Furusato Matsuri Tokyo 2023: Festival of Festivals
Event type: Festival / Exhibition
Attendees: 337,436
Location: Tokyo Dome
Date: January 13 – 22, 2023
In mid-January Tokyo Dome baseball stadium was taken over by the 13th edition of 'Furusato Matsuri Tokyo', for the first time in three years. This name translates to ‘Hometown Festival’. This event is dedicated to bringing traditional festivals and local foods & drinks from all around Japan together in one place. It is a major event that draws visitors from all around the world. This year, JTB Meetings & Events by JTB Communication Design (JCD) assisted in making this event happen.
About 'Furusato Matsuri Tokyo', the Festival of Festivals
Japan is filled with countless traditions and unique local cultures. In order to see and experience these, you would usually have to travel all across Japan for them. When it comes to the festival you would also have to be at the right place at the right time. Although we absolutely encourage traveling beautiful Japan, this is not possible for everyone with time- and financial constraints. This is where 'Furusato Matsuri Tokyo' comes in!Hundreds of stalls from around Japan selling locally famous and unique meibutsu food and drinks are gathered in one central location for everyone to try. Moreover, world-famous traditional Japanese festival performances such as the 'Aomori Nebuta Matsuri' traditional float parade, that you can normally only see by traveling to the far north, are brought together here as well. It is a unique opportunity to sample almost all of Japanese food and culture at once.
JTB Meetings & Events’ Role
This year, JCD supported this major event by operating two central facets: the performance stages as well as an exhibition of Japan’s marathons! For many, the performances are the central drawing point of the event. Being able to witness famous traditional dance performances and other things such as the 'Aomori Nebuta Matsuri' float with your own eyes is an unforgettable experience. We were in charge of coordinating the groups performing on the main stage 'Festival Plaza' and managing its operation on the day of the festival.In addition, as a special program within 'Furusato Matsuri Tokyo' a section was set up to introduce marathons held in various regions of Japan. Organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, this corner was designed to promote health and regional exchange. As a company engaged in regional promotion, we were in charge of planning and managing this exhibition introducing marathons from all over Japan. Visitors could obtain information on marathons held in various regions of Japan, as well as local sightseeing and gourmet information. They could also participate in various experiences/attractions on the spot.