Edward Hewes

If you're looking to experience a major concert in Osaka this year, you're in luck. Japan's second city is making some serious noise in 2026, with shows lined up across the city's premier venues – from the massive 55,000-capacity Kyocera Dome to city-centre concert halls like Osaka-jo Hall and Grand Cube Osaka, plus intimate spots like Umeda Club Quattro, Zepp Namba and Gorilla Hall.  Almost every month there will be shows from some of the biggest names in pop, rock, K-pop, indie and electronic, with more announcements still to come. For now, here are the biggest concerts to look forward to in Osaka in 2026. UPDATE: Updated July 2026 with shows for October, November and December.

Osaka’s tachinomi – literally ‘stand and drink’ – bars are where the city’s famed hospitality comes most naturally to the fore. Often cash-only and walk-in only, they’re less formal than an izakaya, much chattier than your conventional bar and an essential part of Japanese drinking culture. There are literally hundreds of these joints across Osaka: traditional kakuuchi attached to liquor stores, no-frills drinking holes slipped into shopping streets, and modern, food-focused establishments retrofitted into renovated machiya townhouses. They are also just as often a destination for exceptional food and wine as for cheap drinks and some of the best bar bites in the world. While drinking until you drop is not advised, a standing bar is a crucial stop on any mission to enjoy one of Osaka’s favourite pastimes, kuidaore – or eating until you drop. To help, here are ten of Osaka’s best, covering the full breadth of its scene. RECOMMENDED: 6 of the best cocktail bars in Osaka

Let’s be clear: Kansai isn’t exactly well known for surfing. Mention you want to paddle out, and most people would assume you’re heading to Miyazaki down south, or towards Tokyo for Shonan or Chiba. But the region has its very own year-round surfing scene, all within reach of Osaka. The trick to surfing near Osaka is the seasonal split. The Pacific coast of Wakayama and Mie is best in summer and through typhoon season, while the Sea of Japan side of Kyoto and Fukui fires in winter when north winds bring the swell. The breaks you can reach from Osaka cover the full range, from beginner-friendly to more challenging waves for those who know what they’re doing. Plus, most are worshipped spots with active morning crews, and come equipped with webcams so you can check conditions before committing to the journey. RECOMMENDED: 5 best day hikes in and around Osaka – ranked by difficulty

安藤忠雄の稀有な才能の証は世界中で見られるが、最も多くの建築を楽しめるのは彼の故郷・大阪とその周辺だ。 打ち放しコンクリートを特徴とし、光と空間と自然を戯れの相手にする「安藤の大阪」。そこには子どものための図書館があり、街の歴史へのオマージュがあり、アートのすみかがある。 だが何より重要なのは、それらが未来の世代を形作るために構想された場所であるということだ。 自分を育ててくれた街への、安藤なりの恩返しである。 W大阪 画像提供：W大阪W大阪 中之島から御堂筋を南へ下ると、 大阪屈指のきらびやかな近代建築が並ぶ。その通り沿いでも際立つ存在感を放つのが「W大阪」だ。安藤が外装を手がけた27階建てのホテルは、全面ブラックガラスのファサードで知られる。 それは、大阪の旧商人階級が富を隠すためにまとった、質素な黒い羽織へのオマージュだ。だがその羽織の裏地には、贅を尽くした絹が張られていた。ホテルも同じ精神を踏襲している。豪華かつ遊び心に満ちた内装は、光のインスタレーションに包まれた幻想的な通路を通り抜けなければ、姿を現さない。 全337室の客室では、床から天井までのガラス越しに大阪の夜景が壁紙となり、桜色や大阪湾ブルーのムードライティングが空間を染め上げる。 画像提供：W大阪W大阪 周辺エリア Time Out Osakaたこ焼き十八番 心斎橋駅から徒歩数分。約400年の歴史を持つ心斎橋筋商店街を歩けば、そのまま道頓堀へとつながる。「たこ焼き十八番」では、だしとミルクを合わせた生地に天かすを混ぜ込んだ、外はカリッと中はクリーミーな大阪の味を堪能したい。 Time Out Osaka法善寺横丁 「上方浮世絵館」で、江戸時代の木版画を鑑賞しながら刷り体験ワークショップに参加するのもいいだろう。ちょうちんに照らされた石畳の「法善寺横丁」では、各々の技と工夫をこらしたお好み焼きや串カツを一軒ずつ巡りながら、「法善寺」のこけむした「水掛不動尊」に詣でたい。 こども本の森 中之島 Time Out Osakaこども本の森 中之島 この子どものための図書館は、安藤作品の根底にある社会貢献の精神が最も明快に表れた建築の一つだろう。2020年夏に開館し、約2万冊の蔵書を擁する。安藤が設計し、大阪市へ寄贈されたものでもある。 都心の中之島に位置するこの建物は、周囲に対して穏やかな対位法として機能している。蛇行する川の流 れに沿って弧を描く低層のコンクリート。東半分は堅固で守られた印象を与え、西半分は川沿いの広々とし たテラスへ開かれる。内部では3層にわたる天井高の書架が吹き抜けを包み込み、月のような天窓を持つ円筒形の休憩室ではプロジェクションマッピングが本の世界に命を吹き込んでいく。 子どもの好奇心が自然に導くまま、本を手に取れる場所だ。 Time Out Osakaこども本の森 中之島 周辺エリア 画像提供：中之島公園中之島公園 図書館から東へ1.5キロメートル、水辺に沿って大阪最古の「中之島公園」が延びている。隣接する赤れんがのネオ・ル ネサンス様式が目を引く「大阪市中央公会堂」では演奏会や展覧会が催され、西へ向かえば「国立国際美術館」と「大阪市立科学館」がある。 また、「アクアライナー」の水上バスで中之島を周遊すれば、世界最長級の桜並木も眺められる。安藤が発案し、造幣局の桜の通り抜けに3000本の樹木を加 えて実現したプロジェクトだ。 VS.（ヴイエス）  ©RAM KATZIR photo by VS.VS. 2024年9月、「うめき

