The Tokyo Sichuan Festival has been an annual event since 2017, and celebrates the Sichuan pepper, a popular ingredient in Chinese cuisine. Often described as having a unique flavor and aroma, the pepper is used in a range of Sichuanese dishes such as mapo doufu and Chongqing hot pot.
The two-day event showcases a range of different Sichuan pepper-filled dishes for visitors to enjoy, and the spice appears to be popular - last year's festival drew in crowds of around 100,000 people, and approximately 50,000 meals were sold!
Admission to the event itself is free, but bring along some yen if you plan on grabbing a bite to eat.
Getting there
The Tokyo Sichuan Festival takes place at Shinjuku Central Park (Shinjuku Chuo Koen). If you're visiting via public transport, the closest station is Tochomae on the Toei Ōedo Line. From the station itself, the park is only two minutes away on foot.
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