Registro – Japanese heritage, tea and river views

Registro brings together sites commemorating Japanese immigration, tea production and leisure activities on the Rio Ribeira. Those choosing the city for a holiday can focus on culture, insights into tea traditions and outdoor activities. These different themes give families and other travellers concrete ideas for experiences to include in their time in Registro.

Japanese heritage in many forms

The Memorial da Imigração Japonesa Vale do Ribeira preserves the memory of Japanese immigrants. It is located at Rua Miguel Aby-Azar 224 in the centre of Registro. The Conjunto Arquitetônico KKKK, also known as the former Casarão do Porto, offers another way to explore the past. This complex comprises four warehouses and a rice mill; construction began in 1920. The building was listed for preservation by CONDEPHAAT in 1987 and by IPHAN in June 2010. The two sites represent different stages in the exploration of immigration and the city's history.

Public squares and artworks also reflect this connection. Praça Nakatsugawa is in the city centre and features Japanese architecture. It was built in 1980 in connection with the twinning agreement between Registro and Nakatsugawa in Japan. The Monumento Guaracuí is a seven-metre-high stylised steel flower and, at the same time, a 40-tonne steel sculpture inspired by a Guaracuí tree (Andira antelmia). Tomie Ohtake donated the work in 2002 in honour of Japanese immigrants. Those interested in religious architecture can also visit the Honpa Hongwanji Buddhist temple. Built in 1967, its full subtitle is “Temple of the Universal Vow of Amida, the Buddha of the Western Pure Land”.

Recurring community events are also part of Registro's culture: Bunkyo – Associação Cultural Nipo Brasileira de Registro organises annual events with the city council, including Festa do Sushi, Tooro Nagashi and Bon Odori. These festivals offer a different perspective on Japanese heritage than the memorial, architecture and art. Several rural areas of Registro are also protected as evidence of Japanese immigration to Brazil.

Tea, crafts and outdoor experiences

Tea culture can be explored through its cultivation and production. Sítio Shimada produces pure black tea from Camellia sinensis in Registro. The leaves are picked by hand, and the Shimada family makes the tea using traditional methods. Those who would like to explore the subject further can also consider the Rota do Chá: it runs through the municipalities of Registro and Sete Barras in the Vale do Ribeira region of São Paulo and includes visits to tea plantations. This allows you to shape your stay around your interest in tea and agricultural production without losing sight of the city's history.

Another regional craft tradition is making mats from junco rush in the Vale do Ribeira. It began in 1933 with the arrival in Registro of Shigeru Yoshimura, who brought a junco plant (Rhynchospora cyperoides) in his luggage. The story links a specific beginning in Registro with a later tradition in the Vale do Ribeira.

For time by the river, Praça Beira Rio, also known as Parque Prefeito José de Carvalho, offers panoramic views of the Rio Ribeira. Its leisure facilities include a cycle path and a skate park. So if you would like to include some exercise alongside cultural activities, you will find options here that differ from visits focused on historical and cultural attractions. The municipal Bosque Municipal “Torazo Okamoto” is managed by the Secretaria Municipal de Meio Ambiente, which allows it to open for visits and cultural and tourist activities.

When choosing a holiday rental in Registro, your planned priorities can help you decide: would you mainly like to learn about the city's Japanese-influenced history, are you interested in tea production, or would you also like time for leisure activities on the Rio Ribeira? You can give the different themes varying emphasis as you plan, without combining them into a single tour.

Explore more destinations

You can also explore these places: Paulinia, Arujá, Tietê, Altinópolis, Araçoiaba Da Serra, Lorena, São João Da Boa Vista and Maracaí.

For the broader travel overview: São Paulo.