Guide to the Best Japanese Festivals & Events in Australia
- Lisa
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
If you love Japanese culture, traditions, and food (who doesn't?!) you're in luck! Australia has some fantastic Japanese festivals and events, many of them held annually. From lively matsuri celebrations to sake tastings and cultural showcases, there are plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in Japanese experiences without leaving the country.
Below, we've put together a round-up of some of the most popular annual Japanese festival and events in Australia, including their dates, locations, prices, and other useful details.
Missing one of these Japanese events in 2025 isn't the end of the world! These popular festivals and events happen around the same time every year, giving you another chance to enjoy them in the future.
We'll be sure to keep adding new events to the list, as event information gets updated for 2025. There are plenty more festivals and events we haven't listed yet, simply because the dates weren't released at the time of publication.
Let's take a look at some of the best Japanese events happening across Australia in 2025, arranged in alphabetical order.
Japan Expo
Date: October 25, 2025
Location: Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street Sydney, NSW
Price: Adults $27.78, concession $17.19, free for people dressed in full kimono or Japanese cosplay.
Good to know: The Japan Expo holds Australia's largest kimono competition. Entries into the kimono competition cost $22.49, and must be purchased in advance.
What to Expect: A variety of stalls ranging from traditional Japanese food to authentic Japanese products, and more. In addition to cultural demonstrations and interactive workshops, attendees can also get up-to-date information on travelling to Japan.
Official website: https://www.japanexpo.com.au/
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Japan Festival Box Hill
Date: May 25, 2025
Location: Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill, Victoria
Price: Exploring outside the Town Hall is free. If you wish to enter the Town Hall for the event, tickets cost between $3-5, depending on age.
Good to know: Around 100 stalls have signed up for the festival. Look out for the raffle, which is selling tickets to win a return trip to Japan.
What to Expect: Cultural performances such as martial arts, Japanese dance, and karaoke. Demonstrations including tea ceremony, shogi, and traditional Japanese games. Exhibitions including ikebana, bonsai, and model trains. And of course, Japanese food!
Official website: https://www.jcv-au.org/japanfestival/jf-about-en
Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day) Japan Festival
Date: May 4, 2025
Location: Unley Town Hall Precinct, Adelaide, South Australia
Price: $5 entry, children under 5 free. Family discounts available.
Good to know: The Kodomo ni Hi Japan Festival is the largest Japanese festival held in Adelaide. The event has continued to grow since it's humble beginnings in 1995, and is a celebration of the cultural links between Japan and Australia.
What to Expect: A celebration of Japanese culture with music, food and drinks, arts and crafts, live performances, martial arts, and more.
Official website: https://knhjapanfestival.com.au/
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Matsuri Brisbane
Date: 6 September, 2025
Location: Whites Hill State College, 138 Burn St, Camp Hill QLD
Price: Free ticketed entry.
What to Expect: Live performances of Japanese drumming (taiko), traditional Japanese dances, karate and more. A variety of stalls will be selling food, drinks, Japanese crafts, and handmade accessories. Expect cultural displays and workshops for activities such as ikebana, calligraphy, tea ceremony, and more. Kids can enjoy playing traditional Japanese festival games.
Good to know: The festival is expecting over 20,000 visitors this year. Although entry is free, you must still purchase a ticket for the event.
Official website: https://www.matsuribrisbane.com/
Perth Japan Festival
Date: 15 March, 2025
Location: Supreme Court Gardens, 2 Barrack St, Perth WA
Price: Free.
What to Expect: Stalls featuring authentic Japanese food and goods. Stage performances include traditional Japanese music, pop culture performances, and martial arts. Cultural displays include traditional Japanese tea ceremony, ikebana, and more.
Good to know: The first Perth Japan Festival was held in 2013, and aims to celebrate Japanese culture, while fostering the friendship between Japan and the city of Perth.
Official website: https://www.perthjapanfestival.com/
Sake Festival
Date: Brisbane: 15-16 March, 2025
Melbourne: July 5–6, 2025
Sydney: 27-28 September, 2025
Location: Brisbane: Superordinary, 175 MacArthur Ave, Hamilton QLD
Melbourne: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Victoria
Sydney: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh NSW
Price: $39-69 per person, depending on location and ticket release number. Group discounts available for groups of 4 or more.
What to Expect: Over 80 stalls featuring 400+ varieties of sake, Japanese food, crafts, and cultural workshops.
Good to know: The Sake Festival hopes to introduce not only Japanese alcohol, but also Japanese food and Japanese products to the Australian audience. Take away alcohol is available for purchase, to be sent via mail to the buyer. It is not possible to take home alcohol on the day.
Official website: https://sake-festival.com.au/
Think we've missed something?
Let us know! Get in touch via the contact form to submit your Japanese event being held in Australia.
Note: Festival and event details were true and correct to our knowledge at the time of publication. Let us know if we've made any mistakes :)
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Ooh a sake festival sounds lovely!
I had no idea Australia has Japanese festivals! Such a great way to experience two cultures at once
I would love to eat my way through all of these events. Great list.