26 best things to do in Osaka in May 2026

The Nakanoshima Festival is one of Osaka’s largest annual community festivals. Returning for its 53rd edition this year, the free-to-enter extravaganza takes over Nakanoshima Park with a bustling flea market plus lots of food stalls selling classic Japanese street eats like yakisoba and yakitori, as well as springtime festival staples like shaved ice and draft beer.

A variety of live performances will be held throughout the day, with the programme including music, dance numbers, street performances and daring sword fights. Also on the grounds is a handmade, hand-powered amusement park for kids, which features a variety of carnival games, a maze, a playground and even makeshift (but perfectly safe) rides cobbled together from plywood and metal.

The Nakanoshima Film Festival will be taking place concurrently as well...

On the last day of Golden Week, get comfy on the grass for an outdoor screening of ‘Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus’ at Umekita Park in Grand Green Osaka. This spellbinding concert film documents the final solo piano performance by the legendary Japanese composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto (1952–2023). Over an hour and 43 minutes, the master musician performs 20 career-spanning pieces, including the iconic ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence’, ‘Tong Poo’ from his Yellow Magic Orchestra era, as well as selections from his final album, ‘12’.

The outdoor cinema’s picturesque urban park setting, surrounded by the gleaming skyscrapers of bustling Umeda, is a draw in itself. Moreover, the screening is further enhanced by a specialised surround-sound system that promises a truly immersive experience. The audio is so precise you can bask in the finest sonic details, from the rhythmic strike of the piano keys to Sakamoto’s delicate breathing. Best of all, admission is free...

With a name that translates to ‘super happy’, the Osaka Mecha Happy Festival was established in the late 1990s as a youth-focused community dance event. The festival draws its high-energy inspiration from the famous Yosakoi street dance traditions of Kochi Prefecture.

While the main festival takes place later in the year at Osaka Castle, the smaller, though no less vibrant, spring edition takes over the outdoor Wonder Square Plaza at the Umeda Sky Building to celebrate Children’s Day on May 5. Here, you can expect to see around 500 dancers from roughly 30 teams perform modern interpretations of Japanese festival dance.

The uplifting choreography often blends traditional Japanese music and movements with contemporary pop, rock and even hip hop elements...

Osaka’s annual Hawaii Festival is a vibrant three-day event celebrating the significant cultural ties between Hawaii and Japan. Held from May 2 to 4 in Namba, the free-to-enter festival draws large crowds every year. The programme includes live music and numerous hula dance performances by troupes from all over Japan taking place from 10am to 6pm daily. 

With beer and tasty festival food sold from food trucks and booths on site, you can enjoy some authentic Aloha spirit in what’s usually gorgeous Golden Week weather. Traditional Hawaiian clothing, beachwear, and accessories like iron-on patches, floral pins and flower crowns can be purchased at the festival’s small market...

Osaka’s Lohas Festa is a massive eco-friendly outdoor market held at Expo ’70 Park from late April and over Golden Week through early May. The event features a whopping 700 vendors peddling all sorts of handmade and upcycled items, such as pottery, children’s clothes, jewellery and accessories, including some fair-trade items. You can also look forward to gourmet food and fancy flower arrangements.

With an Eco-Recycling Corner set up on the premises, the event aims to be entirely zero-waste. Donate your used milk cartons to be made into toilet paper, and cooking oil, which will be turned into biodiesel fuel to power the generators used during future Lohas events. Used books, paper bags and winter clothes are also accepted at the donations stand. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own cutlery to the festival, and food vendors will offer only reusable tableware...

With its seaside setting and palm-fringed shoreline, Sennan Long Park will channel the U.S. West Coast vibes when it hosts the LA Food & Culture Fest over the Golden Week holidays.

For two days, the festival will bring a slice of Los Angeles to Osaka, showcasing its food, sports, art, music and culture. There will be multiple themed zones to explore, each offering a different aspect of the Californian lifestyle: a food area serving LA-inspired cuisine, a sports zone featuring basketball and skateboarding experiences, a stage hosting dance performances and live painting, and a bazaar filled with vintage clothing, antiques and outdoor goods.

For baseball fans, this festival is also a rare chance to snag LA-exclusive Shohei Ohtani merchandise.

Hosted by the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Osaka, the Thai Festival is the largest annual Thai cultural event in the Kansai region. The free-to-enjoy festival, held on the weekend of May 30 and 31 this year, invites you to eat, first and foremost: there’ll be a variety of diverse and authentic Thai dishes on offer, including classics like Pad Thai and Tom Yum soup, plus refreshing desserts like coconut ice cream and mango sticky rice.

