Public Service Announcement for Yokohama City

18th January 2023

This week's edition is on 'Yokohama Chinatown's Spring Festival 2023'.

Did you know that in China, the Lunar New Year is called the 'Spring Festival' and there is a tradition of celebrating it in style? Yokohama Chinatown will be celebrating the event too. It will hold the 37th “Spring Festival” from Sunday 22nd January. 

On the day of the spring festival, Sunday 22nd, a traditional lion dance called 'Cǎi Qīng' will be performed. The lion dance, which takes place as the sounds of firecrackers and drums echo through the streets is truly dramatic!

On Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th, visitors will be able to see entertaining performances of lion and dragon dances and dancing, as well as Chinese traditional arts in the form of Chinese circus at Yamashita-cho Park, in Chinatown.

And on Saturday 4th February, the spring festival’s main event, a celebration parade called the “Dance Parade” will be held. As well as a team wearing colorful emperor costumes, there will be a lion dance expressing a mix of courage and sweetness, graceful traditional Chinese dancing, and Chinese zither performances, so visitors will have the chance to see sights that are unique to the Spring Festival.

Lastly, on Sunday 5th February, a Lantern Festival will be held in Yokohama Masobyo to round off the Spring Festival celebrations.

Graceful votive dances and bold lion dances will be performed, filling the area with a magical air completely different to the usual bright atmosphere.

Why not come and experience a different Chinatown to usual, a special Chinatown that’s unique to the spring festival period.

Yokohama Chinatown’s Spring Festival 2023 will take place between Sunday 22nd January and Sunday 5th February, so please drop by.