The best events, activities, and exhibitions held this week / weekend in Osaka
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Osaka has many fun and interesting places to visit and tourist attractions, such as Osaka Castle, USJ, Kaiyukan, Shinsekai, etc. If you visit Osaka, you will need to stay for a few days to enjoy all the tourist attractions the city has to offer.
However, if you live in Osaka or plan on visiting for a prolonged period, you might run out of popular tourist attractions. If this happens, the next thing you can do is check out events within the city.
Osaka, one of Japan’s largest cities, has many simultaneous events, from art exhibitions, theatrical performances, and musical concerts to cultural festivals and seasonal food-related events. Because so many things happen at the same time, you might overlook an event you would have liked to check out.
Hopefully, this article may help you avoid exactly that. In this article, I will share 10 of the most talked-about events happening this week in Osaka. If you live in Osaka and have some free time, or if you happen to be visiting Osaka during this week, then I hope at least one of these events will interest you enough to check it out.
*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.
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Winter events in Japan
Winter is a season with many different events in Japan, from Christmas and New Year-related events to the celebration of becoming an adult and even National Foundation Day.
Christmas is not celebrated in Japan in the traditional way, as is the case in Western countries. Still, rather, it is celebrated in a way to enjoy the “Christmas vibe,” such as having Christmas decorations, outdoor illuminations, exchanging gifts with family and friends, etc. So, most Christmas events you see in Japan are based on this idea.
Then, you will see the many outdoor illumination events across the prefecture. These illuminations are sometimes related to Christmas, but not necessarily. Then there is the very important New Year’s Day, which involves many different traditional events and rituals.
But then there are also other significant events, such as Seijin no Hi (成人の日), which celebrates the people who turned 20 in the past year. This event is held in January. Then there is “National Foundation Day” (建国記念の日), which is in February. This is more of a cultural holiday, but there will be events related to it as well.
Here are some articles about things to do during Winter in Japan.
▶︎Winter in Japan: 10 Best Things to Do in 2024-2025
▶︎10 Best Places to Visit in Japan in Winter 2024-2025
Now that you know a little bit about winter-related Japanese culture, here is the event list in Osaka this week/weekend (December 9 to 15, 2024).
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1. UMEKITA Champagne Gold Illumination 2024
Annually event since the opening of the Grand Front Osaka, in the celebration of the winter season featuring thousands of champagne gold-colored LED lights across the Umekita area such as the Grand Front Osaka, Ginkgo Mall, and Osaka Station.
Event Period: November 7, 2024 to February 28, 2025
Location: Grand Front Osaka/Umekita Area
Official Website: https://www.grandfront-osaka.jp/event/4340/
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2 minutes walk from Osaka Station. |
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2. Midosuji Illumination 2024
An annual winter illumination and one of the longest illumination displays in Japan featuring millions of LED lights on Midosuji Avenue in various colors and designs of lights. Attracts many local and foreign tourists to Osaka and makes a perfect spot to take photos and celebrate winter season.
Event Period: November 3 to December 31, 2024
Location: Midosuji (Hanshin-mae intersection – Namba west exit intersection)
Official Website: https://hikari-kyoen.com/midosuji/
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5 minutes walk from Shinsaibashi Station. |
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3. Osaka Castle Illuminage 2024
An annual winter illumination at Osaka Castle Park, various themed illumination displays, decorations, and Japanese historical and cultural lighting give a memorable winter and holiday season experience in Osaka. Many perfect photo spots for souvenirs and other activities to enjoy related to the holiday season.
Event Period: November 15, 2024 to February 16, 2025
Location: Osaka Castle
Official Website: https://illuminagegroup.com/
For more information about illumination in Osaka, check the following article!
▶︎Best Winter Illumination Spots in Osaka 2024-2025
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20 minutes walk from Osakajokoen Station. |
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4. Illuminite Expo Winter 2024
An annual Christmas illumination is offered in Expo ’70 Commemorative Park in Osaka. During this season, the park becomes more attractive and vibrant with millions of colorful LED lights and holiday-themed illumination displays. Witness the magical light show of the iconic Tower of the Sun. In addition to the illuminations various activities, winter foods, and events related to the holiday season are held.
Event Period: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sunday November 29th (Friday) to December 22, 28, 29, 30, 2024
Location: Expo 70′ Commemorative Park
Official Website: https://www.expo70-park.jp/event/67355/
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3 minutes walk from Bampakukinenkoen Station. |
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5. Flowering Illumination at Hirakata Park
An annual and anticipated event held in Hirakata Park from autumn through winter season. It features colorful flower illumination throughout the park various light-up designs and illumination can be enjoyed by the whole family and friends feels like in a fantasy world. One of the best places to spend for this coming holiday season.
