Celebrating Japanese Culture in New Mexico: The 2025 Obon and Aki Matsuri Festivals in Albuquerque 🪔🍁🎎

At first glance, you’d think New Mexico and Japan have very little in common—other than the occasional sushi restaurant. Even that might seem surprising. Sushi in New Mexico? Yep. Despite being landlocked and high desert, we’ve got some solid spots for Japanese cuisine.

But the connections go deeper. One of Albuquerque’s sister cities is Sasebo, Japan, a relationship that helped inspire the beautiful Sasebo Japanese Garden at the ABQ BioPark. New Mexico and Japan also share a more somber bond—certain chapters of World War II history that left their mark on both regions.

I’ve always felt a strong pull toward Japanese culture and aesthetic. Years ago, a roommate half-joked that I was their “Japanese roommate” because I was clean, quiet, and polite. I took it as a compliment. If I had to choose one country outside the U.S. to live in for a year, it would be Japan. That’s based on a two-week trip I took to Hokkaido and Honshu back in the ’90s—and on countless positive interactions I’ve had with Japanese people since then. I’m actually planning another trip soon, this time with my 20-year-old son in tow.

New Mexico is home to a small but vibrant Japanese community—just over a thousand residents, mostly in Albuquerque. Thanks to my interest in Japanese culture, I try to attend local events when I can. Two that I look forward to every year are the Obon and Aki Matsuri festivals, both held in Albuquerque. In this post, I’ll highlight what to expect at each event and share a few resources in case you want to explore more Japan-related experiences in the Land of Enchantment.

But first—some quick historical context. Don’t worry, I’ll keep it short.

Well… sort of.

Heads up: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy something through them, it helps support this site—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend stuff I genuinely use and trust.

Historical Connections Between New Mexico and Japan

Nuclear Bombs

Let’s start with the obvious—and not-so-pretty—historical connection between New Mexico and Japan: nuclear weapons. Think Los Alamos National Lab, White Sands Missile Range, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki.

During World War II, the first atomic bomb was developed as part of the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos National Laboratory in northern New Mexico. The bomb was then tested on July 16, 1945, at what’s now known as the Trinity Site—located at White Sands Missile Range, about 28 miles from San Antonio, New Mexico.

These events are depicted in the 2023 film Oppenheimer, named after physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who served as director of the Los Alamos lab during the war. Just weeks after that first test, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945), killing an estimated 80,000 people in Hiroshima and 40,000 in Nagasaki immediately—followed by tens of thousands more in the years that followed due to radiation-related illness.

On a side note, when I worked at Sandia National Laboratories about 20 years ago, I was part of a small delegation that hosted group of ~20 nuclear scientists and administrators from Japan. As part of that experience, I had the unusual opportunity to join our Japanese friends for a visit to the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque and the Bradbury Science Museum in Los Alamos. It felt a bit awkward walking through the exhibits with our colleagues, particularly when a subset of them decided to pose in front of an old newspaper with a headline that referenced the “bombing of Japs”. But history is what it is, and all we can do is learn from it, and work to ensure tragedies like these are never repeated.

Confinement Camps in New Mexico

Another uncomfortable—and lesser-known—historical connection between New Mexico and Japan is that our state was home to four confinement camps during World War II. These camps imprisoned people of Japanese descent (referred to as Nikkei), including some who had lived in New Mexico for years.

The four sites were located in:

• Lordsburg
• Santa Fe
• Fort Stanton
• Baca Camp (also known as Old Raton Ranch), located 13 miles east of Fort Stanton near Lincoln, New Mexico

These sites were part of a broader, often-overlooked chapter of American history, where thousands of Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and detained—despite no evidence of wrongdoing.

If you’d like to learn more, I recommend the publication “Confinement in the Land of Enchantment”, produced by the New Mexico Japanese American Citizens League with support from the National Park Service’s Japanese American Confinement Sites (JACS) Program. It offers a deeply researched and sobering look at this chapter in New Mexico’s history.

Bataan Death March

A third connection between New Mexico and Japan is the Bataan Death March, a brutal World War II event that is honored each year in New Mexico through a commemorative race at White Sands Missile Range.

The original march took place in the Philippines on April 9, 1942, when the Japanese Army forced 75,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war (POWs) to march 65 miles through scorching heat and humidity with little to no food or water. Those who fell behind were often executed—shot, bayoneted, or beaten.

By the time the march ended, an estimated 5,000–18,000 Filipinos and 500–600 Americans had died. The Japanese commander responsible, along with two of his officers, was later tried and sentenced to death for war crimes.

Today, the Bataan Memorial Death March is a 26.2-mile marathon that takes place every March at White Sands Missile Range near Las Cruces. It’s a solemn tribute to those who endured—and those who perished—in the original march.

