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 (January 20 to 26, 2025).
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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/
 Access |
2 minutes walk from Osaka Station. |
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2. Kaiyukan Aquarium Illumination
The largest aquarium in Japan Kaiyukan in Osaka holding an illumination event to enjoy the holiday and winter season. Giving a relaxing vibe and making you feel like in the seashore.
Event Period: November 22, 2024 to February 28, 2025
Location: Kaiyukan Aquarium Osaka
Official Website: https://www.kaiyukan.com/
For more information about Kaiyukan Aquarium, check the following article!
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
| Access |
20 minutes walk from Osakajokoen Station. |
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4. Utagawa Kuniyoshi Exhibition
This is an exhibition of the late artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi, featuring hundreds of his original works, such as famous paintings, designs, and collectibles.
Event Period: December 21, 2024 to February 24, 2025
Location: Nakanoshima, Museum of Art Osaka
Official Website: https://kuniyoshi2024.jp/
| Access |
12 minutes by BUS from Osaka Station (Osakaeki-mae) to Taminobashi station then 2 minutes walk to Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka. |
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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!!>>
| Access |
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. Sennan Park Light-Up
This is an annual winter event in Sennan Long Park, featuring colorful illumination throughout the park, various food stalls, and activities.
Event Period: December 21, 2024 to February 28, 2025
Location: Sennan Long Park
Official Website: https://sennanlongpark.com/
| Access |
13 minutes walk from Tarui 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/
| Access |
3 minutes walk from Tennoji Station. |
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9. Senna Oyster Festival
An annual oyster festival at Sennan Long Park enjoys many food stalls of various types of oyster dishes including fresh and grilled.
Event Period: December 7, 2024 to February 24, 2025
Location: Sennan Long Park
Official Website: https://sennanlongpark.com/
10. Winter Carnaval
This annual winter event in Hirakata Park is an ideal place to enjoy the snow with your family and friends, especially with kids. Various activities and attractions can also be enjoyed.
Event Period: December 21, 2024 to March 2, 2025
Location: Hirakata Park
Official Website: https://www.hirakatapark.co.jp/hwc/
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Weekend Events
1. Hankyu Valentine Chocolate Fair
An annual Valentine’s event in Umeda Hankyu in Osaka featuring an exhibition of a variety of chocolates.
Event Period: January 20 to February 14, 2025
Location: Umeda Hankyu
Official Website: https://website.hankyu-dept.co.jp/fl/english/honten/
2. Osaka Castle Plum Grove 2025
An annual celebration of blossoming plum trees heralds the arrival of the spring season in Osaka Castle Park.
Event Period: January to March 2025
Location: Osaka Castle Park
Official Website: https://www.osakacastlepark.jp/flower/plum_grove2025.html?lang=ja
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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 2025
▶10 Best Things to Do in Osaka in January 2025
▶10 Best Things to Do in Kyoto in January 2025
▶10 Best Events in Japan in January 2025
▶Best Anime-Related Events in Japan (January 2025)
▶Best Character Cafes in Japan 2025
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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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