About Osaka

During the rainy season in June, Osaka offers a wealth of flowers and plants to enjoy. Visit the iris gardens of Johoku Park, the Sakuyakonohanakan, where you can closely observe rare tropical plants, and Osaka Castle Park, where visitors flock to see the colorful hydrangeas. While not as well known as the cherry blossoms of spring, the charming flowers of early summer are also a must-see.

At the height of summer, the biggest event in Osaka is the Tenjin Festival, one of Japan's three major festivals. Held every year on July 24th and 25th, numerous boats float along the Okawa River (formerly the Yodo River) from the Sakuranomiya area to the Nakanoshima area. The festival climaxes with fireworks being launched into the night sky. The Tenjin Festival energizes the whole of Osaka. It is also a popular festival for people living in other surrounding prefectures, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

If you don't like crowded crowds, we recommend a quiet festival to celebrate summer. The rice planting ritual at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, held in June, is a sacred event held to pray for a good rice harvest. After the Obon festival in August, Jizo Bon, a custom unique to the Kinki region, begins. What's more, in July, you can also watch Noh performances, which are performed outdoors after sunset, with torches lit.

Fireworks displays of all sizes held in Osaka Prefecture beautifully color the summer night sky, filling the city with a festive atmosphere. Small summer festivals and Bon Odori festivals are also held in each small town. Osaka is a city where unique customs can be seen in Shinto and Buddhist ceremonies. Small summer festivals where locals gather are a rare opportunity to get a glimpse into the lives of local people.

Like other prefectures in Japan, Osaka's summers are hot and humid. However, if you head to the bay area, you can feel the cool breeze from Osaka Bay, and southern Osaka is home to beautiful beaches such as Nishikihama Beach. If you're planning on visiting Osaka in the summer, we recommend wearing light cotton shirts and short-sleeved clothing.