Nikkei Matsuri at Nikkei Place

Japanese food and culture is on display at the Nikkei Garden Farmers Market outside the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre in Burnaby.

The market takes place a couple of times per month between June and October. It’s one of a couple of farmers markets in Burnaby. Another one is the Burnaby Artisan Farmers Market which takes place on Saturdays.

Note: The centre that hosts the Nikkei Garden Farmers Market is the same organization that hosts the Nikkei Matsuri on the Labour Day Weekend in September. If you like Japanese food and culture, that’s a great event to attend! (Note: The above photo shows a scene from the Nikkei Matsuri.)

For the market’s official website, visit centre.nikkeiplace.org.

Nikkei Garden Farmers Market in Burnaby

The Nikkei Garden Farmers Market began in 2021 as a twice-monthly Sunday market during the summer and early fall. Its goal is to showcase Japanese culture as well as to provide a community space for people to gather and support local businesses.

This market is one of the smaller farmers markets in the Lower Mainland. In years past there have been around 15 or so vendors at the market selling a variety of products.

2023 Dates and Hours

The Nikkei Garden Farmers Market runs from June to October on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. It’s held at Nikkei Place at 6688 Southoaks Crescent in Burnaby.

On the days when it runs the market is open from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. It’s free to attend and open to everyone. The 2023 dates are the following:

June 11th & 25th
July 9th & 23rd
August 13th & 27th
September 10th & 24th
October 8th & 22nd

What to Expect

The market takes place on the lawn and surrounding area next to the classical Japanese garden outside the Nikkei Museum. The vendors sell various artisanal products as well as fresh produce and Japanese-focused foods.

There is some entertainment to take in with live music and dance performances as well as educational workshops hosted by the centre. There is also the chance to check out the museum’s shop (which is normally closed on Sundays).

The market is meant for everyone (including any furry friends) to enjoy. There are outdoor seating areas, public washrooms and free parking.

Nikkei Place

Nikkei Place is not just home to the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, but it also hosts many events throughout the year. This includes a festival for Family Day in February, the O Hanami spring festival in April and the Tanabata star festival in July.

On top of the Garden Farmers Market there are also craft markets held in the fall and winter. The museum itself is a great place to learn about the history and culture of the Japanese-Canadian community.

More Information

To learn more about the Garden Farmers Market and other events held at the centre, check out our article on Nikkei Place or visit the Nikkei Place website.

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