Chambana Events › Champaign-Urbana Events
Tsukimi (Moonviewing) in the Arboretum
When: Friday, September 25, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Where: Japan House, 2000 S. Lincoln, Urbana, IL — Urbana, IL
Price: Free
Join in for Tsukimi, the traditional Japanese holiday celebrating the Harvest Moon!
Tsukimi (月見) or O-tsukimi (お月見) is a holiday that celebrates the beauty of the Harvest Moon. Influenced by the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, this special night has become a unique Japanese custom of holding moon-viewing parties featuring special food and beautiful decorations for thousands of years.
Note: Japan House will NOT be open to the public during Tsukimi and there are no public restrooms in the Arboretum. All activities will take place outside so please plan accordingly. The matcha cafe will be open at 6:30pm.
Each year at Japan House, Japan House offer the opportunity for guests to view a tea ceremony and to celebrate the full moon together in the beauty of the gardens.
At 6pm, floral artist and Ikenobo ikebana teacher Reiko Takahashi will be making a special ikebana arrangement called "tatehana" as an offering to the Moon. Professor Emeritus Kimiko Gunji will perform a special tea ceremony in the Japan House Gardens to honor the Harvest Moon for all to watch.
Japan House interns will be floating lanterns to illuminate the ponds and guests are welcome to stroll through the area for this solemn occasion. In the south driveway, Japan House will have a pop-up matcha cafe offering joyo manju and iced sencha (green tea) for sale at 6:30pm. Pre-orders are welcome online and limited quantities are available for walk-up purchases. The cafe will open once the tea ceremony is complete and an offering is made to the moon. The joyo manju is gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan!
Sponsor a floating lantern! Guests are welcome to make a donation and share the name of a loved one to have their memory be commemorated during opening remarks at Tsukimi. Note: the floating lanterns are not for sale and can not be kept or taken.
As this event will be taking place after dark (the Arboretum officially closes at sunset), please note that all guests must leave the grounds no later than 10pm. Guests are asked to be respectful of the grounds and of each other. Please abide by Arboretum rules - absolutely no smoking, fire, or fireworks are permitted. There are garbage bins by the south parking lot F-32 - we kindly ask that guests use those or take their trash with them.
Remember that no matter where you are, we are all looking up at the same moon. We hope you enjoy Tsukimi!
Click here to for tickets.
General admission is free to Tsukimi. Please note all activities are happening outside. Plan accordingly because Japan House will be closed and there are no restrooms in the Arboretum. A free ticket does NOT include the purchase of a tsukimi manju & sweetened matcha.
$12.51/person to purchase Tsukimi Manju & Iced Sencha
Tickets & more info
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