Yokohama Festival
EVENTs:
date:
November 14, 2026
Time:
9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
9:00 AM CleanPic check-in
10:00 – 11:00 AM CleanPic
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM Yokohama Festival & Mottainai Market
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM The Gateway
6:00 – 9:00 PM 70th Anniversary Reception
(Time varies by event)
Location:
Balboa Park
Experience Yokohama in San Diego
For 70 years, San Diego and Yokohama have shared a friendship built through culture, education and people-to-people exchange. On Saturday, November 14, that friendship comes alive in Balboa Park with a day of Japanese culture, performances, food, activities and fun for all ages.
Experience the energy of taiko, join in Bon Odori, explore cultural and community booths, discover Yokohama, and enjoy special activities throughout the day. Whether this is your first introduction to Japan or a friendship generations in the making, everyone is invited to celebrate with us.
Your Day
at a Glance.
Saturday, November 14 runs from a morning cleanup to an evening reception, across four zones in Balboa Park that are a 5–10 minute walk apart. Most of the day is free, so come for an hour or stay all day.
CleanPic Community Cleanup
Team up for a friendly cleanup competition across Balboa Park to kick off the festival.
Yokohama Festival & Main Stage
Taiko, Bon Odori, the Honu Sumo Showdown and cultural performances, plus community booths, the House of Japan exhibition and Yokohama tourism.
Mottainai Market & GREEN×EXPO 2027
Cleanup Kitsune’s circular market, sustainability exhibits, the Kankyō Enikki youth exhibition and hands-on family activities.
The Gateway · Food & Marketplace
Japanese food and drinks, culinary demonstrations, international merchants, tourism promotion and live music.
70th Anniversary Reception
An evening of food, live music and friendship with business and civic leaders celebrating 70 years of sister-city partnership.
One Festival.
So Much to Experience.
From morning activities through an evening celebration, Saturday brings together culture, community, food and friendship across Balboa Park. Explore the festival grounds, discover something new, and experience the connections between San Diego and Yokohama.
And the celebration doesn’t end there. Join us Saturday evening for 70th Anniversary Reception, a special gathering featuring food, live music, friendship and the people helping shape the next chapter of our sister-city relationship.
Find Your Way
Around the Festival.
Four zones, a 5–10 minute walk apart. Tap a zone on the map or below to see what’s happening there. All zones are open to the public unless ticketed.
Getting Here & Parking
The festival is centered around the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages. Parking is paid in Balboa Park lots, and the closest lots are marked P on the map. Parking info ↗
Free & Ticketed
The Festival, Mottainai Market and The Gateway are free. CleanPic is $10 per person, and the 70th Anniversary Reception requires a ticket.
Getting Around
All four zones are a 5–10 minute walk apart. Use the map above to find each zone and what’s happening there.
Go Mottainai
Help us keep the festival low-waste. Bring a reusable water bottle and bag, and shop the circular Mottainai Market.