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April 29 marks the start of the 2026 Golden Week, which runs through May 6. Every year, this long stretch of holidays turns Japan into a lively playground filled with an assortment of events and festivals – and Osaka is no exception. However, if the sheer number of things to do feels overwhelming, let us narrow it down for you.
These food and drink festivals, happening at some of Osaka’s biggest attractions, will appease any foodie looking for an outdoor feast that combines the chance to bask in the beautiful spring weather. While entry is free, food and drinks are to be paid for separately. Plus, the Craft Gyoza Fes and the Meat Osaka are cashless.
For carnivores: The Meat Osaka, Apr 29–May 6
The Meat Osaka returns after two years, bringing an expanded lineup of top-tier meat dishes from butchers, yakiniku specialists and innovative chefs who’ve developed exclusive menus for the festival. Expect premium wagyu sushi, rare-cut katsu (deep-fried cutlets), Korean-style grilled beef tongue, hearty menchi katsu (deep-fried ground meat patties) and more, served up by vendors from across Japan.
Confirmed participants include World Diner (Hokkaido black wagyu sushi and roast beef with truffle sauce), Tamagawa Butcher Shop (rare beef katsu and secret-blend menchi katsu), Korean BBQ specialist 4si (two styles of grilled tongue), and Ishigaki Island Kitauchi Ranch (premium cuts from its own cattle).
For drinking in the park: Tenshiba Oktoberfest, April 24–May 6
In Japan, Oktoberfest can happen at any time of year, and Golden Week seems to be an ideal time to host this German beer festival, allowing people to enjoy the cool, sunny spring weather with a cold pint in hand.
Whether you’re a fan of bitter hops or malty sweetness, there’s sure to be a German beer for you at the Tenshiba Oktoberfest. Held at Tenshiba Park, the festival offers around 40 varieties of primarily German beers, accompanied by a selection of classic German pub grub including bratwursts, currywursts and pretzels.
Not a big sausage person? Worry not: steaks, pizzas, platters of seafood and a variety of fried foods will also be served at the event, so you won’t go hungry. And with the World Wine Festival held concurrently at the same venue, even non-beer-drinkers have a reason to visit.
For gyoza lovers: Craft Gyoza Fes, May 2–6
After a two-year absence, Craft Gyoza Fes returns to Osaka Castle Park with 17 vendors serving up more than 30 types of gyoza. Pan-fried, boiled, deep-fried, steamed, wrapped, souped, sauced and stacked with cheese – the 2026 line-up is organised around four categories intended to showcase just how far the humble dumpling can be pushed.
‘Neo Gyoza’ leads with creative cross-cultural mashups: think salted butter truffle, duck peperoncino and green chilli clam soup. ‘Local Gyoza’ covers Japan's regional favourites, from bite-sized Hakata dumplings with Kurobuta pork and mentaiko cheese to Kyoto lemon gyoza with sparkling citrus jelly.
‘Traditional Chinese’ brings hand-wrapped xiaolongbao and Hong Kong dim sum, while ‘Artisan Gyoza’ rounds things out with experimental takes like Sichuan mapo deep-fried gyoza, Kuroge wagyu beef gyoza, and ginger gyoza swimming in bonito and Hokkaido kombu broth.
For a wide variety of cuisines: Harapeko Circus, May 1–5
Held at the sprawling Flower Expo Memorial Park Tsurumi Ryokuchi in northeast Osaka City, Harapeko Circus has been a Golden Week staple since 2022. This year, the mega food festival features over 50 popular Kansai restaurants, serving a wide variety of cuisines, from dim sum, gyoza and fried items such as shrimp tempura and fugu (blowfish) karaage to rice bowls and meaty dishes made with beef, chicken, lamb and the like. The organisers have promised that there will be no overlapping menu offerings.
Moreover, there’s a ramen zone featuring renowned local restaurants including Toyomen with its bonito soy sauce noodles, Umasou na Ramen-ya with its creamy soy ramen, and Kyoto’s Katajikenai with its shellfish broth ramen. Separately, a dessert section populated by food trucks will be set up conveniently between the food festival’s main site and the nearby Tsurumi-ryokuchi Station, perfect for picking up a sweet treat on your way out after a meal.
Looking for more things to do in Osaka this Golden Week? Our best-of list includes a host of cultural events and art exhibitions you won’t want to miss.
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