9 best things to do in Osaka over the 2026 New Year: January 1–4

Looking to experience traditional Japanese New Year activities in the city? Hotel Nikko Osaka, conveniently located in the bustling Shinsaibashi shopping district, is hosting two days of auspicious events to welcome 2026.

On January 1, enjoy a mochi-pounding ceremony (10.20am–10.40am) in the lobby, along with two traditional lion dance performances (times TBC). The latter will be roaming the hotel to bring good fortune and well wishes to guests.

On both January 1 and 2, you can take part in New Year calligraphy (12noon–4pm) at the Hakucho banquet hall on the fourth floor, watch live balloon art demonstrations (three times daily) in the lobby, and explore the Ennichi New Year festival (12noon–9pm) at the Kujaku banquet hall, also on the fourth floor.

The abovementioned events are free, though some of the games at the festival – such as ring toss and the shooting gallery – cost ¥100–¥200 per play. 

Amid all the festivities, the hotel is serving a New Year family buffet to keep everyone well-fed. The generous spread features classic Japanese New Year and celebratory dishes alongside sushi, crab shabu-shabu, and teppanyaki-style grilled wagyu beef. There’s also a children’s menu, and all diners can join the New Year bingo tournament, with dining and accommodation vouchers up for grabs.

There are two lunch and two dinner seatings each day, with prices starting from ¥10,000 for adults and ¥5,000 for elementary school children. More details on the buffet can be found here.

It’s worth getting up early on New Year’s Day, as Hotel Universal Port Vita and its sister property, Hotel Universal Port, are hosting two cultural events back-to-back to kick off the 2026 New Year on an auspicious note.

A traditional Japanese lion dance, known as shishimai, will be roaming the hotel from 8.30am to 8.50am. This energetic performance is a customary practice to ward off evil spirits while ushering in good fortune for the new year.

This is followed by daikagura, a performance that originated in Ise over four centuries ago. It combines the lion dance with acrobatics such as umbrella spinning. Pay attention to the props used, as each carries different symbolism: prosperity, good fortune, and more.

The same showcase will be repeated at the adjacent Hotel Universal Port: the lion dance procession from 9.30am to 9.50am, and daikagura in the lobby from 10am to 10.30am. All performances are free to watch.

One of the largest winter illuminations in Japan, this year’s Osaka Castle Illuminage is introducing new light installations while also upgrading some of the most popular exhibits from previous years. This annual after-dark event, held at the castle’s Nishinomaru Garden, is not your typical winter light-up. The grand showcase is inspired by Japanese history, specifically the country’s Sengoku (Warring States) period, which spanned from the mid-15th to the early 17th century.

This defining era is brought to life through millions of LEDs and an immersive soundscape, all set against the majestic backdrop of Osaka Castle. This year’s theme, ‘Toyotomi’s Dream – The Unification of the Realm’, centres on Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the eminent feudal lord who is regarded as one of Japan’s great unifiers. Here, six of his legendary samurai are depicted in luminous armour, with their loyalty, courage and ambition expressed through vivid colours and light.

Another new addition this year is the mesmerising Lantern Corridor, where rows of glowing lanterns are aligned in perfect symmetry to create a dreamlike pathway for visitors to walk through. This is sure to become one of the event’s most photographed spots.

In the Osaka Landmark Series, iconic attractions such as Tsutenkaku Tower and Dotonbori are recreated in vibrant, three-dimensional light displays. The ever-popular takoyaki illuminations also return, now on a grander scale with enhanced lighting effects.

Another past festival favourite making a comeback is the Samurai Helmet Collection, which has evolved into full-body samurai armour.

If you’re looking for an indulgent breakfast to kick-start the New Year – without breaking the bank – head to the C’s Sky Cafe & Bar on the 17th floor of Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower. With floor-to-ceiling windows and an elevated vantage point, the café offers sweeping views of the city skyline.

As part of the Winter Morning Retreat promotion (until January 5, 9am–11am), you can enjoy a morning set priced at just ¥2,000, featuring an egg sandwich made with premium eggs from Kyoto’s Tanba region. With this deal, you'll also get priority access to the scenic terrace seating.

For a more substantial meal, opt for the Reward Morning Full Course at ¥2,980, which offers a selection of dishes, plus a roll-cake dessert to finish on a sweet note.

