Yokoso Collingwood Fitzroy Japan Festival

Overview

You don't have to go to Tokyo to have an immersive Japanese experience. You can when borders reopen, and everyone should at some point — because there's really nowhere else in the world quite like it. But if you're eager to eat like you're already there, watch performances and browse market stalls, you can save yourself the airfare at the Yokoso Collingwood Fitzroy Japan Festival.

A one-day celebration at Peel Street Park from 12.30–7pm on Sunday, January 17, it's Melbourne's own ode to the country that brought us sushi, katsu, yakitori, sake, matcha lattes and more. Expect to find more than a few things from that list on offer, and plenty to see and do as well — with admission free.

In the park, live music will feature everything from harps and Japanese drums to rap and hip hop. Both in Peel Street and at the Chotto Motto Vintage Market, you'll be able to shop for new and retro goods either from Japan or made using traditional Japanese materials.

But the big highlight is the Taste of Japan passport, which costs $36.50 and serves up six mini dishes from six restaurants in the area. You'll mosey to Aka Shiro for battered vegetable and octopus puffs, head to Chotto Motto for gyoza, and hit up Wabi Sabi Salon for smoked tofu katsu curry. And, you'll stop by Shimbashi Soba for chilled soba noodles, tuck into Neko Neko's tofu with spring onions, ginger, daikon and nori, and enjoy a tasting of sake or some yuzu soda at Tamura Sake Bar.

Top image: Chotto Motto