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[title]There's always something exciting to do in the great city of Osaka – especially in summer, when there are cultural festivals and fireworks galore.
This Saturday July 18 marks the opening of the highly anticipated Ghibli Park Exhibition, which will make its debut in Osaka before travelling to other parts of Japan. More importantly, this mid-July window is one of the best times to take a day trip to neighbouring prefectures for some of the region's most spectacular summer festivals. These include the legendary Gion Matsuri and the atmospheric Fushimi Inari Taisha Motomiya-sai Festival, both in Kyoto, as well as the Ise Shrine Dedication National Fireworks Festival in Mie.
So, are you ready to head out for a fantastic weekend? Explore our curated list of the best events and things to do in Osaka, Kyoto and Ise right now.
Plan ahead: Here are the best events and things to do in Osaka and Kyoto for the rest of July 2026