The annual event — which dates back to 1984 — celebrates Japanese culture with two days of vendors, music, food, martial arts, displays and cosplayers at Steele Indian School Park. More than 100,000 people reportedly attend Arizona Matsuri each year.
The 2025 Arizona Matsuri takes place on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21 and 22, at the park and will feature more than 50 vendors and dozens of performances. This year’s theme is “heiwa,” or the Japanese word for peace, and will celebration harmony and unity.
Here’s a complete guide to Arizona Matsuri 2025 with everything to know about this year’s festival.
This year's Arizona Matsuri festival is on Saturday and Sunday at Steele Indian School Park.
Michelle Sasonov
What does Matsuri mean?
“Matsuri” is the Japanese word for a traditional festival, often including performances and rituals honoring seasonal events or various deities. When is Arizona Matsuri?
Arizona Matsuri 2025 is on Saturday, Feb. 22 and Sunday, Feb. 23 in Phoenix. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.Arizona Matsuri location
The festival will take place at Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road.
Is Arizona Matsuri free?
Yes. Admission to Arizona Matsuri 2025 is free. Can anyone attend?
Yes. The festival is a family-friendly event open to all ages. Getting to Steele Indian School Park
Steele Indian School Park is located on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Indian School Road. The main entrance to the park is located off Indian School Road and Third Street. A Valley Metro Rail station at Central Avenue and Indian School Road is just a short walk away. Fares are $2 per ride or $4 per day for unlimited rides.
Parking
A limited amount of free parking will be available at Steele Indian School Park. Several pay parking garages are located within walking distance of the park:- 4041 Parking Garage: 4028 N. Second St. (credit card only)
- Park Central Parking Garage: 150 W. Catalina Drive ($14 per vehicle, credit card only)
- Phoenix Plaza Parking Garage: 21 E. Catalina Drive ($20 per vehicle, credit card only)
- 4044 N. First Ave. Parking Lot (credit card only)
What to wear at Arizona Matsuri
If you feel like dressing up for the occasion, many Arizona Matsuri attendees wear traditional Japanese outfits like kimonos. Anime-inspired cosplay is also very popular at the event.If you do decide to go as a character from your favorite anime or manga series, cosplay contests will happen at 3:10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the SRP Martial Arts Stage. Uncle Yuhki will host.
Entertainment at Arizona Matsuri
The festival will have four stages and dozens of performances. The Matsuri Amphitheater will feature local taiko drumming troupes throughout both days and a hands-on workshop for attendees at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. The Cultural Arts Stage will showcase traditional dancing and storytelling, sing-a-long sessions and J-pop music. Action-packed fun will take place throughout the weekend on the SRP Martial Arts Stage with demonstrations by local dojos and schools.
At Arizona Matsuri 2025, attendees can purchase prepackaged and freshly prepared Japanese food from vendors.
Michelle Sasonov
Arizona Matsuri food and drink vendors
Traditional food and drinks like yakisoba, ramen, mochi donuts and sake can be purchased from over 30 vendors throughout the festival. A food truck area will be in the parking lot near Memorial Hall, with additional food courts on the north and south ends of the Circle of Life.Here’s a complete list of food and drink vendors at Arizona Matsuri 2025:
- AJ's Food and Grill
- Arizona Buddhist Temple
- Asahi
- Beard Papa's
- CRAFTI Tea & Mocktail
- Daikokuya
- Duplex Tea Station
- Hiro
- Japanese American Citizens League
- JT's Curry Wagon
- Kakigori Addict
- Knockout Cafe
- Kyoto Ramen Express
- Lina’s Macarons
- Mochidot Donuts
- Mochinut Tempe
- Mr. Bully
- Nishikawa Ramen
- Okamoto Kitchen
- OkonomiYuki
- Paradise BBQ
- Phoenix Sister Cities — Himeji Committee
- Pokitrition
- Premium Matcha Cafe Maiko
- Scooptopa
- Shin-Sen-Gumi Catering
- Smackarons
- Tokyo Udon
- Tran’s Concessions
- Wiki-licious
- Yakiya
- Yuki Cheesecake/Happy Buns
Other activities at Arizona Matsuri 2025
Arizona Matsuri will contain multitudes of entertainment, ranging from performances by taiko drummers, martial arts schools and traditional dance troupes to sets by Japanese retro rock band Surfing Godzillas.Another highlight will be the candy sculpting demonstrations conducted by Shan The Candyman Ichiyanagai at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each day.
Memorial Hall at Steele Indian School Park will feature indoor exhibits on history and Japanese culture, including origami displays, children's calligraphy and retrospectives of World War II-era internment camps located in Arizona and New Mexico. The Chado Urasenke Tankokai AZ Association will also host traditional Japanese tea ceremonies for $20 per person (cash preferred) inside the hall on Saturday and Sunday. Each seating is limited to 25 guests.
Each year, the festival also hosts a Haiku Expo, showcasing poetry created and submitted by Valley residents that’s written in the Japanese art form’s traditional structure and style. According to the Arizona Matsuri website, the best poems will be published in an annual e-book.
