Japanese culture event “Sakura @ Lauriston Castle”
2026/4/26
On the weekends of April 18th - 19th, and 25th - 26th, a Japanese cultural event “Sakura @ Lauriston Castle” was held at Lauriston Castle in Edinburgh, which has an Edinburgh-Kyoto Friendship Garden (Japanese garden) that was created to commemorate the friendship agreement between Edinburgh and Kyoto Prefecture. This year also marked the 100th anniversary since Lauriston Castle was donated to Edinburgh City Council.
This event is organized and managed by Japan Sakura in Scotland, and has been held annually with the hope that it will become a place for local residents to interact with each other while enjoying cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in autumn. This was the fourth year it has taken place. The Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh also co-hosted various Japanese cultural exhibits.
At the event, there were many visitors enjoying activities outdoors such as trying on yukata and happi, playing kendama, koinobori display, origami and matcha tea experiences, demonstrations of onigiri making, and a bonsai exhibition by Scottish Bonsai Association, whilst indoors there was a display of Hina dolls and an introduction to Japanese food samples, as well as local information from various prefectures provided by CLAIR (Council of Local Authorities for International Relations).
All four days had lovely weather, and the event attracted many visitors, giving them a valuable chance to view Sakura cherry blossoms in the garden and experience Japanese culture.
Next year marks 30 years since the friendship agreement between Kyoto Prefecture and Edinburgh, and 25 years since the Edinburgh-Kyoto Friendship Garden was created, and the Consulate will continue to work closely together.
This event is organized and managed by Japan Sakura in Scotland, and has been held annually with the hope that it will become a place for local residents to interact with each other while enjoying cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in autumn. This was the fourth year it has taken place. The Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh also co-hosted various Japanese cultural exhibits.
At the event, there were many visitors enjoying activities outdoors such as trying on yukata and happi, playing kendama, koinobori display, origami and matcha tea experiences, demonstrations of onigiri making, and a bonsai exhibition by Scottish Bonsai Association, whilst indoors there was a display of Hina dolls and an introduction to Japanese food samples, as well as local information from various prefectures provided by CLAIR (Council of Local Authorities for International Relations).
All four days had lovely weather, and the event attracted many visitors, giving them a valuable chance to view Sakura cherry blossoms in the garden and experience Japanese culture.
Next year marks 30 years since the friendship agreement between Kyoto Prefecture and Edinburgh, and 25 years since the Edinburgh-Kyoto Friendship Garden was created, and the Consulate will continue to work closely together.