Things to do in and around Osaka today

Located in southern Kyoto, the ancient Fujinomori Shrine is closely associated with horses, making it a popular site for prayers among jockeys and racing enthusiasts. For the general public, however, the shrine’s biggest draw is its two lush gardens, which burst into vibrant colour in early summer. Starting from May 30 for roughly a month – depending on the flowering situation – the shrine opens its two expansive gardens to the public to enjoy roughly 3,500 hydrangea plants blooming in all colours. The best times to visit are on weekends, when the shrine hosts special dedication ceremonies and cultural activities.  Highlights include a Chikuzen biwa lute performance and Noh chanting (June 6, 1pm); an iaido sword-drawing demonstration (June 13, 2:30pm); a charity bazaar (June 17, 10am); ancient court music and dance followed by taiko drumming (June 21, 10am and 2pm respectively); and a sumo song recital (June 27, 1pm). There’s a ¥500 admission to visit the gardens.

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. Since its debut in 2023, the city-wide festival has become a staple in Osaka’s annual art calendar. Last year, it attracted 760 creators with exhibits scattered across 65 venues.  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...

Nestled in the forests of Higashi-Osaka straddling the border between Osaka and Nara prefectures, Nukata Park is home to the Kansai region’s largest hydrangea garden. It boasts roughly 25,000 plants of 30 varieties, including the rare, star-shaped Shichidanka, also known as the Phantom Hydrangea. During peak bloom, usually between late June and early July, the hydrangeas burst out in a spectacular riot of colours. You’ll find them all along a 1.5km hiking trail on the slopes of Mt. Ikoma. The Nukata Park Information Center will open on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the festival period, offering guidance to visitors as well as selling drinks and ice cream to help everyone stay cool. As the garden follows a mountain trail, proper walking or trekking shoes are recommended. For the easiest access, take the Kintetsu Nara Line to Ikoma Station, transfer to the Kintetsu Ikoma Cable Line, and alight at Ikomasanjo Station. From there, the Hydrangea Garden is about 40 minutes’ walk away.

Founded in 1236, the Rinzai sect head temple Tofukuji is especially stunning in autumn, when its gardens are ablaze with fiery red momiji foliage. This summer, however, the beloved Zen Buddhist temple is offering a new way to experience its tranquil grounds through a special night opening. With its immersive light-ups, Zen Night Tofukuji may seem like just another temple illumination, a trend that has been growing across Japan in recent years. But it's more than that. As with previous editions at Kyoto's Kenninji Temple (2024) and Kamakura's Kenchoji Temple (2025), this year’s event will also incorporate neuro music into its mix of sound, light and spatial installations to create a much more sensorial experience befitting the temple's meditative atmosphere. For the uninitiated, neuro music can enhance or suppress specific brainwave frequencies to help sharpen concentration or, in this case, induce deep relaxation. Visitors at Zen Night Tofukuji can experience this firsthand at the Neuro Music Zazen Sound Meditation in the temple's Zen Hall, which is the oldest and largest of its kind in Japan. Here, special brainwave measurement devices will translate participants' neural activity into shifting sounds and digital patterns. This creates a mesmerising environment perfect for enjoying some stillness and self-reflection. Other highlights include the illumination of the iconic Tsutenkyo Bridge, which overlooks more than 1,000 lush maple trees, and the dreamy transformation of...

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 and is subject to weather conditions, so make sure to check the website for an up-to-date schedule.

Just before summer rolls in, Osaka will experience a brief period of rainy days. But don’t let that dampen your spirits, as this is exactly when the city’s hydrangeas bloom in their multi-coloured glory. Nestled in the northwest corner of the expansive Natural and Cultural Gardens at Expo '70 Commemorative Park, the gorgeous Hydrangea Forest was renovated just last year. It now boasts roughly 50 varieties of hydrangeas in a spectacular array of vivid hues.  During the festival, you can also check out two site-specific installations that double as photo spots. The ‘Forest Palette’ features a circular formation with vibrant ribbons radiating from a central tower. Meanwhile, ‘Graffiti Street’ is more interactive. Here, you are encouraged to write down messages on colourful stickers and affix them to large boards adorned with outlines of rainbows and hydrangeas, ultimately transforming the displays into a collaborative work of mosaic art. You can check the hydrangeas’ blooming status here before you go. Do note that the Natural and Cultural Gardens requires an admission fee of ¥450 for adults and high school students.

If you’re looking to experience a serene, ancient temple without the overwhelming crowds of central Kyoto, get off the beaten track and make your way to the mountainside Mimurotoji on the outskirts of Uji City. Founded in 770, this sprawling temple complex is home to an elegant three-tiered red pagoda as well as expansive grounds featuring a dry landscape garden, a pond, and some of the region’s most beautiful displays of seasonal flowers.   Mimurotoji looks especially colourful from late spring through early summer, with azaleas blooming in May, followed by hydrangeas in June and lotus flowers in July. In fact, the temple boasts one of the most spectacular hydrangea sights in the Kansai region, with 20,000 plants across 50 varieties growing under tall cedar trees.   For the most awe-inspiring scenery, visit on a Saturday or Sunday between June 13 and June 28, when the garden comes aglow with illuminations after dark from 7pm until 8.30pm.  Getting there: Mimurotoji Temple is 15 minutes’ walk away from Mimuroto Station, which is reachable from Kyoto Station in approximately 35 minutes (or about 70 minutes from Osaka Station).

One of Japan’s most iconic summer folk dance festivals, Awa Odori can be traced back to its origins in Tokushima prefecture more than 400 years ago. This lively celebration has since brought its infectious energy to many cities across Japan.  Awa Odori is famous for its distinctive choreography. Women dance gracefully on the tips of their wooden geta sandals while wearing fan-shaped straw hats known as amigasa, accompanied by other dancers performing a crouching-style manoeuvre in short happi coats – all backed by a live band of flutes and drums. The mood is so exuberant that the festival often culminates in a giant block party.  As a lead-up to the grand Awa Odori Festival in Tokushima this August, the organisers are throwing a preview celebration at Osaka Station City over the June 20–21 weekend. The two-day event is spread across two sites. On the second-floor Atrium Plaza, you’ll find screenings of Awa Odori videos, official festival merchandise and local produce from Tokushima. The Time and Space Plaza (also known as Toki-no-Hiroba) on the fifth floor will feature a stage hosting two hour-long Awa Odori performances a day: 3pm and 5pm on Saturday June 20, as well as 12.30pm and 3pm on Sunday June 21. Between the shows, do check out the tourist information booth to learn more about travelling in Tokushima.

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. Walk-ins are possible, but we strongly recommend making a reservation. Note that as this is an outdoor event, the beer garden may be closed in the case of heavy rain or inclement weather.

Japan’s rainy season is now officially underway, and so we’ve arrived at the best time to admire the rain-kissed hydrangea flowers that thrive amidst all the precipitation. The Hydrangea Fair at Nagai Botanical Gardens is one of the largest events of its kind in Osaka, showcasing approximately 10,000 hydrangea plants in full bloom. Besides the flowers themselves, programme highlights include displays of hydrangeas floating in water basins and an exhibition of different varieties of the bloom on a glass shelf, showcasing hues ranging from lilac and pink to purple and blue. Beautiful photo spots will also be set up in the garden: think hydrangea-coloured umbrellas suspended in mid-air, and a path decorated with traditional Japanese wind chimes that tinkle in the breeze. The gardens are open daily from 9.30am to 5pm, with last entry at 4.30pm. Tickets cost ¥300 for adults and ¥200 for university and high school students.