2024 Osaka Festival Guide: 10 Famous Events and Highlights

2024 Osaka Festival Guide: See Highlight-Filled Events

In Japan, there are said to be a few hundred traditional festivals (matsuri), many of which are held from summer to autumn. They have many highlights including mikoshi (portable shrines) and danjiri (wooden carts in the shape of a shrine), food stalls, and fireworks.

Osaka is home to many famous festivals including the Tenjin Festival, one of the Three Great Festivals of Japan, and the Aizen Festival, Japan's oldest summer festival.

Traditional Festivals in Osaka

1. Aizen Festival (June): Japan's Oldest Summer Festival
2. Hiranogo Summer Festival (July): A Bustling Event With an Exciting Danjiri Parade
3. Taikodai Festival (July): See 7 Magnificent Taiko Floats!
4. Tenjin Festival (July): One of Japan's Three Main Festivals
5. Sumiyoshi Festival (July): See a Large Mikoshi Go Across a River!
6. Takatsuki Festival (August): Takatsuki Residents Celebrate Together!
7. Hassaku Festival (September): A 600-Year-Old Event
8. Mozuhachimangu Fall Festival (July): See Elegant Taiko Floats!
9. Kishiwada Danjiri Festival (September and October): Colorful Floats and Lively Shouts!
10. Toka Ebisu (January): A Festival to Start the New Year

1. Aizen Festival: Japan's Oldest Summer Festival

The Aizen Festival is held in June at Aizendo Shomanin Temple in Osaka's Tennoji Ward. It's famous as Japan's oldest summer festival and dates back some 1,400 years.

Aizendo Shomanin Temple, also affectionately known as Aizen-san by the local residents, is a spot where visitors come to pray for good health in the summer—historically a time of the year when epidemics spread easily.

The festival highlight is a traditional event known as the Hoekago Parade. During this event, young women (Aizen musume) dressed in summer kimonos called yukata, sit on a seat in a box (kago) and are carried by a group of people by means of two poles. The parade winds it way through the crowd in gorgeous fashion while people call out for business prosperity.

On the afternoon of June 30 the parade leaves Tennoji Park for Aizendo.

Food Stalls: Many stalls are typically set up on the temple grounds.
Fireworks: Not held.

The 2024 Aizen Festival is scheduled to be held from Sunday, June 30 to Tuesday, July 2. For details please see the official website (Japanese).

2. Hiranogo Summer Festival: A Bustling Event With an Exciting Danjiri Parade

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The Hiranogo Summer Festival is held at Kumata Shrine in Osaka's Hirano Ward. It's famous as one of Osaka's leading danjiri festivals, and it annually attracts more than 300,000 people.

The highlight is the evening of July 12 and 13. Elegant danjiri (decorative parade floats on wheels) representing nine neighborhoods from the former Hiranogo area make their appearance!

The nine floats compete in a pulling contest as they travel along Nanko-dori Street and head to the precincts of Kumata Shrine.

Food Stalls: 50 to 100 food stalls are typically set up.
Fireworks: Not held

The 2024 Hiranogo Summer Festival is scheduled to be held from Thursday, July 11 to Sunday, July 14. For details please see the official homepage (Japanese).

3. Taikodai Festival: See 7 Magnificent Taiko Floats!

Photo by pixta

The Taikodai Festival is held at Kanda Shrine in Kaizuka City. This summer festival has a history of about 280 years.

As the festival's name suggests, it features a large taiko drum sitting on a portable shrine (mikoshi). Each of these gigantic drum floats weigh about 1.5 tons.

The floats carry both taiko drummers and children. It's an amazing sight to see them parade around the shrine with enthusiastic chants! Then, the night is illuminated by lanterns creating a magnificent atmosphere.

Food Stalls and Fireworks: Not available

The 2024 Taikodai Festival is scheduled to be held from Saturday, July 13 to Sunday, July 14. For details please see the official homepage.

4. Tenjin Festival: One of Japan's Three Main Festivals

The Tenjin Festival is an annual event that's held at Tenmangu Shrines located in every part of Japan. Osaka's Tenjin Festival is famous throughout the country and has a history dating back more than 1,000 years!

The highlight of the festival is Funatogyo, or the water procession, which is held on July 25. More than 100 boats come and go along the Okawa River (north of Osaka Castle) amid the sounds of taiko drumming and energetic chants!

One of the charms of Osaka's summer is the pyrotechnical display. About 1,300,000 people come to watch the 3,000 votive fireworks.

Food Stalls: Available
Fireworks: Held at sunset on Thursday, July 25, 2024

The 2024 Tenjin Festival is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, July 24 and Thursday, July 25. For details please see the official homepage (Japanese).

5. Sumiyoshi Festival: See a Large Mikoshi Go Across a River!

The Sumiyoshi Festival is held at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Osaka City's Sumiyoshi Ward. The festival is also known as Oharai, and it holds a ceremony to purify all of Osaka. This 3-day event attracts 300,000 people!

The main highlight is Mikoshitogyo, a parade of mikoshi portable shrines held on August 1. This parade starts at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine and continues along a five-kilometer stretch until it reaches Shukuin Tongu Shrine. The powerful sight of the mikoshi being carried across the Okawa River is truly impressive!

Food Stalls: Yet to be decided for 2024
Fireworks: Not held

The 2024 Sumiyoshi Festival is scheduled to be held from Tuesday, July 30 to Thursday, August 1. For details please see the official homepage.

