19 best things to do in and near Osaka this weekend: May 22–24

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 Space' from May 26 to June 1, followed by a Ship’s Cat pop-up at Takashimaya Osaka from May 27 to June 16.

Aside from these art and design showcases, there are three guided tours worth making reservations for: the free mural art tours in Konohana Ward (June 3 and June 13), as well as the Osaka architecture tours of Kitasemba (June 20) and Minami (June 21)...

Nothing beats enjoying a pint on a warm and sunny spring day. Craft Beer Live invites you to celebrate the sipping season with locally brewed Kansai craft beers over the May 23 and 24 weekend, featuring a respectable 300 beers by 66 breweries from across the region. You can pair your choice with Japanese pub grub like skewered meats, gyoza and various deep-fried delights, or opt for curry, pizza or pasta. Come for the beers and eats, stay for the live music and dance performances, which run throughout both days.

Admission is free, but the beers can only be purchased with special drink tickets. These are available at the venue, but we highly recommend picking up yours online in advance.

General tickets cost ¥3,500 for a bundle of 6 and a plastic mug, while the limited-edition set of 6 tickets and an exclusive beer glass will set you back ¥5,500...

A historic seafood wholesaler in Osaka, the Zakoba Fish Market operated for several centuries during the Edo and Meiji periods. It was dismantled in 1931 following the completion of the nearby Osaka Central Wholesale Market. Today, its spirit lives on through the seasonal Zakoba Morning Market, held at the open space in front of the central market and organised by volunteers who work there.

The Zakoba Morning Market in May will feature a fish festival theme with two seafood-centred main events. As bonito (skipjack tuna) is currently in season, you can partake in a hands-on tataki-making experience (¥1,000). You’ll learn how to grill using the traditional straw-fire method to create a delicate fish that’s crisp and smoky on the outside while still rare and pink inside. There will also be a tuna-cutting demonstration by specialists who showcased their skills at last year’s Osaka Expo.

Additionally, anyone can enter a lighthearted bodybuilding competition for the chance to win a 10kg haul of peeled shrimp, which the organisers dubbed the ultimate high-protein, low-fat prize. The event will also feature performances by local student bands, a parent-and-child soba-making workshop, and a lively array of festival stalls run by neighbourhood shops and restaurants...

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...

The cool and pleasant spring weather creates the perfect opportunity for an outdoor barbecue, and Osaka Castle’s Forest BBQ offers the full grilling experience without all the bothersome prep. The spreads available range in price from ¥2,000 to ¥3,600 per person and include a variety of meats like pork, chicken and beef; all-you-can-drink plans and a delightful range of add-ons such as tomahawk and T-bone steaks, seafood sets and an assortment of vegetables and meats for grilling are also available.

All packages include comfy outdoor furniture, serving utensils and cutlery, tongs for grilling, fire tongs and charcoal, and garbage bags. Bringing your own food and drinks is fine, too. Admission for adults costs from ¥1,800 to ¥2,100 depending on the day, while kids of elementary-school age enter for ¥900 to ¥1,000. Preschool-aged children and younger can dine for free. Walk-ins are accepted, but we recommend making reservations online in advance.

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. With cutting-edge projection mapping and interactive installations, you’ll not only see Gaudí’s distinctive designs and understand his revolutionary approach, but also experience his fantastical architecture in a truly sensorial way...

May is the month of roses in Japan, as many varieties of the flower reach peak bloom during this period. From now until May 24, the Nagai Botanical Garden in Osaka has dedicated two weeks to these beautiful spring blooms. Admire up to 300 varieties of roses, with 3,500 rose bushes in full bloom at the park’s European-style rose garden, which also features arches and pergolas teeming with climbing roses.

On weekends and public holidays, you get to enjoy a selection of rose-coloured soft serve ice creams named for the different variants in the garden. The gardens are open daily from 9.30am to 5pm...

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...

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.

From 1901 to 1909, Renoir focused on painting nudes in natural settings while managing his worsening rheumatoid arthritis, as detailed in chapter four. Chapter five (1910–1919) is dedicated to his final years: though confined to a wheelchair, he continued to create joyful, life-affirming works that reflect his unwavering passion for life...

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...

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.