the kiddies and then ordered up some tempura and hot buttered, corn on the cob - yummy! We got some coffee later and polished off a couple more manju, and then later we got chicken salad and more corn on the cob! Note to self: bring dental floss so that I can smile appropriately after eating corn on the cob. We sat down and enjoyed a few games of bingo! - the most lively bingo proceedings I have ever seen, lots of screaming and cheering. We didn't win anything but felt satisfied that at least our money would go towards the church. We bought some spam musubi for the road and we were entirely happy with our day! A nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon. read more

This was my fourth time coming to the festival this year. I was really looking forward to all the fun and excitement, but towards the end I was rather disappointed. I didn't like the hours of operation. I thought it was going to be an all day event, but lasted for a few hours. Oh well. I thought coming here around 7pm, my boyfriend and I would be late and there wouldn't be any more sake. Nope...they had plenty! I didn't try any of the food at all this year. I guess hanging out with a bunch of frat boys does me no good. They pretty much stood by with the rest of the clan next to the sake and beer booth. Lame! The cost of the sake and beer was up a dollar compared to the SJ festival. Boo!! Parking is a hassle too. I just got lucky that I found parking near by. There was a lot more going on here with the games, dances, etc. But it was crowded and I didn't like getting pushed around by drunk people either after 2 hours of sake and beer. C'mon!! Plus...someone puked all over my foot and the bottom of my jeans. Eww!! I had to use the bathroom to clean myself up. Luckily, the guys in line were nice enough to let me through without having me to wait. I'm not sure if I plan on coming here again next year. I get the feeling the same thing would happen. I know the same faces will appear and will be standing in the same area. Nothing new and exciting about coming here anymore. I just like the $4 sake and $2 beer...if they keep jacking up the prices...forget it. read more

Mountain View is one of my top 4 favorite NorCal obons to go to, as it is a beautiful and large venue with a good variety of food. From what I hear, their unagi is really great, however it is always the case that I arrive when many things are sold out...so if you plan on getting some good Japanese and American food, go earlier rather than later... Odori (Japanese dancing) is fun and usually has a great number of people - less than San Jose and about the same as Palo Alto Obon. This year, it went by a little too quick for my liking, but was still fun! Parking was pretty tough, but the lot that they have is really convenient and pretty spacious. With good food, fun dancing, and a lot of great Buddhist people, in combination with the lovely temple grounds, I'm sure I'll be going to Mtn. View Obon for many more years to come. read more

After going to the obon in SJ japantown, we stopped by this one which is a lot closer to our house. I thought it would be the same old, but really the two were fairly different. The setting of this one, held entirely on the grounds of the buddhist church, was unique. They have some beautiful landscaping there. We also noticed the food was very reasonably priced. A corn on the cob which would cost $4 at your average fair was only $2. They also had a wide variety of food that I didn't see at the SJ obon. They also had sake for $3. We had a great time and it appeared everyone else did too. We definitely comin back again next year since they ran out of spam masube on saturday night! read more

I haven't been to an Obon Festival before and missed out on the San Jose event the week before. I had a deep hankering for shave ice and so off we went to the festival. Parking is not the best situation as it's a smaller venue and event goers have to park in the field next door and in the surrounding neighborhood and walk. The line for the shave ice rivals a Disneyland ride - no joke, complete with a winding stanchion. Longest line I ever stood in for shave ice, but man was it worth it! Closest thing I could get to without going to Hawaii. And the lines didn't lie! We made use of our time in line and "multi-tasked" with DH going to get us Tempura and Roasted Sweet Corn while I stood in line. We ate those while patiently waiting our turn. The Tempura was yummy though a small portion for $5 and didn't include any dipping sauce. The Roasted Sweet Corn was sweet and flavorful. I wanted to take some home! I'm definitely coming back next year for these goodies! read more

This festival was incredibly popular, so it's wise to go as early as possible of you don't want to park far away, in the dust and weeds. The lot was packed 30 minutes into opening time. We arrived just in time to watched the taiko drums performance. It was spectacular but we wished it was lengthier. There were mostly food and games. Food choices were bountiful...sushi, manju, teriyaki, noodles, hotdogs, chili, tempura, corn, strawberry shortcake, beer, soda, and shaved ice. The deliciously savory tempura was a good deal ($6 for an assortment of veggies and 2 shrimp pieces). To escape from the heat, we found our way into the air conditioned gym, where tables and chairs were set up throughout the entire open space. We opted to sit on the bleachers and watch a couple of cute little girls dressed in kimonos. There were games with prizes (toys and even goldfish) to keep the kids happy, including bingo (popular with adults too), put put, coin toss, and grab bag. We definitely wished there were more shopping to do, other than the sparse selection of aprons, cards, books, and plants. It didn't take us long to finish seeing everything. read more

