Discover Osaka

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Discover Osaka

Welcome to Discover Osaka! Check us out for the most up-to-date information about Osaka and where to visit! Hungry and looking for some local food?

Not sure where to go to get the best underground music? Forgot when the Tenjin Matsuri is? Just generally bewlidered? You have come to the right place. We are the official page of the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau (www.osaka-info.jp). Rest assured that you'll be proudly served the best information about Osaka. We have a menu brimming with information about Art, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Shopping and Dining, Sport, Culture, Hot Spots and much much more!

30/10/2026

🎡 One of Dotonbori’s Most Familiar Sights — Don Quijote & Ebisu Tower ✨

When you picture Dotonbori at night, you might think of the Glico sign, giant restaurant displays, neon lights… and this unmistakable yellow Ferris wheel towering above the river. 🌈✨

This is Don Quijote Dotonbori, one of the most familiar sights in Osaka’s Minami district. The store itself is open 24 hours a day and packed with everything from cosmetics and snacks to electronics, souvenirs, everyday goods and plenty of wonderfully unexpected finds. 🛍️🍬💄🎁

But what really makes this branch special is what is attached to the building.

🎡 Ebisu Tower is a huge oval-shaped Ferris wheel rising 77.4 metres above Dotonbori. Rather than a conventional circular wheel, its gondolas travel around the outside of the building itself — giving the whole structure a wonderfully eccentric design that feels very at home among Dotonbori’s oversized signs and colourful architecture.

The ride takes around 15 minutes, giving you elevated views across Namba and the surrounding Osaka skyline. On a clear day, sights such as Abeno Harukas and Tsutenkaku can also be seen from above. 🌃👀

And if you look closely at the middle of the wheel, you'll also spot Ebessan, the smiling figure associated with Ebisu — traditionally a god of good fortune and prosperous business — alongside Don Quijote's famous penguin mascot, Donpen. 😄🐧

It's loud, colourful, slightly unusual and impossible to miss — which is exactly why it has become such a natural part of the Dotonbori landscape.

Whether you ride the Ferris wheel, disappear inside Don Quijote for some late-night shopping, or simply stop for a photo from the riverside, this is one of those sights that just feels unmistakably Osaka. 💛🎡🌃

📍 Don Quijote Dotonbori Store / Ebisu Tower
7-13 Soemoncho, Chuo-ku, Osaka
🚶 Around 5 minutes from Namba Station

29/10/2026

🛍️ ✈️ Shopping in Japan? Tax-Free Shopping Is Changing from November 1!

Planning to shop during your next trip to Osaka? 🛍️

From November 1, 2026, Japan’s tax-free shopping system will change to a new refund method.

Don't worry — the basic process is actually quite simple! 😊

🛍️ STEP 1 — Shop in Japan

When shopping at participating downtown stores, show your passport and complete the tax-refund procedure at the shop as usual.

The big difference is that you will now pay the full price, including consumption tax, at the shop.

The consumption tax will be refunded after customs confirms that your purchases eligible for a tax refund are being taken out of Japan. ✈️

🛫 STEP 2 — Complete the customs procedure BEFORE checking in your luggage

This is the important part! ⚠️

When leaving Japan from Kansai International Airport (KIX), complete the customs procedure before checking in any luggage containing your purchases eligible for a tax refund.

Bring:

🛍️ Your purchases eligible for a tax refund

🛂 Your passport

At KIX, you can use a Tax Refund Kiosk in the international departure area (pictured here).

You can also complete the procedure using Visit Japan Web in designated areas by connecting to the dedicated customs Wi-Fi. 📱✨

After checking your passport:

🟢 GREEN → Your customs procedure is complete!

🔴 RED → Don't worry! It simply means that a customs officer needs to check your purchases eligible for a tax refund. Follow the instructions and take the relevant items to the customs inspection area.

Once everything is finished, you can check in your luggage and continue towards departure. 🧳✈️

💴 STEP 3 — Receive your refund

Once Customs has confirmed that you are taking your purchases eligible for a tax refund out of Japan, your refund can be processed.

The refund will normally be sent using the refund method you registered when you made your purchase, such as a credit card or another supported payment method.

At Kansai International Airport, a cash refund service will also be available for eligible purchases from participating stores.

⚠️ THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER!

🗓️ Complete customs confirmation within 90 days of the date of purchase.

🧳 Do it BEFORE checking in luggage containing your purchases eligible for a tax refund. Once your luggage has been checked in, you may no longer be able to show the goods to customs.

🛍️ Keep your purchases eligible for a tax refund with you and available for inspection. Items such as food, drinks or cosmetics that have already been consumed in Japan are not eligible for a refund.

