Japan Festival Amstelveen 2027 expected date and guide

What is Japan Festival?

Japan Festival is a yearly Japanese culture and food festival in Amstelveen. The organisers call it one of the largest Japanese events in the Netherlands, and it draws both the Japanese community in the Netherlands and Dutch visitors interested in Japan.

It is organised by Stichting Japan Festival, a foundation that puts on the festival every year to bring Japanese and Dutch people in the Netherlands closer together. The foundation pays for it mainly with sponsor contributions, and the 2026 festival had booths from Japanese and Dutch companies and the Embassy of Japan.

When is Japan Festival 2027?

The festival's own website has not announced the 2027 edition yet. I amsterdam's agenda lists Sunday 27 June 2027, from 12:00 to 18:00, and says the date and time are subject to change.

The 2026 edition was on Sunday 28 June, from 12:00 to 19:00.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The festival takes place on the Handelsplein in Amstelveen, next to the Handelsplein car park.

By public transport, the organisers point to tram 5 from Amsterdam and R-net bus 300 from Schiphol and Bijlmer ArenA to the Amstelveen bus station. By car, they name the car parks Handelsplein, Stadsplein and Schouwburg. There are bicycle racks in the Stadshart.

What happens at the festival?

The open-air stage in 2026 ran from the noon opening and a kagami wari ceremony to taiko drumming, yosakoi dance, a Japanese choir, classical Japanese dance, koto and shamisen performances, kendo, aikido and karate demonstrations and a Bon Odori to close. Visitors could also try kendo, taiko and aikido on a second, interactive stage.

The festival is split into zones. Cool Japan has specialities and technology, with stands from companies and the Embassy of Japan. Taste Japan is the food zone; in 2026 it had ramen, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, donburi, matcha, taiyaki, dango and traditional sweets. Experience Japan has workshops, which in 2026 included calligraphy, woodblock printing, ikebana, a moss ball workshop and shogi. Discover Japan is for buying Japanese products, such as tea, tableware, vintage kimono and Japanese ingredients.

There is also a Yukata Selfie Contest, held again in 2026.

The 2027 programme and the list of participants are not out yet.

Entry and practical tips

Entry was free in 2026. Entry for 2027 has not been confirmed yet; I amsterdam lists it as free.

The organisers ask visitors to come by bike or public transport, and to bring their own cup, cutlery such as chopsticks, and a bag to cut down on waste. Look for the poster at each stand that shows whether it accepts your own cup or cutlery.