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.