Rachel Teo

Osaka is a lively city year-round, and it gets even more exciting in the summer when there are festivals abound. Many of our favourite seasonal celebrations are fireworks festivals; when vibrant explosions start lighting up the cloudless skies after sundown and the yukata-wearing crowds turn their heads towards the spectacle, that’s when you can get into a truly magical Japanese summer mood. This year’s celebrations kick off with the Ise Shrine Dedication Fireworks Festival out in Mie on July 19 and include everything from classics (Tenjin Festival Fireworks, Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks) to a beachside favourite (Senshu Dream Fireworks) and a massive happening out in rural Kyoto (Kameoka Hozugawa). So dust off your yukata, arrive early to secure the best viewing spot, and enjoy the colourful fireworks while snacking on some tasty festival grub. RECOMMENDED: 7 reasons to visit Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai at night

If you’re a lover of book fairs and markets, head over to Creative Center Osaka on the first long weekend in November, when the Kitakagaya Flea 2025 Autumn & Asia Book Market will be held at the bustling art hub. Hosted by LLC Insects, the Osaka-based publisher known for its eponymous culture mag, the event brings together local and foreign publishers and bookstores from across East and Southeast Asia, giving readers a chance to discover new titles from authors from all over the region. Small lectures and panel discussions by invited speakers will also take place over the three days. Furthermore, you can expect international food stalls and craft beer, stalls selling a variety of handcrafted wares, immersive workshops, and a wide variety of live music performances. Tickets can be purchased at the door for ¥1,500 and admission is free for high school students and younger.

Few foods unite the world like noodles, and you sure can expect a cosmopolitan bunch of offerings at the Noodles Revolution Festival, set to take place in Osaka’s Ogimachi Park from October 31 to November 3. This festival rounds up a bunch of extremely popular ramen and other noodle restaurants from across Kansai. Try out decadent tonkotsu ramen, spicy pork and garlic ramen, or even ramen served without broth. Exclusive event-only bowls from the participating eateries will be available too, including a special ‘morning ramen’ for those who prefer something hearty before beginning their day. As for the other delicious noodle dishes that will be present, you’ll get to choose from hiyashimen, soba, yakisoba, pasta, Vietnamese pho and various rice vermicelli dishes. The slurping bash takes place rain or shine, but might be cancelled in the case of inclement weather. Admission is free, and we recommend bringing some cash just in case.

Kita-Nagaya in quaint Nakatsu is a little miracle: traditional Japanese wooden houses in small, narrow alleys, refurbished and preserved, and now filled with independent shops, offices and even a cute little inn for vacation lodging. There’s no better time to explore the area than the first long weekend in November, when Kita-Nagaya hosts its Autumn Garden Market from 11am to 4pm daily. Held twice a year in spring and autumn, the seasonal bazaar showcases the works and wares of some 60 chefs and bakers, sommeliers, artisans, writers and artists. In addition to stalls selling handcrafted wares and bustling food and drink dealers, there will be booths for therapeutic massages, haircuts, fortune telling and even kintsugi workshops. Completely free to enter, the market will be held rain or shine, but may be cancelled in case of inclement weather. Don’t forget to bring some cash and an umbrella with you, just in case.

There’s something magical about fireworks: the bright, beautiful colours that light up the night sky are a mesmerising sight to behold any time of year.  While most fireworks in Japan take place in summer, the Osaka Art Fireworks Festival happens in early autumn instead, on November 1. What makes this show so special is that the fireworks are launched over Osaka Bay at Rinku Park and synchronised to rousing music for that extra dramatic effect. For this one-off spectacle, Marble Beach will be transformed into a (paid) seating area for the public to enjoy the fireworks comfortably. With clear, unobstructed views over the water, this sandy shore is the best vantage point to enjoy the pre-show sunset as well as the pyrotechnics. While the hour-long fireworks show will only begin at 6pm, the venue will open its doors at 3pm. There will be food and drink stalls on site to add to the overall festivities. The show will proceed even in the rain and will only be cancelled in the event of inclement weather.

KidZania is a family-friendly indoor theme park where children can role-play over 100 real-world occupations in a child-sized city. Through the activities, kids can learn about society and how to manage in-park money, all while gaining confidence as they learn new skills. KidZania Koshien adds some seasonal colour to the educational play by holding a Halloween event throughout the month of October, with two sessions a day from 9am to 3pm and 4pm to 9pm. During this period, the occupations that children can participate in will run exclusive Halloween-themed activities. From spooky flower arrangements at the florist to making themed desserts at the dairy company, kids will have their hands full – and they can also take part in a Halloween parade every session. Tickets can be purchased and advance reservations made online. Prices for the first session range from ¥4,800 to ¥5,300, while the second session will set you back from ¥3,500 to ¥4,300. Fees are higher on weekends and public holidays.

