The 27th annual Arizona Matsuri (Matsuri being the Japanese word for festival) will be held Saturday and Sunday at Heritage & Science Park in downtown Phoenix.
While there’ll be lots of Japanese music, dance and art, but the best part may be the food.
Japanophile Michele Laudig sums it up:
Several restaurants sell hot-off-the-grill yakitori and yakisoba, sushi, and obento lunches. Asahi Beer is sponsoring a beer garden both days. The Arizona Buddhist Temple brings fresh, handmade daifuku (soft mochi balls filled with sweet bean past), while Arai Pastry (a Tempe-based Japanese bakery used by chef Nobuo Fukuda at Nobuo at Teeter House) sells freshly made buns, cakes, and other sweets.
My advice? Go for an early lunch, before the lines get too long, and if you see ramune soda for sale, try that instead of the usual American soft drinks.
Oh yeah, and admission to the festival is free.
This weekend: Japanese food and culture at AZ Matsuri [New Times]
Arizona Matsuri [website]
