Summer, Spring, Winter, or Fall—Plan Your Trip to Osaka Kansai with Seasonal Events in Mind

Maido! Natiyda here!
Did you know Osaka has tons of seasonal events and festivals? The city has a reputation for great comedy and amazing food, but there are also lots of other reasons to visit Osaka like the scenic beauty including seasonal variations and events that you won’t want to miss.
I’ll introduce the seasonal events and festivals one-by-one and in order below. Please take a look and include some of them in your travel itinerary.

January: Tokka Ebisu (Imamiya Ebisu Shrine & others)

Tokka Ebisu is a festival that is primarily celebrated in Kansai and it is held at various Ebisu shrines. It is dedicated to the very famous Ebisu, one of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japanese mythology. Especially famous is the Tokka Ebisu Festival held at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine. The festival is three days long, Jan. 1–3.

Festival goers pray for prosperity in business and take home lucky bamboo branches, called fuku-sasa, decorated in colorful good-luck charms. The festivals also have beautiful shrine maidens, called fuku-musume, who help pass out the good luck during the festival. At the Imamiya Ebisu festival they are paraded through town in beautiful palanquins too!

January–March: Osaka Castle Park Plum Grove (Osaka Castle Park)

A long, long time ago, during the Nara period—so we’re talking the 8th century—plums were the flower to see. These small fragrant flowers were actually the beginning of blossom-viewing aka hanami culture in Japan. Did you know that???

I asked a friend of mine, who is very knowledgeable about history, and she told me that, “In the Manyoshu collection of poems, there are actually 110 poems about plums, whereas there are only 43 that mention cherry-blossoms.”

And if you are interested in plum blossoms, there is one place in Osaka that tops them all—Osaka Castle Park. The plum grove there features 1,245 plum trees in 105 varieties, in adorable shades of pink and white.

February: Osaka Marathon (Osaka)

The first Osaka Marathon was held in 2011 and it has since become an annual event. Initially it was held in fall, but from the 10th marathon onwards, it has been held in February.
On marathon day, Osaka’s main boulevard, Midosuji is packed with runners. They head past the beautiful red brick Osaka City Central Public Hall, across the bridge at Dotonbori, around Kyocera Dome and towards the finish line in Osaka Castle Park.

March–April: Cherry Blossom Season (Osaka)

The sprawling park around Osaka Castle contains some 3,000 cherry trees and the duo of the castle keep against a foreground of pink blossoms in full bloom is something you don’t want to miss. And if you head north to the river that flows down around the castle, you’ll find yourself on the banks of the Okawa River, another amazing setting to see the cherry blossoms in bloom. This spot is also known as Kema Sakuranomiya Park. When I first moved to Osaka, I was impressed by how many spots the city has to see the sakura.
The best time to see the cherry blossoms in Osaka is usually the end of March through early April. If you are in Osaka during this season, please enjoy this chance to see the beautiful flowers and take in Japanese hanami (cherry-blossom viewing) culture.

Cherry Blossoms in Japan 2025—13 Amazing Osaka Hotspots
https://maido-bob.osaka/en/2024/02/01/osaka-sakura-spot-best13/

April: Japan Mint Cherry Blossom Tunnel (Japan Mint)

The Japan Mint is where currency and medals of honor are produced, but it’s famous for its beautiful cherry trees as well. The garden next to the building is open to the public for one week only, when the yaezakura (double cherry blossom) trees are in bloom.
The 560ｍ pathway is surrounded by approximately 140 varieties of cherry trees, primarily the showy double blossom cherries and forms what some call a tunnel of cherry blossoms. When I visited with my friend, we were both impressed by the different varieties and beauty of the flowers.
*Advance reservations are required to visit the cherry blossom tunnel at the mint and can be made online.

April–May: Nemophila Festival (Maishima)

Every year Osaka’s Maishima Seaside Park is transformed into an otherworldly blue, during the Nemophila Festival, when an entire hill near the ocean is covered in Baby blue eyes. It’s so picturesque that the event grows in popularity every year.
Depending on the season when you visit, you’ll be able to see cherry blossoms or tulips as well, creating gorgeous scenery near the sprawling ocean.

May: Nippombashi Street Festa (Nipponbashi)

Nipponbashi’s main street, Sakaisuji, is flooded with cosplayers from all over the country during this annual parade. In 2024, they set a new record with approximately 210,000 visitors during the 2024 parade. This is the one cosplay event in Japan that you absolutely do not want to miss!
Costumes span a wide range, not only including characters from the newest anime, movies, comics, and games, but you’ll also see plenty of characters that you may feel more nostalgic about. The quality is unparalleled!

June: Aizen Festival (Aizendo)

This festival carries on a tradition started by Prince Shotoku, who was attributed with spreading Buddhism throughout Japan.
It’s considered the oldest summer festivals in Japan with a history of 1400 years! Among the other big summer festivals in Osaka—Tenjin Matsuri and Sumiyoshi Matsuri—Aizen Matsuri is the earliest in the calendar, so it always kicks off the summer season.

