Japanese Festival 2026: Hours, Parking and What to Know
The Japanese Festival returns to Missouri Botanical Garden September 5 through 7. If this is your first visit, a little planning will make the day easier. The festival fills the Garden with more than 115 performances, demonstrations, workshops and cultural experiences, including taiko, bon odori dancing, martial arts, sumo, Japanese food and evening programming.
Festival hours
- Saturday, September 5: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; last entry at 8 p.m.
- Sunday, September 6: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; last entry at 8 p.m.
- Monday, September 7: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; last entry at 4:30 p.m.
The festival takes place rain or shine at 4344 Shaw Boulevard. Festival admission is required to enter the Garden.
Admission
General admission is $20. Admission is $10 for Garden members and children ages 3 through 12, while member children enter free. Check the official ticket page before leaving because entry options and availability can change.
Parking and accessibility
Free parking is available at the Garden and in additional lots on Shaw and Vandeventer. Continuous festival shuttle service connects the additional lots to the Garden. Accessible spaces are available in all Garden parking lots.
The Garden does not operate tram tours during the festival. Free hours and early-morning walking hours also do not apply during the event weekend.
Plan the day before you arrive
The full program is spread across the Garden, so review the daily schedule and choose a few priorities before you go. Comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing and extra time for parking will help, especially during the busiest hours.
Start with the Missouri Botanical Garden profile on GatewayBestLocal. The directory event record keeps the festival connected to its host location so visitors can find it again after the weekend.
Official information
Details were verified September 3, 2026. Recheck the official festival page before leaving for weather, ticket or schedule changes.