The Cowra Japanese Garden came alive on Saturday, September 27, as thousands of visitors gathered to celebrate Sakura Matsuri, the annual cherry blossom festival.

This year’s event smashed attendance records, with 3,922 people entering the gardens, a huge leap from last year’s total of 2,567.

Office Manager Jo Baker said the dramatic increase was the result of targeted promotion and perfect conditions.

“We had 3,922 people through the garden,” she said.

“Last year we had 2,567.”

“Using social media and sharing it to groups all the way to Canberra, Blue Mountains, Sydney, Orange, Bathurst, Young, everywhere, really helped boost attendance.”

From 10am to 4pm, the Cowra Japanese Garden was transformed into a stage of entertainment, workshops and cultural demonstrations.

Visitors explored the beauty of cherry blossoms while engaging in hands on experiences, from origami kintsugi and eco scarf dyeing to terrarium building, Japanese bead embroidery and the intricate art of tsumami zaiku.

Performances filled the day with music, dance, and traditional art.

“The performances were amazing,” Ms Baker said.

“We set it up a little bit differently this year so that it brought people higher up into the garden.”

The sunny Spring day added to the success.

“It was fantastic, the weather was perfect, the flow of traffic was good,” Ms Baker said.

The redesigned layout, spreading activities across more areas of the garden, helped distribute crowds and created a smooth experience for visitors despite the record turnout.

Sakura Matsuri has long been one of Cowra’s most significant cultural events, drawing locals and visitors alike to celebrate Japanese traditions under the blossoms.

This year’s record attendance underscores its growing reputation as a highlight of the regional events calendar.