Last year was better, this year wasn't so great, the food was not good at all, last year they had a really good teriyaki chicken with rice and this year no rice and the chicken was lousy, taste like an old shoe. I don't know if I will come back unless they bring back the good teriyaki chicken and rice. read more

like many special events like these, parking is terrible, but here there's a dirt dead grassy area lot where boy scouts guide you. I can't tell if this obon or if sj japantown is bigger or which is better. the food here didn't really amuse me since a lot of it wasn't something I would eat. from what I can recall there were: corn on the cob, spam musubi, chili (rice and fritos), corn dog, tempura, chicken salad, chicken 1/4 teriyaki beer teriyaki kebabs, sushi, polish, strawberry shortcake, steak fries,beer, sake, non-alcoholic drinks, and shaved ice. udon hot or cold were in the temple gym, everything else served inside is the same outside. cultural room wasn't anything special like I had hoped...just handmade art by kids and the elderly. there were a few games about 50¢ each except bingo. bingo was $1/game with 1 card or $2/game with 3 cards. no kimono or other Japanese clothing sold. you'll take the back way following the sign leading to middlefield rd as you follow the exit sign in the parking lot. the event was just ok. just disappointed in the food options and entertainment. udon weren't the thick ones you always see since they used kishimen (yum). I wouldn't mind being dragged along to this event. just wouldn't come here on my own will. food including drinks can range to $1~$5 and it's not at the shoreline theater. read more

Mountain View Obon Odori - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Like comfort food, the Obon Festival reminds me of home. As a kid, I always looked forward to going to Obon season. I didn't know what or why we were celebrating. I just went for the food, fun, and dancing. Obon is to honor our ancestors. Bon Odori or Bon Dance is like a folk song, often describing history or specialization of a particular region. Now I can appreciate the symbolism and of course the food. Grilled teriyaki chicken - check Grilled teriyaki beef - check Tempura - check Sushi - check Manju - check (go early, they run out after a few hours) Gyoza - check Udon - check Beer - check Shave ice - check You can tour the temple, your kids can play games, listen and watch the taiko exhibition in awe, or meet up with friends and revel in a small part of Japan's rich history and customs. And most of all, go at night to watch the Bon Dance. These ordinary people practice for months prior to the Obon festivities. That's pretty cool in my book. An exhibition performed twice a year (Saturday and Sunday evening) for which you practice weekly or daily for a few months. Interest seems to be declining. A few years ago it was crowded and you were shoulder to shoulder everywhere you went. Today, attendance seems to be down about 40%. The cost of food is also a little more than the food at the SJ Obon according to my friend who worked it last week. If you got this far and you're thinking to yourself that this looks a lot like my San Jose Obon review, you're wrong! They just all look alike. read more

Food to get: Chili over rice (I got one to-go AND I ate one there, no shame) Shaved Ice (da works) corn (however many you can stuff your face with, they're delicious) additonal food we got: Tempura sushi combo chicken teriyaki yea we ate a lot but oh whales. It wasn't super crowded when we went on Sunday so that was nice. The line for shaved ice was realllly long though but went by quickly. Another note! dogs are welcome here :) just pick up after their poo poos please. So glad that obon season is here. read more

