Nihon Night

Celebrate the culture and cuisine of Japan amid the summer blooms at The Morton Arboretum.

On Thursday, July 25, 2024, discover the traditions of Japan with family-friendly activities amid the summer blooms at The Morton Arboretum. At this special evening event, listen to J-pop and anime music performances by voice and violin duo ORiHANA, learn about Japanese flower arranging and animal origami, and decorate a paper lantern to release into Wonder Pond in a ceremony to honor loved ones known as Tōrō Nagashi. In the Children’s Garden, use paper and paint to craft a carp kite, samurai hat, or a unique artwork of your own.

Event Details

Food trucks will be on site throughout the event. Traditional Taiwanese milk teas, fruit refreshers, and smoothies will be available to purchase from Hello Boba; chicken gyoza, crispy rice spicy tuna, yakitori chicken, and Ramune drinks will be served by Lu’s Sushi and Chinese.

Paper lanterns for the Tōrō Nagashi ceremony may be purchased for $10 each. Supply is limited; attendees are encouraged to purchase lanterns online in advance of the event.

In the Children’s Garden, use paper and paint to craft a carp kite, samurai hat, or a unique artwork of your own. E-Ling Lou, an ikebana artist and teacher, will demonstrate the art of Japanese flower arranging and animal origami.

Destination Asia Festival

Nihon Night is the perfect prelude to the Destination Asia Festival on the following weekend. Bring family and friends on Saturday, August 3, and Sunday, August 4, 2024 to celebrate the cultures of Asia, where many trees and plants at The Morton Arboretum originated.

Discounted Admission

Discounted admission to the Arboretum is offered every Thursday after 5:00 p.m. during the months of June, July, and August, at a price of $5 per person over the age of 2. To purchase this ticket type, select the “5:00 to 7:30 p.m.” time slot when purchasing Arboretum admission online for the Thursday of your choice.

Wonder Woods Mini Golf

Wonder Woods Mini Golf is open late for Nihon Night! The imaginative, tree-themed course was specially designed for the Arboretum with the help of our research scientists. Wonder Woods Mini Golf tickets must be purchased online in advance for a specific, reserved timeslot.

Event Details

Chicago-based violin and piano duo ORiHANA will perform unique renditions of J-pop hits and anime music in the Children’s Garden. Performances will take place at 5:00 and 6:15 p.m.

The Children’s Garden will also host a variety of craft activities throughout the evening. Use paper and paint to craft a carp kite, samurai hat, or a unique artwork of your own. E-Ling Lou, an ikebana artist and teacher, will demonstrate the art of Japanese flower arranging and animal origami.

Tōrō Nagashi Ceremony

From 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., art supplies will be available for attendees to decorate paper lanterns. At 8:00 p.m., everyone will release their lanterns into Wonder Pond.

In this reimagined Tōrō Nagashi ceremony, each lantern symbolizes a memory of a loved one, an important moment, or a wish for the future. The Japanese word tōrō means “lantern”; nagashi translates to “cruise” or “flow.”

Paper lanterns can be purchased for $10 each. A limited number of lanterns are available; attendees are encouraged to purchase lanterns online in advance of the event. Lanterns will be available to purchase at the event while supplies last.