Zenshuji Carnival

The Obon Festival is one of the most celebrated and beloved festival by the Japanese people.
Zenshuji Soto Mission is one of the oldest and respected church here in Little Tokyo. Every year patrons and volunteers will coordinate a very special event called the Obon festival. This festival represents the acknowledgment of our ancestral spirits and the legacies they left for the living. In this festival people from different generation will gather, lough, eat and rejoice to one of the most celebrated festival.
During the Obon holidays, church volunteers will organize several food stands. You will find variation of traditional Japanese food, such as; sushi, ramen, teriyaki chicken and squid skewers. Upon arrival, I tried one of the best teriyaki beef and chicken in my whole life. It was definitely nothing like the ones you buy in a commercial restaurant. The chicken teriyaki is well seasoned, savory and tender; it is very advisable to try this dish. The Ramen broth here is also hand made, made from the kitchen of this church, where friendly ladies accommodate your request.
They also offer several sweet deserts, enough to satisfy people with sweet tooth. This festival will not be a considered a festival unless there is beer, yes they have beer, tap beer to be exact and sangria for the ladies.
For entertainment, this place offers renowned performers and some amateur’s from all the over the city. The performers will present traditional dances and musical arts originating from Japan. Moreover, this place also has raffle drawings and the money will proceed as a donation to help the improvement of the church. There are also several little booth games, this is perfect for the children. Price here are very reasonable and NO ENTRANCE FEE!
This festival is definitely inspiring; there is no better way to be in touch with your cultural root without tasting the food, meeting the people and experiencing the Obon festival.