Osaka Car Rental  Osaka Hotel Discounts  Osaka Flight Discounts

Osaka Events and Osaka Festivals
(Osaka, Kansai, Southern-Central Honshu, Japan, JP)



Osaka puts on a busy and varied schedule of cultural festivals, business events and other interesting activities throughout the year. Chances are there will be something going on during your visit that will allow you an insight into Osaka's heritage and party spirit. There are always plenty of things to do around the city, particularly during the summer months.

Especially notable within the city's extensive calendar of events is the Osaka Tenjin Festival, which is amongst Japan's biggest festivals and culminates in an enormous fireworks party.




Osaka National Public Holidays - Osaka, Japan, JP

• Ganjitsu - January 1st (New Year's Day)
• Seijin-no-hi - Second Monday in January (Coming of Age Day)
• Kenkoku Kinem-bi - February 11th (National Foundation Day)
• Shumbun-no-hi - March 20th or 21st (Spring Equinox)
• Midori-no-hi - April 29th (Green Day)
• Kempo Kinem-bi - May 3rd (Constitution Day)
• Kokumin-no-Saijitsu - May 4th (Adjoining Holiday)
• Kodomo-no-hi - May 5th (Children's Day)
• Umi-no-hi - Third Monday in July (Marine Day)
• Keiro-no-hi - Third Monday in September (Respect for the Aged Day)
• Shubun-no-hi - September 23rd or 24th (Autumn Equinox)
• Taiiku-no-hi - Second Monday in October (Health Sports Day)
• Bunka-no-hi - November 3rd (Culture Day)
• Kinro Kansha-no-hi - November 23rd (Labour Thanksgiving Day)
• Tenno Tanjobi - December 23rd (Emperor's Birthday)

Osaka Calendar of Festivals and Events

Osaka Events and Festivals in January - Osaka, Japan, JP

• Shitennoji Temple Doya Doya Festival (Huge Naked Festival) - this dynamic event pits two groups of loincloth-clad men against each other in a struggle for the Goo Hin, a cow god amulet
• Toka Ebisu Festival - visitors to this shrine buy good luck charms from Maidens of Fortune to pray for successful business in the coming year, decorating the bamboo branches with these tokens. The Minami district sees geishas parade at midnight to announce the end of the festival

Osaka Events and Festivals in February - Osaka, Japan, JP

• Setsubun Festival (Matsuri) - the first day of spring in the traditional Japanese calendar is celebrated at temples with a bean-scattering ceremony to purge the evils of the previous year

Osaka Events and Festivals in March - Osaka, Japan, JP

• Cherry Blossom Festivals - viewing Sakura is a yearly ritual for most Japanese who come to the temples, shrines or parks to enjoy the blossom and watch traditional dances and lantern lightings

Osaka Events and Festivals in April - Osaka, Japan, JP

• Golden Week - since several important holidays occur almost consecutively, many businesses close for up to ten days in a row as the city comes alive to celebrate various events fitted into this week-long celebration
• Shoryo-e – various theatrical performances of bugaku, held on April 22nd each year

Osaka Events and Festivals in May - Osaka, Japan, JP

• Constitution Day - this national holiday celebrates the creation of Japan's first constitution and everyone takes a day off to get out and enjoy the spring weather
• Children's Day - even kids get a special day of their own in Osaka and throughout Japan, when parents take their children to the amusement park or some other fun place

Osaka Events and Festivals in June - Osaka, Japan, JP

• Aizen Festival (Matsuri) - this festival pays homage to the main deity of Shoman-in Temple, with red and white palanquins called Hoekago and geisha wearing yukata walk in a parade to Aizen-do
• Otaue Shinji – June 14th, a celebration commemorating the imperial rice fields, with costumed girls and women

Osaka Events and Festivals in July - Osaka, Japan, JP

• Tenjin Festival (Matsuri) – July 24th / 25th, over 1,000 years old, one of Japan's three main festivals is a two-day affair in Osaka, featuring purification ceremonies, traditional music and an evening illuminated boat parade with fireworks

Osaka Events and Festivals in August - Osaka, Japan, JP

• Sumiyoshi Festival (Matsuri) - this interesting ancient festival includes purification rites where holy spirits are moved to a portable shrine and paraded to Shukuin Tongu in Sakai

Osaka Events and Festivals in September - Osaka, Japan, JP

• Kishiwada Danjiri Festival (Matsuri) - September 14th / 15th, highly charged groups of locals pull colourful danjiri floats around Osaka in a fun and festive day of cutting loose

Osaka Events and Festivals in October - Osaka, Japan, JP

• Midosuji Parade - participants from Japan and around the world come to Osaka to see traditional ethnic performances, colourful floats and marching bands

Osaka Events and Festivals in November - Osaka, Japan, JP

• Shitennoji Temple Wasso Festival - this quirky festival re-enacts early cultural and trading exchanges between the Japanese and their Asian neighbours

Osaka Events and Festivals in December - Osaka, Japan, JP

• There are no significant events and festivals in Osaka in December

 
OSAKA TRAVEL GUIDE...