South West Japan Festival set to hit Busselton this year

Busselton is set to light up and celebrate all things Japanese at the South West Japan Festival to be hosted later this year. The South West Japan Festival celebrates the relationship between sister cities which connect Bunbury and Setagaya, and Busselton and Sugito. This year’s festival will travel to Busselton and Dunsborough and include a fine dining event called Yarri’s Japanese Dining Experience which involves a four-course meal paired with Snake and Herring wine, and sake. Peko Peko in Dunsborough will also host a miso cooking demonstration, where attendees can learn new recipes using miso, and indulge in the final courses. An anime themed pub quiz night is being introduced for 2024 festival which will be held at Froth Brewery in Bunbury. Bunbury will also see the Floating Lantern Festival on September 7, from 3pm until sunset. The opening festival of Matsuri Day will take place at the Queens’ Garden in Bunbury on September 8, and spreads throughout the city for a day of music, exploration, workshops, and the highly anticipated Stamp Rally. The festival’s signature events are being combined into one Oki Weekend from September 6-8,to make travelling easier for festival-goers outside of Bunbury. The Busselton Jetty Sushi Train will be featuring again this year where the public can enjoy Japanese sushi aboard the Stocker Preston followed by entertainment at the end of the jetty. Your Turn Events’ Renee Lee said the festival would be a multicultural hit for the whole community. The festival starts on September 1 and will close on September 15.