Bekasi Promotes Industrial Tourism Through Cultural Festival

The Japanese cultural festival Sakura Matsuri 2026 will return to Kota Jababeka, Bekasi Regency, on 25-26 July 2026. The event, which annually attracts tens of thousands of visitors, is considered to have the potential to stimulate the tourism, culinary, transport, and micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sectors in the Bekasi region and its surroundings. Sakura Matsuri 2026 will take place at Hollywood Junction, Kota Jababeka, featuring cultural performances, competitions, a culinary bazaar, community spaces, and performances by musicians from Indonesia and Japan. Acting Head of the Bekasi Regency Tourism Office, Mien Aminah, stated that Sakura Matsuri has grown into a flagship agenda capable of delivering an economic impact for the community. “Sakura Matsuri has developed into one of the flagship events that attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. The presence of this festival provides a multiplier effect for the tourism, culinary, transport, and MSME sectors,” Mien said on Friday (10/7). According to her, the consistency of the festival’s organisation also helps strengthen the image of Bekasi Regency as an industrial area with tourism and creative economy potential. The festival, organised by Jababeka together with the Japan Alumni Community in Indonesia (KAJI), will bring together the general public, students, university students, professional workers, Japanese culture enthusiast communities, and foreign nationals living in the Cikarang industrial area. Director of PT Graha Buana Cikarang, Ivonne Anggraini, said cross-cultural activities are necessary because Kota Jababeka has developed into a multicultural area inhabited by people from various countries. Kota Jababeka is currently home to more than 2,000 national and multinational companies. The presence of these companies has helped form an international community, including the Japanese community, which is one of the largest foreign communities in the area. “The international community not only contributes to economic and industrial growth but also enriches the social and cultural life of the community,” Ivonne said. According to her, a city’s competitiveness is not solely determined by investment growth and infrastructure development. Public openness to diversity and the availability of collaborative spaces are also important elements in modern city development. At this year’s event, visitors can enjoy Indonesian and Japanese art performances, cosplay competitions, food bazaars, and various community activities. The festival will also feature the Japan Indonesia Culture Corner (JICC) as a space for cultural exchange between the two countries. In this area, visitors can learn about the traditions, arts, languages, and customs of Indonesian and Japanese societies. Various activities for children and families have also been prepared, including a colouring competition, a children’s fashion show, and a shuuji or Japanese calligraphy competition. KAJI Chairman Fuad A. Kadir said the 2026 Sakura Matsuri has been designed with a more diverse programme than in previous years. “This year we are presenting a more diverse range of programmes, from cultural performances, cosplay competitions, and culinary bazaars, to special performances by JKT48 and guest performers from Japan,” Fuad said. Besides JKT48, the festival will feature DIA, Meutia Amanda, Cikarang Keion Club, SC93 Band, RyuBand, Koki Ota, Shun, Hiro Umeda, Yeonine, YURIWA, Galaxy Big Band, YUM! TUK!, and Lemon. One of the main agendas of the festival is the Miss Sakura election. The winner of the competition will have the opportunity to visit Japan for a week to study the culture and daily life of the local community. Another opportunity is available for visitors interested in learning Japanese. Visitors can register through the KAJI Secretariat during the festival to take part in a selection process for a one-month Japanese language scholarship in Japan. Ahead of the festival, the organisers are also holding workshops and discussions on education, culture, career opportunities, and information about Indonesia and Japan. The programme is aimed at broadening the horizons and networks of young people who wish to continue their education or pursue careers in Japanese companies. Visitors can also participate in the Sakura Matsuri Reels Competition by uploading their festival experiences to social media. The winners of the competition will receive cash prizes and various other rewards. The 2026 Sakura Matsuri is supported by, among others, the Embassy of Japan, The Japan Foundation, the Japan External Trade Organization, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Japan National Tourism Organization, the Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships, the Cikarang Japan Club, and the Bekasi Regency Government. The festival location can be reached by private vehicle or public transport. Visitors from Jakarta and surrounding areas can use the KRL Commuter Line or the Transjabodetabek B51 service with the Cawang-Cikarang route. Through this festival, the organisers hope that the cultural interaction between Indonesia and Japan will not stop at entertainment activities but will also open up opportunities for collaboration in the fields of education, industry, tourism, and human resource development.