Craft brews in the great outdoors – what better way to spend a beautiful November weekend? The free-to-enter Sakamori Festival is returning for its third year on November 1 and 2, when Hoshi no Sato in the city of Katano will play host to 13 craft beer breweries and local sake-makers. And to go with all that booze, you’ll also find delicious food courtesy of six local restaurants at this lush campground near Iwafune Shrine. Food and drinks at the festival can only be purchased with special tickets, which are available in sets of 15. A set costs ¥2,800 when purchased in advance online, while the price at the event is ¥3,000. Additional tickets can also be purchased on-site for ¥200 each. Taking public transportation is highly recommended, as parking will not be available at the venue.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Sanrio’s Hello Kitty, an iconic character beloved by millions around the world. To commemorate the significant milestone, this anniversary exhibition has landed at the Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art, where it will be on show until December 7. The travelling exhibition was previously held in Tokyo, Fukuoka and Okinawa, and features the largest number of Hello Kitty merchandise ever exhibited. The exhibition also showcases collaborative works with well-known artists and designers, and exclusive animated videos of the character. You can also expect plenty of fun and cute photo opportunities throughout. We strongly recommend purchasing tickets in advance online, as tickets at the door are subject to availability and long waiting times.

The Tenma Wine Summit returns for its second year on Sunday October 19 in Osaka’s Tenma district. Ten local restaurants and bars will each feature wines from a different country, offering one free glass to every ticket holder. Refills and wine pairing snacks (¥300) are available for purchase (cash only) at the premises. Wine importers and experts will be on hand to share insights into the wines and producers. If you visit seven or more venues by 6pm, you’ll be entitled to enter a draw to win a half-bottle of wine when returning your sampling glass. Tickets cost ¥1,800 per person and are available online. Additionally, there’s a ¥1,000 rental deposit for the wine-tasting glass, which you’ll receive when checking in at the reception at Wine Shop Ara. The deposit will be refunded when you return the glass without damage by 6.30pm.

The Naruto Whirlpools are a breathtaking natural phenomenon that occur as seawater from the Pacific Ocean rushes through the narrow Naruto Strait. This generates powerful tidal vortices, which then form massive whirlpools. The largest whirlpools of the year appear in spring and autumn, reaching an incredible 30 metres in diameter. The Uzushio Cruise takes passengers close to these dynamic whirlpools for a thrilling yet educational one-hour voyage. It’s the only cruise in the Naruto Strait to offer live commentary (in Japanese) from onboard guides. From the deck, you can also enjoy stunning views of Awaji Island and Shikoku. The ferry terminal is located at Fukura Port on the southern tip of Awaji Island. Now is the best time to see the autumn whirlpools, which continue until late November. Cruise times vary daily according to the tides, typically operating between 9.30am and 4pm. Check the cruise timetable for departure times and arrive at least 30 minutes before boarding. Tickets are ¥3,000 for adults and ¥1,500 for elementary school children. One preschool-aged child may travel free per paying adult. Tickets can be purchased online up to 40 minutes before departure or directly at the terminal.

The annual Sakai Festival is the largest event in Osaka prefecture’s Sakai city, held every third weekend of October. This vibrant two-day celebration transforms key locations across the city – including the main thoroughfare Okoji-suji and Mina Sakai plaza in front of Sakai City Hall – into a lively showcase of tradition and community spirit. Most of the main festivities take place on Sunday October 19, with only a small number of pre-festival activities happening on Saturday October 18. Festival highlights include dramatic matchlock gun demonstrations (October 19, 11am–4pm), the energetic Futondaiko drum procession (October 19, 11am–4pm) featuring performers in traditional Japanese attire, and a traditional tea ceremony (October 18, 9am–3.40pm, tickets required). Over at Mina Sakai, there will be food and drink stalls, along with live performances and Futon drumming from 4pm to 9pm on Saturday October 1. The following day, from 11am to 5pm, the festivities get even bigger. You can enjoy live music and dance performances, explore an array of exhibitions, and feast on street food from a variety of stalls. Admission is free, though it’s best to bring cash for purchases at the stalls.