On the shopping front, fresh tropical fruits like mangoes, papayas, mangosteens and tamarind will be available for purchase, as well as handmade accessories, colourful clothing and assorted Thai souvenirs. The performance programme ranges from elegant classical dances and thrilling Muay Thai demonstrations to lively T-pop concerts. For a hands-on option, try making traditional Thai crafts like beaded flower charms at one of the dedicated craft workshops.

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. 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...

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...

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 – including letters, manuscripts, personal notebooks, blueprints and architectural tools – 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

Come mid-April, the short but beautiful season of pastel pink cherry blossoms gives way to the brilliant blue of nemophila, also known as baby blue eyes. One of the best places to catch this vivid ground cover is Osaka Maishima Seaside Park.

This annual event, held near Yumeshima, was canceled last year due to the Osaka Expo, but returns this year in full splendour. Expect to see 44,000 square metres of nemophila blooming in unison, creating a breathtaking panorama where the sea of blue flowers seems to merge with the sky and the sea beyond.

Widely regarded as one of Osaka’s most photogenic spring festivals, the event naturally leans into its visual appeal. Photo spots are scattered throughout the grounds, including areas where nemophila is paired with seasonal favourites like cherry blossoms and tulips. Make sure you submit your best shots to the festival’s photo competition for a chance to win prizes of up to ¥100,000.

There’s plenty here for families, too, with a kids’ playground and a lineup of 12 food trucks...

If you’re looking for one final spring hurrah, dust off your trekking shoes – you’re heading out for a hike on Mt. Ikoma in Higashi-Osaka.

Located towards the east of Osaka City near the border with Nara, this lush mountain is home to one of the region’s most scenic hiking trails. Every spring, the azalea slope at Narukawa Park, found midway up Mt. Ikoma, bursts into brilliant shades of white, red and pink.

Around 2,500 azalea bushes are planted here, in a stunning layered formation that resembles bands or ribbons cascading down the mountainside. From afar, the sight looks like a colourful Swiss roll, earning it the nickname ‘Azalea Roll’.

The flowers grow so densely along the trail that they surround hikers on both sides. It almost feels like you’re walking through a corridor of colours. In recent years, this breathtaking scene has started trending on Japanese social media, with many people touting it as one of Osaka’s must-see spring destinations...

The colourful koinobori appear just once a year for a short period from late April through early May. Traditionally flown to celebrate Children’s Day on May 5, these vibrant carp streamers have become a joyful symbol of the Golden Week holidays.

For a striking display of around 200 koinobori, head south to Sennan Long Park. Set against the idyllic coast, the sight of brightly coloured carp fluttering in the sea breeze beneath open blue skies is breathtaking – and makes for great photos, too.

Since this is a public space, there is no entry charge. However, during Golden Week on May 3–4, there will be festival booths offering retro games...

Now in its 14th edition, the annual Kyotographie has consistently highlighted pressing issues through photography while showcasing revolutionary ideas that push this versatile medium in unexpected directions. For 2026, the international photography festival’s theme ‘Edge’ feels especially poignant, not just in describing photography but also the state of the world today.

Here, ‘edge’ can refer to the border between opposing forces, a state of tension, or a tipping point of transition. Conceptually, the theme draws on photography’s precarious position on the fringes, often straddling the line between art and documentary, and, with the rise of new technologies such as generative AI, between truth and fiction.

This sense of division, whether it is uncertainty or possibility, is reflected in the works of 13 photographers from eight countries. Here, the featured works address a wide range of subjects including marginalised communities and overlooked places as seen through the lens of colonisation and territorial disputes, the fraught relationship between humans and nature, and conditions of urban decline. Alongside these, you’ll also find exhibitions that focus on experimental approaches to photography, highlighting new ideas and techniques in image-making.

Key exhibitions include: a retrospective on radical Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama, a tribute to the late Palestinian photographer Fatma Hassona, a showcase of Dutch photographer and filmmaker Anton Corbijn’s portraiture including celebrities like David Bowie, and Kenyan photographer Thandiwe Muriu’s latest body of work produced during her Kyoto residency...

The unseasonal Kobe Oktoberfest is a major springtime beer bash in the port city, featuring 29 kinds of beer from five German breweries and one brewery from Hokkaido. With hearty German pub fare like assorted bratwursts, cheese currywursts and pretzels to enjoy with the brews, there’ll be more than enough to keep you satiated during the live performances that run throughout the day. Not big on sausages? Worry not: pizza, deep-fried camembert cheese, steaks and seafood platters can also be enjoyed here.

Cash, credit cards and electronic payments can be used to purchase food and beverages, but note that beer glasses require a deposit of ¥1,000; glasses can be returned later for a full refund. Starter tickets (¥2,500) include a 500ml serving of German beer and the deposit for one beer glass, and can be easily purchased at the door. Exclusive paid seating is available at the event; tables for up to 8 guests cost ¥6,600 for a 2-hour session. These can be booked and purchased online before your visit...