Festival Fun

NEW – VIP Tasting Room at Oshogatsu

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This year, for the first time ever, we’re bringing you a new way to experience our traditional New Year’s celebration– the VIP Tasting Room at Oshogatsu! This exclusive experience will give guests the opportunity to taste rare, high-end sakes, beer and even a specialty sake cocktail. Read on to hear more about the offerings in this first-ever VIP Tasting Room at Oshogatsu. Sake When sake was first brewed, over 2,000 years ago, it was served as an offering to the deities, and was revered as a very special and important …

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What is Obon? Exploring One of Japan’s Most Important Holidays

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During the summer observance of Obon, families in Japan reunite to give homage and thanks to their ancestors, who have returned for a brief visit to the living. Many families set up special altars in their homes decorated with food offerings for these visiting spirits, which may include vegetables, dango (rice dumplings), noodles, and fruits. Candles, special paper lanterns called bon chochin, and incense may also be placed on the Bon Altar. Vegetable animals – a horse made from a cucumber or an ox made out of eggplant – serve …

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Lantern Festival In the Spirit of Obon 2014

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What is Lantern Festival? Last year, Morikami’s much-loved summer event, Bon Festival,  evolved into Lantern Festival: In the Spirit of Obon. In an effort to protect the safety of Morikami visitors and staff, we moved the event out of the often inclement and even dangerous Florida summer months. While Obon is a traditional and religious Japanese holiday celebrated exclusively during the months of July and August, we have preserved the essence of Morikami’s much-loved event and the sanctity of Obon as it is celebrated in Japan, with Lantern Festival – a unique Fall celebration. The 2013 Lantern …

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Emi & Katsu’s Hatsume Top Five

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For those of you in the mood for a countdown, Hatsume is just two weeks away! We’re excited to share this uniquely spring celebration with you all, and our Hatsume mascots, Emi and Katsu, can’t wait to tell you about what we’ve got in store. We’ll hand over the reins to lovely Emi now as she presents: Emi & Katsu’s Hatsume Top 5! #5: Spring Morikami Style Katsu and I love to stroll through Roji-en on a festival day! The gardens are buzzing with excitement, especially when Roji-en is in …

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New Year’s Series Part 5 – The Finale: Shishimai & Daruma!

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UPDATE 1/10/14: Due to extreme flooding Oshogatsu has been postponed until Sunday, January 19, 2014. If you have already purchased tickets you will receive an email with details about your purchase. Otherwise, you may still purchase tickets online until Friday, January 17th at noon. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to see you all there next Sunday! As our last piece of the New Year’s series (don’t miss part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4) we wanted to tell you about two of the most popular and …

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