This was my first obon festival and all i have to say is WOW! there were a ton of people there drunk and having a good time. Arrival: My friends and i arrived at around 4pm when it opened, so that i can take some pictures of the Taiko performance, but for some reason everyone who was watching was 6+ feet.... im only 5'7 and i got the short end of the stick that day. Parking was hectic i had to park about 6 blocks away... which made it seem even longer because i was buzzed when we left. Food & Drinks: * * * (3) All i have to say is CHEAP alcohol! At the price of $4 beers and $2 sake shots (which were pretty much double shots) so $6 sake bombs. They had 5 different types of beer i could only remember the ones i drank which were sapporo and asahi. Asahi was good with the sake bombs imo. The sweet corn was addicting! Other than that the spam musubi was kind of dry (maybe its just me), the chicken teriyaki was nice and tender mine had a slight burnt taste, the tempura was lame $5 for a plate full of fried veggies and one shrimp tempura...pass on that, polish dog sandwich tasted like....well a polish dog sandwich. Didn't get a chance to try the strawberry shortcake... not a big fan of cake sorry Lori K. Activities: * * * * * (5) After a long 1hr of camping near the booze booth we headed over to the shooting gallery where they had flimsy crossbows with rogue arrows that didn't go where you wanted them to. Let me say this: no calculation's can make you win at this game its 25% aim 75% luck. My friends and i ended up winning 2 samurai swords which we had a long drawn out battle to the death for the honor of our families. At some point during that battle we realized that we were 22 years old and playing with plastic swords we called it a tie and had a beer but it was good to relive that childhood fantasy once in a while, on our way back to the shooting gallery we gave the swords too two little boys who didn't win one (which made their day because it would have made my day if i was 6 or 7 and someone gave me a awesome looking black samurai sword) This is when we noticed the Gold Fish game, at this point we were drunk and we wanted to feel like winners with little to no work needed. We ended up at the booth for a good hour and a half, spent about $80 won 20+ fishes and gave them all away to the little kids. (being the Buddhist that i am and knowing that the money goes towards the temple so we might as well help everyone out) Bingo...all i have to say is that game is rigged....damn that guy who won the George foreman grill. Nevada Match Game spent about $40 and wont 8 back... i tell myself its for the temple and it helps me sleep at night. Atmosphere: * * * * (4) Everyone was really friendly even some of the girls talked to us which was made it fun, although i didn't speak to nor asked for their names being the shy guy that i am i was support for my friend Ken and Phong. read more

I live like... 5 minutes walk from here. It would the be height of laziness for me not to go! Plus, got to support my dad, who is volunteering with his kendo club! And grab me some tasty tempura! Which, everyone, you really shouldn't miss. It's always tons of fun, with cheap games, usually around the 50 cent mark. If you are itching for a cheap thrill with a date, you shouldn't miss this Obon festival. Come on... shaved ice from $2 for the basic, to maybe at most $6 for all the toppings and fancy shmancy stuff? There's also strawberry shortcake, manju, corn, spam musubi... the list goes on. Open late too! read more

Why does everyone insist on parking in the street which is lined up 5 blocks away when you can park at Safeway in front of the Temple? No dust included and all you need to do is cross the street. First time I have ever seen sushi reduced to carnival food. They have spam musubi here, cant remember the price but I didnt bother. Some exhibits were close and will be opened on Sunday which was quite a bummer. The only things we saw were some stalls of food, some games and the drums. I was expecting something more but I guess this place is just too small for a big event. Do people really like Bingo that much? Basically you just come here to spend money on food you can buy cheaper in Safeway. read more

I love coming to this event rather than the one in downtown SJ because it seems more of a community event rather than the ra ra one of SJ. I'm not Japanese but I still love to support the Mountain View community. The lines are can get long but for the most part they are manageable. They sell all types of food from chicken teriyaki, beef teriyaki, spam musubi, strawberry shortcake, shaved ice, corn dog, french fries, chicken salad, tempura, sushi and mochi. Things to do: Play games such as bingo, miniature golf, dime toss and others. Best things to get: Corn - keeping sprinkling on the salt & pepper Alcohol - Hey, it's for charity right? French Fries - Crispy, Thick and hot! Tip: If you do decide to drink, make sure you have a DD. They have cops on the premise. read more

I go to the Mountain View Obon Festival every year without fail. Not only because it is a tradition in my family, but I love coming here for the delicious food, games, and culture. If you are coming on SATURDAY: For the best parking opportunities, I would suggest arriving anywhere between 4-4:30pm/ Parking gets very crazy later on in the night, but during this time span, there are usually boyscouts that will guide you into a spot. Coming around this time on Saturday is also the best option if you planning on eating in the gym. The line is always so long later on in the evening and it could take up to an hour to get your food. I have tried everything (except the hotdogs) at the Obon but the absolute must-try foods are the: Chicken teriyaki - light and dark meat options available. Beef teriyaki skewers Spam Musubi Tempura - fresh, lightly battered, extremely crispy, and not oily like other tempura dishes I have had. You also have the option of vegetarian combo or veggie/seafood combo. "Take out" vendor - Try everything! The age sushi, combo sushi box, chirashi sushi. So delicious! Tastes exactly how my grandma used to make it. Shave ice - I don't particularly like shaved ice, but when you add the beans and the condensed milk on top..OMG. Get there early, the line is also unbelievably long, especially on the hotter days. If you are coming on SUNDAY: Do not forget to play a few rounds of bingo. Sundays are when they have the really cool grand prizes for the winners. Last Sunday, a PS4 was the grand prize and they were also giving away a couple of $50 Amazon gift cards for the winners. Also do not forget to stay for the dancing towards the end of the night. It is the main event where you can see all of the beautiful kimonos and even join in some of the dances. This is your opportunity to really immerse yourself into the Japanese culture. As for food: Try everything again because on Sundays, the food sells out FAST! The strawberry shortcake, corn dogs, and French fries are usually the first to go. Then everything else begins to run out shortly after. Besides the food and the dancing, do not forget to check out the arts and crafts section in the main gym, the beautiful flowers/succulents for sale, and other displays located just outside of the temple. An amazing Japanese tradition that you do not want to miss. read more

