Note: Japan House will NOT be open to the public during Tsukimi and there are no public restrooms in the Arboretum. All activities will take place outside so please plan accordingly.
Tsukimi (月見) or O-tsukimi (お月見) is a holiday that celebrates the beauty of the Harvest Moon. Influenced by the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, this special night has become a unique Japanese custom of holding moon-viewing parties featuring special food and beautiful decorations for thousands of years.
Each year at Japan House, we offer the opportunity for guests to view a tea ceremony and to celebrate the full moon together in the beauty of the gardens.
Professor Emeritus Kimiko Gunji will perform a special tea ceremony in the Japan House Gardens to honor the Harvest Moon for all to watch.
The tea ceremony will be followed by a special performance by the ponds near Japan House. Longtime friend, and former student of Japan House, Omar Francis, will be playing the shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese bamboo flute played vertically.
As an optional add-on, paper lanterns with a flameless battery tealight will be available for pre-order for $10.00 when registering. Lanterns are floated in the pond in memory of a loved one by Japan House staff. Lanterns floated in the ponds will not be retrieved and returned to the owner as they are meant for one-time use. Limited quantities are available. Guests who purchased a lantern can check-in at the Japan House front entrance to receive a mochi (limit 1 mochi per lantern purchased).
As this event will be taking place after dark (the Arboretum officially closes at sunset), please note that all guests must leave the grounds no later than 11pm. Guests are asked to be respectful of the grounds and of each other. Please abide by Arboretum rules - absolutely no smoking, fire, or fireworks are permitted.
Remember that no matter where you are, we are all looking up at the same moon. We hope you enjoy Tsukimi!
