JAPANESE CULTURE IN SWITZERLAND

Japan in Switzerland: Your Ultimate Guide to Events, Festivals & more

Japan captivates with its rich culture, diverse cuisine and an exciting blend of tradition and modernity. Did you know that you can experience some of it in Switzerland too? From anime conventions and Summer Festivals to Japanese Shops and Cafés, there are many ways to discover a little piece of Japan right where you are!

As a Japanese-Swiss Hafu, I always love finding events, stores or concerts in Switzerland that remind me of my Japanese roots. That is why I have put together this personal overview – for everyone who appreciates Japanese culture as much as I do. Whether you are looking for traditional festivals, unique experiences or hidden gems in your city, you will find them here!

Help make this list even better! If you know of an event that is missing, let me know in the comments.

^{Last edit: 16.11.2025}

EVENTS

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Cosplay, Gaming, Anime	^{emmencenter.ch}	Emmen	11. – 22.03.2025
Japan Izakaya Cruise	^zsg.ch	Zurich	Jan – April 2025
Konomi Festival	_^konomi.ch	Basel	30.03. – 05.04.2025
Hanami Kirschblütenfest	^{hanami-noohn.ch}	Basel	10.04.2025
Japan Food Fest	^{japanfoodfest.ch}	Zug	18. – 20.04.2025
Asian Street Food	_{^{asianstreetfood.ch}}	Bern	23. – 25.05.2025
Shonen Pop	^{shonenpop.com}	Moutier	24. – 25.05.2025
AKA (Pop-Up)	^akalive.ch	Zurich	05. – 27.06.2025
OOKI Summer Fes	^{pavillon.ooki.tokyo}	Zurich	16. – 17.08.2025
Kiyo Festival	^{kiyofestival.ch}	Gland	22. – 24.08.2025
Japan Fest Bern	^bhm.ch	Bern	06. – 07.09.2025
Japanisches Fest Basel	^{nihonjinkai-basel.com}	Basel	07.09.2025
KuSiKi Sissach Matsuri	^{instagram.com}	Sissach	13.09.2025
Luzern Japan Fest	^{luzernjapanfest.com}	Lucerne	14.09.2025
Japan Matsuri	^{japanmatsuri.org}	Bellinzona	20. – 21.09.2025
Asian Food and Culture Festival	^{myswitzerland.com}	Pfäffikon SZ	29.10. – 22.11.2025
Zurich Charity Baazar	_team104.ch	Zurich	07.12.2025
Japan Manga Wave	^{japanmangawave.com}

CULTURE

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Japanese Ink Painting Exhibition	^{ch.emb-japan.go.jp}	Bern	07. – 25.04.2025
Japanese Art Exhibition	^{villagrunholzer.ch}	Uster	03. – 18.05.2025
GINMAKU Japanese Film Festival	^gjff.ch	Zurich	28.05 – 01.06.2025
Japanische Bilderwelten @ Kronengalerie	^{kunstbulletin.ch}	Zurich	20. – 31.08.2025
Captain Tsubasa Exhibit @ Fifa Museum	^{fifamuseum.com}	Zurich	until August 31, 2025
Captain Tsubasa Exhibit @ Fifa Museum	^{fifamuseum.com}	Zurich	until August 31, 2025
Posterausstellung Hiroshima, Nagasaki	^{ch.emb-japan.go.jp}	Bern	01. – 14.11.2025
Origami, Kokeshi, Shimekazari Workshop	^{homu.ch/events}	Basel	Nov – Dec 2025
Yayoi Kusama @ Fondation Beyeler	^{fondationbeyeler.ch}	Basel	12.10. – 25.01.2026
Swiss – Japanese Society	^{schweiz-japan.ch}
Japanische Botschaft Bern	^{ch.emb-japan.go.jp}
Office Japan	^{officejapan.ch}
Little Akiba	^{littleakiba.ch}

