The Japan-America Society of Houston, Inc. - JASH

09/13/2026

Day 2 of Japan Festival starts NOW!

Come join us to celebrate Japanese culture at Hermann
Park from 10AM to 6PM!

⭕️Entry is free
⭕️All ages welcome
⭕️Lots of activities, food, entertainment, and more!

09/12/2026

Come see the fabulous Yano et Agatsuma tonight at Miller Outdoor Theater🌟

📆17 Saturday, September 12
⏰8:00 PM
📍Miller Outdoor Theatre at Hermann Park
✨Free and open to the public.

YANO ET AGATSUMA
Featuring legendary singer-songwriter and pianist Akiko Yano and acclaimed Tsugaru-shamisen virtuoso Hiromitsu
Agatsuma

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Akiko Yano’s recording debut, and Houston will be the first stop on Yano et Agatsuma’s North American anniversary tour.
Blending Yano’s unmistakable musical voice with Agatsuma’s electrifying approach to the traditional Tsugaru shamisen, this promises to be an unforgettable evening-and a remarkable way to close the first day of Japan Festival Houston.

09/12/2026

09/11/2026

🚀📱 HOUSTON, WE HAVE AN APP!

With so much happening at Japan Festival Houston, how are you going to keep track of it all?

There’s an app for that. 😉

For the first time, you can carry Japan Festival Houston right in your pocket. Check what’s happening, find your way around Hermann Park, save the things you don’t want to miss, and keep up with Festival updates throughout the weekend.

Your Festival. Your schedule. Your way. 🇯🇵

Getting started is easy:
📲 Head to the Apple App Store or Google Play
🔎 Search FESTIVAL PRO (Festival Pro)
🇯🇵 Open the app and find Japan Festival Houston

Download it now and start planning before you get to the Park.

📅 September 12–13
📍 Hermann Park
⏰ 10AM-6PM
✨ FREE admission

One big Festival. One little app. A much easier weekend. 📱❤️

09/10/2026

We’ve been keeping a close eye on the weekend forecast, including that 30% chance of rain—and we may have called in a little extra help. 👀

Meet our teru teru bōzu (てるてる坊主), the traditional Japanese good-weather charm hung in hopes of bringing sunny skies. ☀️🇯🇵

Rest assured a little rain won’t stop the celebration. Japan Festival Houston is a rain-or-shine event, and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone to Hermann Park this weekend! ☀️ ☔️

Of course, safety always comes first. If weather moves through, please follow Festival and park announcements. Miller Outdoor Theatre provides covered shelter, and our team will share any weather-related updates as needed.

So bring your sunscreen, consider a poncho or umbrella, stay weather-aware—and maybe send our teru teru bōzu a little encouragement. ☀️🙏

📅 September 12–13
📍 Hermann Park
⏰ 10AM-6PM
✨ FREE admission | Rain or shine

See you this weekend, Houston! 🇯🇵❤️

09/10/2026

❤️🇯🇵 JAPAN FESTIVAL HOUSTON IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF HOU!

In just a few days, Hermann Park will come alive with Japanese culture—taiko and martial arts, music and dance, artists and traditions, hands-on experiences, family fun, and thousands of people coming together to celebrate the friendship between Houston and Japan.

And admission will be FREE!

That is possible because of an extraordinary community of sponsors, partners and supporters who believe in what Japan Festival Houston brings to our city.

The generosity of many helps us bring Japanese arts and culture to Houston, welcome world-class performers, create hands-on experiences for children and families, support the hundreds of volunteers who make the weekend possible, and keep this celebration open and accessible to everyone.

We are deeply grateful to every company, organization and individual investing in this Festival and in the friendship between Houston and Japan.

We are also proud to present Japan Festival Houston in partnership with our longtime co-sponsors, the City of Houston and Houston Parks and Recreation Department.

To all of our 2026 sponsors: ありがとうございます。Thank you.

When you see their names and logos throughout the Festival this weekend, we hope you’ll join us in recognizing the community behind the celebration. ❤️

📅 September 12–13
⏰ 10AM-6PM�📍 Hermann Park�✨ FREE admission

See all of our 2026 sponsors:�houstonjapanfest.org/sponsors-2026

09/09/2026

🥋🇯🇵 DISCIPLINE. TRADITION. POWER.

From the quiet precision of iaido to the explosive movement of karate—Japan’s martial arts take center stage all weekend at Japan Festival Houston!

