Nikkei Matsuri Japanese Festival

“Matsuri” in Japanese means “festival” and the Nikkei Matsuri is indeed a traditional-style Japanese festival.

At the event there are tea ceremonies, numerous performances, a marketplace, food vendors and a variety of family-friendly activities. In years with good weather, as many as 14,000 people attend over the course of the weekend.

Nikkei Matsuri in Burnaby

When is the Nikkei Matsuri?

The Nikkei Matsuri normally takes place on the last couple days of the summer, just before kids return to school, so on the Labour Day long weekend.

In 2026 the festival runs on the Saturday and Sunday of September 5th and 6th. The activities run from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm on both days.

Where is the Nikkei Matsuri?

The Nikkei Matsuri is held at the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre at 6688 Southoaks Crescent. The venue is a short drive west of Metropolis at Metrotown just off Kingsway in Burnaby.

Parking and Transportation

If you plan to go to the event, take public transit as the location is easily accessible.

Limited parking is available at the Nikkei Centre’s underground parkade for about $15 per day. Free parking in nearby neighbourhoods may also be available.

Nikkei Matsuri at Nikkei Centre — Nikkei Matsuri Outside the Nikkei Centre

Festival Admission

Admission to the festival is free for children under 18 years old and for seniors ages 65 and older. However, paid tickets are required for adults between the ages of 18 and 64. Tickets cost $12 when purchased online in advance. Tickets purchased at the event cost $15. Each ticket is valid for just one day of the festival.

Nikkei Centre members and Tourism Privilege Pass holders are free both days.

Visit the Nikkei Matsuri website for full details about this event.

Nikkei Matsuri Activities

The Nikkei Matsuri is a Japanese community festival featuring a wide range of activities each year. The festival features live performances and a Game Zone, as well as a small marketplace, more than 20 food trucks, a beer & sake garden, and a Japanese used book sale.

Matsuri Performances

Entertainment at the Nikkei Matsuri on the Labour Day long weekend includes performances by various local singing and dance groups, Taiko drummers and more. Some performances are indoors and some are outside in the garden most years.

Matsuri Game Zone

Popular with children at the Nikkei Matsuri is the Game Zone, which includes a variety of simple midway-type games where you buy tokens to play and have the chance to win prizes. Depending on the year, Game Zone activities can include ring toss, balloon darts, bean bag toss and other games that young kids will enjoy.

Visit nikkeimatsuri.nikkeiplace.org for full details about the event.

Miyake-kai Taiko Drummers at the Nikkei Matsuri

2026 Festival Performers

Highlights of the 2026 Nikkei Matsuri include the following activities and performances (with exact details subject to change).

Saturday (September 5th)

11:00 am – Ohayashi BGM
11:30 am – Opening Ceremony
12:00 pm – Rakuichi Mikoshi Parade and Lion Dance
12:30 pm – Kotonone Kai Koto, Japanese Strings
1:00 pm – Wailele Wai Wai Hula Dance
1:30 pm – Nishikawa-ryu Canada Satsuki-kai
2:00 pm – Southern Wave Okinawan Music & Dance
2:30 pm – Suichiro & Daichi with Southern Wave
3:00 pm – Bon Odori Dance with Satsuki-kai
4:00 pm – Chibi Taiko
4:30 pm – Sato-ha Shito-ryu Karate-do International
5:00 pm – Renbu Dojo Kendo, Rainy Night Troubles J-Anime Music Duo
5:30 pm – Seishinkan Iaido
6:00 pm – Non Sweet – J-Pop Girl Group

Sunday (September 6th)

11:00 am – Ohayashi BGM
11:30 am – Rakuichi Mikoshi Parade and Lion Dance
12:30 pm – GO Taiko
1:00 pm – Otowa Ryu Traditional Japanese Dance
1:30 pm – Ishikawa Family Judo Club
2:00 pm – Shorinji Kempo, CoSei – Koto and Piano Duo
2:30 pm – Aikido Vancouver Shomonkai
3:00 pm – Bon Odori Dance with Satsuki-kai
4:00 pm – BC Ninja Union Interactive Performance
4:30 pm – NPF Announcements, APPARE Yosakoi Vancouver
5:00 pm – Hitotose Samurai Show
5:30 pm – Vancouver Okinawa Taiko Japanese Drums
6:00 pm – Shuichiro & Daichi

Visit nikkeimatsuri.nikkeiplace.org for the festival’s official website to learn about all the activities and performances.

Nikkei Matsuri Video

To get a good idea of what you’ll experience at the Nikkei Matsuri, check out the video below. It shows sights, sounds and scenes of the event from 2023.

As you’ll see in the video, there is food, music, market vendors, art and more! It’s an authentic Japanese festival, much like what you might experience in Japan, although with most people speaking English (and that’s according to a couple of members of our team who lived in Japan for half a dozen years).

Other Information

See the Nikkei Matsuri website for more information about this festival. Read our article about the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre to learn more about the venue and organization behind this event.

See Vancouver’s September Calendar or Festivals & Events Calendar for a list of other events taking place in the Lower Mainland this month and at other times of the year.

Other articles that might be of interest include the following:

Nikkei Garden Farmers Market – a Japanese-themed market at the Nikkei Centre that used to take place a couple of times a month between June and October.
Sakura Days Japan Fair – a Japanese festival celebrating cherry blossom season at VanDusen Botanical Garden in April.
Powell Street Festival – a Japanese-themed event in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side over the BC Day August long weekend.
Vancouver History & Culture – a list of some of the region’s most interesting cultural events and places of interest.
Vancouver’s ExplorASIAN Festival – a series of events celebrating Asian culture in May.