Rachel Teo

One of Osaka’s most reliable beer garden staples, the Rooftop BBQ & Bar at Namba Parks has opened its doors for another season. With whimsical string lights, lots of lush greenery and clear views of the city lights and night sky, this is the perfect spot for a beer and barbecue during the summer (or autumn – the spot stays open until the end of October). Encompassing an assortment of meat, seafood and veg, the barbecue deals here start from ¥3,500 at lunchtime and ¥4,900 in the evening, and come with an all-you-can-eat taco buffet, taco rice and spicy chicken curry, as well as all the drinks you can down in two hours. Children under 9 dine for free. You’re welcome to bring in your own cakes, desserts and drinks without any additional fees. Reservations can be made online up to one month in advance, but note that due to the open-air rooftop location, the venue may close in the event of rain or inclement weather.

Abeno Harukas celebrates the 70th anniversary of Godzilla – first aired in movie form in 1954 – with a plethora of events dedicated to one of the most recognisable symbols of Japanese pop culture. The building’s sky-high observatory is decorated with a two-metre-tall statue of Godzilla Earth from the Planet of the Monsters anime, as well as images of Godzilla that only show up with flash photography, views of the monster from the tallest building in Osaka (guess which), and more. Kids can look forward to workshops offering colouring activities and painting of ceramic Godzilla and Mothra statues, while exclusive merch is available at the pop-up Godzilla Store on the 16th floor. The first 10,000 visitors to the observatory each day will receive an exclusive Godzilla post card at the door upon entry. Tickets can be bought at the door or online and cost ¥2,000 for adults, with students and infants enjoing discounted rates.

With over 40 years of history, the Suntory Rooftop Beer Garden is a well-established green oasis in the heart of bustling Kita. Surrounded by lush greenery and decorated in the style of a garden terrace, it’s the perfect mid-city hideaway to unwind after work as the sun goes down. You can choose from a range of barbecue deals, including three that are fixed and will be available for the entire duration of the event: the Beef Grill BBQ Course, Beef & Seafood BBQ Course and Japan BBQ Course. There are also special offerings that are only available for a limited time, like the Korean-style BBQ Course (available from Jun 1 to Jul 31), and the Mexican-style BBQ Course (Aug 1 to Sep 28). All barbecue deals come with an all-you-can-drink plan and run for two hours. Reservations are required and can be made online on the website, but note that navigating the site can be a little tricky if you don’t read Japanese.

Circus company Happy Dream Circus has been performing across Japan since 2010, cultivating a loyal following with its combination of thrilling acts and family-friendly arrangements. Until June 30, they’re performing their latest show at the Panasonic Baseball Stadium in Hirakata, in the northeastern part of Osaka prefecture. Expect everything from acrobatics, trapeze artists and jugglers to daring bike and car stunt performances. Tickets start at ¥2,500 for adults, while those of junior high school age or younger can get in for as little as ¥1,500. Tickets can be bought in advance from convenience stores until June 28 (see the event’s website on more info). Each performance runs for 90 minutes with a 15-minute intermission, and doors open 30 minutes before the start of the show. Note that in the event of strong winds or otherwise extremely bad weather, the performance might be cancelled in the interest of safety.

Go rafting on the Higashi-Yokobori River with the Japan City SUP Association, which offers private after-dark tours of the waterway and its spectacular projection mapping displays. In the company of a guide, you’ll be gliding by 650 metres worth of colourful imagery projected onto the water as well as the underside of the Hanshin Expressway and the Honmachi Bridge; think a flashy Osaka version of the Venetian gondola experience. The 20-minute tour is open to groups of up to six and can be enjoyed in the evenings with family, friends or as an exciting date activity. You can even bring your pets on board with you. The tours run until October 13 and are offered from 7pm to 9pm daily. Bringing your own drinks on the raft is allowed, and a ¥200 early-bird discount is available for those who make reservations at least 3 days in advance.