Tadao Ando’s life and work have taken him across the world. But it’s in and around his hometown of Osaka where the self-taught Pritzker-winning architect has built most prolifically. Beyond the characteristic poured concrete that takes light, space and nature for its playmates, Ando’s Osaka is one of children’s libraries, homages to the city’s history, homes for art. But, most importantly, it’s one of places intended to shape the city’s future generations: his way of giving back to the Osaka that raised him. RECOMMENDED: Our exclusive interview with Tadao Ando

When people talk about Japanese denim, they tend to point to Okayama – more specifically the small coastal town of Kojima, where Japan’s first domestically made jeans were produced and where the country’s denim tradition is rooted. But the story of why Japanese denim became a global obsession is really an Osaka story. In the late ’80s and ’90s, a cluster of brands based in and around the city – now known collectively as the Osaka 5 – pushed back against the mass-produced denim that dominated the market and revived the raw, unwashed, shuttle-loom selvedge tradition that modern manufacturing had left behind. Studio d’Artisan, Fullcount, Evisu, Warehouse & Co. and Denime didn’t just make better jeans; they kickstarted Japan’s reputation as the adoptive home of classic American denim. Several of the original five still have flagship stores in Osaka, and over the decades they’ve been joined by other brands drawn to a city that has become one of the world’s most concentrated pockets of serious denim retail. Most of the action is in Minamihorie and Kitahorie, a walkable stretch of Nishi-ku west of Namba where boutiques, bars and independent shops share streets with some of the most knowledgeable denim staff in Japan, and where the stores are close enough to each other that you can cover them in a single afternoon. From the founding names of the Osaka 5 to an underground cult label that’s barely known outside Japan, these are the shops that make Osaka one of the world’s best cities f

Osaka’s markets are as varied and vibrant as the city itself. From its temple courtyards and leafy shrines to its park promenades, the city hosts regular flea markets and antique and vintage clothes fairs throughout the year. Some unfold every Sunday for a slow, easy day of perusing; others appear monthly for treasure hunters who prefer quiet prospecting; yet others are festival-style events that come complete with music. Whether you’re chasing rare collectables, classy antiques, one-of-a-kind outfits or just a bargain, Osaka’s markets guarantee good finds and a good day out. Plus, almost all the markets we’ve put together boast a wide array of stalls offering seriously tempting food and drink, so even if you don’t find the niche memorabilia or eccentric ensemble you were hunting for, you’ll at least leave well fed. RECOMMENDED: The 15 best museums in Osaka

In keeping with its reputation as one of the grittier and more down-to-earth major cities in Japan, Osaka is home to thriving punk, indie and experimental music scenes. The heart of these is kept beating by a lively circuit of sticky-floored and stageless punk bars, old-school ‘live houses’ and intimate living room-style indie venues. What sets the best of these spots apart is how they have stuck true to their roots in Japan’s live house culture – delivering music-first spaces that showcase newer bands and experimental acts. With local bands often drawing consistent crowds of regulars, not to mention the low entry fees and BYOB policies, Osaka’s best underground music venues are always lively. So, regardless of whether you’re chasing punk, indie, ambient or something yet unnamed, they make discovering something new easy and are well worth dropping into even if you’ve never heard the names on the bill. RECOMMENDED: 6 best bars in Amerikamura

On February 22, over 34,000 runners will flood the streets of Osaka for the city’s 14th annual marathon. And this isn’t your typical leisurely city race: the 2026 Osaka Marathon serves as a Marathon Grand Championship Series event and doubles as selection trials for both the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Whether you’re planning to cheer on a friend or family member going for yet another personal best or just want to soak up the atmosphere, you’ll be able to do just that while watching world-class athletes compete for championship berths and a chance to represent Japan at the Olympics.  Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of race day. Where to watch it and when Photo: Ymgerman/Dreamstime The marathon starts with the first and fastest runners setting out at 9.15am between the Osaka Prefectural Government Building and the west side of Osaka Castle Park. Runners have seven hours to complete the course, with the race officially ending at 4.15pm, just over on the east side of the park.  Looking to cheer someone on? The atmosphere will no doubt be electric at the start, what with all those 34,000 runners gathered in one place – but it’ll also be the race’s most crowded point. Runners tend to start off compact before thinning out as the course goes on, so consider catching them along the Okawa River just after the start before heading to Nakanoshima, where the race returns around the 6km mark. This is also where the concurrent,