Otaue Shinji (June): A Rice-Planting Ritual To Pray for a Good Harvest

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Otaue Shinji (Sacred Rice Planting) is a traditional rite that's held at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine on June 14. It's performed in order to pray for a bountiful harvest.

This ritual is also performed at shrines throughout the country. However, at Sumiyoshi Taisha, the ceremony is known for not being simplified, and its scale is also magnificent. There are performances by shrine maidens and rice-planting dances by children.

Food Stalls and Fireworks: Not available

September: A Bright Red Sorihashi Bridge and Full Moon Stand Out

Kangetsu-sai (Moon-Viewing Festival) is a Shinto ritual that's held during the evening of the Harvest Moon.

This ritual is known for the beautiful magical atmosphere created by the full moon and the famous Sorihashi Bridge—a symbol for Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine.

Food Stalls and Fireworks: Not available

6. Takatsuki Festival: A Celebration With Local Residents!

Picture courtesy of PR Times

The Takatsuki Festival is a civic event that attracts 100,000 people every summer.

It features many highlights including a Bon Odori Parade performed by skilled dancers, held along Keyaki-Odori Street in front of Takatsuki City Hall and at the Takatsuki Arts Theater. There's also a spectacular parade filled with performances by the Takatsuki Firemen's Band.

The festival is held at various venues throughout the city, and can be enjoyed by everyone from children to adults.

Food Stalls: Yet to be decided for 2024, but in 2023 many stalls were set up on the grounds of Toen Elementary School.
Fireworks: Not held

The 2024 Takatsuki Festival is scheduled to be held on Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4. For details please see the official homepage (Japanese).

7. Hassaku Festival: A 600-Year-Old Event

The Hassaku Festival is held at Aguchi Shrine in Sakai City. It's a historic festival that's been around for more than 600 years.

It's highlighted by four distinctive floats known as "Futon Daiko." Futon Daiko is a large float with a taiko drum on top. These are often seen in the Kansai Region and are carried by groups of people by means of two long poles—just like the mikoshi portable shrines are.

The elegantly decorated Futon Daiko is carried by about 60 people. The sight of this float making its way to Aguchi Shrine is simply dynamic!

Food Stalls: Yet to be decided for 2024, but stalls were set up in 2023.
Fireworks: Not held

The 2024 Hassaku Festival is scheduled to be held from Friday, September 8 to Wednesday, September 13. For details please see the official homepage (Japanese).

8.Mozu Hachimangu Fall Festival: See Elegant Taiko Floats

Photo by pixta

Mozu Hachimangu is a shrine located next to World Heritage Site, Daisen Kofun.

The Mozu Hachimangu Fall Festival, held in conjunction with the Harvest Moon, is visited annually by more than 100,000 people.

The highlight of this festival is a votive event in which Shinto-shrine parishioners from nine towns carry a Futon Daiko. The taiko drum really stands out with its fine workmanship which uses expensive ebony and rosewood!

Food Stalls: Many stalls are typically set up on the shrine precincts.
Fireworks: Not held

The 2024 Mozuhachimangu Fall Festival is scheduled to be held on Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22. For details please see the official homepage (Japanese).

9. Kishiwada Danjiri Festival-Colorful Floats and Lively Shouts!

Picture courtesy of PRtimes

It's been said that Kishiwada City's Kishiwada Danjiri Festival first started about 300 years ago as a prayer for a good harvest.

The city is divided into two separate districts and the festival is held twice: once in September and also in October. September's version is considered to be more famous.

There are powerful and energetic performances you won't want to miss! This includes the narimono-gakari who beats the taiko drum and plays the flute atop the danjiri float, and the daiku-gata (carpenter) who performs an elegant dance on the roof of the float.

Picture courtesy of PR Times

The top highlight of this event is "yarimawashi"—a maneuver in which the danjiri float negotiates the intersection at a 90-degree angle. This four-ton float is pulled through the streets amid energetic shouts and cries.

Food Stalls: Many stalls are typically set up.
Fireworks: Not held

The 2024 Kishiwada Danjiri Festival is scheduled to be held from Friday, September 13 to Sunday, September 15, and also on October 6 (Sunday), 12 (Saturday), and 13 (Sunday). For details please see the official homepage.

10. Toka Ebisu: A Festival to Open the New Year

Photo by Pixta

In the Kansai Region, Toka Ebisu is a festival that's affectionately known as Ebessan. Visitors pray for business prosperity at this event held annually from January 9 to 11.

Osaka's version of this festival is held at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine in Osaka City's Naniwa Ward. It’s a large event that attracts about 1,000,000 people every year!

One of the highlights of this festival is fukumusume, or young women who are chosen from the public to help out with the festival. They ride in floats (hoekago) and parade around the Ebisubashisuji shopping street and pray for business prosperity.

Food and Merchandise Stalls: Available. Many visitors come to buy a kumade (rake) with the hopes of receiving good luck in business.
Fireworks: Not held

The 2025 Toka Ebisu Festival is scheduled to be held from Thursday, January 9 to Saturday, January 11. For details please see the official homepage

Enjoy Fireworks and Food Stalls at Osaka's Famous Festivals

How did you enjoy today's article? There are probably many festivals that you've heard of but have yet to visit.

The festivals that were featured in this article are all famous and very popular. If you find out the route for the Futon Daiko and danjiri parades ahead of time it'll be really convenient!

Please look forward to these exciting festivals!