2026 Japantown Children’s Day Festival

Saturday, May 2, 2026
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Free Admission, Open to All Ages

Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC/the Center)
1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Get the kids together and come out to our annual Children's Day Festival on Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 11:00am-4:00pm!

Bring out the kids and friends to enjoy our annual festival offering many fun games and prizes, craft activities, bounce house, and cultural and live stage performances for the community to enjoy. Admission is free and open to the public, and children are encouraged to wear kimono, yukata or other Japanese clothing. 

Please note that the Children's Day Festival will be held at the Center on Sutter Street while the Japantown Peace Plaza undergoes renovation.

Thank you to this year's festival sponsors and supporters:

• The Henri and Tomoye Takahashi Charitable Foundation
• Japan Airlines
• Japan Center Malls East and West (Event Sponsor)
• San Francisco Japantown Foundation
• U.S. Bank

with additional support from:

• Japanese Community Youth Council (JCYC)
  
  

About the Japanese Children's Day Holiday

Of all the Children’s Day holidays celebrated around the world, none is older, more celebrated, steeped in tradition and well known than Japan’s Kodomo No Hi. Kodomo No Hi, or "Children's Day," is celebrated every year on May 5^th. On this Japanese national holiday, children are respected and honored for their individual strengths and to celebrate their happiness. The origin of Children's Day dates back to around 600 AD and is one of the five sekku, or seasonal festivals, of Japan.  While traditionally May 5^th was recognized as Boys’ Day in Japan, the holiday was renamed to Children’s Day and was officially designated as a national holiday to honor and celebrate the health, growth and happiness of both girls and boys shortly after the end of WWII in 1948.  Kodomo No Hi is particularly well known for the unique traditions and colorful decorations that are associated with the celebration of the holiday.