OBON is a traditional event to honor and express gratitude to the spirits of our ancestors, those before us who provided us with the gift of life.  Each year, obon is a time to celebrate the return of the spirits of our ancestors.

The Obon Festival features food, games, farmers market, flower market, traditional Bon

Odori Dancing, and various types of entertainment.  This year's entertainment lineup

includes June Kuramoto of Hiroshima, TAIKOPROJECT, hereandnow, The Grateful Crane Ensemble, happyfunsmile, Bombu Taiko, Kitsune Taiko, and a special Karaoke performance by Rinban Ito and a special, honored guest.  Please check the schedule for date and time of performances, subject to change.

OBON Parking -

Please park in the Medical Building at 420 E. 3rd St.(corner of 3rd & San Pedro, entrance on Boyd St.).  The cost for parking is $5.00.  You can receive a free $2.00 raffle ticket by coming to the raffle ticket booth and showing your parking ticket. Additional parking is available at the Little Tokyo Mall(adjacent to Union Bank on San Pedro St., between 1st St. & 2nd St.). 

IMPORTANT! - If you choose to park in other parking lots in Little Tokyo, please be aware of what times those parking lots close, as many close early!   

MANTO-E -

The tradtion of Manto-e during the Obon Festival is to light the sky with "ten thousand lanterns", originating about 1,200 years ago.

BON ODORI Practice -

Bon Odori practice will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays. Please refer below for practice dates and times.

Other Obon festivals are also held throughout Southern California & Nevada, so please support those festivals, as well.