I actually don’t know what I’ve been doing the last few years to completely forget about the Perth Japan Festival! Luckily I remembered this event exists this year, and the great thing was that the location was much better than the last time I visited! The previous space in Elizabeth Quay was way too cramped, and the new Supreme Court Gardens this year was perfect and didn’t feel overcrowded.

First things first - all the mochi! One of my favourite Japanese cafes had set up a stall here (Hinata cafe!), and were selling yuzu jelly, and a whole bunch of different mochi. I got a mochi mix - mitarashi dango and one with red bean paste on the outside, and also got some daifuku and tricolour dango to take home. I also saw someone eating what I thought was a fish cake, so I looked around at all the different stalls until I finally found the corresponding picture displayed. Turns out it was age mochi! So I had to get that too and it had good flavour! I also did have to try some warabi mochi another stall was selling, but it wasn’t super amazing.

And some wagyu beef nigiri just cause!