Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens Presents Take Akari - Bamboo Lights

In Japan, Take Akari, or Bamboo Light festivals, have become beloved cultural celebrations, captivating audiences across the country for over three decades. These festivals were initiated to raise awareness about the critical importance of maintaining bamboo forests and to educate the community on the significance of this vital natural resource in daily life. Now, this mesmerizing experience comes to life at the Morikami Museum.

Take Akari: Bamboo Lights offers a unique opportunity for visitors to witness the artistry and master craftsmanship of Akihiro Mashimo, whose iconic illuminated bamboo installations create a unique and immersive atmosphere. The exhibition allows attendees to experience a piece of Japan's vibrant festival culture and brings awareness to the importance of environmental conservation around the world.

Take Akari is funded in part by The Jacarlene Foundation, JM Family Enterprises Inc., and Nobu Hotel Miami Beach.

Cost is free with paid museum admission.

Morikami Museum History

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens celebrate a rich, century-old connection between Japan and South Florida. In the early 1900s, a group of young Japanese farmers, led by Jo Sakai, established the Yamato Colony in northern Boca Raton. Named after an ancient term for Japan, this small agricultural community aimed to introduce innovative farming practices to Florida. The settlers primarily grew pineapples and winter vegetables, but faced challenges like competition and economic changes that made farming difficult.

Despite hardships, the colony grew to include families, blending Japanese traditions with life in Florida. However, by the 1940s, most colonists had left or returned to Japan. During World War II, the U.S. Government took over much of the land for military use. George Sukeji Morikami, one of the last remaining settlers, stayed and later donated his land to Palm Beach County. This gift led to the creation of Morikami Park, which opened in 1977 as a cultural and educational center honoring the Yamato Colony’s legacy.

Working alongside his friends, neighbors, and the Palm Beach County Department of Parks and Recreation, George Morikami helped transform his personal history into a lasting legacy—building a bridge of cultural understanding between George’s two homelands. Today, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens features traditional Japanese architecture, three exhibition galleries, a theater, and an authentic tea house. The 16-acre Japanese gardens reflect a variety of historical styles from across Japan, thoughtfully arranged to form one harmonious landscape. With close to 7,500 art objects and artifacts, including tea ceremony items and textiles, the Morikami offers visitors a deep, immersive experience of Japanese culture and its enduring connection to Florida.

The original building, the Yamato-kan, is modeled after a Japanese villa. It features a ring of exhibition rooms surrounding an open-air courtyard with a dry garden of gravel, pebbles, and small boulders. The Yamato-kan offers exhibits that chronicle the history of the Yamato Colony and the design philosophy of garden designer Hoichi Kurisu.

The principal museum building opened in 1993 to meet popular demand for more programming and versatile facilities and to satisfy the needs of a growing community. The museum’s architecture is inspired by traditional Japanese design. The building features three exhibition galleries, a 226-seat theater, an authentic tea house with a viewing gallery, classrooms, a museum store, the Cornell Cafe, and lakeside terraces for a panoramic view while dining.

The Morikami Collections house more than 7,000 Japanese art objects and artifacts, including a 500-piece collection of tea ceremony items, more than 200 textile pieces, and fine art acquisitions.

The 16 acres that surround Morikami’s two museum buildings include expansive Japanese gardens with strolling paths, resting areas, our world-class bonsai collection and lakes teeming with koi and other wildlife. The wider 200-acre park features nature trails, pine forests and picnic areas.

In 2001, Morikami completed a major garden expansion and renovation. The new gardens reflect major periods of Japanese garden design, from the eighth to the 20th century, and serve as an outdoor extension of the museum. According to the garden designer, Hoichi Kurisu, each garden is intended to express the character and ideas of a unique counterpart in Japan without attempting to duplicate those gardens, and seamlessly flow together as one garden.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, with its unique gardens and collections, is one of Palm Beach County’s most treasured cultural attractions. Located in a tranquil natural setting, Morikami invites visitors to explore its many facets and discover Florida’s heritage and its connection with Japan.

The Museum and Japanese Gardens is located at 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach, Florida 33446. For more information, call: (561) 495-0233. Or visit: https://morikami.org - And follow on Social Media at: @morikamimuseum.