The Oakland-Fukuoka Sister City Association (OFSCA) holds our annual Otsukimi Moon-viewing party on the Sunday closest to the full harvest moon each October, held at the Gardens at Lake Merritt. We have been holding these parties, which feature traditional Japanese entertainment, authentic Obento dinners, and astronomers with powerful telescopes, since 1965.

The harvest moon is a symbol of blessing and abundance for many cultures, including Japan. Similar to tea parties, the moon viewing parties are occasions for for sharing food and stories, while enjoying what is considered the most beautiful moon of the year.

Sunday, October 22, 2023 from 5:30-8:30pm

Free / Open to the Public – No tickets or pre-registration is required. However, if you would like an optional bento dinner (regular or vegetarian), please pre-order via Eventbrite – the order deadline of October 16, 2023. No food is sold at the event. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/otsukimi-moon-viewing-party-japanese-bento-dinner-orders-tickets-717909776467

Parking Cost: $5 all day parking on the weekend and holidays

Lakeside Park Garden Center, Bellevue Avenue, Oakland CA (Google Maps)

5:30pm – Bonsai Garden & Bento Dinner*

• Open House by the Golden State Bonsai Collection North, 5:30-6:30pm

• Japanese “Bento” box dinners (sushi & skewered meats/fish) created by Musashi of Berkeley. *Vegetarian Bento available upon request.

• Come see our beautiful mosaic muralinstalled in 2022 in honor of our 60th anniversary, Japanese stone lanterns dedicated in honor of our 50th anniversary in 2012, and the magnificent Torii Gate (dedicated in the Memory of the late Oakland Council Member Frank Ogawa 1917-1994) in honor of our 40th anniversary in 2002.

6:30pm – Entertainment

• Diablo Taiko (Japanese drums)

• Performances by the student ambassadors from the 2023 Summer High School Exchange Program

• Las Lomas High School Japanese language class

7:30pm – Moon Viewing

• Telescopic Viewing of the Moon and other celestial points of interest provided by the Eastbay Astronomical Society

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