Traditional taiko drumming performances will take place on Satuday and Sunday at Arizona Matsuri 2025.
Benjamin Leatherman
Arizona Matsuri 2025 schedule for Saturday
Here’s everything scheduled to occur during the first day of the festival:Candyman Stage
- 10:30 a.m., Amezaiku candy craft sculpting by Shan Ichiyanagi
- 1 p.m., Shinobue with the Berrys
- 1:30 p.m., Amezaiku candy craft sculpting by Shan Ichiyanagi
- 4 p.m., Soku-Shin Shakuhachi
- 4:30 p.m., Shinobue with the Berrys
Cultural Arts Stage
- 10:30 a.m., Sunny Seki Storytelling, "Heiwa/Peace"
- 11:10 a.m., Zeni-Daiko stick drumming from Shimane Prefecture
- 11:35 a.m., “Darkness Into Light” J-pop Dance
- 12:20 p.m., Rakugo Storytelling
- 1:05 p.m., Kohei Sings: Sing-along dance party
- 1:50 p.m., Suzuyuki Kai traditional dance
- 3 p.m., Sogetsu Ikebana demonstration
- 4:05 p.m., Kishin Daiko taiko performance
Matsuri Amphitheater
- 9:30 a.m., Mikoshi procession
- 10 a.m., Opening ceremony
- 10:30 a.m., Japanese folk dance
- 11:15 a.m., Odaiko Sonora Taiko performance
- 12:15 p.m., Ken Koshio, Koshio-Ryu Taiko-Do and Hiroshima Taiko Hozonkai International
- 1:45 p.m., All Arizona Taiko Team
- 2:30 p.m., Fushicho Daiko Taiko
- 3:30 p.m., Audience hands-on drumming
- 3:35 p.m., I-10 Project Taiko
- 4:20 p.m., Aozora, Blue Sky Taiko
SRP Martial Arts Stage
- 10:20 a.m., Arizona Bujinkan Ninpo and Budo Kai
- 11 a.m., Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo and Sword
- 11:40 a.m., Shinkendo Nansei Dojo
- 12:15 p.m., Arizona Japan Karate Association
- 12:50 p.m., Shin Shin Ryu Iaijustu: Ryushinkan Dojo
- 1:30 p.m., Shogun Judo
- 2 p.m., Arizona Aikido
- 2:35 p.m., Araki-Ryu Iaido and Kenbu
- 3:10 p.m., Cosplay contest with Uncle Yuhki
- 4:10 p.m., Surfing Godzillas
Arizona Matsuri 2025 schedule for Sunday
The festival’s second and final day will feature dozens of activities. Here’s the full schedule:Candyman Stage
- 10:30 a.m., Amezaiku candy craft sculpting by Shan Ichiyanagi
- 1 p.m., Soku-Shin Shakuhachi
- 1:30 p.m., Amezaiku candy craft sculpting by Shan Ichiyanagi
- 4 p.m., Shinobue with the Berrys
- 4:30 p.m., Soku-Shin Shakuhachi
Cultural Arts Stage
- 10 a.m., Sunny Seki Storytelling "Heiwa/Peace"
- 10:30 a.m., Zeni-Daiko stick drumming from Shimane Prefecture
- 10:55 a.m., Kishin Daiko taiko performance
- 11:30 a.m., J-rock, anime, video game music
- 12:20 p.m., Rakugo Storytelling
- 1:05 p.m., Kohei Sings: sing-along dance party
- 1:50 p.m., Suzuyuki-Kai traditional dance
- 3 p.m., Sogetsu Ikebana demonstration
- 4:05 p.m., Surfing Godzillas
Matsuri Amphitheater
- 9:30 a.m., Mikoshi procession
- 10 a.m., Japanese folk dance performance
- 10:45 a.m., Kodomo and Yochibu Taiko performance
- 11 a.m., Kemushi Taiko performance
- 11:30 a.m., I-10 Project Taiko performance
- 12:15 p.m., Fushicho Daiko Taiko performance
- 1:15 p.m., All Arizona Taiko Team
- 2 p.m., Audience hands-on drumming
- 2:10 p.m., Ken Koshio, Koshio-Ryu Taiko-Do and Hiroshima Taiko Hozonkai International
- 3:40 p.m., Saboten Cactus Taiko performance
- 4:20 p.m., Phoenix Taiko Kai performance
SRP Martial Arts Stage
- 10 a.m., Arizona Bujinkan Ninpo & Budo Kai
- 10:35 a.m., Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo and Sword
- 11:10 a.m., Arizona Kyudo Kai
- 11:40 a.m., Shinkendo Nansei Dojo
- 12:15 p.m., Arizona Japan Karate Association
- 12:50 p.m., Shin Shin Ryu Iaijustu: Ryushinkan Dojo
- 1:30 p.m., Shogun Judo
- 2 p.m., Arizona Aikido
- 2:35 p.m., Araki-Ryu Iaido and Kenbu
- 3:10 p.m., Cosplay contest with Uncle Yuhki
- 4 p.m., Sumuji Cafe performance
- 4:25 p.m., JKF Shito-ryu Karate-do USA