Osaka borders four other prefectures. To the north, there’s picture-perfect Kyoto; to the east, the peaceful, popular and spiritual Nara; to the south, there’s the rugged coastline of Wakayama; and to the west sits Hyogo with its mountainous hinterlands. When it comes to hiking, this means the treks in and around Osaka prefecture offer a little bit of everything.  Whether you're looking for challenging mountain climbs with epic city views and onsen waiting at the end for a hot soak, a peaceful riverside walk with a splash of swimming, or just a quick spot of forest bathing on the edge of the city – these five hikes are proof you don't need to venture too far from the city for a good old romp amid lush nature. RECOMMENDED: Prefer to enjoy greenery within the city instead? Here are the best rooftop gardens in Osaka

If you really want to experience local life at its most authentic when exploring a new city, the best thing you can do is take to the streets. And no, not that one major thoroughfare with the samey high street megastores and generic coffee shops. We’re talking about the neighbourhood backstreets and lively avenues that locals love; the places packed with independent shops and creative people, where a brand-new hi-fi listening bar will share the space with an old-school grocer or a centuries-old pub.  This year, to create our annual ranking of the world’s coolest streets, we asked our global network of local editors and experts to nominate the street that epitomises the very best of their city. Time Out’s global travel team then narrowed down the list and ranked each street against criteria including food, drink, culture, fun and community spirit.  From Saturday samba sessions in Rio de Janeiro to a shapeshifting shopping street in Osaka, every avenue, alleyway and side street on this year’s ranking is unique to its hometown. Walking their length is like taking a stroll through the city in miniature, getting a taste of what makes life there brilliant – from food and culture to shopping and nightlife.  Did your favourite street make the list? Read on to find out. RECOMMENDED: 🏘️ The world’s coolest neighbourhoods in 2025🌆 The world’s best cities in 2025 Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for the latest travel news and the best stuff happening a

Autumn in Japan is breathtaking. Successive waves of different trees trading their summer greens for shades of crimson and gold create a month-long spectacle that leaves the countryside and cities awash in some of the world’s most striking autumn colours. In Kansai, Kyoto often takes the spotlight as the top autumn destination, but Osaka also boasts its own fantastic ways to enjoy the season. From illuminated boulevards and urban parks that provide a stunning contrast to the city’s concrete jungle, to nearby mountains, rivers and waterfalls offering quick escapes into quieter landscapes, Osaka features a range of vibrant and unique autumn experiences. Moreover, after a record-breaking hot summer in Japan this year, the autumn colours are expected to be especially brilliant, as the prolonged sun exposure has enhanced the pigments in the leaves. So, if you find yourself in Osaka during November or December, rest assured – each of the following attractions offers the awe-inspiring splendour of Japan’s dazzling autumn foliage. BEFORE YOU GO: Check out the latest official forecast on the best times to see autumn colours in Osaka and Kyoto

Housed in Nintendo’s very first headquarters now reimagined by the most celebrated architect in Kansai, Marufukuro is made up of three original 1930s Art Deco buildings and Tadao Ando’s all-glass and concrete addition. It’s part museum, part period property and part luxury hotel. Crucially, Marufukuro wears these roles lightly, refusing to let any one identity compete with the others. It offers the same attentiveness, the same unhurried pace, the same sense that the property is working on your behalf as a luxury hotel, but is playful and engaging where you might expect it to be reverential. There’s no front desk – staff work from an open-plan area in a nod to the building’s office origins. The bars are self-service, the art interactive, and some bathrooms even play Grieg’s Morning Mood when you take a seat.  The result is a stay in a register that is entirely its own. Marufukuro is possibly the most singular place you can bunk at in all of Kyoto. What are the rooms like at Marufukuro? The hotel has 18 individually designed rooms, including four suites. In the original building’s rooms, mid-century hardwood furniture fills spaces where old and new are genuinely hard to tell apart. There are large windows to flood the rooms with light while smaller Art Deco stained-glass windows soften and colour the spaces; original William Morris wallpaper hides inside some of the wardrobes. The Ando-designed rooms offer something different: poured concrete walls warmed by timber accents, fl

One of Osaka’s most carefully curated flea markets is returning to its natural home on the promenade of Nakanoshima Park on April 11 and 12. Started in 2018 by a group of designers and stylists, the Kitahama Flea Market has since grown steadily without ever losing the discerning eye that has defined it from the beginning and makes it stand out among Osaka’s wealth of markets. The result is a market that feels less like a car boot sale and more like browsing the contents of not just your most stylish friends’ wardrobes, but their entire house too. The mix leans creative and considered: handcrafted ceramics and brass jewellery alongside vintage clothing and Nordic fabrics, dried flowers and potted greenery, antique curios and artisan bread, snacks and drinks.  The setting is half the draw. Nakanoshima island – otherwise known as Osaka’s art island – has a particular calm that’s hard to find elsewhere in Osaka, and on a good April weekend the riverside walk between stalls is as much a pleasure as anything you might buy. As with most flea markets in Osaka, make sure to go with cash and you might just come back with something you’ll keep for years.