Event Period: November 2, 2024 to April 6, 2025
Location: Hirakata Park
Official Website: https://www.hirakatapark.co.jp/illumination/
<<Book Hirakata Park Admission Ticket online here!!>>
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13 minutes walk from Hirakata-Koen Station. |
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6. NAKED CityLight Fantasia Osaka
An annual and popular event during winter featuring visual light and projection mapping of the famous tourist spot in Osaka visitors can enjoy the magical and enchanting light display giving a unique experience to feel like traveling around Osaka.
Event Period: November 13, 2024 to March 31, 2025
Location: Abeno Harukas 300
Official Website: https://www.abenoharukas-300.jp/observatory/index.html
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3 minutes walk from Tennoji Station. |
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7. Osaka Ten-Shiba Christmas Market 2024
COPYRIGHT©Osaka Christmasmarket.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
An annual Christmas event celebrating the holiday season one of the well-known Christmas markets in Osaka features plenty of food stalls, gift shops, and other activities related to the holiday season, visitors can also enjoy the lightning and cozy atmosphere making you feel the breeze of the holiday season.
Event Period: November 29 to December 25, 2024
Location: Tennoji Park Tenshiba
Official Website: https://osaka-christmasmarket.com/
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3 minutes walk from Tennoji Station. |
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8. Tensuke 2024
The Tensuke or Ten-Shiba Ice Skating Rink is one of the anticipated events during the holiday season and one of the popular activities in the Christmas and winter seasons that can be enjoyed by any age.
Event Period: November 22 to February 25, 2025
Location: Ten-Shiba Park
Official Website: https://www.ten-suke.jp/
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3 minutes walk from Tennoji Station. |
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9. CLAMP Exhibition (Osaka)
Is a special exhibition of manga artists featuring original artworks, designs, exclusive merchandise, and limited-edition items.
Event Period: October 11, 2024 to January 13, 2025
Location: Hirakata Park
Official Website: https://www.hirakatapark.co.jp/clamp-ex-osaka/
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13 minutes walk from Hirakata-Koen Station. |
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10. Matsubara Illumination
An annual illumination event at Matsubara City during the winter season and become one of the symbols of the city for a bright future continuing illumination and colorful LED lights and designs.
Event Period: November 2 to December 25, 2024
Location: Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line “Around Kawachi Matsubara Station”
Official Website: https://www.matsubara-cci.or.jp/
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9 minutes walk from OSAKA-ABENOBASHI Station. |
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11. Ramen Expo 2024
Ramen Expo is one of the biggest festivals of ramen in Japan. Participate with top ramen chef professionals from all over Japan. Here, different kinds of ramen are cooked and prepared in front of you, delicious and unique taste. A perfect event for the cold weather and ramen lovers.
Event Period: November 23 to December 30, 2024
Location: Expo Memorial Park Festival
Website: https://ramen-expo.com/
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3 minutes walk from Bampakukinenkoen Station. |
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Weekend Events
1. Hankyu Christmas Market 2024
Hankyu Christmas Market is an annual event in celebration of the holiday season. Featuring various shops, and food stalls with illumination and seasonal decorations making you feel the spirit of Christmas.
Event Period: November 20 to December 25, 2024
Location: Hankyu Event hall and Festival Plaza
Official Website: https://website.hankyu-dept.co.jp/honten/h/c_market/
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5 minutes walk from Umeda Station. |
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2. Umeda Meets Heart 2024
An annual event to celebrate the Christmas season and promote the Umeda area’s beauty. Full of experience, traditional events, and winter celebrations.
Event Period: December 1 to 25, 2024
Location: Osaka Station City/ Umeda Area
Official Website: https://umh.umeda-connect.jp/top
I hope you enjoyed this article about events in Osaka this week. As I previously mentioned, it can be difficult to keep track of every festival, exhibition, and other event happening in Osaka, so hopefully, this article serves as a reference for you to find things to do in Osaka.
For more information about things to do in Osaka and Kyoto in 2024, check out the following articles!
▶Best Things to Do in Osaka 2024
▶10 Best Things to Do in Osaka in December 2024
▶10 Best Things to Do in Kyoto in December
▶10 Best Events in Japan in December 2024
▶Best Anime-Related Events in Japan (December 2024)
▶Best Character Cafes in Japan 2024
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And if you want more information about things to do in Osaka and nearby areas, be sure to check out our other related articles from the links below!
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Written by
Greetings to all mommies I am a supermom from Philippines. Previously, I worked and lived in Dubai for seven years, until 2015 the year I moved in Japan. Currently, I am happily settled here with my Japanese husband and our 7 months old baby. I could only describe my almost 6 years of living here as a roller coaster ride more so, after I gave birth to my son. Japan had changed me in ways unimaginable. It has influence my lifestyle, my perceptions and beliefs. I was able to witness firsthand the pros and cons of living in the country. From their language, culture and ethnicity, the people, place and in work. Those years were enough to give me quite personal and memorable experiences which I would be more than delighted to share with you.
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