Until the beginning of XX century, Liberdade was a common district, but during the years, it became the largest Japanese colony out of Japan. Today Liberdade is one of the main tourist points in São Paulo.

Japanese immigration to Brazil started in 1908, when ship Kasatu Maru called at Santos. In 1912, Liberdade district became to change into ‘Japanese style’, when first visitors established themselves on Rua Conde de Sarzedas. Before that, Japanese immigrants used to go to countryside in the State of São Paulo.

As time went by, they got used to this region and Japanese-style trade activities started. Today we can see this influence: Liberdade is a ‘little Japan’ inside the largest city in Latin America. Today, almost 400,000 Japanese and their descendents live in São Paulo.

The most observant tourist will see that there are other Oriental immigrants in Liberdade. In spite of it, Japanese cultural manifestations are the number one here. Many people still speak their mother language and you will several facades written in Japanese.

Japanese restaurants and pastry shops are the main attraction in Liberdade, together with Japanese-dedicated shops and bookshops. Liberdade also has a peculiar architecture, Japanese lanterns hung on the streets and huge doors (tori) on Rua Galvão Bueno. Busshinji Temle (tel,: 11 3208-4515) represents the Zen Buddhist tradition Soto Shu, on Rua São Joaquim. Visits are permitted. Every week, on Wednesday and Saturday, there is meditation sessions specially for beginners. A complete visit in Liberdade includes handicraft fair during the weekends on Praça da Liberdade, close to Liberdade subway station. This district is also home for traditional events, like Tanabata Matsuri (Feast of Stars) every June.

 

Image Gallery - Liberdade