2018 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia

Philadelphians will once again have the opportunity to experience and learn about Japanese culture during the 2018 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival presented by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia(JASGP). The annual festival, a nine-day event series highlighting the cherry blossom trees, begins on Saturday, April 7, 2018 and ends on Sunday, April 15, 2018. It will feature fun, family friendly events from Center City and Fairmount Park to the Main Line and more. Enjoy remarkable international performances, try time-honored arts and crafts including learning to make sushi and create origami, and take part in the colorful contemporary cultures of cosplay and anime.

The final event of the festival, Sakura Sunday, transforms Fairmount Park into the region’s largest Japanese cultural experience. It takes place on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center. This day-long outdoor celebration of all things Japanese features the brand-new Sake Garden, presented by Parks on Tap, a kids’ stamp rally, traditional food, live music, and dance performances, martial arts demonstrations, crafts, the Little Akiba anime & cosplay area, timed tickets to Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center, and activities for all ages. For more information, visit subarucherryblossom.org/sakurasunday.

The Festival kicks off on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at Shofuso in Fairmount Park, which enters its 60th anniversary this year. Enjoy a drink at the Sake Garden, a pop-up beer and sake cocktail garden presented by Parks On Tap. Visit Shofuso from Monday, April 9 through Friday, April 13 to experience Sakura Week, daily demonstrations that include traditional Japanese tea tasting, taiko drums, gardening, kimono dressing and more. Shofuso will be open until 8:30 p.m. daily during the Festival, granting visitors plenty of time to tour the 17th century style Japanese house, visit the garden, and view the world class collection of koi.

After trying your hand at activities during Sakura Week, take a Suminagashi Paper Marbling class at the Rikumo Concept Store in Center City. A new addition to the festival, workshops will be offered on Sunday, April 8 at 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tickets are only $15 and include all materials. Registration and more information can be found at rikumo.com.

Other events to look forward include the Cherry Blossom 10K/5K on Saturday, April 14, which offers runners and walkers great views of Shofuso and other Fairmount Park landmarks. Sushi making classes led by Madame Saito, Philadelphia’s Queen of Sushi, will be held throughout the week and culminate in an amateur sushi making contest on Thursday, April 12. Enjoy a gourmet multi-course kaiseki dinner at Margaret Kuo’s Wayne on Friday, April 13, or take in a free screening of the 2013 film Tenshin at the University of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, April 11. A complete listing of events is available online at subarucherryblossom.org/events/ or call (267) 348-0250. (See addendum with list of events.)

The Cherry Blossom Festival takes its name and central inspiration from the fleeting beauty of the sakura, the Japanese name for cherry blossoms. The first blossoming cherry trees in Fairmount Park were planted in 1926, a gift to the City of Philadelphia by the people of Japan. Cherry blossoms are gorgeous flowers, a must see natural wonder calling everyone outdoors to welcome spring, and an annual inspiration to artists and photographers. The events of the Festival celebrate Philadelphia’s rich cultural connections with the art, music, food, natural beauty, and industry of Japan.

The Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia is a project of the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia (JASGP) with tremendous support from Subaru of America, Inc as its title sponsor. The project aims to foster a better understanding of the cultural, social, and educational customs of Japan building on JASGP’s commitment to plant and maintain cherry trees in local parks. To date, JASGP has planted more than 1,000 cherry trees, supplementing the 1,600 flowering trees presented by the Japanese government as a gesture of friendship in 1926. Digital photos and additional information on cherry trees, cherry blossom traditions in Japan, and the work of the JASGP are available at subarucherryblossom.org. Follow @phillysakura on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

JASGP is a private nonprofit organization that has brought Philadelphia and Japan closer together for more than 25 years through art, business, and culture. JASGP operates Shofuso produces the SubaruCherry Blossom Festival, and presents the US-Japan Business and Public Policy Series, as well as other arts, business, culture, and educational programming for all ages. For more information, please visit our website at japanphilly.org.

Shofuso is open for weekday admissions to the public from March 24 to October 31, Wednesdays through Fridays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Adult admission is $12; senior citizens, students with ID and children ages 5-17 admission is $8; ACCESS card holders admission is $2; and JASGP members, active duty military with ID and children under 5 are admitted free. Shofuso is located at Horticultural and Lansdowne Drs., Philadelphia, PA 19131. For more information, including special hours and admission, visit japanphilly.org