The event recreates scenes of lively trade, cultural expression and artistic displays that reflect the region’s long-standing heritage.

This edition carries additional significance as it honors Japan and the cultural legacy of Kyoto, marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan.

Organizers said the event aims to strengthen cultural understanding while showcasing traditions from both nations.

Earlier in the month, Riyadh hosted a ceremony commemorating the diplomatic milestone, where officials noted the resilience of bilateral ties.

They highlighted that cooperation between the two countries continues to support stability and shared development goals at regional and global levels.

Souq Al-Mawsim forms part of the broader Diriyah Season calendar, drawing visitors for its combination of food, performances and handcrafted goods.

The festival is running from Nov. 9 to Dec. 8 and offers daily programs featuring Saudi and Japanese elements side by side.

Visitors have described the event as an engaging experience that blends art, history and cross-cultural interaction. Many noted that the fusion of both cultures created a distinctive atmosphere that appealed to families, tourists and heritage enthusiasts.

Event organizers designed the souq using creative elements that integrate symbols, materials and motifs from both Saudi and Japanese traditions.

They said the intention was to provide a sensory journey that allows visitors to connect with the artistic spirit of the two cultures.

The site includes 20 shops offering handmade goods, local specialties and traditional clothing representing various regions. Fifteen restaurants operate throughout the souq, serving dishes inspired by Japanese and Saudi culinary traditions, alongside snacks and seasonal meals.

Dedicated areas demonstrate traditional Saudi cooking methods, allowing visitors to observe local dishes prepared using time-honored techniques.

Other areas present musical performances and artistic showcases that reflect Diriyah’s cultural identity.

The festival also offers interactive opportunities for creative exchange between Saudi and Japanese artists.
Booths throughout the venue allow painters, calligraphers, sculptors and craftspeople to present and discuss their work with visitors.

One of the cultural activities drawing attention is the display of the Japanese “hagoita,” a decorated wooden paddle used in hanetsuki, a traditional New Year’s game.
Participants can learn the basics of the game and observe how the paddle has evolved from a recreational tool into a decorative art piece.

Japanese players at the festival explained that the game resembles simplified badminton or tennis, involving a shuttlecock batted between players.
Although less commonly played today, the hagoita remains a valued New Year’s symbol in Japan, often featuring elaborate artwork.

In addition to cultural activities, the festival highlights the Al-Tawalie area’s historical significance.
The region once served as an important meeting point for trade caravans that traveled across the Arabian Peninsula during the First Saudi State.

Traders historically visited the area from distant regions, turning it into a hub for commercial and cultural exchange.
This heritage is now revived through Souq Al-Mawsim, which aims to reconnect modern audiences with the spirit of traditional markets.

Diriyah Season organizers said the festival’s purpose extends beyond entertainment, emphasizing preservation of local heritage and support for creative industries.
They aim to showcase the diversity of Saudi traditions while promoting international cultural dialogue.

The event’s mixture of handicrafts, performances, workshops and exhibitions continues to attract visitors of all ages.
Its setting at a historic location further strengthens its role as a cultural bridge linking the past with the present.

Souq Al-Mawsim’s focus on collaborative art, food, and heritage underscores efforts to expand cultural tourism in the region.
Organizers expect steady attendance throughout the season as more visitors arrive to explore the site’s activities.

Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural and scientific legacy is set to transcend Earth’s boundaries, with elements of its ancient and modern heritage included in Sanctuary on the Moon, a historic time capsule project supported by NASA and UNESCO.

The initiative aims to safeguard humanity’s collective knowledge, art, and science by storing them on the moon — a symbolic act of unity and endurance that celebrates the achievements of civilization.

French engineer Benoit Faiveley, the visionary leading the project, is visiting Saudi Arabia to collaborate with prominent cultural and scientific institutions in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.

His mission: to select and curate the facets of Saudi heritage that best reflect the Kingdom’s timeless traditions and its remarkable transformation under Vision 2030.

“With the extraordinary cultural dynamism taking place under Saudi Vision 2030, now is the perfect time to collaborate with Saudi museums and art institutions,” said Faiveley. “Saudi Arabia’s voice will represent not only its people but also the broader Arab civilization — past, present, and future.”

The Sanctuary on the Moon project brings together a distinguished team of international experts, including astrophysicists, paleontologists, historians, engineers, and artists.

Their shared goal is to design and deliver a “cosmic message” — a permanent record of human civilization preserved beyond the reach of time.

The time capsule will consist of 24 sapphire discs engraved with images, data, and diagrams that encapsulate humanity’s scientific and cultural achievements. From art and music to mathematics and literature, each disc will tell part of humanity’s story.

Among them, Saudi Arabia’s contribution will shine as the cultural beacon of the Arab world, symbolizing a bridge between ancient wisdom and futuristic innovation.

Saudi heritage sites such as the rock art of Hima, the ancient city of Diriyah, and the AlUla archaeological wonders are among those being considered for inclusion.

These landmarks, along with Saudi Arabia’s growing number of UNESCO World Heritage sites — now numbering eight — reflect the Kingdom’s deep historical roots and commitment to preservation.

Faiveley described the lunar archive as “a cosmic hello to our descendants, or perhaps to other intelligent life forms.” The time capsule’s design ensures longevity, with sapphire chosen for its durability and resistance to cosmic radiation.

Each disc will store vast amounts of information in image and data form, ensuring that even millennia from now, future generations — or perhaps future civilizations — can uncover humanity’s story.

Scheduled to travel aboard NASA’s CT-4 mission, the time capsule will land on the moon’s southern polar region — an area seen as ideal for future inhabited lunar bases. This region, rich in scientific potential and water-ice reserves, symbolizes hope for humanity’s next frontier of exploration.

By incorporating Saudi culture into the lunar archive, the Sanctuary project acknowledges the Kingdom’s vital role in shaping global civilization and innovation.

It also highlights Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation under Vision 2030 — a national plan that balances progress with preservation, tradition with technology, and heritage with innovation.

“The initiative ensures that Saudi Arabia’s cultural legacy — from its prehistoric art to its modern vision — will remain accessible for millennia,” the project’s statement noted. “It’s not just a record of human knowledge; it’s a celebration of diversity, creativity, and shared destiny.”

For Saudi Arabia, this participation marks another milestone in its journey toward global cultural leadership. From hosting world-class museums and restoring historic sites to empowering its creative industries, the Kingdom continues to position itself as a hub of heritage, innovation, and inspiration.

As humanity looks beyond Earth, Saudi Arabia’s inclusion in the Sanctuary on the Moon ensures that when the story of humankind is told among the stars, the Kingdom’s voice — echoing its ancient past and visionary future — will forever resonate across time and space.