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

As one of the oldest foods in human history, the humble bread is a staple in many cuisines around the world. While rice is widely eaten in Japan, you may be surprised to learn that Kyoto is sometimes referred to as a ‘city of bread’, with locals consuming more bread on average than anywhere else in the country. First held in 2015, the Kyoto Bread Festival now draws over 40,000 visitors annually, a testament to just how popular bread is in the city. The event features 20 bakeries, cafés and hotels from Kyoto and beyond, offering a plethora of baked goods from classic loaves, baguettes and shokupan (fluffy milk bread) to croissants and even burgers. Keep an eye out for unique Japanese sweet treats, such as fruit sandwiches and matcha-flavoured pastries. As the festival takes place at the historical Kamigamo Shrine, it's also a great opportunity to explore this Unesco World Heritage Site. Oh, remember to bring cash, as electronic payments are not accepted.

Symbolising order, harmony and balance, cosmos flowers are a classic emblem of autumn in Japan. From October 4 to November 3, the Expo '70 Commemorative Park will host its annual Cosmos and Kochia Flower Festival. Taking place on the west side of the Natural and Cultural Gardens, the event showcases around 150,000 cosmos flowers in shades of pink, white, red and yellow, covering the entire Flower Hill. Complementing the colourful display are approximately 3,600 kochia plants — fluffy, ball-shaped shrubs that turn brilliant red as the season changes. The gardens are open daily from 9.30am to 5pm. Admission to the Natural and Cultural Gardens is ¥260 for adults and ¥80 for children aged 7 to 15, while children under 7 enter free of charge. Tickets are available at the entrance.

Say cheers with craft beer in the cool autumn breeze at the Denkyu Craft Beer Garden, held on the 11th-floor outdoor terrace of the Canopy by Hilton Osaka Umeda until October 31. This beer garden offers five brews from local Osakan breweries, alongside a delicious food menu featuring delights to complement your beer of choice. Slow-roasted pork burgers, tacos and a selection of chicken wings and fries can be ordered to enjoy with a 90-minute all-you-can-drink deal. In addition to the craft brews, drink choices include regular big-name beers as well as cocktails, wines and soft drinks. The beer garden is open daily from noon to midnight (from 2pm to midnight on Thursdays). Reservations are recommended and can be made online.

With the humidity and haze of summer fading, autumn often sees cloudless and clear skies – perfect for a fireworks show. The second half of the two-part Nagahama/North Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival is coming up on October 17, so make your way to the lawn by the Lake Yogo Visitor Centre by 7.30pm on the day. The 30-minute show will see fireworks launched over Lake Yogo just north of Lake Biwa, a body of water known for its mirror-like reflections on the still water’s surface. The pyrotechnics are synchronised with stirring music and the surrounding mountains echo the sounds of the fireworks, creating a truly immersive viewing experience. The event offers paid seating with prices beginning at ¥4,000 per seat, granting you views of the fireworks by the lakefront. More information on seating is available on the website. The venue is a 15-minute walk from JR Yogo Station, and note that limited parking is available on site.

Founded in Osaka prefecture in 1996, POP Circus (whose acronym stands for ‘Pursuit of Pleasure’) is a renowned touring entertainment troupe specialising in world-class human acrobatics. Known for its high-energy, family-friendly performances, POP Circus’s latest show in Aramotokita features top-tier artists from over 10 countries performing jaw-dropping, and sometimes death-defying, stunts, including flying trapeze, aerial acrobatics, high-level juggling and African-style hand voltige. This marks POP Circus’s first performance in Osaka prefecture in 12 years. The show runs until January 12 2026, in an air-conditioned tent set up in front of the Higashi-Osaka City Hall. The massive oval-shaped tent stands around 20 metres high and 46 metres wide, with a theatre-style layout that offers clear views from every seat and a unified audience–stage setting for maximum immersion. Performances typically start at 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm, though the number of shows varies by day, and some days (usually around mid-week) have no performances. Each performance lasts approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, including a 15-minute interval. Doors open 30 minutes before the show begins. Tickets can be purchased online until 7.30am on the day of the performance, or at the door depending on availability. For the latest schedule and booking details, see the event website.

Artist markets are the place to be if you’re looking for unique, handmade items not often found at high street retailers. Running annually since 2009, the Art and Handmade Bazaar is one of the largest indoor markets dedicated to handicrafts in the Kansai region. This year’s bazaar will be held at Osaka ATC Hall on the weekend of September 20 and 21 and is set to feature some 850 creators from all over the country. Get ready to discover artisanal accessories, bags, leather and wooden products, glassware, ceramics, a variety of prints and illustrations, and much more. Admission is ¥1,000 at the door, but advance tickets are available online for ¥800 until one day before the event.

