Osaka Update Hot dates

The major events and festivals in Osaka that you should not miss

By Youka Nagase

Tenjin Festival

This traditional festival is one of the biggest in Japan, dating back over 1,000 years. It takes place annually in July over two days, with the main festivities happening on the second day. This culminates with a vibrant parade of mikoshi (portable shrines) carried by devotees in elaborate costumes. The procession starts at the historical Temmangu Shrine before arriving at the Okawa River. It then continues on boats accompanied by fireworks over the water.

Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival

Summer in Japan is synonymous with fireworks festivals. So don’t miss Osaka’s biggest pyrotechnic display, held along the Yodogawa River with a spectacular view of the city skyline in the background. The hour-long showcase is split into five sections, each featuring a set of songs played in sync with the fireworks.

Kishiwada Danjiri Festival

This awe-inspiring festival is a sight to behold, especially with 34 danjiri (massive wooden floats) parading the streets around the historic Kishiwada Castle, a landmark in the southern part of Osaka prefecture. Each float belongs to a different neighbourhood in Kishiwada city, and is crafted meticulously by the residents themselves. Make sure to arrive early to enjoy traditional Japanese street food like takoyaki, grilled squid, yakisoba and more. à Sep 16-17, Oct 7-8. Around Kishiwada Castle. city.kishiwada.osaka.jp/site/danjiri. FREE.

Suminoe Art Beat

One of Osaka’s premier art events, Suminoe Art Beat, which takes place at the Creative Center Osaka art complex in Kitakagaya, is beloved for its 9.5m-tall giant Rubber Duck by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman. Additionally, there will be an outdoor market plus a series of exhibitions, workshops and performances.

à Nov 5. Creative Center Osaka, 4-1-55 Kitakagaya, Suminoe. suminoeartbeat.wixsite.com/home. FREE.

Festival of the Lights

For this year-end celebration, Osaka’s most popular landmarks and attractions are lit up in colourful illuminations after dark, especially Midosuji avenue between Umeda and Namba, which currently holds the Guinness World Record for having the most illuminated trees on a single street. Also, don’t miss the Osaka City Central Public Hall; the majestic building will serve as the backdrop for a spectacular projection mapping display. Festival of the Lights also sees many other locations across Osaka prefecture lighting up for the occasion, including the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park.

à Nov 3-Jan 31. hikari-kyoen.com. FREE.

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At these two takoyaki specialists, you’ll enjoy Osaka’s iconic dish in cool new ways

Takoyaki Sauce

Takoyaki and okonomi sauce are as inextricably linked to each other as bread and butter. At this eatery you’ll find every last kind of takoyaki sauce made in Osaka, so you can compare flavours and find your favourite.

To get started, order a plate of the sizable takoyaki (¥390 for a pack of six). Then study the blackboard that lists the sauces and their characteristics to make an informed choice of up to two varieties to pour over your serving. Be sure to try at least one of the many sauces flavoured with fruit.

à 1-52-7 Hannancho, Abeno (Showacho Station). 10.30am-9pm, closed Wed.

Ekitei

Located in Shin-Umeda Shokudogai since 1971 is Ekitei, a hole-in-the-wall eatery that specialises in akashiyaki, a fluffier version of takoyaki named after and associated with Akashi city in Hyogo prefecture.

In akashiyaki, bits of octopus are wrapped in egg-rich batter, fried on an iron pan and served in a warm dashi broth. In Ekitei’s version, dashi is also used to flavour the batter, adding some punch to the dumplings, which are always made to order.

Open until 11pm six days a week, this venue makes for an ideal stop on a bar-hopping round. At ¥1,150, the akashiyaki drink set – a plate of dumplings plus your choice of booze – is an especially good deal.

à Shin-Umeda Shokudogai 1F, 9-25 Kakudacho, Kita (Osaka-Umeda, Osaka, Umeda, Higashi-Umeda stations). 11am-3pm, 5pm-11pm (last orders 10.30pm), closed Mon.

à F ind more takoyaki restaurants on p11 and p23.