If you’re a fan of Japanese sake, don’t miss the Osaka Sake Expo 2025, set to take place over the weekend of October 18–19 at the Nanoniwa Lawn in Naniwa Palace Ruins Park (North Block). Hosted annually by the Osaka Brewers Association since 2022, the event showcases a diverse selection of sake, wine and beer produced locally by 12 sake breweries, 24 beer breweries and two wineries. Please note that this year’s Sake Expo will not feature any food or drink stalls. However, with plenty of restaurants at the nearby Nanoniwa Complex, enjoying a picnic on the lawn with drinks from the festival is a perfect way to spend the weekend.  Tickets are required for all drinks. A set of 15 tickets costs ¥4,500, with the first 500 sets available at a discounted rate of ¥4,000. Additionally, an advance admission set of 12 tickets, priced at ¥3,600, grants early entry 30 minutes before the event opens. You can get your ticket online in advance.

In the spirit of Oktoberfest, Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens is holding a German Beer and Wine Festival at its Observation Plaza until Christmas Day. Located 400 meters above sea level on Mt. Rokko in Kobe, Hyogo prefecture, the beautiful plaza is modeled after the historic Wartburg Castle in Germany. It offers a charming terrace with stunning views of Kobe. Here, you can enjoy a range of authentic German beers, wines and alcoholic cider while surrounded by a regal German-inspired setting. The German Festival food menu runs until November 7 and includes an assortment of herb sausages, beef steak, lamb skewers and potato-cheese croquettes, to name a few. On November 8, the menu will partially change to celebrate the Christmas season. Tickets for the Nunobiki Ropeway from the foothills near Shin-Kobe Station up to the mountaintop cost ¥1,400 one way for adults, or ¥2,000 round trip. For elementary and junior high students, tickets are ¥700 one way and ¥1,000 round trip. Children younger than six can ride for free. After 5pm, only round-trip tickets are available, priced at ¥1,500 for adults and ¥950 for children.

Street art can breathe new life into public spaces, transforming blank walls into vibrant canvases. But it’s more than just decoration. When created with intention, it can reflect a community’s cultural values and identity, and help strengthen the connection between people and place. While murals remain relatively uncommon in Japan, interest is growing – especially in Osaka’s Konohana ward, where a new street art festival is making its debut this month. Photo: Jun Chihara The Enoen Festival will take over Konohana’s Shikanjima Sumiyoshi Shrine on Saturday, September 27, for a day of art, live music, street food and wholesome family fun. Alongside celebrating the town’s 25 existing murals – created by local and international artists from more than 20 countries over the past two years – the festival will also unveil five new murals painted during an artist residency running from September 21–28 in Konohana’s Baika district.  Photo: Wall Share At the heart of Konohana’s emerging street art scene is Wall Share, an organisation established in 2020 with a mission to transform Osaka’s urban landscape with bold, colourful murals. Since launching the Mural Town Konohana initiative in September 2023, Wall Share has invited local and international street artists to participate in an art residency programme, where they create captivating murals across the Yodogawa and Konohana wards during their stay in Japan. Photo: Wall Share In the week leading up to the Enoen Festival, five new

Summertime is festival time in Osaka. Kicking off the celebratory season is Tanabata, a traditional Japanese festival with origins in Chinese folklore. According to legend, deity couple Orihime and Hikoboshi are separated by the Milky Way, and they are only able to meet once a year: on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Tanabata, or the Star Festival, celebrates the day of their reunion. As Japan has largely dropped the lunar dating system in favour of the Gregorian calendar, Tanabata is commonly celebrated on July 7, which falls on a Monday this year. The Star Festival is associated with grand, colourful streamers decorating streets, shopping malls and temples. Another popular custom is to write your wishes on strips of paper and hang them on bamboo trees. Tanabata is one of the most joyous and colourful traditional celebrations in Osaka – and it offers great photo opportunities. So if you’re in the city between July 5 and 7, put any of these three Star Festival events on your to-do list.   Photo via Hirakata ParkTanabata Lantern Festival at Hirakata Park Tanabata Lantern Festival at Hirakata Park July 5–6 Hirakata Park’s Tanabata festival features a special indoor lantern area, where lanterns filled with wishes are launched. Summer festival stalls offer carnival games like superball scooping, yo-yo fishing and shooting. There are also workshops that allow you to paint masks and make flower crowns or have your face painted. Consider picking up a ¥200 fortune-telli