Shimokita Craft Beer Fest returns in April for its ninth edition, just in time before cherry blossom season ends. For the first weekend of the month, the beery bash will bring together craft breweries from across Japan to celebrate spring. From familiar faces on the capital-area craft beer scene, such as West Coast Brewing, to local taprooms such as Kaigan Brewery, each of the 13 breweries involved will be making a beer specially for the occasion. There will also be food trucks serving dishes specifically designed to pair with the beers, making the event the perfect setting to enjoy festival food, appreciate some art and – of course – toast the changing of the seasons with world-class craft beer. The event takes place at the Shimokita Senrogai open space, just a few minutes’ walk from the station, beside the Shimokitazawa Police Box. 

After a two-year absence, the Craft Gyoza Fes returns to Osaka Castle Park for Golden Week 2026. The dumpling-stuffed festival, which drew a whopping 250,000 visitors last time it visited Osaka during the spring holidays, brings together 17 vendors and more than 30 types of gyoza across five days at the open-air Sun Square (Taiyo no Hiroba). Pan-fried, boiled, deep-fried, steamed, wrapped, souped, sauced and stacked with cheese – this year's line-up is organised around four categories intended to showcase just how far the humble dumpling can be pushed.  ‘Neo Gyoza’ leads with creative cross-cultural mashups: think salted butter truffle, duck peperoncino and green chilli clam soup. ‘Local Gyoza’ covers Japan's regional favourites, from bite-sized Hakata dumplings with Kurobuta pork and mentaiko cheese to Kyoto lemon gyoza with sparkling citrus jelly.  ‘Traditional Chinese’ brings hand-wrapped xiaolongbao and Hong Kong dim sum as well as shrimp dumplings in crab sauce and steamed shark fin dumplings. ‘Artisan Gyoza’ rounds things out while pushing the boat out a little further with Sichuan mapo deep-fried gyoza, 100-percent Kuroge wagyu beef gyoza, and ginger gyoza swimming in bonito and Hokkaido kombu broth.  Stuffed for choice doesn’t quite cover it, especially given there’ll also be stalls for fried rice and sweet treats, as well as craft beer and gin cocktails. The event is free to enter, but there are a range of advance ticket packs that bundle food tickets with a fast-lan

If you think you may be in need of some grill power to get you through Golden Week, the Meat Osaka 2026 has you covered. For eight days from April 29, Nagai Park becomes the city’s premier destination for meat lovers, with free admission and a line-up of vendors from across Japan. After a two-year absence from Osaka, the event returns with an expanded line-up, offering a plethora of top-tier meat dishes from butchers, yakiniku specialists and innovative chefs who’ve developed exclusive menus for the festival. Expect premium wagyu sushi, rare-cut katsu (deep-fried cutlets), Korean-style grilled beef tongue, hearty menchi katsu (deep-fried ground meat patties) and more, served up by vendors from across Japan. Confirmed participants include World Diner (Hokkaido black wagyu sushi and roast beef with truffle sauce), Tamagawa Butcher Shop (rare beef katsu and secret-blend menchi katsu), Korean BBQ specialist 4si (two styles of grilled tongue), and Ishigaki Island Kitauchi Ranch (premium cuts from its own cattle). Admission is free and the event is cashless. Food and drinks can be purchased using meal tickets (¥200 or ¥800 per ticket), credit cards as well as QR code and electronic payment methods.  With Nagai Park’s open grounds providing plenty of space to settle in, you can graze at your own pace. The event runs rain or shine, with the opening weekend typically drawing the biggest crowds. Beyond the food stalls, the Challenge zone offers music performances, sports activities and

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. It offers an unprecedented opportunity to examine the full breadth of Takashima’s seven-decade career, from his early self-portraits and still lifes to the transcendent candle and moonlight paintings that would come to define his legacy. Beyo

On March 7, the suburbs of eastern Osaka become the stomping ground of 16th-century warlord Miyoshi Nagayoshi and his samurai once again. Daito City’s annual warrior procession sees around 200 participants dressed in period armour and traditional attire march from Hojo Park through local shopping streets and back again, with sword-fighting demonstrations, stage performances and music along the route. The procession celebrates Miyoshi Nagayoshi (1522–1564), a samurai who controlled territories across Kansai during his rule. With plenty of banner-waving, local food stalls and family activities, it’s a full-scale historical spectacle in a neighbourhood that doesn’t see many tourists.

If you’re planning to eat and drink your way through spring, mark Saturday March 21 in your calendar. Part food market, part sake festival, Kamigata Sake World (or more precisely, Kamigata Nihonshu World) brings together 18 restaurants and sake breweries from across Japan for a six-hour tasting event at a riverside venue. Each brewery will be paired with a restaurant, with the duo serving up an exclusive dish-and-sake combo created specifically for the festival. The food and drink are chosen to complement each other and served at optimal temperatures. This year’s line-up includes Tottori’s Tomirei sake paired with washoku (traditional Japanese cuisine) restaurant Ao, Tokyo’s Aonisai collaborating with Niigata’s Abe Brewery, and Osaka’s Ritmicita joining forces with local doburoku (unfiltered sake) maker Utsutsuyo. The remaining pairings span breweries from Niigata and Shimane to Fukuoka and Saga. The format is simple: grab your tickets, browse the vendor booths, and sample pairings at your own pace. Although, with only six hours to work through 18 pairings at Minatomachi River Place, a little planning goes a long way.  Most of the stalls offer standing service only. However, there is a premium seating ticket option (price TBC) for a more leisurely experience, with dedicated areas to sit and relax between tastings. Tickets are now available online. Note that tickets do not include food and sake; these are sold separately on-site.

