The best things to do in Osaka in June 2026

Osaka Art & Design 2026 is like a treasure hunt. This four-week-long creative festival features a host of exhibitions, events and activities across the city's main hubs, from Umeda, Nakanoshima and Abeno to Honmachi, Shinsaibashi and Namba. And it's not just museums and galleries either. You'll find visual arts, installations, product designs and more in a wide variety of spaces including department stores, train stations, commercial facilities and home interior shops. 

The theme for 2026 is 'Infinitize Your Creation/Imagination', which aims to channel the global inspiration from last year's Osaka Expo into new creative expressions. You can expect works by emerging Japanese and international artists and designers across various disciplines.

Highlights include installations by contemporary artist Yuichi Hirako at Hankyu Umeda Main Store's display windows on the concourse floor (May 20–June 22) and the Festival Plaza (May 27–June 8) on the 9th floor, as well as a group exhibition inspired by the mythical phoenix at Daimaru Shinsaibashi (May 29–June 25).

Kenji Yanobe will showcase his beloved ‘catstronaut’ character, Ship’s Cat, at two venues. A newly configured parent-and-child installation, ‘Cosmo Red’ and ‘Little Cosmo Red’, will make its debut at Grand Green Osaka South Building's 'Valley Space' from May 26 to June 1, followed by a Ship’s Cat pop-up at Takashimaya Osaka from May 27 to June 16.

If you're seeking something more unconventional, Art Area B1, a unique art space located in the B1 concourse of Naniwabashi Station, will host the large-scale installation 'Wind' (May 27–June 23) by art collective Haku by Swag. For families, the Picture Book Park (April 29–June 23) at JR Osaka Station features immersive, storybook-inspired installations that are sure to appeal to kids. Meanwhile, on the first basement floor of Yodoyabashi Plaza, which is connected to Yodoyabashi Station, you'll find a mesmerising 3D work by Maito Otake (May 27–June 23), who creates sculptural pieces by hand-weaving fabric.

Aside from these art and design showcases, there are three guided tours worth making reservations for...

Art Osaka returns for its 24th edition with an expanded format that further cements Osaka’s role as a gateway to contemporary art in Japan and across Asia. Founded in 2002, the fair has long cultivated a distinctive identity rooted in the Kansai region while maintaining strong connections with the wider Asian art scene.

The 2026 edition will bring together 60 galleries from six countries and regions across 15 cities, representing Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines. Through this dynamic mix of established and emerging spaces, the fair offers a broad cross-section of contemporary artistic practices from across the region.

The Galleries Section (May 29–31) takes place at Congress Square in Grand Green Osaka, the centrepiece of Osaka’s rapidly transforming Umekita district. Here, 52 galleries present works spanning painting, sculpture, video and installation, organised across four presentation formats (Galleries, Focus, Wall and Screening) designed to bring established artists and emerging voices into dialogue.

Meanwhile, the Expanded Section (May 28–June 1) occupies the cavernous industrial halls of Creative Center Osaka, a former shipyard that has become synonymous with experimental art. Featuring 13 large-scale projects by 15 artists, the section highlights immersive installations and site-specific works that respond to the architecture and history of the space...

One of Osaka's three great summer festivals, Aizen Matsuri is held every year from June 30 to July 2 at its namesake Aizendo Shomanin temple in Shitennoji.

The main highlight occurs on the first day, when eight women dressed in yukata are carried in their respective hoekago (literally means ‘treasure basket’) for a parade along Tanimachisugi street. These women, also known as Aizen Musume, were traditionally geisha back in the Edo period (1603–1867). Today they’re selected by the organisers and occasionally include local celebrities...

This large-scale tasting event made its debut in 2007 and has consistently brought together distilleries, manufacturers, importers and liquor stores from Japan and abroad. At the time of writing, Whisky Festival has confirmed roughly 100 exhibitors for this June’s instalment in Osaka. They include Awano Distillery from Tokushima, Osuzuyama Distillery from Miyazaki, Kizakura Distillery from Hyogo, and Tankyu Distillery from Hokkaido, just to name a few.

The event is divided into three sessions, each requiring a separate ticket: Friday June 26, 5pm–7.30pm, and Saturday June 27, 10am–1.30pm and 2.30pm–6pm. Visitors can enjoy whisky and gin tastings – some free, some paid – as well as purchase bottles and merchandise. Moreover, there will be opportunities to interact directly with whisky producers to learn more about one of the world’s most beloved spirits...

