9-11 January

Toka Ebisu

Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka

A three day festival dedicated to Ebisu, the God of business and prosperity.  This festival features a procession of women wearing colourful kimono that are carried on floats through the main streets.

14 January

Dova Dova

Shitenno-ji Temple, Osaka

Two teams of men wearing loincloths struggle for the possession of a sacred amulet.

8 April

Kambutsue Festival

Shitennoji, Tennoji, Osaka

April 8 is celebrated throughout Japan as Buddha’s birthday.  A baptism ceremony is held whereby sweet tea is poured over a statue of Buddha.

1-10 May

Nozaka Mairi

Daito City, Osaka Prefecture

Thousands of people gather around Nozaka Kannon Temple to watch puppet shows, story-telling and other traditional exhibitions.

14 June

Rice Planting Festival

Sumiyoshi Shrine, Osaka

A major rice-planting festival that dates back over 1,700 years and involves 12 women planting rice seedlings in the shrine’s field to the sound of traditional rice-planting music.

30 June – 2 July

Aizen Festival

Shoman-in (Aizen-do) Temple, Osaka

This is one of Osaka’s three major summer festivals, and celebrates Aizen Myo-oh, the greatest of the eight Buddhist guardian gods.  Throughout history Aizen Myo-oh has been worshipped as the god of charms and popularity.  Thousands of people flock to Osaka every year for this festival to watch the geisha being paraded atop decorated palanquins. 

30 June – 2 July

Aizen Festival

Shoman-in (Aizen-do) Temple, Osaka

This is one of Osaka’s three major summer festivals, and celebrates Aizen Myo-oh, the greatest of the eight Buddhist guardian gods.  Throughout history Aizen Myo-oh has been worshipped as the god of charms and popularity.  Thousands of people flock to Osaka every year for this festival to watch the geisha being paraded atop decorated palanquins. 

12-13 July

Danjiri Festival

Kumata Temple, Osaka

Local men ride festival floats that are towed vigorously through the Hirano area.  This exciting festival attracts over 300,000 visitors annually.

24-25 July

Tenjin Festival

Tenmangu Temple, Osaka

One of Japan’s three major festivals.  The first day includes a festival of floats with drumming and dancing, the second day features a drum-led procession that ends on the river with 100 lantern-lit decorated boats that have displays of bugaku and kagura. 

30 July – 1 August

Sumiyoshi Festival

Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Osaka

This is the last of Osaka’s major summer festivals, and features Shinto purification ceremonies and parades.

30 July – 1 August

Sumiyoshi Festival

Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Osaka

This is the last of Osaka’s major summer festivals, and features Shinto purification ceremonies and parades.

1 August

PL Founder’s Festival Fireworks Art

PL Headquarters, Tondabayashi City, Osaka Prefecture

A special event of the Church of Perfect Liberty which culminates in one of the biggest fireworks displays in the world with over 120,000 shots.

11-12 August

Osaka Castle Takigi-noh

Osaka Castle, Nishinomura Park, Chuo-ku, Osaka City

A religious ritual that features Noh theatre performed by firelight, admission fees apply.

14-15 September

Kishiwada Danjiri Festival

Kishiwada, Osaka

Over 30 4m tall floats are carried quickly through the streets, followed by the “stampede” of festival-goes.  This festival is one of the most magnificent (and dangerous) of Japan’s festivals.

13 October

Midosuji Parade

Osaka

This parade features music, dance and costumes, all with an international influence.

3 November

Shitenno-ji Wasso

Shetenno-ji Temple, Osaka

This festival features a parade of thousands of people dressed as historical figures and heroes, along with stunning floats.

15 November

Shichi-Go-San Festival

Nationwide

Children age three, five and seven years are dressed in kimono and taken to shrines to pray for their future health and good fortune.

14 December

Iwatsuta Shrine Fire Festival

Iwatsuta Shrine, Ishizugawa, Osaka