A salute to Shizuoka, Japan, and the Japanese culture
Saturday, October 2 and Sunday, October 3, 2021

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

Due to COVID-19, dates, activities, and services are subject to change or to cancellation.

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. 

PAST SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES (2021 schedule to be determined)

• Ikebana display by Ikebana International Omaha #60
• 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 Fiber Works, a group of Nebraska fiber artists
• Origami artist’s booth by Linda Stephen, Origami Artist, featuring original origami art for purchase
• Find out about Japan Hall of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, an organization that preserves the history and     legacy of Japanese Americans in Nebraska.
• Stroll through the fall chrysanthemum show
•  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.

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
Japanese lantern • koi fish kite • Japanese fan
children’s classroom

9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 50-minute narrated tram tours (Members $3, Non-members $5)
timed tickets available at the front desk

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

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

10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Traditional Koto Music by Emiko Unno and Tomoko Shepherd | visitor and education center

11 a.m. Origami and washi workshop | conservatory gallery

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

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

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

1 p.m. The teas of Shizuoka with Tim Smith of the TeaSmith, Omaha | conservatory gallery

1 p.m. Presentation on Japanese fashion | great hall north

1:30 p.m. Presentation on tourism in Japan | great hall north

2 p.m. Kokyo Taiko Drummers | great hall

2:30 p.m. Bonsai "Tree Talk" demonstration | bonsai display area

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

2:30 p.m. Otagei dance performance | great hall north

3 p.m. Traditional Japanese folk dance with Omaha Japanese School dancers | festival garden lawn

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