Carmo Park hosts the 46th Cherry Blossom Festival in São Paulo with cultural and gastronomic attractions

Carmo Park in São Paulo is once again adorned with cherry blossoms for its 46th Cherry Blossom Festival. This event attracts over 4,000 visitors and offers a complete cultural experience, including traditional Japanese cuisine, music, and moments of contemplation.

Details of the Celebration

From late July to early August, more than 4,000 Japanese trees transform the environment into shades of pink. During these two weeks, attendees can experience hanami, the Japanese practice of appreciating flowers. Furthermore, the park becomes a venue for pleasant picnics and strolls, featuring a diverse program that includes typical delicacies, folk dances, and taiko performances, traditional Japanese percussion.

Complementary Events

This year, the festival takes place alongside the 6th Star Festival, known as Tanabura Matsuri. In this specific festival, the public has the opportunity to write their wishes on papers that are later burned, a ritual intended to send the messages to the heavens for them to come true.

Carmo Park received its cherry trees in 1978 when immigrant Hisayoshi Kataoka introduced more than 1,500 seedlings directly from Japan. Although there are over 600 species of cherry trees globally, the park predominantly houses ornamental varieties such as Prunus serrulata, P. cerasoides, and P. campanulata, which are notable for their abundant blooming, even without producing cherries.

Currently, São Paulo holds the largest number of cherry tree groves in Brazil, a legacy of Japanese immigration. Carmo Park stands out as the area with the highest concentration of these trees in the country and ranks as the second-largest cluster of sakura outside of Japan, surpassed only by the area near the Tidal Basin reservoir in Washington D.C.

Practical Event Information

The event takes place at Carmo Park, located at Av. Afonso de Sampaio e Sousa, 951, in Itaquera. The scheduled dates are July 24 to 26 and July 31 to August 2. Operating hours are from 11 am to 5 pm on Fridays, and from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Entry is free. To facilitate access, a special circular bus line, 4050/10, operates between the Itaquera Metro Terminal (Platform E) and Carmo Park, costing R$ 5.30, with exemption on Sundays.

viagemeturismo.abril.com.brJuly 7, 20:00

Japan Festival 2026 in São Paulo: details on programming, tickets, and event access

The Japan Festival, considered the largest Japanese culture event outside of Japan, will hold its 27th edition at São Paulo Expo from July 10 to 12. This gathering was created to honor Japanese immigration in Brazil and will bring together traditions from all 47 prefectures of Japan, covering gastronomy, arts, pop culture, and various activities for all age groups.

Theme and Structure of the Event

The 2026 edition will have the central theme 'Kizuna – Bonds that Unite,' referencing the ties established between Brazil and Japan and the continuity of these traditions for new generations.

Japanese Gastronomy and Traditions

The Gastronomy Square, which occupies approximately 11,000 m², will feature 46 stands managed by associations of Japanese prefectures and charitable entities from the Japanese-Brazilian community. In these locations, homemade dishes and regional specialties little known in Brazil will be offered, such as Fukuoka tonkotsu ramen, Hiroshima okonomiyaki, Okinawa soba, and sweets like ichigo daifuku, sakura mochi, and melon pan.

During the three days, the public can watch performances of folk dances, martial arts, and traditional music on the main stage, including the Bon Odori dance and the use of taiko and shamisen instruments. Additionally, there will be dedicated spaces for the tea ceremony and ikebana, the Japanese art of floral arrangement. A highlight will be the thematic space inspired by the 'Kizuna' concept, allowing visitors to explore regions of Japan through interactive panels.

Cultural and Popular Activities

In the Cultural Area, participants interested in practical activities will find a vast schedule of free workshops on traditional Japanese techniques, such as origami, shodō (Japanese calligraphy), oshibana (flower pressing), and manga.

The Literary Avenue, in its third edition, will gather over 50 exhibitors, including writers, illustrators, publishers, and collectives. This space will host launches, autograph sessions, and meetings with comic artists, featuring participation from award-winning authors in manga and comic contests, as well as writers focused on themes of Japanese immigration and Japanese-Brazilian life.