One of the year’s most anticipated films, ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ – starring the incomparable Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci – features several scenes shot at the Waldorf Astoria New York. Now, in conjunction with the sequel’s global release, the Waldorf Astoria Osaka is getting in on the glamorous action with a limited-time food and drink special, available until late June.

Offered at the sky-high Peacock Alley lounge on the 28th floor, the hotel’s Elegance in New York Mode afternoon tea has been reimagined as a ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ special (¥13,000 per person), filled with sweet and savoury treats inspired by the film’s fashion. Of note is the hotel’s signature red velvet cheesecake, now topped with a red chocolate high heel filled with berry sauce.

For fans of the film, don’t miss the chance to take a photo with the iconic Red High Heel sculpture, the symbol of ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ films. You’ll find this massive, eye-catching installation on display at Peacock Alley from May 11 until June 11...

Beer garden weather is here, and the annual Suntory Building Rooftop Beer Garden is open to ring in the sunny days. Running until September 26, the lofty spot lets you choose from a range of barbecue packages, with the signature Beef Loin BBQ and Beef Loin & Seafood BBQ courses available throughout.

There are also seasonal options like the Herb Chicken & Thick-Cut Bacon BBQ Course (available April to June, and September), the Hokkaido Lamb Jingisukan BBQ Course (April to June) and the Okinawa Nakaochi Kalbi Ryukyu BBQ Course (July to September).

Barbecue deals start at ¥5,000 and come with an all-you-can-drink plan that includes Suntory’s signature offerings like Premium Malts draft beers, Sui Gin cocktails and All-Free (non-alcoholic beer). Kids meals and various add-ons like sausages, seafood skewers and steak are also available, if you’re looking to make your meal a little more substantial...

Sitting at the intersection of history, science, magic and horror, mummies are an enduring source of fascination for many – and at the heart of this exhibition featuring a selection of masterpieces from the prestigious Egyptian collection of the Brooklyn Museum. Following successful runs in Tokyo and Hiroshima, the show will be on at the Abeno Harukas Art Museum from March 20 to June 14.

The 150 artefacts on display include sculptures, coffins, jewellery, pottery, earthenware, papyrus scrolls and, of course, human and animal mummies. You can dive right into the lore with immersive video and audio presentations about the pyramids and ancient Egyptian spells, learn about the daily lives of people in the age of the pharaohs, and study up on their beliefs about the afterlife.

One of Japan’s most distinguished contemporary artists, Tokyo‑born Natsuyuki Nakanishi (1935–2016) left behind an impressive body of work that defies neat categorisation. His paintings often question the purpose and existence of a painting, making them difficult to classify as strictly figurative or abstract.

Classically trained in painting, Nakanishi is also closely associated with the avant-garde art scene of 1960s Japan. During that period, as a founding member of the boundary-pushing art collective Hi-Red Center, his practice expanded beyond traditional painting to include performance art. Later, after an inspiring collaboration with butoh dancer Tatsumi Hijikata, he returned to painting with a more evolved conceptual approach.

Nakanishi’s iconic works are often executed with unusually long brushes and painted from a distance, frequently employing vibrant colours such as orange, yellow-green and purple. This exhibition at the National Museum of Art, Osaka marks his first retrospective since his death ten years ago...

Prominent creative studio Naked is drawing on its digital art technology expertise to bring the visionary world of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) to life. Following a popular run in Tokyo that attracted over 170,000 visitors earlier this year, the exhibition now arrives in Osaka. 

This is not a fan tribute. Held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death and the completion of the Sagrada Familia’s central tower of Jesus Christ, ‘Naked Meets Gaudi’ is an officially sanctioned exhibition produced in collaboration with the Gaudí Foundation.

The comprehensive display of rare archival materials offers a deep dive into Gaudí’s genius mind. You’ll learn about his singular approach to architecture, defined by an organic, nature-inspired aesthetic that shaped everything from Casa Batlló and Casa Milà to Park Güell and his magnum opus, the Sagrada Familia. Today, seven of his works are collectively designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

What sets this exhibition apart from a typical museum show is the inclusion of immersive, experiential elements – something Naked is known for...

Yajuro Takashima (1890–1975) stands as one of modern Japan’s most enigmatic artistic figures. Born in Fukuoka prefecture, the self-taught oil painter forged a career entirely outside the established art world. As a result, his work remained virtually unknown during his lifetime, only gaining recognition in 1986, more than a decade after his death, when his photorealistic technique and contemplative subject matter finally captured public attention.

Known for his meticulous, almost obsessive approach, Takashima developed a unique style that brought an uncanny realism to his subjects. His most celebrated works – flickering candles casting warm light in darkness and luminous moons suspended in night skies – reveal an artist deeply concerned with illumination, both literal and spiritual. These iconic motifs, rendered with painstaking attention to light and shadow, earned him recognition as a painter of rare technical mastery and meditative depth.