As a Vietnam veteran, my dad loved this event and completed it more than ten times before passing away in 2023. I had the opportunity to join him for four of those races, though I chose the 14.2-mile honorary route for two of them. It offered a small but humbling reminder of the real sacrifice behind the story—and made it pretty hard to complain about sore legs afterward.

As the race website says, the Bataan Memorial Death March is “more than just a marathon.” And it is. The event draws military and civilian participants from all over the country, as well as some international teams.

One of the most memorable aspects of the event in past years was the presence of survivors of the original Bataan Death March. They offered handshakes, quiet encouragement, and stood as living reminders of what the event is all about. The last known American survivor to regularly attend, Col. Ben Skardon, passed away in 2021 at the age of 104. While there are no longer survivors at the event, their legacy continues to shape the spirit of the march.

Participants can enter solo or sign up as part of a 5-person team, with the added twist that all teammates must cross the finish line within 20 seconds of each other. For those looking to make it harder, there’s a “heavy” division, which requires carrying a 35-pound pack the whole way.

Military teams—regardless of division—are required to march in uniform and boots. Civilians can wear whatever they want. Most take full advantage of that freedom—including me.

The next Bataan Memorial Death March (the 37th year) will take place on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

Sister Cities: Albuquerque and Sasebo

Finally, on a lighter and more recent note, Albuquerque and Sasebo, Japan have been sister cities for over 55 years. The connection was originally sparked by friendships formed during the Korean War—when individuals from both cities met and stayed in touch.

Albuquerque actually has ten sister cities around the world, including Alburquerque, Spain; Chihuahua and Guadalajara, Mexico; Helmstedt, Germany; Hualien, Taiwan; Lanzhou, China; Lusaka, Zambia; Rehovot, Israel; Ashgabat, Turkmenistan—and, of course, Sasebo, Japan.

These partnerships were established by Albuquerque’s Economic Development Department to support a city ordinance that encourages “private and public programs to further the development of greater friendship and understanding between the people of Albuquerque and cities of other nations.”

The relationship with Sasebo eventually inspired the creation of the Sasebo Japanese Garden at the ABQ BioPark—a peaceful spot tucked inside the larger botanic garden and one of my favorite places to visit in the city.

Japanese Cultural Events in New Mexico

New Mexico has two organizations that are dedicated to supporting and sharing Japanese culture: Santa Fe Jin and the New Mexico Japanese American League. These organizations help support two annual Japanese cultural events in New Mexico, the Obon and Aki Matsuri festivals, which I’ll describe below.

The Obon Festival at the ABQ BioPark Japanese Garden

Obon is a special time of year in Japan when the souls of the dead are believed to return to visit the living. It’s somewhat similar to Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) traditions here in New Mexico, though the timing and customs differ.

In Japan, Obon takes place around August 12–16, during a national holiday known as the “Festival of the Dead.” It’s a time for families to reunite with the spirits of their ancestors—eating, drinking, and sharing stories together. You may see it called simply Bon or with the honorific “O” as Obon—both refer to the same celebration.

As part of the tradition, people display paper lanterns at their homes—often electrified these days. If it’s the first Obon since a loved one’s passing, a special lantern or small fire may be placed outside to help guide their spirit home.

Obon is also a time for families to clean ancestral gravestones, perform Bon Odori (Bon dances), and, at the end of the holiday, send off the spirits. If near water, families float lanterns downstream or out to sea, each one representing the soul of an ancestor.

That’s the general idea—but the customs vary depending on the region.

Here in Albuquerque, the Obon celebration is condensed into just a few hours, held at the Sasebo Japanese Garden inside the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden. (And if you read the “Sister Cities” section above, you already know why it’s named Sasebo.)

The event includes taiko drumming, dance demonstrations, and a peaceful closing ritual where you can create and float your own lantern in the garden lake. As an ABQ BioPark Zoo Docent, I volunteered at the Obon Festival in 2022 and 2024, and I’ve included a few photos below from those events.

If you’ve never been to the four-acre Sasebo Japanese Garden in Albuquerque, it’s well worth a visit. Designed by landscape architect Toru Tanaka, the garden opened in September 2007 and offers a peaceful blend of Japanese aesthetics and New Mexico flair.

You’ll find a koi pond, waterfall, stone lanterns, pagoda sculptures, and wooden and stone bridges, surrounded by a mix of Japanese and regional plants. It’s a great place to slow down for a bit—whether during Obon or any other time of year.

Here are a few photos to give you a sense of what to expect.

This year (2025), the Obon Festival takes place on Friday, August 15th, from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM. One of the perks of attending is getting to experience the Sasebo Japanese Garden at night—a rare treat. It also gives the mosquitoes a chance to feed on you as the sun goes down, so… plan accordingly.

