Lauritzen Gardens - Omaha Botanical Center

A salute to Shizuoka, Japan, and the Japanese culture
Saturday, October 6 and Sunday, October 7, 2018

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.

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

11 a.m. Hinodedojo martial arts demonstration, festival garden lawn
11:30 a.m. Presentation on Japanese pop culture, children's classroom

Noon to 1 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 to 2 p.m. Traditional Koto Music by Yoshie Mizuno and Tomoko Shepherd
visitor and education center

1 p.m. Presentation on traditional Japanese fashion, adult classroom

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

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

2 p.m. Guided walking tour, meet at the festival garden

2:15 to 3:15 p.m. Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) with Mark Wiesman, floral display hall
2:30 p.m. Traditional Japanese tea ceremony demonstration, Sunpu Chaya

2:30 p.m. Omaha Japanese School dancers/traditional Japanese Folk dance, festival garden lawn

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

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

SUNDAY ACTIVITIES (schedule is subject to change)

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• 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 Impact Nebraska Artists

visitor and education center

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. View the Japanese-inspired fall chrysanthemum show

floral display hall

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fun activities presented by the Omaha Sister Cities Association

festival garden patio and lawn

• Calligraphy • Origami • Taste of Japan • Koinobori kites
• See examples of Japanese currency • Samurai helmet making • Traditional games & toys
• Fishing game • Scavenger hunt • Chopstick target shooting
• Selfie opportunity in front of Mt. Fuji

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Crafts for all ages at the Lauritzen Gardens education tents

lower festival garden lawn

• Coloring station • Make-and-take activities

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn some garden-related Japanese words

look for signs posted throughout the garden

9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 50-minute narrated tram tours ($3 per person)

timed tickets available at the front desk

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Café open, great hall
10 a.m. Guided walking tour, meet at the festival garden
10:30 a.m. Traditional Japanese tea ceremony demonstration, Sunpu Chaya

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

11 a.m. Bonsai Seminar by Nebraska Bonsai Society, adult classroom
11 a.m. to noon Traditional Koto Music by Yoshie Mizuno and Tomoko Shpherd
visitor and education center

11:30 a.m. UNO dancers perform Soran bushi, festival garden lawn

Noon Presentation on Japanese pop culture, children's classroom

12:30 p.m. Presentation on traditional Japanese fashion, adult classroom

12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) with Mark Wiesman, floral display hall
1 to 3 p.m Omaha Herb Society, herb garden
1 p.m. Kyudo (Japanese archery) demonstration, Sunpu Castle Gate

1:30 p.m. Omaha Kendo & Iaido Kyokai martial arts demonstration, Sunpu Castle Gate

2 p.m. Traditional Japanese tea ceremony demonstration, Sunpu Chaya

2 p.m. Guided walking tour, meet at the festival garden

3 p.m. UNO dancers perform Soran bushi, festival garden lawn

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