One of the best Obon festivals in the Bay Area. Mountain View Obon Odori has been consistently good throughout the years I have been there. They offer a large variety of activities for visitors to do: Shopping: There is the Plant and Flowers stand where you can find some great plants for cheap if you go there early! Inside the building there are the Arts and Crafts where you can find handmade gifts. Games: There is Bingo, pull-tab, and raffle for the adults. For the kids there are a ton of games: Ring Toss, Crossbow Game, Fishing, Duck Grab, etc.. Food: Large Variety of food, from Chili-Cheese fries to Manju, they have something for everyone. 5/5! read more

Hmmmmmm Perhaps if I didnt go here with an expectation then I would score it higher for what it was as opposed to what it wasnt... but with that being said, this particular festival wasnt half bad. Its a festival for family... period. No drunkedness that I was expecting... and that's alright! ;D read more

Ok, where have I been all these years? Yesterday was the first time that I went to a Obon festival. I know...right? There were crowds of people...we had a great time munching and drinking. Hmm...spam musubi, tempura, iced teas, sake, beer, chili cheese chips or rice, chicken teriyaki, beef teriyaki, etc. I can name so many more...ahh...parking was crazy, but we had fun....either way it supports a great organization. :) Lots of families were there too! read more

Perhaps I'm used to the fun and festivities of the San Jose Obon which I truly enjoy going to each year but for me, this event was kind of disappointing. First off, I find it odd that their hours start later on Saturday and are way longer on Sunday (more of an all day affair), to me that just doesn't make sense, it should be the other way around allowing people to just hang out and watch the shows, participate in the games, eat the food, etc. Parking was difficult and the whole event was much smaller. We pretty much went for about 10 minutes, walked around the whole thing and left. read more

Today is the second day of a two day Obon festival that comes around once a year. If you miss it this year, put it on your calendar for 2014. This is a family staycation destination with something for everyone that gives you a wonderful sense of community. There is alot of community building going on here. Sweet! There is a great kiddie/ teen area where moms and dads are standing beside their kids celebrating their win of some great prizes like lighted saber swords, giant blow up hammers, stuffed green alligators and glittering goldfish. Lots of smiles and memory making begins from opening to closing. A community hall houses some craftspeople sanding blocks of wood to silk cover and add to the beautiful doll collection displayed nearby. Clever children art pieces are displayed alongside breathtaking bonsai and flower arrangements in different styles of Ikebana in a respite from the heat and crowds. As I left this building, I spied a flurry of volunteers preparing the ingredients for the chili over rice bowls amidst towers of ingredients for the food booths. Food booths are dotted throughout the grounds. Tempura, polish dogs, chicken salad, french fries, manju, best ever corn dogs, shaved ice, musubi and Italian sodas are some of the foods offered outside. Inside the church hall, a queue takes you to a cafeteria style offering of cold drinks, chicken teriyaki, beef teriyaki skewers, chirashi, combo sushi, futomaki rolls, manju, strawberry shortcake, hot and cold udon with cucumber skimono and/or kimchee, and hot green tea. The line is tolerable with the things to see along the way. There were ninja bath ducks for sale, crafty plant ornaments, rakkyo bulbs for ambitious gardeners that include the recipe, bird house gourd seeds, obon odori dance accessories, children's books, church items, rice sack aprons, t shirts, racks of patterned aprons, then two rooms of very nice crafted items. This is a nice crowd of people so just ask the people behind you to hold your place in line if you choose to buy something. Lets not forget the best thing about this festival...the Sunday evening Obon Odori. Come as you are and join the dancing that begins at 7 pm. See you there before the festival closes at 8:30 pm. Before closing, I'll be in the bingo booth having won the grand prize... read more