The festival features Japanese cuisine and refreshments, along with a variety of cultural activities and performances. Visitors can enjoy a traditional tea ceremony, calligraphy demonstrations, taiko drumming, shamisen music, and bonsai displays. You can also create an origami crane to hang in the bamboo grove or receive a Japanese fan personalized with your name—or any word you like—written in Japanese characters.

The evening ends with the chance to decorate a floating lantern with a name, drawing, or message and place it in the water to honor loved ones who have passed.

The Obon Festival at the ABQ BioPark typically sells out, so advance tickets are strongly recommended. Your ticket includes one lantern and access to all activities (except food and drinks, which are sold separately).

Aki Matsuri

Another Japanese festival held annually in Albuquerque is Aki Matsuri, which is often translated as “Fall Festival,” “Autumn Festival,” or “Harvest Festival.” This year (2025), it’s scheduled for Sunday, September 28th at Expo NM (a.k.a. the New Mexico State Fairgrounds). Tickets can be purchased through the New Mexico Japanese American Citizens League (NMJACL).

In Japan, Aki Matsuri is a time to give thanks for a successful harvest and for the health of the community. The festival may include a parade of miniature shrines (mikoshi), traditional music and dance, and of course—plenty of food. Rituals often celebrate the change of seasons, such as praying for forgiveness of past wrongs and offering wishes for future blessings. In some regions, visitors write their wishes on wooden tablets and hand them to ascetic monks (shugendō) who chant Buddhist sutras and cast the tablets into a sacred bonfire to bless them.

Albuquerque’s version of Aki Matsuri features a full afternoon of music and dance demonstrations, arts and crafts activities, and a variety of vendors selling food, art, and Japanese-themed goods.

Taiko Drumming Demonstration.

The theme for the 2025 Aki Matsuri Festival is the Year of the Snake (Hebi) — a symbol of wisdom, transformation, and resilience. In other words, my mom won’t be buying the event t-shirt… but my son absolutely will.

Museum of International Folk Art

Beyond the two annual festivals, New Mexico occasionally hosts Japanese-themed exhibits and performances — especially at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe. Back in 2014, the museum showcased more than 200 Japanese kites, complete with live demonstrations. More recently, the Yōkai: Ghosts & Demons of Japan exhibit (which ran through 2023) offered a deep dive into Japan’s supernatural folklore. The term yōkai is a catch-all for ghosts, demons, shapeshifters, and other mysterious beings you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley.

Where to learn more about Japanese Cultural Events

If you’re curious about other Japanese cultural events in New Mexico, a good place to start is to check out Santa Fe Jin’s Facebook page and the New Mexico Japanese American Citizen’s League website. You may also check the Museum of International Folk Art website for possible exhibits or performances.

📚 Want to Dive Deeper into Japanese Culture?

If you’re curious to learn more about Japanese traditions, history, or just want to prep for your own Japan adventure, here are a few books worth checking out.

Cultural Guides & Travel Inspiration
🔹 A Geek in Japan by Héctor García – A fun, illustrated crash course in Japanese culture, perfect for beginners and travelers.
🔹 Japan: A Guide to Traditions, Customs and Etiquette by Boyé Lafayette De Mente – A practical and respectful guide to understanding Japanese norms and values.

History & Reflection
🔹 Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston – A moving memoir about growing up in a Japanese-American internment camp during WWII.
🔹 Looking Like the Enemy by Mary Matsuda Gruenewald – A personal, powerful story of identity and resilience during internment.

Festivals & Traditions
🔹 Japanese Traditions: Rice Cakes, Cherry Blossoms and Matsuri by Setsu Broderick – A beautifully illustrated look at Japan’s seasonal celebrations, including Obon.

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Thought for the Week

For this week’s thought for the week, I’ll give us something to chew on from Japanese Buddhist scholar and writer, Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki, aka D.T. Suzuki (1870 – 1966), who helped spread interest in Zen Buddhism and Shin Buddhism to the West.

“When we start to feel anxious or depressed, instead of asking, “What do I need to get to be happy?”, the question becomes, “What am I doing to disturb the inner peace that I already have?”
— D.T. Suzuki

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Thanks for reading and happy travels!

Mark (The New Mexico Travel Guy)

Mark Aspelin, The New Mexico Travel Guy (www.newmexicotravelguy.com), is a travel writer, conservation biologist, project manager, and author of two books. He’s visited over 100 countries and all 50 U.S. states—just enough to land in the Travelers’ Century Club and make choosing a favorite place nearly impossible. He’s currently on a questionable mission to visit every town in New Mexico (there are over 500) and write a story about each one, with plans to wrap it up sometime before his early to mid 100s. Mark balances his writing with conservation and project work from his home base in the East Mountains near Albuquerque, New Mexico.