For the third year in a row, the Vietnam Festival is returning to the Sun Square at Osaka Castle Park to celebrate the friendship between Japan and Vietnam. Taking place over the weekend of March 7-8, the festival aims to showcase Vietnamese culture through food, music and more. This year, the event promises a feast for all five senses, offering the sights, scents, sounds, energy and – of course – the flavour of contemporary Vietnamese life. Dozens of food booths will be serving up Vietnamese favourites including pho, bun bo, banh mi, spring rolls and Vietnamese coffee, all prepared by Vietnamese restaurants from across the Kansai region.  The music programme will feature performances by popular Vietnamese artists, alongside Japanese performers who have a strong connection to Vietnamese culture. Alongside the food and music, the festival will also offer tourism information showcasing Vietnam’s most attractive destinations.

The first sign of spring in Osaka is the arrival of plum blossoms, and for Expo ’70 Commemorative Park in Suita, this is cause for celebration. From February 7 to March 8, the park is hosting a month-long festival to accompany the blooms. The park is home to several plum groves, which showcase around 150 varieties and more than 600 trees in total, so there will be no shortage of the fragrant white, pink and red blossoms that make this time of year so picturesque. You can expect similar abundance when it comes to plum-themed festivities. From opening day and running every weekend and public holiday, the tea ceremonies at the Japanese Garden’s Senrian teahouse will pair matcha with seasonal wagashi to enjoy while overlooking the plum-framed garden. Discounted combo tickets for this with park admission are available at entrance gates on tea ceremony days. The plum product festivities then begin mid-month with the plum-wine brand Choya’s takeover. Between February 21 to 23 and 28 to March 1, they’re set up at the Natural Culture Park Waterwheel Chaya serving tasting sets of five premium plum wines as well as selling their dangerously delicious drinks. February 21–23 will also see Choya teaming up with the Osaka Agricultural Horticulture and Food Technology College to sell collaborative plum sweets from a special tent in the plum grove. In addition, between February 28 and March 1, JA Wakayama will be bringing Wakayama’s famous pickled plums for a tasting comparison and sale. Marc

In Osaka, spring doesn’t just mean the arrival of the cherry blossoms – it also heralds the thunderous return of what’s always one of the city’s most anticipated sporting spectacles. The March Grand Sumo Tournament brings 15 days of high-stakes wrestling to Edion Arena Osaka, where Japan’s top-ranked athletes compete for the Emperor’s Cup.  As the second tournament of the year, the showdowns in Osaka are known for setting the tone for the rest of the season, with early-year performances often dictating which wrestlers will dominate the bouts, and headlines, in the year ahead. Running between March 8 and 22, the tournament has a flexible structure that lets you dip in and out as you please. Its tickets are for all day, so you can catch everything from the morning bouts to the main event matches featuring top-division wrestlers from around 2pm. One re-entry is also allowed until 5pm – perfect for grabbing lunch in nearby Namba between bouts. Don’t worry if you’re not a seasoned follower: sumo is one of those rare sports where the sheer spectacle can carry you through even if you don’t know all the rules. That said, if you want to brush up beforehand, Netflix’s Sanctuary offers an excellent crash course in the sport’s traditions and drama, and there’s still time to binge it before the tournament begins.  Tickets go on sale February 7 at 10am, and with demand consistently outstripping supply, you’ll want to set a reminder.  Seating options range from traditional masu-seki box sea

Over the last weekend of January, Namba Square is hosting a showcase of Osaka’s finest independent makers with the Osaka Unique Things Expo. The event will bring together craft producers and small manufacturers from across the prefecture for a two-day event that aims to highlight the creativity of local small and medium-sized businesses. To start with, there’ll be Osaka-made craft beer, artisanal sweets and speciality gourmet foods. Beyond the edibles, you'll find miscellaneous goods and handcrafted products – the kind of distinctive items you won't stumble across on an average trip down Osaka’s shopping streets or polished malls. There will also be hands-on workshops offering a chance to experience traditional craftsmanship first hand, while the wide-ranging stalls will let you browse and buy directly from the makers themselves. All in all, it’s a rare opportunity to discover the best of Osaka’s thriving independent scene all in one place. Entry is free, and with the venue being right by Namba Station, the market is perfectly positioned for a quick browse before or after a day trip – or as a destination in and of itself for anyone curious about what the city’s creative community has to offer.