So if you're visiting Osaka after November 1, 2026, remember:

SHOP 🛍️ → CUSTOMS 🛂 → REFUND 💴

And when it's time to fly home from KIX, give yourself a little extra time at the airport to complete the procedure before checking in your bags. 😊✈️

For full details and the latest information, please check the official Kansai International Airport and Japan Tourism Agency guidance.

📍 Kansai International Airport (KIX)

22/10/2026

🍁 See Osaka Dressed in Autumn Colours at Katsuo-ji Temple ⛩️✨

Autumn in Japan is famous for its brilliant red and golden leaves — and in Osaka, one of the most beautiful places to enjoy them is Katsuo-ji Temple in Minoh. 🍂⛩️

Set in the mountains north of central Osaka, Katsuo-ji is surrounded by nature, and from around mid-November to early December the temple grounds and surrounding hills are transformed by autumn colour. The temple itself describes this as its main autumn foliage season.

What makes Katsuo-ji so special is the combination of historic temple buildings, forest scenery and thousands of little red daruma dolls placed throughout the grounds. 🎎🍁 The contrast between the red maple leaves, temple architecture and daruma creates some of the most distinctive autumn scenery in Osaka.

There are beautiful views throughout the roughly 80,000-tsubo temple grounds, including spots where you can look up towards the pagoda surrounded by autumn leaves. As evening falls during the autumn season, special illumination events can make the scenery feel even more atmospheric.

Katsuo-ji is also known as a temple associated with victory and overcoming challenges, so many visitors come not only for the scenery but also to make wishes for success in study, work, sport or personal goals. 🙏✨

So if you're visiting Osaka in mid-to-late November, this is definitely one to put on your list. It feels far removed from the busy streets of Namba and Umeda, but still makes for an easy day trip from the city. 🍁🌿

📍 Katsuo-ji Temple
Minoh City, Osaka

🗓️ Best time for autumn leaves: usually mid-November to early December

21/10/2026

🌃 Osaka After Dark: Step Into the Neon Glow of Dotonbori ✨

When people imagine Japan at night, there is a good chance they picture glowing signs, bright colours and streets filled with energy. In Osaka, few places capture that image better than Dotonbori. 💡🏮

Located in the heart of Minami, Dotonbori is one of Osaka’s most famous entertainment districts, and after sunset the whole area transforms. Giant signs, colourful shopfronts and layers of neon light up the streets, creating the lively, slightly chaotic atmosphere that has become so strongly associated with Osaka. 🌈✨

It is also one of the best places to simply walk, look around and take everything in. The narrow streets, retro signs and bright lights make the area especially photogenic at night, whether you are after classic Osaka scenery or something with a more cinematic feel. 📸🌙

And of course, Dotonbori is just as famous for food as it is for its lights. 🐙🍢
Grab some takoyaki, try kushikatsu, or stop somewhere that catches your eye and enjoy the atmosphere as you explore.

That combination of neon, food, crowds and character is a big part of what makes Dotonbori feel so unmistakably Osaka.

📍 Dotonbori
Chuo-ku, Osaka

💬 When you picture Osaka at night, is this the kind of scene you imagine? 🌃✨

10/10/2026

🎆 Osaka’s Autumn Sky Comes Alive — Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival ✨

Fireworks in Japan are usually associated with summer, but in Osaka, one of the city’s biggest displays is now something to look forward to in autumn. 🍂🎇
The 38th Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, filling the night sky above the Yodo River with a huge, carefully choreographed fireworks show.

What makes this festival especially impressive is the way the fireworks are synchronized with music, with the programme divided into different scenes to create a dramatic show from beginning to end. Expect huge bursts overhead, dynamic star mines and spectacular effects spreading across the river. 🎵🔥🎆

The festival also has a strong local character. It originally grew from efforts by people who loved the Yodogawa area and wanted to help energise the community, and that connection with local residents continues to be part of its identity today.

And with the cooler October evening air, it offers a slightly different atmosphere from Japan’s traditional midsummer fireworks festivals — perfect for enjoying the riverbank, the city skyline and an hour of spectacular colour above Osaka. 🌃🍁✨

📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026
🕖 19:00–20:00
📍 Yodo River riverbed, around Shin-Kitano, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka
☔ Held in rain; cancelled in severe weather.

The event attracts very large crowds, so visitors should allow plenty of time to reach the area and use public transport. Some riverside areas also have access restrictions this year, so it is worth checking the official event information before heading out.

