Celebrate cherry blossom season with Sakura Days Japan Fair, a two-day festival at the vibrant VanDusen Botanical Garden, featuring live entertainment, food, cultural activities, and local vendors.
The weekend matsuri-style event is held on Saturday, April 11th, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and Sunday, April 12th, 2026, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; tickets are available for purchase online through the festival website.
This year’s festival includes a variety of performers promoting Japanese music, storytelling, artwork and dance. Participants highlighted this year are dance troupe APPARE Yosakai Vancouver, English Rakugo performer OKEICHAN, Japanese calligrapher Kisyuu, the Sakura Singers, taiko and shakuhachi duo IBUKI, and Hawaiian hula dancers WAILELE WAI WAI, among others.
As the festival takes place outdoors, be sure to wear appropriate attire—rain is possible, and parts of the garden may become muddy. Parking is limited, so save yourself the hassle and take transit instead. You can ride the #17 bus or walk from Oakridge–41st Avenue Canada Line Station west along 41st Avenue, then north on Oak Street to reach VanDusen Botanical Garden. It’s about a 15–20 minute stroll.
Sakura Days Japan Fair is part of the larger Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival which includes picnics, haiku writing competitions, educational programs and walks to view the many cherry trees sprouting throughout the city.
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