Sunday, April 28, 2019
Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s cherry blossom festival, Sakura Matsuri, one of the most anticipated spring events in New York City, returns on Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28, 2019. The weekendlong festival celebrates Japanese culture with a rich program of events. The festival is the highlight of the Garden’s mesmerizing hanami (“cherry blossom viewing”) season.

Based on the Japanese tradition of appreciating the beauty and fleeting nature of cherry blossoms, hanami at Brooklyn Botanic Garden draws New Yorkers and visitors from around the world each spring to view the Garden’s collection of over 200 flowering cherry trees, one of the most spectacular cherry blossom displays in North America.

Tickets to Sakura Matsuri are required for all visitors. Members enter free with ticket. For more information, visit bbg.org/sakura.

Programming for Sakura Matsuri will be presented throughout the Garden, with music and dance performances on stages on Cherry Esplanade and in the newly reopened Plant Family Collection. Tea ceremonies, art demonstrations, activities for kids, and shopping and dining areas will be featured in pop-ups across the Garden, giving visitors the chance to explore new parts of BBG. Details on this year’s festival programming can be found below and at bbg.org/sakura.

Cherry Esplanade Stage
Samurai Sword Soul
Action-packed drama by martial arts masters, led by Sakura Matsuri master of ceremonies Yoshi Amao

Dancejapan with Sachiyo Ito
Elegant and colorful Kabuki Buyo dance

Japanese Folk Dance Institute of NY
Vibrant traditional Minbu dances

Soh Daiko
Thunderous taiko drumming

Taiko Masala
Traditional taiko drumming and martial arts, Brooklyn-style

J-Music Ensemble
High-octane jazz inspired by anime and video game themes

Pinky Doodle Poodle
High-energy, punky female-fronted rock from Japan

The Molice
Tokyo’s indie rockers with an edgy twist

Twisty Bonbon
Japanese producer Twisty’s techno-infused music project

Lust
Trippy, edgy Japanese rock from NYC-based trio

J-Lounge Stage in the Plant Family Collection
Kawaii and Sugoi Manga with Misako Rocks!
Brooklyn’s manga maven shows you how it’s done.

Neko or Usagi: Anime Quiz Battleground
A fun-filled game show from cosplay curator extraordinaire Charles Battersby

Lafayette Harris Quintet
Original jazz compositions inspired by Japanese culture

Yayoi Ikawa with Emeline Michel & Special Guests
Jazz synthesized from two island cultures, Japan and Haiti

Yoichi Uzeki Quartet
Jazz compositions influenced by Uzeki’s native Tokyo pop culture

DJ Sashimi & Robby Takac
Edo-era melodies meet tasty beats, featuring Goo Goo Dolls bassist Robby Takac on the shamisen

Rich Kameda
Classic magical illusions with Japanese flair

Naruto Dance Party: Kohei & TiA
Kohei teams up with anime-theme songstress TiA.

Shihori
Emotional lyrics and video-game inspired songs

Ka-Na
Acoustic ballads from award-winning songwriter

Japanese Folk Dance Institute of NY
Traditional flower-hat dance procession starts at J-Lounge stage and travels throughout the Garden.

Auditorium Stage
Sohenryu Tea Ceremony
Tea masters Soumi Shimizu and Sōkyo Shimizu share this ancient traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Eight tea ceremonies, including four for families, will take place over the festival weekend.

Artist Village in the Plant Family Collection
Hideyo Okamura
Japanese abstract visual art

Rumi Hara
Ink illustrations and comic art by a Kyoto native

Jed Henry
Illustrations blending video game characters with Edo-era art traditions

Togei Kyoshitshu Ceramics
Functional and elegant pottery

Community Bookstore
An exciting array of Japanese reads

CosplayNYC
Meet the community of zine creators.