There’s no other way to put it: Osaka is so hot right now. Fresh off making Time Out Worldwide’s world’s best cities for food list and being named Asia’s most liveable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the beating heart of Kansai can now boast about having the best hotel on the planet. That’s right: Patina Osaka was named the Best Hotel in the World at Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards. The hotel, which opened opposite Osaka Castle in May 2025, has quickly built a reputation on its picture-perfect location, striking design and extensive art collection. Photo: PatinaP72 at Patina Osaka Not to mention its standout dining offerings, which include P72, a lunch-and-afternoon-tea restaurant built around Japan’s 72 micro-seasons that sources its produce from an organic veg farm on Awaji Island. Many rooms and public spaces at Patina look straight out onto the castle itself, floor-to-ceiling glass windows framing the 16th-century fortress from the lap pool, the onsen-style hot tub and the shoji-walled tea lounge Nijiri. Photo: Georg Roske/Patina OsakaSonata Bar & Lounge at Patina Osaka Rooms feature 3D washi paper headboards moulded from a section of the castle’s original granite walls, and the hotel’s Sonata Bar & Lounge is built around a wall of hundreds of upcycled vintage Japanese speakers. Photo: PatinaPatina Osaka It’s the first time a Japanese hotel has topped the global list, capping a strong couple of years for Osaka’s hospitality scene as the city con

Osaka’s charm isn’t just anecdotal. It’s measurable, and this year’s global rankings prove it. The city was named one of the world’s best cities for food just a few weeks ago, and has now held onto seventh place in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index for the second year running. The annual index scores 173 cities across five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.  Osaka posted near-perfect marks across the board this year, with 100 for healthcare, 100 for stability and 100 for education, alongside a 96 for infrastructure and 87 for culture and environment. Photo: Atosan/DreamstimeView from Osaka Castle to Osaka Castle Park That strong infrastructure score was a key factor again in 2026, reflecting the city’s convenient rail and subway network and its position as a hub for the wider Kansai region, with fast, easy connections out to Kyoto, Kobe, Nara and beyond. It makes Osaka the highest-ranked city in all of Asia this year, edging out Tokyo, which climbed three places to round out the top 10. The two cities came in roughly on par for culture and environment, with infrastructure and housing making the difference for Osaka.  Last year, Osaka was the only Asian city in the global top ten, tied for seventh with Auckland. This year marks a shift, with Tokyo now joining it in the top bracket, giving Japan two cities on the list of the most liveable places in the world. Here are the 10 most liveable cities

Kiki’s Delivery Service is returning to Osaka cinemas this month, and English speakers won’t need to stream a subtitled or dubbed version to enjoy Studio Ghibli’s 1989 classic to the fullest.  Toho Cinemas Umeda is one of only five cinemas in Japan screening Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece with English subtitles, running for two weeks from Friday July 3. Photo courtesy of Toho © 1989 Eiko Kadono - Hayao Miyazaki - Studio Ghibli - IMAX® is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation The film comes back in a new 4K digital remaster, supervised by Studio Ghibli, that sharpens Kiki’s flight scenes and the vistas of the port town of Koriko she calls home for her year of training.  It’s a rare chance to see Kiki, Jiji and their broomstick flight over the sea the way they were meant to be seen: on a big screen, not a laptop. © 1989 Eiko Kadono - Hayao Miyazaki - Studio Ghibli‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ Umeda is Osaka’s only venue for it and with just one subtitled screening a day – usually in the morning – it’s worth booking ahead. Do so at the Toho Cinemas website. More from Time Out Osaka Two dessert pop-ups are coming to Time Out Market Osaka this July Tokaido Shinkansen to trial overnight Tokyo-Osaka train this August Osaka’s Derailleur Brew Works opens its first new Osaka bar in eight years Osaka named one of the world’s best cities for food in 2026 Where to watch the 2026 World Cup in Osaka

Just as one Stand Umineko prepares to pack up, another swings open its doors. One of Osaka’s most well-regarded breweries, Derailleur Brew Works has opened Stand Umineko 3tR in Dotonbori – and the timing isn’t a coincidence.  The original Stand Umineko, the very first of Derailleur’s taprooms, is closing on July 9 ahead of a move to a yet undisclosed location nearby. Photo: Stand UminekoStand Umineko 3tR The new 3tR is a beer-focused standing bar, with 25 taps pouring a mix of Derailleur’s own brews – house staples like Nishinari Riot Ale, Citrus Sour Ale and Hazy IPA – alongside a rotating cast of kegs from microbreweries around Japan. Photo: Stand UminekoSelect bar bites from Stand Umineko 3tR For food, the bar is serving a pair of house-made pork buns and a menu of snacks, from smoked duck with sansho pepper to smoked mackerel potato tartare. 3tR is pronounced ‘Mittera’, and the name is a nod to Mitsuderasuji, the street on the edge of Dotonbori where the bar now sits, which is right round the corner from the original Stand Umineko. Photo: Stand UminekoStand Umineko 3tR The brewery behind the bars, Derailleur Brew Works, was founded in Osaka’s Nishinari in 2018 and is known as much for its social-enterprise model – employing people in recovery and from disadvantaged backgrounds – as for its beer.  Since opening its first bar in Shinsaibashi, the brand has grown well beyond Osaka, with a string of bars across Kansai and Tokyo, including the Yama no Fumoto taproom in M

