We don’t know about you, but Japan ranks high among our favourite holiday destinations, much like the throngs of Singaporeans who vacay there at least once a year. But what if we told you that there’s a slice of the Land of the Rising Sun… right in our own backyard at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS)?

The inaugural RWS Summer Matsuri, on from June 6 to 9, is a celebration of all things Japanese at RWS, and will teleport you to a traditional Japanese festival with everything you love about the country — from food and drink, to spectacular performances and film screenings. This is the weekend jaunt to Japan that you can take, without hopping on a plane. Sugoi!

If there’s one thing that gets Singaporeans excited, it’s food. And boy, oh boy, are we stoked about the plethora of food stalls at RWS Summer Matsuri. With over 38 dishes that cost as little as $3 each, you’ll want to ditch that diet for this weekend for there are Hokkaido specialties like grilled scallops, succulent crabs, and lamb barbeque, as well as comforting black miso ramen that await. You’ll definitely need to save room for dessert, such as luscious soft serve, matcha parfait and more, all unique to various parts of Japan.

We can’t wait to sink our teeth into the purin dora, aka custard pudding sandwiched between fluffy dorayaki pancakes.

Award-winning donburi stalls from Japan will battle it out in the first-ever RWS Donburi Championship, where guests who purchase a donburi will get to vote for their favourites. Best to save stomach space for seconds, ’cos there’s a dizzying array of donburi — from perennial faves like oyakodon (chicken and egg bowl) and grilled eel donburi to luxe offerings like wagyu donburi and crab rice donburi. So, who will rice to the occasion?

This will get you in good spirits. Wash down all the delicacies with over 55 types of sake, shochu, beer and other boozy beverages available at RWS Summer Matsuri. Pair artisanal sake with scrummy snacks directly imported from Japan, try a highball (or three), and savour refreshing frozen beer that’s also decidedly great for the ’gram. Hic, hic, hurray!

Traditional Japanese festivals are a whole lotta fun, and we didn’t believe it till we attended one ourselves in far-flung prefectures in Japan. Steeped in hundreds years of history, these convivial extravaganzas usually involve spectacular performances and masses of enthusiastic performers decked out in flamboyant costumes. But you don’t have to travel all the way there to see it for yourself. The Tokyo Koenji Awa-Odori Dance, the country’s largest dance festival, lands at RWS Summer Matsuri, and you’ll get to witness Japanese dance troupes in their element throughout the weekend.

What’s a festival if it’s not gonna get lit? Akita Kanto is Japan’s biggest street lantern display, and will light up RWS Summer Matsuri. Performers hoist lanterns dangling from bamboo poles that soar up to 12 metres high in this massive cultural showcase. Impressive? Yes. Insta-worthy? Defo.

Stuffed from all the goodies? Take a breather and kick back with a good movie, or seven — for free. The specially curated line-up features seven movies from Shochiku Co., Japan’s leading film and theatre company. Genres run the gamut from drama to comedy, including The Travelling Cat Chronicles (pictured), which tells the poignant tale of a man and his rescued feline fur-iend. Guaranteed entertainment for the whole fam. For the full movie line-up and more details about RWS Summer Matsuri (June 6-9 at Resorts World Sentosa, The Forum, Level B1 ), click here.

Wanna discover more of Japan in Resorts World Sentosa beyond RWS Summer Matsuri? Here’s an insider tip: the S.E.A. Aquarium is home to marine animals that are unique to Japan. See if you can spot them among the 100,000 sea creatures in one of the world’s largest aquariums. And because we’re nice, we’ll give you hints: look out for the likes of the Japanese warbonnet, the Asian sheepshead wrasse, and the Cherry Anthias.

Still craving more Japanese nosh, but feeling stuffed from all the goodies at RWS Summer Matsuri? That’s a good problem to have, and we’ve got an even better solution for you. You can always come back the next day for hearty Japanese feasts at RWS. Indulge in Syun’s array of fresh sushi, sashimi and quality meats — the mod Japanese cuisine here is made with a fusion of Japanese and Western cooking techniques.

TEPPAN by Chef Yonemura serves up scrummy teppanyaki with top-grade wagyu, flambé desserts and fancy cocktails. Fab and fun.

Reserve your table at Syun and TEPPAN online and enjoy 5 per cent off your food bill when you use promo code RWSONLINE. After a satisfying meal, you’re all set for more frolicking at RWS Summer Matsuri, whether it’s to catch another movie or take in more amazing performances.

Experience all things Japan, from fantastic food to fun activities, conveniently in one place at RWS. Konnichi-wow! More info at www.rwsentosa.com/wow.

RWS Summer Matsuri is on June 6 to 9, 5pm-11pm, at Resorts World Sentosa, The Forum, Level B1. Admission is free. More info at www.rwsentosa.com/summer-matsuri.