For pop culture fans, Akibaspace will offer attractions related to anime, manga, games, and cosplay. This venue will include electronic game championships, lectures, themed areas inspired by Harajuku fashion, a photo studio, and infrastructure for cosplayers. #FJTAON, created by young people, integrates this proposal by uniting the festival's traditions with the digital environment, featuring thematic scenography, games, music, and interactive activities aimed mainly at the teenage audience.

Highlights and Special Audience

One of the notable events this year will be the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Saint Seiya (Knights of the Zodiac), with the presence of Japanese singer Yumi Matsuzawa, known for performing songs from the franchise. The event will also host the final of the Miss Nikkey Brazil 2026 contest.

The Children's Area will provide free workshops on origami, painting, ceramics, traditional Japanese toys, kamishibai (paper theater), and musical activities with typical instruments. The Longevity Space focuses on the well-being of people over 60 years old, offering free massages, gymnastics, dance performances, and traditional games such as shogi and go, in addition to health actions.

Access and Service Information

Entry is free for children up to 8 years old, people with disabilities, women over 65 years old, and men over 70 years old, upon presentation of proof. During the three days, free transportation will be available between the São Judas subway station and São Paulo Expo. The event will take place from Friday (from 11 am to 9 pm) to Sunday (from 9 am to 6 pm).

The location is São Paulo Expo, located at Rod. dos Imigrantes, 1. To facilitate travel, line 905X-10 Festival do Japão/Est. São Judas will operate a free service between the São Judas subway station (Blue Line) and the event venue, from 6 am to 10 pm throughout the festival period. Tickets cost starting from R$ 25 (half-price) and R$ 50 (full price), with reduced prices for entries after 2 pm.

viagemeturismo.abril.com.brJuly 6, 20:00

Mochi, the traditional Japanese pastry, gains popularity in Brazil and presents various ways of consumption

Mochi, a traditional pastry from the Japanese archipelago culture, has gained great popularity in Brazil. This sweet, made from glutinous rice, has an elastic and soft texture, as well as a slightly sweet flavor, allowing it to be used in both sweet and savory preparations.

Preparation and Tradition of Mochi

The pastry is made from 'mochigome,' a short-grain Japanese variety of glutinous rice. The most common preparation method involves steaming the rice and subsequently kneading it repeatedly until a homogeneous and sticky dough is obtained. This unique consistency is so striking that the Japanese language has the term 'mochi-mochi,' used to describe pleasantly soft foods.

In Japan, dishes containing mochi are essential for celebrations. For example, 'Kagami Mochi,' known as 'mirror mochi,' is traditionally offered to the deities and symbolizes good luck in homes during the Japanese New Year.

Culinary Versatility of the Pastry

Due to its neutral flavor and peculiar texture, mochi is seen as a versatile culinary base, capable of being incorporated into elaborate desserts, soups, pasta, and other savory dishes.

Among the sweet options, 'daifuku' is quite well-known, being a mochi stuffed with 'anko,' which is a sweet paste made from red adzuki beans. The pastry can be covered with 'kinako,' which consists of roasted soybean flour, often mixed with sugar. In more modern approaches, the dessert can incorporate fruits, such as strawberries, or be combined with ice cream, resulting in the popular mochi ice cream.

In the savory realm, 'isobe-yaki' stands out, as the mochi is grilled, seasoned with soy sauce, and wrapped in nori seaweed. Another popular preparation is 'ozoni,' a typical Japanese New Year soup. The recipe for ozoni varies according to the region of Japan and can contain chicken, vegetables, seafood, and broths made with soy sauce or miso.

Where to Find Mochi in Brazil

For those interested in tasting mochi, it is recommended to look at menus from establishments specializing in Oriental products, Japanese confectioneries, Asian restaurants, or markets that sell imported items. Additionally, fairs and festivals related to Japanese culture in certain cities represent excellent opportunities to try different preparations of the pastry.

In São Paulo, notable places serving mochi include Itigô-Itiê, located in the Nikkey hotel in Liberdade; Motchimu, situated in Jardins; and Nuage Mochi Ice Cream, which offers mochi ice cream at Jardim Sul shopping center in the south zone.