From spring through early summer, the Nakanoshima Museum of Art presents the most comprehensive retrospective of Takashima’s art ever held in Osaka. Marking the 50th anniversary of his passing, the exhibition brings together over 160 works, including numerous pieces shown publicly for the first time...

By bringing together three Kansai-born, internationally renowned artists who each has a singular point of view on the world today, this group exhibition is bound to be a blockbuster hit.

Born in Osaka, Kenji Yanobe creates functional mechanical sculptures that carry underlying social commentary on modern survival. He is perhaps best known for his Ship’s Cat series, ‘catstronauts’ envisioned as guardian spirits to protect travellers. One of these beloved feline figures now permanently greets visitors at the entrance of the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, the host of this showcase.

Fellow Osaka artist Yasumasa Morimura is a master of disguise. A conceptual photographer, filmmaker and visual artist, Morimura is renowned for appropriating iconic Western paintings and historical images. He inserts himself into these works as a form of self-portraiture through a meticulous fusion of props, costumes, make-up and digital manipulation.

Rounding out the trio is Miwa Yanagi. Born in Kobe, Yanagi creates evocative works that put women at the centre of the narrative. Through photography, make-up and digital effects, her captivating images examine women’s roles and gender stereotypes in modern Japanese society. Since 2010, her practice has expanded to include large-scale theatre works...

Jeff Koons occupies a singular position in contemporary art. Known for his polished surfaces, bold iconography and unapologetic embrace of popular imagery, the American artist has continually blurred the boundaries between high culture and mass consumption. By elevating everyday objects – vacuum cleaners, basketballs, cartoon figures – into the realm of fine art, Koons interrogates value, desire and collective memory. Held in major museum collections worldwide, his works function as both mirrors and provocations, reflecting the aspirations and contradictions of contemporary society.

This exhibition at Espace Louis Vuitton Osaka is organised as part of the Fondation Louis Vuitton’s ‘Hors-les-murs’ program and brings together seven significant sculptures and paintings drawn from the foundation’s collection, tracing the evolution of Koons’s practice from the 1980s onward.

Early works such as Three Ball 50/50 Tank exemplify his strategy of reframing industrial commodities as icons of the American Dream. The celebrated 1988 Banality series, including Woman in Tub and Wild Boy and Puppy, merges pop imagery and personal memory in technically virtuosic sculptures that challenge conventional taste. In later large-scale paintings, such as those from the Hulk Elvis series, dense layers of visual elements evoke a world saturated with images...

One of the world’s most beloved Impressionist artists, Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919) is widely celebrated as the ‘painter of happiness’. Over an illustrious career spanning 60 years, he explored a wide range of subjects – portraits, landscapes, still lifes, nudes – yet they all exude a characteristic joy, warmth and affection. This was guided by a personal belief that paintings should be lovable and beautiful. 

To commemorate the 185th anniversary of his birth, Sanno Art Museum has brought together 50 works from its collection to trace Renoir’s artistic journey through the major phases of his life – 12 pieces of which are being exhibited for the very first time.

The exhibition unfolds across five chapters. The first covers Renoir’s early years (until 1880), when he was an aspiring artist exploring the early days of Impressionism. Chapter two (1881–1889) highlights his return to classical painting, while chapter three (1890–1900) examines his rising recognition at a time when Impressionism was gaining popular acclaim...

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Ultraman series, the Hirakata amusement park is hosting a VR-experience 'museum' where fans can step into the fantastical world of the titular hero.

The Land of Light Museum: Ultraman XR Journey is divided into four zones connected via a narrative thread. As the story goes, a museum celebrating the life and history of Ultraman heroes has opened in Ultraman’s home world, the Land of Light, and humans on Earth are now welcome to visit.

To go on this VR journey, you first choose an avatar dressed in a soldier uniform. In the opening zone, a larger-than-life Ultraman appears and whisks you away on a dreamlike journey to his home in the Land of Light. Zone 2 is the monster exhibition room, where you get to examine renowned Ultraman foes in 360-degree views, including iconic kaiju such as Baltan Seijin, Gomora and King Joe.

Moving on to the exhibition of Ultraman heroes in Zone 3, you’ll encounter the different versions of the titular hero as the tribute looks back at the franchise’s 60-year legacy. Saving the best for last, Zone 4 will put you in the thick of intense battle scenes between Ultraman and some of his most fearsome adversaries including Zetton and the evil Ultraman Belial...