One of the best places to see hydrangeas in Osaka is now in full bloom. Nukata Park on the slopes of Mt Ikoma is home to around 25,000 plants across 30 varieties – enough to make a reasonable case for it being one of the finest hydrangea spots in Kansai.  Set within Osaka Prefectural Forest on the border between Higashi-Osaka and Nara, the park sits high enough on the mountainside to stay noticeably cooler than the city below. A well-maintained trail winds through 1.5km of carefully arranged plantings, opening at intervals to offer sweeping views across the Osaka plain.  The annual Mt Ikoma Hydrangea Festival runs daily 9am–5pm from June 20 to July 12 and there’s a rest area with toilets on site. Photo: Edward HewesNukata Park The best way to get there – and to make a full day of it There are a couple of ways to get to the park, but the best by some margin is to take the charmingly retro Kintetsu Ikoma Cable Car – one of Japan’s oldest, running since 1918 – from Nara’s Ikoma Station up to Ikomasanjo Station, walk through the hydrangea trail, and then pick up the Ikoma Nature Trail and Zushidani hiking course back into Osaka. Photo: Edward HewesIkoma Cable Car By descending through mountain shade the whole way, you make the most of the breezes that the city flatly refuses to provide in summer while avoiding the strain of hiking up in the heat. Photo: Edward HewesZushidani hiking trail The Zushidani course is also a refreshing treat if you’re looking for a break from the

If you visited Expo 2025 in Osaka and passed through the West Gate at the event site on Yumeshima, you’re likely to have laid eyes on artist Bakibaki’s mural Lineage of Hope. The fish-focused artwork traces a path from Edo-period (1603–1868) ukiyo-e prints to contemporary street art by way of Bakibaki’s signature ‘Baki-gara’ pattern, a modern take on ancient Japanese family crests and motifs, and features a cameo appearance by the Expo mascot Myaku-Myaku. Photo: Edward Hewes‘Lineage of Hope’ by Bakibaki The 4.5m x 12m piece had been earmarked for demolition following the close of the Expo, but Bakibaki launched a crowdfunding campaign to save it, and the drive ultimately raised more than double its initial target. Thanks to 245 supporters contributing ¥6.06 million, the mural has found a new home as one of the artworks on Osaka’s Yodokabe Trail – a street art project led by Bakibaki himself. Like Taro Okamoto’s iconic Tower of the Sun before it, Lineage of Hope thus joins Osaka’s roll call of landmarks left behind by the world expos that have taken place in the city. You can now find the mural outside the Hotel Plaza Osaka in Juso. What is the Yodokabe Trail? Photo: Edward HewesThe Florence Nightingale mural that started it all The Yodokabe project was founded by Bakibaki in 2021 in the downtown Osaka neighbourhood of Juso. It started with a single Florence Nightingale tribute, painted to thank frontline medical workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. We covered the non-pro

The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19 across 16 stadiums in the United States, Canada and Mexico – and while the time difference rules out comfortable evening viewing in Japan for most of the tournament, there are still plenty of options to catch the games and find fellow fans across Osaka.  The group stage fixtures are mostly manageable: kick-off times range from 1am to 1pm JST depending on which city the game is in, with Pacific Time evening games – those taking place in Los Angeles, Seattle or Vancouver – the most forgiving, landing at lunchtime or early afternoon in Japan. The knockout rounds, however, will mean some late nights and early alarms, with most games falling between midnight and 7am. Whether you’re looking to cheer on Japan, are devoted to another of the 48 qualified teams or just want to soak in the atmosphere, head to one of these bars, pubs or movie theatres in Osaka.   Dublin Bay An ever-reliable Irish pub tucked off Dotonbori, with Guinness on tap and fish and chips on the menu, the Dublin Bay opens daily from 3pm and often stays open well past its advertised closing time to show games. It’s guaranteed to get busy on big match nights and doesn’t take bookings, so arrive early even if it’s late.  The pub is ad-hoc in its approach to scheduling but will be showing any game falling within its opening hours. For those kicking off or running over its self-reported closing time, check ahead of time – you’ll likely be rewarded for asking nicely. 

teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka has made a habit of turning the living contents of Nagai Botanical Garden into something otherworldly after dark. In spring it’s a field of glowing blue nemophila; a few months later, it’s purple hydrangeas and clusters of cosmoses. From August 1, the permanent nighttime art space is adding another seasonal installation: 20,000 white sunflowers, individually lit up and left to glow against the summer night. The installation follows teamLab’s usual approach – the flowers themselves are the artwork, but will be complemented by technology that enables them to respond to the presence of visitors with changes in light and tone. The installation is set to end when the flowers do, which will of course be subject to weather conditions and confirmed at a later date. Photo: teamLab, ‘Resonating Trees’, 2014, Interactive Installation, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi © teamLab, courtesy Pace Gallery A ticket for the sunflower field also gets you into the full garden for the permanent collection, which includes trees bathed in light, light-strewn camellia groves and lamps floating across the surface of a lake. Tickets for August are on sale now on the official site. More from Time Out Osaka Osaka named one of the world’s best cities for food in 2026 Japan opens world’s first centre to combat marine plastic pollution New Ghibli exhibitions coming to Osaka and Kyoto later this year Paid seats for the 2026 Kyoto Gion Festival processions are now on sale Where to wa

