Access
Visitors are encouraged to take public transportation or use a rideshare service as parking is limited during the Festival. Whichever method you choose, please allow extra time for traffic, parking, and/or walking to the Festival. Refer to this page for Information on getting to the Festival.
The Festival grounds are accessible from:
- Post Street & Laguna Street
- Post Street & Fillmore Street
- Sutter Street & Buchanan Street
- Sutter Street & Webster Street
- Geary Blvd & Webster Street
- Japan Center Garage’s Sutter Street exit
Animals/Dogs
Leashed dogs are welcome in accordance with the City ordinances and City and County of San Francisco rules.
ATMs
ATMs are available at various locations in and around Japantown.
Children’s Area
The Children’s Cherry Blossom Village (子どもの桜町) will be located at 1675 Post Street in the new KOHO Co-Creative Hub on the first three days of the Festival.
Events
Refer to the schedule page to locate the venues and times of cultural performances, exhibits, demonstrations, and activities.
Information on the Grand Parade (last Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00 PM) is available here.
The link to sign-up to be a Mikoshi carrier is available here. This is intended to track the number of interested participants and help speed up the registration process on the day of the parade.
Food & Drinks
Food, soft drinks, and beer are available for purchase at the non-profit Food Bazaar and the Sapporo Beer Garden (Webster Street between Post and Sutter Streets). Our Festival is one of the only festivals in San Francisco where all of our food booths are run by local nonprofits organizations!
Everyone is encouraged to bring their own water bottles. Water refill stations will be available around the Festival grounds.
Hours
The Festival grounds at Japantown are open to the public between 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM on all four days.
Events outside of Festival hours will be listed (e.g., the Queen Program Night).
Lost and Found
During the festival, lost and found items will be held at the main information tent, located in the Peace Plaza. After the festival, please send a message using the online lost-and-found form.
Mikoshi Carrier
Carriers are accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis on the day of the Parade starting at 10 a.m. at the Nihonmachi Terrace (1615 Sutter Street @ Octavia). Anyone over 18 years old is allowed to carry. Free dinner and shower coupon are provided. Bragging rights are guaranteed!
The link to sign-up to be a Mikoshi carrier is available here. This is intended to track the number of interested participants and help speed up the registration process on the day of the parade.
Support the Festival
The Festival is made possible by the generous grants, donations, and support from our corporate and community sponsors. Opportunities to support the Festival include:
Vendors & Booths
Various arts & crafts and food vendors will be onsite during the two weekends. Visit the Festival Areas page for more information.
Vendor applications are currently by invite only and closed for 2024. If you are interested in being considered in the future, please contact us.
Volunteer
The NCCBF is organized by volunteers. Every year, 500+ volunteers help produce this Festival, along with a group of 40+ staff volunteers who work year-round.
The Logistics crew is currently recruiting volunteers! Volunteers may be asked to do a wide-range of activities including: helping with set up, maintenance and organization, sweeping, securing areas, gate & traffic monitoring, and more. Being a volunteer means you can meet new people, have fun, AND give back to the community! Visit the EventBrite site to sign up or contact volunteer@nccbf.org for additional information.
Each volunteer will receive a free t-shirt to be worn during the hours of participation.