A salute to Shizuoka, Japan, and the Japanese culture
Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6, 2019

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

For an entire weekend, the garden grounds are alive with merriment as guests celebrate the joys of autumn and experience the Japanese culture first-hand. Most activities are free with garden admission or membership. 

The Omaha Sister Cities Association helps host the Autumn and Japanese Ambience Festival, with a variety of activities to celebrate the Japanese culture. Japanese Ambience also celebrates the anniversary of the gift of the Japanese Sunpu Castle Gate at Lauritzen Gardens by Shizuoka, Japan, Omaha's first Sister City. Enjoy activities like Japanese calligraphy, koinobori, origami, chop sticks, traditional Japanese games, food tastings and more. Performances will include martial arts demonstrations, taiko drumming and traditional Japanese music and dance. Paid activities will help fund the construction of phases II and III of the future Japanese garden at Lauritzen Gardens. 

2018 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

• Ikebana display by Ikebana International Omaha #60
• Hinamatsuri (Japanese dolls) display
• Bonsai display by the Nebraska Bonsai Society
• Join the Omaha GO Association to learn about GO, a board game of skill and strategy that is        hugely popular in Japan.
• See the botanically inspired artwork by Senior Watercolorists from Metro Community College
• Origami artist’s booth by Linda Stephen, Origami Artist, featuring original origami art for purchase
   visitor and education center

 • View the Japanese-inspired fall chrysanthemum show
   floral display hall

•  Visit the Japanese Park area to view structures gifted by our sister city of Shizuoka, Japan: The    Sunpu Castle Gate replica, Sunpu Chaya, and antique Japanese lantern collection. Climb to the top    of the stairs of our Mt. Fuji replica for a better view of garden property.
   Japanese park

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fun activities presented by the Omaha Sister Cities Association
• Calligraphy • Origami • Samurai helmet making • Koinobori kites • Yukata dress-up • Fishing game • Chopstick game • Taste of Japan • Traditional games & toys • Mt. Fuji selfie
festival garden patio and lawn

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children’s Activities
• Coloring station • Make a koi flag • Cherry blossom craft
children’s classroom

9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 50-minute narrated tram tours ($3 per person)
timed tickets available at the front desk

9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) with Mark Wiesman | floral display hall

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Café open | great hall

10:30 a.m. Traditional Japanese tea ceremony demonstration | Sunpu Chaya 

11 a.m. Kyudo (Japanese archery) demonstration | Sunpu Castle Gate

11 a.m. Traditional Koto Music by Yoshie Mizuno and Tomoko Shepherd | visitor and education center

11 a.m. Hinodedojo martial arts demonstration | festival garden lawn

12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) with Mark Wiesman | floral display hall

12:30 p.m. UNO dancers perform Soran bushi | festival garden lawn

1 p.m. Origami and washi workshop | great hall north

1:30 p.m. Traditional Koto Music by Yoshie Mizuno and Tomoko Shepherd | visitor and education center

2 p.m. UNO dancers perform Soran bushi | festival garden lawn

2 p.m. Kyudo (Japanese archery) demonstration | Sunpu Castle Gate

2:30 p.m.   Bonsai Demonstration by Nebraska Bonsai Society | adult classroom

2:30 p.m. Traditional Japanese tea ceremony demonstration | Sunpu Chaya 

2:30 p.m. Traditional Japanese folk dance with Omaha Japanese School dancers | festival garden lawn

2:50 p.m. Japanese ball game (for children) followed by the watermelon smash with Omaha Japanese School | festival garden lawn

3 p.m. Judo Judy martial arts demonstration | festival garden lawn

3:30 p.m. Kokyo Taiko Drummers | great hall