The Wu-Tang Clan has landed in Osaka, at least where streetwear is concerned. Verdy, the Osaka-born graphic artist behind Henry’s Pizza, has linked up with the legendary New York rap group on a collaborative collection that’s now available to buy. The range pulls together Wu-Tang’s instantly recognisable graphics, Verdy’s Wasted Youth label and his original character Vick, plus pieces made in collaboration with Henry’s Pizza itself. Photo: SuppliedThe zip-up hoodie from Verdy’s Wu-Tang Clan x Henry’s Pizza collection Leading the line-up are a double-name zip-up hoodie and T-shirt made with Wasted Youth, a boxed T-shirt and two graphic tees in collaboration with Henry’s Pizza, and a T-shirt merging Vick with the ‘W’ logo. Photo: SuppliedThree T-shirts from Verdy’s Wu-Tang Clan x Henry’s Pizza collection It all marks Wu-Tang Clan’s first return to Japan in 20 years: the group plays K-Arena Yokohama tonight, Sunday May 24, on their global farewell tour, Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber. Verdy is one of the most sought-after names in global street fashion and Henry’s is his New York-style pizzeria and upstairs gallery in Tanimachi, minutes away from Osaka Castle Park.  The full collection can be shopped at Henry’s Pizza from 12noon to 7pm on May 24, and will drop online at Verdy's Gift Shop on Monday May 25 9am, while supplies last. More from Time Out Osaka New Ghibli exhibitions coming to Osaka and Kyoto later this year Osaka kicks off 2026 fireworks season with three show

Osaka’s pizza scene is about to get an unlikely visitor from London. Panzer’s Deli – the St John’s Wood institution, beloved by generations of Londoners for its hand-sliced smoked salmon and salt beef bagels – is making its Japan debut with a week-long residency at Hughes Pizza’s new Utsubo Park branch. Running from May 12 to 17, the residency comes via Circus Pizza, the in-house pizzeria at Panzer’s, run by head chef and self-described chief dough operative Kit Delamain. Photo: Giles ChristopherPanzer’s Deli in London After spotting Hughes Pizza’s pop-up with fellow London pizzeria Dough Hands last year, Kit decided that if his pizzas were going to travel, where better than 9,000 kilometres to central Osaka and one of the city’s favourite pizzerias.  Circus Pizza is no stranger to Delamain’s flights of imagination. He trained in Naples, but his pizzas have built a reputation for being anything but traditional – and for coming sweet. Past specials have fused classic British desserts like sticky toffee pudding and rhubarb and custard with Neapolitan technique, and celebrated British seasonality with limited-run pies, like a spring sausage special with Neapolitan friarielli and crispy Cumberland sausages, and a primavera with English asparagus.  The headline act in Osaka is The Panzer: thinly sliced smoked salmon layered over a mozzarella and basil base, with Delamain and Hughes Pizza founder Alex Hughes sourcing their salmon from local supplier Iuchi Suisan. Photo: Panzer’s

April 29 marks the start of the 2026 Golden Week, which runs through May 6. Every year, this long stretch of holidays turns Japan into a lively playground filled with an assortment of events and festivals – and Osaka is no exception. However, if the sheer number of things to do feels overwhelming, let us narrow it down for you.  These food and drink festivals, happening at some of Osaka’s biggest attractions, will appease any foodie looking for an outdoor feast that combines the chance to bask in the beautiful spring weather. While entry is free, food and drinks are to be paid for separately. Plus, the Craft Gyoza Fes and the Meat Osaka are cashless. Photo: The Meat For carnivores: The Meat Osaka, Apr 29–May 6 The Meat Osaka returns after two years, bringing an expanded lineup of top-tier meat dishes from butchers, yakiniku specialists and innovative chefs who’ve developed exclusive menus for the festival. Expect premium wagyu sushi, rare-cut katsu (deep-fried cutlets), Korean-style grilled beef tongue, hearty menchi katsu (deep-fried ground meat patties) and more, served up by vendors from across Japan. Confirmed participants include World Diner (Hokkaido black wagyu sushi and roast beef with truffle sauce), Tamagawa Butcher Shop (rare beef katsu and secret-blend menchi katsu), Korean BBQ specialist 4si (two styles of grilled tongue), and Ishigaki Island Kitauchi Ranch (premium cuts from its own cattle). Photo: Tenshiba Oktoberfest For drinking in the park: Tenshiba Okto

Quartz Shinsaibashi, a new 28-storey complex on the corner of Midosuji and Nagahori-dori, opened the first four of its seven retail floors on Saturday April 25, with 38 shops now trading in a glitzy addition to Osaka’s main thoroughfare.   Designed by Nikken Sekkei and Takenaka – the same firms behind Tokyo Skytree and Abeno Harukas – the building sits on Midosuji boulevard and is connected directly to Shinsaibashi Station. Photo: Edward Hewes Its opening line-up of shops leans on a mix of flagship stores, Japan firsts and new-format concept stores. There’s a Diesel flagship on the ground floor, while Lacoste, Mammut, Descente and a new The North Face Footwear concept store spread across the upper floors. Photo: Edward Hewes Other stores include Globe-Trotter, Helen Kaminski, Lalique (its first Kansai store) and a new branch of Osaka-born bag label Master-Piece trading under the Master-Piece Unlimited name. For now, food and drink can be found in the basement with the first Japan outpost of Parisian honey patisserie L’Atelier du Miel Torii x Shodai Bio Nature, alongside TWG Tea, Kobe Frantz and a new sister concept from confectioner Gin no Mori.  Photo: Edward Hewes The remaining floors and tenants will open in phases through 2026: a raft of restaurants and two clinics are set to start business in summer, followed by Bulgari, Cartier, Chaumet and Fendi boutiques in stages through to autumn.  The restaurants opening on the fifth floor will include Singapore-headquartered