Japanese Market in the Plant Family Collection
J-Fashion Accessories
Handcrafted kawaii adornments by Un-Re Designs

Kokeshi Dolls
Handcrafted wooden dolls presented by Kyoohoo of northern Japan

Minamoto Kitchoan Wagashi
Seasonal Japanese confections and treats

Raaka Chocolate
Small-batch chocolates inspired by Japanese culinary traditions

Royce’ Chocolate
Chocolate and matcha from Hokkaido, Japan

Sushi Pillows
Whimsical plush creations by Sushi Designs New York

Tenugui Wraps
Decorative cotton cloths by Wuhao Tenugui Art

Vintage Kimonos
Fashions straight from Japan by YokoDana Kimono

Garden Pop-ups
Japanese Garden Stroll
A guided tour of BBG’s cloud-pruned trees, torii gate, and koi
Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden

Koto Corner
Pop-up concerts throughout the day, curated by Miyabi Koto Shamisen Ensemble
Alfred T. White Memorial
Children’s Garden Pavilion

Mikoshi: Portable Shinto Shrine
See how mikoshi are traditionally used in Japan with the Association of Shinto Shrines.
Conservatory

Demo Zone
Demonstrations highlighting Japanese culture throughout the day, including Aikido of South Brooklyn and Koka Calligraphy
Shelby White and Leon Levy Water Garden

Hobbies: Bonsai, Origami, Games

Breathtaking Bonsai
Conservatory

Bonsai Basics
Consult aficionados from the Friends of Bonsai Club.

C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum
Enjoy the Garden’s world-class collection of teeny trees.

Friends of Bonsai’s Living Sculpture Exhibit
A display of Brooklyn’s own bonsai club

Origami Arts
Rotunda

Taro’s Origami Atelier
An evocative array of paper animals and flowers

Colossal Creatures: Giant Origami
An exceptional demonstration of paper-folding

Game Stop
School Lunch Area

The Game of Go
Challenge the pros from the Brooklyn Go Club.

Karuta
Explore this exciting card game with experts from NYC Karuta Club.

Shogi Chess
Learn this ancient game from the masters of New York Shogi Club.

Kid Stuff
Vaudeville Origami
Fold along with Jeremy Aaron Horland in this one-of-a-kind workshop.
Fragrance Garden

Fan-Decorating Workshop for Kids
Decorate a Japanese fan with natural beet dye (ages 4 and up).
Discovery Garden

Taiko Drumming for Families
A master class for kids with Taiko Masala
J-Lounge Stage in the Plant Family Collection

Sohenryu Tea Ceremony for Families
Kids learn about the art of tea with Soumi Shimizu and Sōkyo Shimizu.
Auditorium

Samurai Selfie
You Look Radishing!
Pose in your favorite warrior cutouts or as a daikon radish.
Cherry Esplanade

Sakura Eats
Enjoy tasty Japanese-inspired food and beverage throughout the Garden. Yellow Magnolia Café, the popular restaurant nestled within Brooklyn Botanic Garden, will offer cherry blossom–inspired dishes and specials by chef Morgan Jarrett throughout the bloom season.

Garden Shop
Visit the newly refreshed Garden Shop for handpicked gifts and items for the home and garden inspired by BBG’s cherry blossoms and other botanicals.

Cherry Blossoms at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Throughout hanami, Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s cherry blossom display is tracked on the CherryWatch web page. Updated each weekday, this map provides up-to-the-petal blooming status for each tree in the main collection, as well as detailed information about each cultivar. BBG encourages visitors to share their own cherry blossom images on social media, including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter using the hashtags #bbgcherries and #BrooklynBotanicGarden.

Tickets
Tickets required for all. Members enter free with ticket. For more information, visit bbg.org/sakura. Admission to Sakura Matsuri is $30 for adults and $25 for students (ages 12 to 17) and seniors (age 65 and over) with ID. Garden members and children under 12 years of age enter for free. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. There are no reciprocal admissions or group discounts on festival days. Tickets are nonrefundable. All events held rain or shine.