This May, we invite you to immerse yourself in the colour, sound and spirit of Japan.
Inspired by Kodomo no Hi, the beloved Japanese Children's Day festival, our first-ever Japanese Cultural Celebration brings to life the traditions and beauty of Japanese culture across a magical full day at the Peninsula Hot Springs.
Join us on Saturday 9 May 2026 for Koinobori origami workshops, a guided Story-Sound Bathing Journey, and an unmissable Gala performance in our Bath House Amphitheatre featuring Melbourne's celebrated taiko ensemble Wadaiko Rindo, Ken Furukawa on bamboo flute, and the enchanting koto and shakuhachi duo of Brandon Lee and Anne Norman.
Celebrate culture, connection and the joy of the season, all a complimentary inclusion with your bathing experience.
our program
Koinobori Origami Workshop | 10am to 12pm & 2pm to 4pm
A gentle, hands-on cultural activity centred on creating traditional Japanese carp streamers using the art of paper folding. Inspired by Kodomo no Hi, this workshop will begin with a short introduction to the meaning of koinobori, which symbolises strength, perseverance, and healthy growth. To follow, you will be guided step by step through folding techniques to craft your own carp form, moving with care and focus, making this a calming and meditative craft suitable for both children and adults to enjoy.
Taking place in our Fire and Ice Dome. Complimentary with your bathing experience.
Peninsula Hot Springs Global Sound Bathing Journey | 10am, 11:30am and 1pm
Immerse yourself in a deeply restorative sound bathing experience designed to calm the mind and body. This guided journey celebrates the story of Peninsula Hot Springs and its evolution, accompanied by inspirational music and gentle storytelling. A multi-sensory journey that invites you to slow down, reconnect and fully unwind in our tranquil natural setting
Beginning at the Bath House Lake. Complimentary with your bathing experience.
Brandon Lee (koto) and Anne Norman (shakuhachi) Gala Performance | 5:30pm to 6pm
Koto performer Brandon Lee and shakuhachi artist Anne Norman come together in a dynamic duo that bridges traditional Japanese music with contemporary and cross-cultural collaboration. Both artists work across genres, partnering with musicians from diverse musical backgrounds to explore new sonic possibilities, and both perform and collaborate extensively across Australia and internationally. Together, they create performances that are both meditative and exploratory, drawing on the rich traditions of koto and shakuhachi alongside modern influences and improvisation, including original compositions.
During our Japanese Cultural Celebration, the duo will present a selection of traditional and contemporary works, a nuanced and evolving dialogue between two iconic Japanese instruments.
Taking place on our Amphitheatre Stage. Complimentary with your bathing experience.
Wadaiko Rindo and Ken Furukawa Gala Performance | 6:15pm to 7pm
Toshi Sakamoto first arrived in Australia as part of a Japanese cultural exchange team, spending nine months delivering cultural activities centred on taiko performance. In 1996 he was invited back, and that same year settled in Australia, establishing Melbourne's first ever professional taiko training classes. The advanced students from these classes went on to join Toshi and Junko Sakamoto in forming the ensemble Wadaiko Rindo.
Wadaiko Rindo has gone from strength to strength, sharing the beauty of Japanese music through classes and performances at music, arts and cultural festivals, and educational forums across Australia, as well as overseas tours to Fiji, New Caledonia, China and Japan. Now, for the first time, Wadaiko Rindo brings their dynamic taiko drumming ensemble to Peninsula Hot Springs as the headline act of our inaugural Japanese Cultural Celebration, joined by Ken Furukawa on shinobue (bamboo flute).
Taking place on our Amphitheatre Stage. Complimentary with your bathing experience.
the celebration of Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day)
Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day) is one of Japan's most vibrant and symbolic seasonal celebrations, held annually on 5 May as part of the broader Golden Week holiday period. While today it honours the happiness and wellbeing of all children, it has deep cultural roots that shape how it is celebrated.
Families mark Kodomo no Hi by displaying koinobori, carp-shaped streamers that symbolise strength, resilience, and perseverance, inspired by the legend of carp that turn into dragons. Inside the home, samurai helmets (kabuto) and warrior dolls are displayed as symbols of courage and protection.
Traditional foods such as kashiwa mochi and chimaki are enjoyed, each carrying meanings of family continuity and wellbeing. Overall, the day blends colour, symbolism, and quiet reflection on growth and the future.