Latest Events in Osaka Prefecture(July Updated)

This brand-new Ghibli Park exhibition will showcase the park's current state thanks to the collective efforts of visitors. A highlight of the exhibition is its interactivity. In addition to valuable exhibits, the park features various interactive facilities that allow adults and children alike to "see, touch, and explore."

The "Sayamaike Cherry Blossom Festival Summer Bloom Night" is being held at Sayamaike Park in Sayama City, Osaka Prefecture. Located at Sayamaike, Japan's oldest reservoir, the event offers spectacular fireworks displays illuminating the summer night and a one-day-only feast of food trucks. Approximately 60 food trucks will be available from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, offering a wide variety of delicious food. The fireworks display is a highlight of the event, lasting approximately 30 minutes from 7:45 PM.

"2026 SBI mai fireworks in Osaka Sennan" will brilliantly illuminate the summer nights of Osaka and Sennan. The beloved "Senshu dream fireworks," cherished for over a decade, has been reborn as a new entertainment experience combining music and fireworks. The venue is the beautiful seaside park SENNAN LONG PARK (Sennan Rinku Park), also selected as one of "Japan's top 100 sunset spots." With its superb location overlooking Osaka Bay and Kansai International Airport, you can enjoy special summer moments from day to night. The biggest highlight is the spectacular fireworks show synchronized with music. The vibrant fireworks fantastically illuminate the night sky and sea surface, captivating audiences with a dynamic performance that blends light and sound. In 2026, the arrangement of the fireworks barges will be completely renewed, promising an even more impressive show with greater height and scale than ever before. In addition to the fireworks, the event features a music festival, gourmet booths, and food trucks on the same day. Stroll along the seaside at dusk while enjoying food and shopping, and as the sun sets, a spectacular fireworks show begins—a unique summer festival experience that transports you to another world. It is easily accessible from Kansai International Airport and highly recommended to visit along with sightseeing in Osaka. Please enjoy a special day featuring the open seaside views, breathtaking sunsets, and the brilliant fireworks that fill the night sky.

The Sumiyoshi Festival is one of Osaka's largest summer festivals, held annually from July 30th to August 1st. It is also known as the "Ofusatsu Festival," meaning "purification," as its rituals aim to ward off disease and other misfortunes. Before the festival begins, the mikoshi (portable shrine) used to enshrine the deity is cleansed. The water for this cleansing is drawn from Osaka Bay in the early morning. At 8 PM on July 30th, a night festival is held to move the deity to the mikoshi. The following day, the Nagoshi Purification Ceremony, also known as the "Summer Purification Ritual," is held. This ritual includes a procession of shrine maidens, children, and dancers dressed in brightly colored Muromachi period (1336-1573) costumes. They pass through a large standing ring made of woven straw, which is believed to have the power to purify the soul.

[Osaka/Kishiwada] Experience the thrilling "yarimawashi" up close! Kishiwada road race festival viewing seats now available! The "Kishiwada road race festival," boasting over 320 years of history, is one of Japan's most representative traditional festivals. This year, special viewing seats will be set up at the thrilling viewing spot "Kankanba," where you can witness the breathtaking moment of "yarimawashi" as the race cars make sharp turns at high speed. Around 400,000 people from all over the world visit annually just to catch a glimpse of this spectacle. Be sure to experience the excitement and realism that can only be felt on-site! ●About the seating area Special viewing seats will be set up on both the mountain side and sea side where the "kan-kan area" is located during the three days from September 18 (Fri) to 20 (Sun) (trial pull, eve festival, and main festival day). We offer various types of seats to experience different moments: the "trial pull" where you can feel the tension of the eve, the "yanki-dashi" when carts from each neighborhood depart, the "parade" where all carts gather together, and the "daytime program" when the festival atmosphere reaches its peak. ●Highlights of the Kishiwada danjiri festival The hikiyama (float-pulling) team consists of about 500 to 1,000 members, including "pullers," "hayashikata (musicians)," "craftsmen," "front shovelers," and "rear shovelers." One of the festival's biggest attractions is the sight of this united team manually maneuvering a massive 4-ton tram. Particularly breathtaking is the climax moment called "yarimawashi," where the tram makes a sharp 90-degree turn while moving at high speed. For this very moment, the participants have spent years training, building their physical strength, fostering unspoken understanding, and honing the courage to overcome danger. It is only when the team is perfectly in sync that they can clear the difficult challenge of the "sharp turn." This sense of unity in the community is the foundation that has kept the Kishiwada tram festival going for 300 years. Though there have been regrettable accidents, the passion of the citizens for the tram festival remains undiminished to this day. When you hear the festival music, you can't help but run out into the streets. The tram festival is not only a source of pride for the citizens but also a bond of the heart passed down from generation to generation. From parent to child, from child to grandchild, the tradition of the tram festival will continue to be passed on.