EUSTIS, FL (352today.com) – Many of the residents of the 352 have no idea that their extended community is home to the largest Japanese cultural center in the United States.
However, the Arching Oaks Japanese Art & Culture Center aims to change that with its first-ever Japan Festival, which will be held in Historic Downtown Eustis on Saturday, March 28, 2026 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
The 20-acre Arching Oaks Japanese Art & Culture Center was founded in Eustis in 2013 and achieved 501(c)(3) status in 2019. The center’s stated mission is “to raise awareness and promote the artistic and cultural traditions of Japan and to provide its diverse community opportunities for growth of body, mind and spirit through high-quality programming rooted in these traditions.” In addition to a multitude of classes covering everything from how the Japanese celebrate the holidays they share with America to traditional musical and artistic techniques, Arching Oaks boasts two traditional dojos–including the only Kyudo dojo in Florida–as well as a formal tatami room for tea and incense ceremonies, a full-sized art studio, classroom spaces, and a Japanese meditation and water garden, among other facilities.
This month, Arching Oaks will produce its largest public event to date: The Japan Festival Eustis, which will take over the city’s Historic Downtown with events, classes, food and drink, raffles, fun and more.
Here’s the full schedule:
Admission to the Japan Festival Eustis is free for all.
Come find out more about one of the ten oldest civilizations on Earth, learn some new art skills or ways to de-stress, sample authentic dishes and beverages, and have a great time while expanding your own horizons and supporting a tradition of much-needed cross-cultural outreach. You might even win free airfare to the Land of the Rising Sun!