For one July weekend, San Jose's Japantown becomes one of the best free family festivals in the Bay Area. The San Jose Obon Festival — hosted by the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin at 640 N. 5th Street — fills 5th Street from Taylor to Empire with food booths, game stalls, a bingo tent, and taiko drums you feel in your chest. Obon is a Buddhist tradition honoring ancestors, and the festival's heart is bon odori: as evening falls, hundreds of dancers in yukata circle the street to live music, and everyone — including your kids, no experience needed — is welcome to join the ring. There's no gate or ticket; you pay booth by booth. In 2026 it runs Saturday July 11 (noon–10pm) and Sunday July 12 (noon–9pm), with San Jose Taiko performing Saturday at 4:30pm at 5th and Jackson. Park free at the county lot at 1st and Hedding and ride the shuttle in.
- Official site: sjbetsuin.org
- 2026 dates: Sat July 11 (12–10pm) & Sun July 12 (12–9pm)
- Where: 5th St between Taylor & Empire, San Jose Japantown (San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 N. 5th St)
- Cost: No gate or ticket — pay per food item and game (game tickets from machines that take credit cards)
- Parking: Free county lot at N. 1st St & Hedding with a complimentary shuttle
A festival built around a dance
Everything at Obon points toward the evening bon odori, when the street fills with concentric circles of dancers moving through a set of about 13 songs. Watching is wonderful; joining is better, and genuinely encouraged — the steps repeat, kids pick them up by the second verse, and dancers in full yukata will happily carry the beginners. The church posts the year's song list with practice videos beforehand if you want a preview.
Food, games, and the museum
Come hungry: the food booths are the festival's other main event, run by church volunteers, with lines that peak 5–7pm — hit the booths at opening or mid-afternoon with young kids. Game booths cluster on Jackson Street; buy tickets from the machine (credit cards accepted) rather than hunting for cash. And don't miss the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, right in the festival footprint and free during the festival, noon–5pm — a genuinely great break with kids old enough for its Japantown history exhibits.
Getting there and surviving July heat
Skip circling Japantown's small blocks: the county lot at N. 1st Street and Hedding is free during the festival with a complimentary shuttle, or it's about a 20-minute walk. San Jose in mid-July means full sun on asphalt until early evening — hats, sunscreen, and water bottles are non-negotiable. The best rhythm with little kids: late-afternoon arrival, dinner from the booths, then the evening dancing as the temperature drops. Strollers work on the closed streets but get tight in the 5–7pm food-line crush.
Obon events in our catalog
Live from our catalog — 6 upcoming, refreshed weekly.
2026 San Jose Obon Festival & Bazaar Annual Obon Festival
Plant a seed, read, and celebrate Obon! Join us in our first Obon Festival, a Japanese festival honoring ancestors. We will have an exciting Taiko Drumming performance and Bon Odori dancing by Niseishin Daiko [ https://niseishindaiko.com/ ]. Children will also be able to make crafts, learn the traditional Obon dance, a…
Event includes festival activities and bazaar from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM Saturday July 18, 2026.
Event includes festival activities and bazaar from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sunday July 19, 2026.
FAQ
When is the San Jose Obon Festival in 2026?
Saturday July 11, noon–10pm, and Sunday July 12, noon–9pm, in San Jose Japantown. Booths wind down before the evening dancing ends.
Does it cost anything to attend?
There's no admission gate — you pay per food item and game. Game tickets come from machines that accept credit cards. The Japanese American Museum of San Jose, inside the festival footprint, is free both days.
Can anyone join the bon odori dancing?
Yes — public participation is the point. The dances repeat simple steps, kids are welcome in the circle, and the church posts the song list with practice videos beforehand.
Where do we park?
Use the free Santa Clara County lot at N. 1st Street and Hedding, which runs a complimentary shuttle to Japantown — or walk about 20 minutes. Street parking near 5th and Jackson is scarce with the closures.