Serialised since 1994, enduringly popular manga and anime franchise Detective Conan centres on the eponymous snoop whose physical age has been chemically reversed. Despite the challenges that result from being stuck in the body of an elementary school kid, Conan solves one case after the other, hoping to take down the mysterious and heinous Black Organisation. With the April 2025 release of the latest movie in the franchise, Detective Conan: Afterimage of an Eye, Box Café & Space on the seventh floor of the Hep Five mall in Umeda is hosting an exclusive Detective Conan pop-up café until July 27. Head over to savour a wide array of Conan-themed eats, from heavier staples like sandwiches, pasta, soba and curry-dons to colourful desserts and drinks. Official merchandise can of course also be purchased at the café. There are 13 fixed time slots daily, and guests are asked to arrive 10 minutes before their desired time. While you might be able to walk in at some hours, advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made via the café’s website. A regular reservation costs ¥715, while a ‘premium’ reservation that includes exclusive merch will set you back ¥2,750.

Summer is fast approaching, and there’s nothing like spending the weekends in the sunshine, having a barbecue and a cold one with friends and loved ones. The ‘R’ Riverside Grill & Beer Garden at Nakanoshima Park is one of the best spots in Osaka to do just that. Open for the warm season again this year, it offers three kinds of barbecue-focused indulgences by the Dojima and Tosabori riverbanks. Daytime deals include 90-minute (¥4,300) and 120-minute (¥4,900) offerings, plus two Korean barbecue options – either samgyeopsal (pork) or the ‘Korean BBQ course’, which includes beef, pork and chicken. All sets come with all-you-can-drink deals, and the meals can even be upgraded to all-you-can-eat versions for an additional ¥1,000. There’s plenty of covered seating available, so you don’t need to worry about the weather. Children aged 12 or under enjoy a 50 percent discount, and take-out lunchboxes are available for those looking to enjoy a meaty picnic around the park and gardens instead.

An intoxicating celebration of Japan’s national beverages, the Japan Sake and Shochu Fair takes place at Osaka’s Nanko Asia-Pacific Trade Center Hall on June 14 and 15, showcasing some of the most prominent brewers from all over the country. As you peruse the 45 sake booths and 12 stalls featuring honkaku shochu (a distilled spirit made from rice or sweet potatoes, mainly from southern Kyushu), and awamori (a distilled rice-derived spirit from Okinawa), you’ll get to discover the differences between these spirits through tastings, seminars and bottle sales. A range of tasty and highly booze-compatible grub will also be available for sampling, and you’ll find a workshop corner at the venue too. Tickets are available online at the Japan Sake & Shochu Fair Ticket Application Page until June 14 (11.59pm), and cost ¥5,000 for adults and ¥2,000 for students under the age of 25. Note that persons under the age of 20 will not be allowed to enter the venue.

The day with the longest period of daylight and the shortest night of the year, the summer solstice is a time of celebration for many cultures around the world. This June, you can get a taste of these seasonal parties at Osaka’s Keitto mall, which is putting on a North European Summer Solstice Festival to celebrate the arrival of summer the Nordic way. The festival will feature vibrant dances and live music performances, an outdoor market, and a predictably wide range of delicious food and beverages. Crafts and other artisanal items will also be on sale, while workshops on how to make flower crowns, candle lanterns and Nordic cakes and pastries offer a hands-on cultural experience. The festival will be held throughout the entire Keitto building in the Morineki area, and admission is free.

Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in Japan – even more so than sake – so it comes as no surprise that the major cities have beer festivals throughout the year. One of the country’s best celebrations of fine brews is the Belgian Beer Weekend, which will take place in Osaka’s Nakanoshima Park over five days, rain or shine, from May 21 to 25.   Featuring 86 beers, live music, and a range of finger foods and delicacies to try, the Belgian Beer Weekend also has an official app to give you the full rundown on all the beers on tap – from flavour profiles to types and taste charts. You can even rate your favourites and keep track of your consumption throughout the night. Admission is free, but having an event glass and tokens are necessary to purchase drinks and food, with a starter package costing ¥3,990 at the door upon entry, or ¥3,700 at presale (available until 4pm on May 21).