Expo ’70 Commemorative Park is home to two of Osaka’s most popular and best-attended flea markets, one in its Festival Square and one in its East Square. The Expo Garage Sale is noted for the wide range of goods its vendors sell. Expect handmade items, accessories, antiques, bric-a-brac, and plenty of second-hand and vintage clothes. 

Most importantly, expect bargains. The organisers pride themselves on the market being a true-to-its-name ‘out of the garage’ sale. That means you’ll need to bring cash, and that bargaining – albeit politely – is encouraged. If you prioritise low prices over being particular about the products, know that in the afternoon, the crowding calms down and many of the amateur vendors lower their prices. 

The market also attracts food trucks, and the park has several cafés and restaurants so there are plenty of options for a picnic in the park. The Expo Garage Sale takes place up to three times a month but on irregular dates...

Every Sunday, the central boulevard of Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park hosts Seseragi Marche, a relaxed, family-friendly market surrounded by the greenery of one of Osaka’s most beloved urban parks. From 9am to 4pm, visitors can browse a rotating line-up of local vendors offering everything from fresh seasonal produce and handmade crafts to hot meals and sweet treats from colourful food trucks.

The stalls change weekly, so there’s always something new to discover. But expect to find anything from fragrant karaage, tacos and even pizza alongside crêpes and baked goods. When the weather is good, the atmosphere feels more like a picnic than a market: visitors spread out under the trees, dogs roaming along the paths, and live music or local community events often add to the charm...

This second-hand market at Hattori Ryokuchi Park’s East Central Square is perfect for anyone looking to pick up a bargain while spending the day in one of Osaka’s best parks. The market showcases goods from more than 100 professional and amateur vendors. There’s plenty of variety on offer, from second-hand clothing, household goods and home décor to toys and anime collectibles. This makes it perfect for both those looking for everyday items and collectors on the hunt for something a little more special. 

Meanwhile, Hattori Ryokuchi may not be Osaka’s biggest park, but it is one of its most varied. It has the Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses, a botanical garden home to a Dutch windmill and seasonal flowers that bloom all year round, and the bamboo forests of Mt Inari. Since the Ryokuchi Garage Sale isn’t the largest market that Osaka has to offer either, pairing it up with half a day in the park works perfectly. There’s even a super sento nearby where you can enjoy a soak...

The Oizumi Ryokuchi Garage Sale in the city of Sakai in southern Osaka prefecture comes with a community feel. Among locals it has something of a treasure hunting status, with lots of thrift clothing, handmade items, toys and miscellaneous everyday items. 

It also hosts independent shops from around the neighbourhood, a particular highlight among which are the greengrocers selling what’s in season, with the November event famous for persimmons. The market usually has around 200 booths, plus a few food trucks for a pick-me-up...

Shitennoji Temple hosts a bi-monthly weekend market on the first Sunday of the month, from 9am to 3pm, rain or shine. Held at the temple’s Nishiju Gate square, the market features vendors selling handmade crafts, secondhand goods, fresh produce and food products like honey from local beekeepers.

Cafés are also often part of the scene, dealing in freshly brewed coffee, beans and a variety of baked goods, while food trucks offer opportunities for a hot picnic meal. In addition, the market often has storytelling events and a toy corner to amuse the little ones, as well as the occasional yoga session – all of which are free to enjoy...

Hidden among the high-rises of Umeda, Tsuyutenjin Shrine – affectionately known as Ohatsu Tenjin – hosts one of Osaka’s most charming flea markets on the first and third Friday of every month.

The market is modest in size, but its convenient location makes it a must-visit for treasure hunters looking for something a bit more down-to-earth compared to the commercial bustle of central Osaka. On any given week there can be between 10 to 20 vendors set up beneath the shrine’s stone lanterns, offering a mix of antiques, pottery, retro and Showa-era goods.

The atmosphere is quietly magical. The 1,300-year-old shrine, dedicated to the deities of love and good fortune, is best known for the tragic tale of Ohatsu and Tokubei – Japan’s own Romeo and Juliet...

Held on the 13th of every month, this local market brings new energy to the peaceful grounds of Kamitsu Shrine, a small but charming sanctuary tucked away at the end of the Juso shopping street. Among the trees and smaller shrines, visitors can browse stalls selling fresh produce, flowers, handmade crafts and antiques, while enjoying the relaxed, community feel that makes this event a local favourite.

The shrine itself is dedicated to deities associated with family well-being, business success and good fortune and there’s often a fortune-telling stall, making it an ideal spot to reflect and set intentions before exploring the market...