A sight you don’t want to miss is the procession of yukata clad Aizen-musume being paraded through the streets in hoekago (palanquins). The procession starts at Tenshiba Park and continues up towards Aizendo.
You can feel the energy of the festival as the crowd cheers the procession in loud voices, yelling “Hoe-kago!” Food stalls and game stands add to the excitement of this fun summer festival.

July: Reiwa Osaka Amanokawa Project (Okawa)

On the evening of July 7—the Tanabata celebration—the Okawa River is completely filled with glowing LED orbs known as Inoriboshi®. These balls of light are 8.5 cm across and float on the river as if it were a river of stars. Looking at this ethereal scenery feels like glimpsing the milky way spreading out right before you.
Oh, and the Inoriboshi® represent wishes, so it gives you an even more extraordinary feeling to see all the blue lights bobbing along the river.
*To place your own Inoriboshi® in the river, you must first purchase a ticket which includes an Inoriboshi® and entry into the riverside area. (Advance purchase: ¥1,500/ Same-day purchase: ¥1,800. Both prices include tax.)

July: Tenjin Matsuri Summer Festival (Osaka Tenmangu & surroundings)

The Tenjin summer festival is celebrated at shrines throughout the country dedicated to the deity of the same name. And Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka is particularly impressive. It’s one of the three biggest festivals in Japan!
Rituals and ceremonies begin in late June, leading up to the final day of the festival, July 25. In the evening, a boat procession takes over Okawa River and the festival culminates in a grand display of fireworks.

August: Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival

Ever since I moved to Osaka, this is one event I look forward to all year—the Yodogawa fireworks in August. Fireworks in Japan come in all different colors and shapes. They are amazing to watch!
For about an hour, a continuous stream of elaborately designed fireworks lights up the night sky. You’ll see massive bursts of light filling the night sky, during what some say is the most dynamic firework display in all of Japan.
You can watch the fireworks on TV or online, but that deep, resounding boom you feel in your core is something you can only experience in person.
If you’re in Osaka during the event, don’t miss out on this truly special experience!

August: Ten Thousand Candle Memorial Service (Shitennoji Temple)

During Obon, a time when people visit temples and graves to honor their ancestors, Shitennoji Temple holds a Manto Kuyo (Ten Thousand Candle Memorial Service).
In the evening, around 10,000 candles inscribed with the names of ancestors are lit, while monks chant the Heart Sutra, which echoes through the temple grounds.
The sight of the candlelight against the backdrop of the temple buildings is truly magical.
If you wish to offer a prayer of gratitude to your ancestors, be sure to visit Shitennoji in August.

September–October: Danjiri Festival, Futon-daiko (Various locations in Osaka)

While summer festivals are held to pray for good health and protection from illness, autumn festivals are a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. All over Osaka Prefecture, many autumn festivals are held, featuring danjiri (wooden festival floats) and futon-daiko (festival floats with drums).

Danjiri festival feature large wooden floats that are pulled through town as part of a Shinto ritual. The dramatic highlight is the yarimawashi—a thrilling maneuver where the float turns sharply at high speed. These floats are adorned with intricate carvings depicting historical stories, leading some to describe them as “moving works of art.”
In the futon-daiko tradition, participants energetically hoist a massive drum stand topped with five huge red cushions stacked atop one another. These floats are also considered mikoshi (portable shrine), and weigh an astounding 2 tons. They are carried with great vigor and human strength, creating a very a powerful and impressive spectacle. Don’t miss it!

November–December: Minoh Park Fall Foliage (Minoh)

Minoh Park, a prefectural park rich in natural beauty, is home to Minoh Great Waterfall, a 33-meter-high cascade, which has been selected as one of the “Top 100 Waterfalls in Japan.” The area is also famous for its autumn foliage, and it’s said that historical figures such as Oda Nobunaga, Matsuo Basho, and Hideyo Noguchi once visited this scenic spot!
From Hankyu Minoh Station, a 2.7 km walking trail, called Takimichi, leads to the waterfall. The path is fully paved, making it easy to walk—even for beginners or casual hikers.
It takes about 40 minutes on foot, so take your time, enjoy the journey, and be sure to take in the breathtaking view of the waterfall at the end!

November–February: Festival of the Lights in Osaka (Various locations in Osaka)

During the Festival of Lights in Osaka (Osaka Hikari no Kyōen), various light programs are held throughout the city, including the stunning “OSAKA Hikari no Renaissance,” a spectacular light art installation along the waterside of Nakanoshima, a symbol of Osaka.
Another highlight is the “Midosuji Illumination,” where Midosuji Boulevard, running north to south through central Osaka, is transformed into a glowing pathway of glimmering light. Approximately 4 kilometers of street trees are decorated with lights, beautifully illuminating the city in a dazzling display.
We hope you get to enjoy this magical scenery!

So this is my list of recommendations for seasonal events in Osaka. But honestly, there are so many others too. I hope you have a great time in Osaka and be sure to visit these events when you’re here!