I was looking forward to the Obon Festival, but was sorely disappointed. I wondered why it opened so late in the day on Saturday, but then discovered that even though it was technically open, most events weren't starting until Sunday. That really ruined the whole thing for me, all excitement gone, and I couldn't even get interested in the food. We did stay and watch a couple of the Taiko drum groups and they were entertaining, but couldn't make up for the fact that there wasn't much to do. We gave in and left after an hour. read more

I volunteered here briefly with a group, helping out at a booth, then hung around the rest of the day. Music: there were some interesting performances, but the Taiko group was amazing! Food: such a large selection-- sushi (several kinds-- futomaki, spam musubi, california rolls, inari, chirashizushi), sweets (manju, ohagi), corn, udon, unagi, tempura, teriyaki chicken and beef, typical US fair food (corn dogs, fries) shave ice, and more! The food quality is a lot better than some Japanese restaurants in the area and really reasonably priced for a festival. Drink: fairly reasonably priced for a fair - $3 for sake, $4 for draft beer, $5 for japanese beer. About the same as beer prices at restaurants or pubs. Games: many different games to try, but they're a little crowded. Fun nonetheless. Dance: I took part in the dance. If you can, I recommend going to one (or more) of the practices that the temple offers in the weeks preceding obon. It's more fun when you know what you're doing, though admittedly 90% of people are just fudging it and having a good time. Everyone messes up and there are adorable children and everyone is laughing and smiling. Watch out for drunk old men who seem to get in the way though! I didn't get around to seeing any of the exhibits, mostly because my friends went without me. :( The flower and plant sale was cool though! Great excuse to dress up in a yukata and look pretty and have fun! :) The temple seems really accepting of everyone in general too, which is nice and makes the festival more inclusive. read more

This past Saturday was the first time I went to the Obon Odori in Mountain View and could tell the different right off the bat from the one in SJ. People were super chill and the crowd had a great vibe. The kids were exciting playing the games whether they won or lost and there was even a grab bag where kids won everytime! How cool is that? With Japanese beer for $5 and Sake for $3 you can't beat that price and get a nice buzz on if you so choose. By 8:30 PM they ran out of spam masubi and a few people I knew weren't too happy about it, but that means they sold out which is good for the event. =) I like that since it was in the Buddhist temple you could also go to the real toilets and not have to hit the porta johns. Overall everyone had a great time and I look forward to another great event next year. read more

I didn't know what to expect at my first Buddhist festival, but it was a charming, not-so-large festival (thank goodness!). The set up of the Festival made me feel like I've entered a small Japanese village. I love the children in their traditional outfits, the very friendly senior citizens who were so sweet, and the yummy food that wasn't overpriced. Parking was easy. Really enjoyed myself. read more

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We went on Sunday and had a fun day. They had game booths for kids. The food was good, we had the corn (super sweet and crisp), yummy chicken salad, teriyaki chicken, sushi, strawberry short cake and ice coffee. They even had a row of flowers and plants, I couldn't resist so I bought some flowers. The Taiko drum Teams were so good. The young players were so adorable and just as good. We definitely will go again next year. read more

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After attending the San Jose Japantown Obon, Jayme N. Suggested we check out the much larger Obon Festival in Mountain View. I absolutely loved the variety of food options such as the spam musubi, chili fries, teriyaki chicken and beef, and the tempura. The sake and beer tent was also great. There's tons of games including bingo. I absolutely loved how welcoming the community vibe was. As for parking/getting there, I would definitely recommend to just take VTA or Cal Train since the parking lots looked like chaos to deal with. The church where this is hosted at is probably a good 10-15 minute walk from downtown Mountain View. Overall, if you're up for some delicious Japanese food and down to celebrate the Japanese traditions and culture then definitely check out the Mountain View Obon Festival. read more

The secret teriyaki chicken is outstanding. Who is in charge of creating this dish? They deserve a trophy. I'm looking forward to indulging on Sunday! read more

I go to this purely for the Japan nostalgia, but it really pales in comparison to the real Japanese omatsuris. Meh, it's America so why am I complaining, it's neat they have stuff at all. I just miss the atmosphere of all the Japanese people in their yuukatas and kimonos strolling around munching on takoyaki, unagi, etc, and playing games and having tons of lit lanterns lining the streets. This is a fairly small festival and you will have seen everything there is to see in just a few short minutes. Asakusa beats this atmosphere every day. read more