CONVENTIONS

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Japan Impact	^{japan-impact.ch}	Lausanne	15. – 16.02.2025
UniCon	^{unicon.events}	Bodensee	21. – 23.03.2025
SoloCon	^solocon.ch	Solothurn	05. – 06.04.2025
Polymanga	^{polymanga.com}	Lausanne	18. – 21.04.2025
Retromania	^{retromania.ch/}	Payerne	26.04.2025
LUGA: Nerdy Flohmarkt / Cosplaytreff	^{nerdyflohmarkt.ch}	Lucerne	03.05.2025
KitsuCon	^kitsucon.ch	Thayngen	03. – 04.05.2025
Nerdy Flohmarkt / Japanese Car Meet	^{nerdyflohmarkt.ch}	Solothurn	03.08.2025
Chibi Con	^chibicon.ch	Winterthur	09. – 10.08.2025
Zurich Pop Con	^{zurichpopcon.ch}	Zurich	27. – 28.09.2025
HeroFest	^herofest.ch	Bern	03. – 05.10.2025
Cosplay Ball	^{www.cosplayball.ch}	Derendingen (Xmas Edition)	27.12.2025
LuCon	^lu-con.ch	Lucerne	24.04. – 06.05.2026
Fantasy Basel	^{fantasybasel.ch}	Basel	14. – 16.05.2026
Alle Conventions	^{alle-conventions.ch}

CONCERTS

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Candlelight: Best of Joe Hisaishi	^feverup.com	Zurich	09.03.2025
Ghibli Best Stories	^{ticketcorner.ch}	Zurich	30.03.2025
Simple Music Ensemble – Mononoke	^{ticketcorner.ch}	BS/ZH	April 2025
Simple Music Ensemble – Spirited Away	^{ticketcorner.ch}	Schaffhausen	26.04.2025
Yamato – the drummers of Japan	^{ticketcorner.ch}	Basel	29.04. – 04.05.2025
Playstation the Concert	^{hallenstadion.ch}	Zurich	09.05.2025
Babymetal	^{ticketcorner.ch}	Zurich	22.05.2025
Gertena	^{plekvetica.ch}	Aarau	17.10.2025
Japanese New Music Festival	^dachstock.ch	Bern	17.11.2025
Mono	^{exil.club/events/mono}	Zurich	19.11.2025
Hanabie	^{ticketmaster.ch}	Zurich	20.11.2025
The Sound of Epic Anime	^{kkl-luzern.ch}	Luzern KKL	27.11.2025
Naruto Shippuden – Symphonic Experience	^{ticketcorner.ch}	Geneva	22.11.2025
Anime Dreamlight Concert	^{ticketcorner.ch}	BS/GE
Tokyo Noizu	^{tokyonoizu.com}	World Tour Calendar

SHOPS

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Yumihana	^yumihana.ch	Basel, Bern, Zurich	Food
Wakra Aarau	^wakara.ch	Aarau	Food
Uchitomi	^{uchitomishop.ch}	Geneva	Food
Nishi Japan	^{nishijapan.com}	Zurich	Food
Hello Asia	^helloasia.ch	Oron-le-Châtel	Food
WA SHOP	^washop.ch	Online Store	Food
Tsugi	^tsugi.ch	Zurich	Bakery
Atelier Okashi	^{atelierokashi.ch}	Rüschlikon	Bakery / Pick Up
Hiro Takahashi	^{hirotakahashi.com}	Adliswil	Bakery
Osio	^{patisserie-osio.com}	Prilly	Bakery
Jeeg	^jeeg.ch	Zurich	Merchandise
Co-Mix Remix	^{www.co-mix.ch}	Lucerne	Merchandise
Freakatorium	^{freakatoriumsshop.ch}	Lucerne	Merchandise
Tanigami	^tanigami.ch	Geneva/Lausanne	Books

CUTE CAFES

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Teehaus Umami	^www.te ^{ehaus-umami.ch}	Cham
Miyuko	^{www.miyuko.ch}	Zurich
Cat Cafe CASA DEL GATO	^{www.casa-del-gato.ch}	Zurich
Hikari	^hikari.ch	Zurich