About Osaka

Just as the plum blossoms have fallen, Osaka welcomes its annual Grand Sumo Tournament! The Osaka Grand Sumo Tournament is held in mid-March at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, and during the tournament, colorful flags are lined up outside the gymnasium to support each wrestler. You can also see the powerful wrestlers strutting about in the city of Osaka.

Spring is a time when cherry blossoms bloom all over Japan. In Osaka, they bloom simultaneously from late March to early April. While you don't need to travel anywhere to see them, Osaka Castle Nishinomaru Garden, Nagai Park, and Yodogawa Riverside Park are recommended for enjoying the most spectacular cherry blossoms. Even after the blossoms of the familiar Somei-Yoshino cherry trees have fallen, you can still enjoy cherry blossom viewing in Osaka. The Japan Mint hosts a popular event called "Sakura no Torinuke," where several varieties of cherry blossoms that bloom slightly later than Somei-Yoshino bloom in full bloom. Open to the public in late April, many Osaka locals flock to the area to walk through this beautiful cherry blossom tunnel. The blossoms blooming along the old Yodogawa River (Okawa River) are a springtime tradition in Osaka. Gatherings of friends and family under the trees to celebrate the arrival of spring are a common sight throughout the country. Even Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of Osaka's most famous historical figures, is said to have loved admiring the beautiful cherry blossoms. Hideyoshi and modern Osakans alike share the same love for the blooming cherry blossoms of Osaka.