JapanTown offers plenty of coolness on a hot summer day
JapanTown
Fourth Ave.. between Eighth & Tenth Sts.
Saturday, July 17, free, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
www.nyjapantown.org
We miss the Sakura Matsuri, the Japanese festival that used to be held on First Ave. by the Japan Society. So we’re excited about the Cool Japan Festival, back for its second year in JapanTown. The Fourth Ave. street fair will feature two blocks of great food from local vendors, including Café Zaiya, Otafuku, Hakata Tonton, Souen Noodle, and Go Restaurant,; cosplay favorite Reni Mimura, who will be talking with Samurai Beat Rodeo and signing autographs; a scavenger hunt for festival mascot Squid; the mikoshi portable Shinto shrine; and Dr. Robot teaching kids math and science through robotics. Plus, the winner of the Cool Japan Fashion Contest gets a round-trip ticket to Japan.