Hanami Program 2026

At the market during the Hanami Festival, you can enjoy Japanese delicacies such as okonomiyaki, bowls, mochi and matcha-inspired treats, and discover a wide range of Japanese teas and different types of matcha. You will also find non-food items, including unique Japanese pottery, ceramics and lacquerware, as well as wishing stones, Japanese incense and mizuhiki accessories. Fashion lovers can browse stalls featuring beautiful kimono and other distinctive Japanese items. 

10:00–17:00 | Outdoor area | No museum admission required

Join this special reading moment from the beautifully illustrated picture book When the Sakura Bloom. This warm and contemplative story about the beauty of cherry blossom is told through a kamishibai: a storytelling frame in which images appear as you listen. Japanese storytellers once travelled by bicycle with these to entertain audiences of all ages.  

12:00–12:15 
14:15–14:30 
15:45–16:00 

Japan Gallery | You can join if space is available | All ages | Free 
 

A museum educator will guide you past the ever-blooming blossoms and flowers in the museum’s collection. Flowers and plants often carry symbolic or medicinal meanings. You will discover this and much more during this special Hanami-themed guided tour. 

12:30–13:15 
14:45–15:30 

Meet in the entrance hall | Maximum 15 participants | Adults | Free

Lanka is a calligraphy artist whose live performances explore the roots of the Japanese spirit through movement, ink and impermanence. Calligraphy is more than writing – it is movement, breath and reflection. As the ink flows, Lanka invites you not only to observe the character, but also the rhythm, the silence and the moment we share. During Hanami, her art takes on special meaning. Like cherry blossoms, Lanka’s work emerges in the moment and then disappears, making each performance unique and temporary. 

15:00–15:15 | Outdoor area | You can join if space is available | All ages | Free 

By: Luk van Haute

In his collection Jazz Portraits, Murakami writes with infectious enthusiasm about the music that shaped him. He shares delightful anecdotes and recalls memories of intimate clubs and memorable performances, with his love for jazz as the common thread. Luk van Haute translated the book and will talk about it. Afterward, Luk will be in the museum shop to sign books.

14:45–15:45 | Grote zaal | max. 125 participants | You can join if space is available | Adults
Book signing at 16:00 at the Entrance Desk

By: Senyumeji Nishikawa

During this workshop you will be introduced to the basics of the Japanese dance form Nihon Buyo. You will learn several simple movements, posture, and expression under the guidance of Senyumeji Nishikawa. You will also discover how stories and emotions are expressed through the body in Japanese dance.

Senyumeji Nishikawa joined the main family of the Nishikawa school at the age of six. At thirteen she received the name of successor, and at twenty-one she became a master. She graduated from the Japanese Dance program at the Faculty of Arts of Nihon University and moved to Germany in 2005.

11:50–12:30 | Kleine zaal | max. 24 participants | Adults | Ticket required | Price: €5.00

 

The Wereldtuin  in Leiden is transforming into a place where cultures, plants, and stories meet. During Hanami this is already visible, and the ambition is to create similar connections around other plants, cultures, and stories in the garden. In this presentation, Managing Director Marieke van Bommel will take you through the vision behind the Wereldtuin and the changes that come with it.

11:00–11:30 | Grote zaal | max. 125 participants | You can join if space is available | Adults | Free

Join the Sanshoku Dango (三色団子) workshop and experience a piece of Japanese spring tradition. Hanami dango is a classic sweet treat made of pink, white, and green rice dumplings on a skewer, enjoyed since the Edo period during cherry blossom season. The flavor is delicately sweet and refined, with a soft, mochi-like texture: pink is subtly fruity (strawberry or sakura), white is mild and pure, and green has a gentle earthy taste from matcha or yomogi.

In this workshop, you'll make your own green matcha dango, pairing it with whipped cream and fresh strawberry for a colorful and delightful combination.

15:45–16:30 | Atelier | Max. 20 participants | Adults | Ticket required | Price: €5.00

During this performance, Senyumeji Nishikawa will perform, a master of the Nishikawa school of Nihon Buyo. The term Nihon Buyo literally means “Japanese dance” but refers to several specific dance genres performed in the theater, such as Kabuki dance. This dance originated about 400 years ago during the Edo period and is unique to Japan. Senyumeji Nishikawa studied at Nihon University and has been teaching Japanese dance and kimono dressing in Frankfurt since 2015. In her dance, she tells stories and expresses emotions such as joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.

13:45–14:05 | Grote Zaal | Entry if space is available | Max. 125 participants | Adults | Free

By: Noriko van Lit-Suzuki 
Ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging, with a history of over 600 years. In this art form, harmony between flowers, branches, space, and form is central.

During this demonstration, Noriko van Lit-Suzuki will show step by step how an Ikebana arrangement is created according to the principles of the Ohara school, a style known for its natural and balanced compositions.

12:30–13:00 | Grote zaal | Join if space is available | max. 80 participants | adults | free