The Kirara Marche is the largest free-to-enter, monthly outdoor market in Hyogo prefecture. Its September edition is held at Maiko Park in Kobe over the long weekend of September 20 to 23 and is sure to feature plenty of unique handicrafts, plus wholesome farm-to-table food and produce and even pet-food grocers. There will also be live music and dance performances, plus booths offering experiences such as candle-making workshops, soap making and face painting, and even a micro-pig petting zoo for cuddles with uber-cute piglets. You can also look forward to stunning views of the Seto Inland Sea and the Akashi-Kaikyo suspension bridge. Don’t forget to bring some cash.

The Bologna Children’s Book Fair began in Bologna, Italy in 1964 and remains the world’s only international fair dedicated to children’s books. It hosts a prestigious picture book illustration competition that accepts submissions from all over the world and highlights particularly excellent tomes capable of entertaining and educating young ones while sparking their imagination and developing their emotional intelligence. The cream of the crop from this year’s fair can be perused at the Otani Memorial Art Museum in Nishinomiya until October 13. Children’s books from 95 countries will be on display, in addition to artwork selected from the competition.

TV Osaka’s Yatai Festival is a free-to-enter annual food festival that will be held at Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park from September 19 to 23 this year. The main draw here is quite unsurprisingly the wide variety of food, drinks and desserts that can be purchased from the over 50 food and drink stalls in attendance. Try out Japanese festival staples like yakisoba (fried noodles), takoyaki (octopus balls), and kakigori (shaved ice), as well as international delights like spicy Thai curries, sweet Danish crêpes and refreshing fruit smoothies. Grab a seat out in the open and enjoy your meal accompanied by live entertainment courtesy of local artists and TV personalities, plus music and dance performances. The food festival will take place rain or shine, but might be cancelled in the case of really severe weather. Don’t forget to bring cash.

Awaji, the largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, plays host to this annual fireworks spectacle that always draws crowds from nearby Kobe and beyond. Taking place on Sunday November 9 at Ohama Park, across the bay from Osaka, the show is free and can be counted on to light up the night sky with dazzling displays of colour. Now in its 78th year, the event sees fireworks launched over the bay, creating a spectacular display over the park’s wide sandy beaches and pine trees. You can also expect plenty of stalls and food trucks selling eats and drinks. The pyrotechnics begin at 6pm and the show runs for about 30 minutes. As this is one of the most popular fireworks events on Awaji Island, make sure you arrive early to secure the best spot for your night.

Held in conjunction with Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, the Osaka Gourmet Expo is a culinary festival showcasing Osaka’s diverse food scene, with free admission. Taking place on the Osaka Castle grounds through October 13, this foodie event features a rotating selection of about 30 restaurants offering a wide range of cuisines, from Osaka’s signature dishes and classic Japanese comfort food to international favourites. Depending on the day you visit, you might enjoy Vietnamese pho and banh mi, Middle Eastern kebabs, Chinese stir-fries, healthy acai bowls, and regional delicacies from all corners of Japan. While you’re there, be sure to also catch stage performances such as live music and comedy skits, as well as limited-time events, including the Bon Odori Festival scheduled for the weekends of August 22–24 and August 30–31. The Osaka Gourmet Expo is held in large, air-conditioned tents, allowing you to enjoy food, drinks and entertainment in total comfort. For added convenience, you can order your food via the QR code at your table. Do note this is a cashless event; electronic payments and credit cards only.

Summer is the perfect time for a sightseeing cruise, and you can enjoy it with a cold beer in hand on Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest freshwater lake, just a short trip from Osaka in neighbouring Shiga prefecture. The lake’s iconic paddlewheel boat Michigan, named after Shiga’s sister-state in the US, is running a 90-minute evening cruise that doubles as a floating beer garden on weekends and public holidays until September 28. Take in the lake views and the onboard entertainment while you enjoy an all-you-can-drink menu of 50 different beverages, including beer, cocktails and highballs, plus non-alcoholic options like mocktails, soft drinks and teas. You’ll also receive a snack set served in a special Michigan-themed box, filled with fries, chicken nuggets, pepperoncino-seasoned edamame, nachos with chilli con carne, and pickles. Tickets (including drinks and snacks) are ¥8,000 for adults and ¥4,000 for primary school students. For a more exclusive experience, groups of 8 to 26 people can reserve the Royal Room, a private lounge with its own deck, for an additional ¥2,000 per person. The Michigan Night Cruise departs from Otsu Port at 6.30pm and returns at 8.00pm. Tickets can be reserved in advance online.

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