Both options come with a standard drink, but you can upgrade to a glass of champagne for an additional ¥700 – perfect for toasting the New Year. Guests who choose the champagne upgrade will receive a complimentary cup of coffee (usually ¥780).

Reservations for this morning promotion are available online.

Beach outings may be a summertime activity in Japan, but Sennan Long Park is proving that this coastal stretch across the water from the Kansai International Airport has plenty of appeal in winter, too. Come sundown, a total of 75,000 lights will illuminate the park, transforming the shoreline into a magical winter nightscape. 

Now in its sixth year, the Sennan Park Light-up features glowing corridors and sculptural light installations shaped like hearts, snowflakes and more, turning this entire waterfront into one giant photo spot.

Closed January 1, reopens January 2

If stationery sparks joy for you, be sure to head to this stationery fair at one of Osaka prefecture’s most beautiful bookshops, Hirakata T-site. This year-end event is the perfect place to kick-start your New Year with fresh and creative stationery, from artisanal paper goods crafted using letterpress and foil-stamping techniques to sleek pens, adorable washi tapes, one-of-a-kind stamps designed by illustrators, and more.

So, if your New Year’s resolutions involve improving your penmanship or elevating your journalling and scrapbooking hobby, don’t miss this event. You’ll be spoilt for choice with a record-high 49 stationery producers and shops in attendance.

Closed January 1, reopens on January 2 at 9.30am

The weird yet undeniably adorable Myaku-Myaku emerged as the breakout celebrity of the now-concluded Osaka Expo. Held at the 9th-floor event hall of Kintetsu Department Store in Abeno Harukas, this free exhibition explores the mascot’s lasting legacy, charting its rise from creation and early popularity to its enduring status as the face of the world’s fair.

Presented through news photography taken before and during the Expo, the exhibition also serves as a visual record of Japan’s biggest event of 2025, told through its most recognisable star.

The showcase unfolds in chronological chapters, starting with Myaku-Myaku's birth from a public design competition. The winning entry was created by picture-book author Kohei Yamashita, who envisioned Myaku-Myaku as a mysterious creature that leaves room for imagination.

The exhibition then follows its nationwide appearances at pre-Expo publicity events, before assuming its intended role at the Expo site itself: engaging with visitors and collaborating with pavilions, celebrities and other popular characters.

By the end, Myaku-Myaku had become so synonymous with the Expo that fans formed long queues simply to take photographs with its statues, ultimately cementing its status as a true Osaka icon.

Closed January 1, reopens January 2

One of the most prolific artists of our time, Yayoi Kusama has created a strikingly diverse body of work spanning painting, sculpture, performance art and fashion. Yet across all mediums, her art is consistently defined by themes of obsessive repetition and proliferation, expressions she has described as a form of ‘self-therapy’ born from her hallucinations.

What sets Kusama apart is her ability to continually reinvent these signature motifs in imaginative ways. Her work always feels fresh, even as it remains instantly recognisable. This thematic continuity is on display in the small but curated exhibition now showing at Espace Louis Vuitton Osaka. Titled ‘Infinity – Selected Works From The Collection’, the showcase brings together pieces from her early career through to her most recent creations.

The clear highlight of the exhibition is the Infinity Room, which transforms her repetitive motifs into a physical, immersive experience. ‘Infinity Mirror Room – Phalli’s Field (or Floor Show)’ (1965/2013) is one of the earliest works in her widely celebrated ‘Infinity Mirror Room’ series. Stepping into this endless world of polka dots is a wildly visual, if slightly disorienting, experience, but it’s a uniquely Kusama moment. The artist describes it as a state of ‘self-obliteration’, where you’re encouraged to let go of the ego and merge with the surrounding space.

Closed January 1–2, opens January 3

Roasted sweet potato, or yakiimo, is the ultimate winter comfort food in Japan, and you can savour this seasonal delicacy at Hanshin Umeda’s dedicated food event space on the first floor. The festival brings together artisans and brands from across Japan, offering a delicious variety of sweet potato treats, from simple, fluffy baked yakiimo to decadent and beautifully crafted desserts that elevate this humble tuber.

Highlights include a salted butter sweet potato crepe from Yamagata, mont blanc sweet potato dumplings from Kyoto, and salted butter yakiimo brulee from Osaka. With its array of warm, comforting yakiimo treats, the festival promises a toasty and delicious way to welcome the New Year.