The Martial Arts Stage brings together Houston-area dojos and practitioners to demonstrate the techniques, traditions and disciplines behind some of Japan’s most recognized martial arts.

🥋 Aikido
🥋 Karate
🥋 Jujutsu
⚔️ Iaido
⚔️ Kendo
🥷 Taijutsu
💥 Sumo

With demonstrations running throughout Saturday and Sunday, you can discover something different every time you stop by.
And on Saturday at 2:30 PM, get an early taste of what’s coming to the Miller Outdoor Theatre stage when USA Sumomakes a special appearance at the Martial Arts Stage. 💥

A big thank you to the many participating martial arts schools sharing their knowledge and traditions with our Festival community—and to School of Smiling Tiger for generously coordinating this year’s Martial Arts Stage.

📅 September 12–13
⏰ 10AM-6PM
📍 Hermann Park
✨ FREE admission

🥋 See the full Martial Arts Stage schedule and meet the participating dojos:
houstonjapanfest.org/martial-arts-stage-schedule2026

Come watch. Discover. And experience Japan’s martial traditions in action. 🇯🇵

09/07/2026

🍶🇯🇵 SAKE VILLAGE IS BACK!

Raise a glass to Japan—Sake Village returns to Japan Festival Houston this weekend!

Whether you already have a favorite sake or are curious to discover something new, Sake Village is your chance to explore a range of Japanese flavors with two pours for $15. Choose from three tasting experiences featuring selections that range from dry and sweet to sparkling, yuzu and more.

🌾 But this year, there’s more to discover than what’s in your glass.

“From Rice to SAKE: The Hidden Art of Rice Milling” takes you behind the scenes to explore one of the most important—and often overlooked—steps in sake production.

Through interactive displays, illustrated panels, rice samples, a photo opportunity and giveaways, discover how polishing away the outer layers of a grain of rice helps transform something so simple into one of Japan’s most celebrated drinks.

🎟️ ALSO NEW THIS YEAR: PRE-PURCHASE YOUR TASTING TICKET!

Buy your $15 Sake Tasting Ticket in advance, then head to the EXPRESS PICKUP lane at Sake Village to present your ticket and valid photo ID and receive your wristband.

🍶 Two pours | $15
🌾 Explore Rice to SAKE
🎟️ Advance purchase + Express Pickup
🔞 Must be 21+ with valid government-issued photo ID

📅 September 12–13
⏰ 10AM-6PM
📍 Hermann Park

Taste it. Discover how it’s made. Raise a glass to Japan. Kanpai! 🍶

👉 Get your tickets and explore this year’s selections:

houstonjapanfest.org/sake-village-2026

09/07/2026

🗺️🇯🇵 THE FESTIVAL MAP IS HERE!

It’s time to start planning your Japan Festival Houston weekend!

Our 2026 Festival Map and Vendor & Exhibitor List are now live, so you can start exploring everything waiting for you at Hermann Park.

🎨 Discover artists and makers
🛍️ Shop Japanese and Japan-inspired goods
🏯 Meet cultural and community organizations
🎮 Find activities and experiences throughout the Park
🍱 Explore food and beverages
🥁 Locate stages, performances and demonstrations
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Find family activities and more

With so much happening, a little planning goes a long way.

Take a look at the map, find the vendors and exhibitors you don’t want to miss, and start building your Festival day.

📅 September 12–13
⏰ 10AM-6PM
📍 Hermann Park
✨ FREE admission

🔎 Explore the map and full Vendor & Exhibitor List at houstonjapanfest.org

Who are you looking forward to visiting? Tell us below! 👇

09/05/2026

🚆 SKIP THE TRAFFIC. SKIP THE PARKING. RIDE METRO!

Japan Festival Houston is almost here—and with a big weekend at Hermann Park comes big traffic.

HPD will be implementing the same traffic-control strategy used during Spring Break Houston, which means road closures around Hermann Park are inevitable as traffic builds and the limited available parking reaches capacity.

Our advice? Skip the parking hunt altogether!!

🚆 Ride METRO to Japan Festival Houston for just $1.25 and make getting to the Festival part of the easy part of your day.

📅 September 12–13
📍 Hermann Park
✨ Japan Festival Houston is FREE to attend.

Plan your ride at RideMETRO.org/HermannPark

Spend less time looking for parking—and more time enjoying Japan Festival. 🇯🇵