As a first time "OBON" festival attendee, I can say that I was more than pleased at attending the Mountain View, California- "OBON FESTIVAL-2010". The richness and beauty of the Japanese culture shined through. From the "KIDS" arts and crafts section (which I- an adult, "crashed" and was warmly welcome by the way) to the food to the music everything was amazing. Specifically, I enjoyed making "Orgami" animals. "Origami" is a hands on art which starts out with a simple piece of 5 x 7 index card or paper and ends up as a work of art. Through the guidance of the "Origami" teacher present, I was able to make a frog and a hummingbird. If you are debating whether to attend the MV "OBON FESTIVAL" in 2011- I would not hestitate to say "GIVE IT A GO!!!". Thumbs up to this jewel of a cultural event. read more

This is more a 3.5 star review. My husband and I participated in the odori (dancing) at the Mountain View Obon because we were on vacation and missed the San Jose event that we usually dance in. We knew that MV temple was smaller, so we were not expecting as much in the way of scale, but we were pleasantly surprised. Here is a comparison of the two: Dance Rehearsals: Fewer rehearsals at MV than at SJ and fewer people in attendance. The final rehearsal at MV is held outdoors on the actual dance site, which gives dancers a good feel for the real thing. The MV temple is generous enough to supply free soft drinks to dancers after rehearsals. (San Jose provides ice cream and soft drinks, but for a fee.) Kimono Dressing: SJ has a sign up sheet for kimono dressing appointments. MV does not, so dancers just enter the dressing area to change as they arrive on site. This can make for long periods of waiting to get dressed and less attention from those dressing you. Dancers supply their own attire. Food: MV has FAR nicer food that is of a higher quality than SJ. More variety, larger portions, and much shorter lines. The beef teriyaki was absolutely delicious with large chunks of beef that melted in our mouths! MV also has a couple of booths specifically for take-out bento and sushi. I saw many guests just come in to buy food to take home! Entertainment: We did not see much of the entertainment at MV. Can't really comment. Games: The number of games seemed to be about the same at both events, but MV had more space for their games which were arranged in a "v" shape with larger walkways in between and shorter lines all around. Dances/Music: The quality of the instructors is pretty much equal at both events, but my husband and I much preferred the SJ dances and music to those at MV. SJ has more dances and a longer performance that occurs on 2 nights. MV only has dancing on one night. MV tries to integrate more novelty like carrying artificial flowers in one dance and doing the "baseball dance" where dancers mimic pitching, batting, and referee hand signals. The dancers seem to enjoy it, but I think it just confused many of the guests watching. I heard one caucasian couple commenting that it looked like "the Japanese version of the chicken dance". Some of the same songs are featured at both events, but the dance moves (with the exception of the ubiquitous tanko bushi) are all different. We found the SJ dances to be more intuitive and easier to learn and a couple of the songs at SJ are even accompanied live by the fabulous San Jose Taiko group! It is hard to top that! The Chidori Band performs the music live at both events. Dancing Area: The most significant downside to the MV obon is that it has grown to the point where the dancing area is too small to handle the number of dancers and there appears to be no room to expand. The dancing is held in the parking lot adjacent to the gym. Even with 4 rows of dancers, there was next to no room to properly perform all of the hand motions. Dancers were continually running into one another, getting backed up like cars on the freeway, or just not able to perform the movements at all. This was frustrating at times. There were also no bleachers, so spectators had to stand or sit on the ground. The dancing area for the SJ obon is about 2x as large as MV's with nearly an entire city block for dancing, 2 stages of instructors, bleachers, and more rows of dancers to give people more space. This would partially explain why about 2x the number of dancers attend SJ. Parking: MV has a lot of land for parking, but much of it is an unpaved dirt field behind the temple. Your car will get dusty and you will be inhaling dust all the way to the temple grounds. However, the walk is not very long and there is ample parking marked off for the handicapped. In SJ, guests have to pay a meter or park in a sketchy residential area and walk several blocks to get to the event. I don't know if any spaces are blocked off for the handicapped. Location: The SJ obon benefits from the fact that it is centrally located in Japantown. Guests who have played the games and seen the entertainment can patronize the restaurants and shops. Overall: In comparing the two, I would say that MV had a homier community atmosphere. The food and games are better and the event is less crowded. SJ, though larger and better organized, seems far more "commercial" and I wouldn't say that the festival itself provides more things to do than at MV. However, the dancing experience is superior at SJ on almost all counts. I would say that if you want good food and games, go to MV. If you want to dance, go to SJ. *For those non-Japanese who are worried about looking "out of place" when dancing, there are quite a few dancers of other ethnicities at both festivals. My 6'5 caucasian husband was really comfortable at both the rehearsals and the events themselves. Just show up and have fun!* read more