If you’re in Osaka that weekend, this is definitely one to put in the diary. 🎆🍂

09/10/2026

🌸 A Little Piece of Europe in Osaka? Discover Tsurumi Ryokuchi This Autumn 🍂✨

Looking for somewhere a little more peaceful during your Osaka trip? 🌿

Flower Expo Memorial Park Tsurumi Ryokuchi is one of the city's best places to enjoy seasonal flowers, wide open spaces and a relaxing walk away from the busiest sightseeing areas.

The park was originally developed as the site of the 1990 International Garden and Greenery Exposition, and today it remains a huge green space filled with gardens, walking paths and seasonal scenery. 🌳✨ Visitors often praise it for its spacious atmosphere and the chance to enjoy nature without travelling far from central Osaka.

One of its most photogenic spots is Windmill Hill. 🌷🇳🇱
The large windmill standing above the flower beds gives the area an almost European feel — and in autumn, the scenery becomes especially beautiful.

Around early to mid-November, the large flower beds are usually filled with colourful cosmos flowers, creating a lovely contrast against the windmill and blue autumn sky. 🌸💙

It is the kind of place where you can simply slow down, walk through the park and enjoy the season — but it is also a fantastic spot for photographs, especially if you enjoy flowers and landscape photography. 📸🍁

And because the park changes throughout the year, there is always a reason to come back. Different flowers and trees create a completely different atmosphere depending on the season. The park's own November flower map also highlights autumn colours including maples, ginkgo and metasequoia across the grounds.

📍 Flower Expo Memorial Park Tsurumi Ryokuchi
2-163 Ryokuchi-koen, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka

So if you're visiting Osaka in November and want a break from shopping streets and city lights, this is a beautiful place to enjoy a quieter side of the city. 🌿🌸✨

02/10/2026

🍵 Discover the Taste of Japanese Tea in Shinsaibashi ✨

Matcha has become popular all around the world, but enjoying it in Japan is about more than just the flavour — it can also be a small introduction to the country’s long tradition of tea culture. 🇯🇵✨

At OBRA Shinsaibashi, you can enjoy drinks and sweets made with carefully selected Uji matcha from Kyoto, an area famous throughout Japan for producing high-quality green tea. 🍃🍵

Part of the experience is simply watching your drink being prepared. Each cup is carefully whisked in front of you, turning something as simple as ordering a drink into a quiet little moment of Japanese culture. 🫖✨

The result is matcha with that distinctive combination of rich aroma, gentle bitterness and mellow umami that makes Japanese green tea so special. 💚

And of course, if you have a sweet tooth, there are matcha desserts to enjoy alongside it too! 🍰🍵

Located close to the heart of Shinsaibashi, it makes for an easy stop during a day of shopping or sightseeing — especially when you want to take a break, sit down and enjoy something that feels distinctly Japanese. 🛍️➡️🍵

📍 OBRA Shinsaibashi
1F, 4-12-9 Minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka

17/09/2026

⛩️ A 1,300-Year-Old Buddhist Temple… Hidden Beneath a Modern Hotel? ✨🏙️
In the middle of Shinsaibashi, just a few minutes from Dotonbori, you’ll find one of Osaka’s most curious combinations of old and new. 👀✨

Mitsutera Temple is said to date back to 744, giving it around 1,300 years of history. Its current wooden main hall was rebuilt in 1808 and survived the wartime destruction that affected much of central Osaka. Today, remarkably, that historic temple has been preserved as part of a modern complex containing a hotel and other facilities — creating a sight that immediately makes people stop and look twice. ⛩️🏨

And because it is only around a five-minute walk from both Shinsaibashi and Namba stations, it is incredibly easy to add to a day of shopping, sightseeing or exploring Dotonbori. 🚶🛍️🌃

But Mitsutera is more than just an unusual photo spot. 📸
It is also a great place for visitors who are curious about Japanese Buddhism, even if they have never stepped inside a temple before. 🙏

One of the most interesting experiences is the temple’s morning service, or otsutome in Japanese. Every day from 7:30 to 8:00, visitors can enter the inner area of the main hall, listen to Buddhist chanting and spend a quiet moment in the scent of incense. 🕯️✨ No reservation is required, and participation is free.

For something more hands-on, visitors can also try illustrated sutra copying, tracing Buddhist imagery and writing sutra passages before adding colour. 🖌️📜 It is a simple, calming introduction to a practice that might otherwise feel difficult to approach, and you can take the finished piece home as a unique memory of Osaka. The temple currently offers this experience daily from 9:00 to 17:00.

That is what makes Mitsutera particularly interesting for overseas visitors: you do not need to know much about Buddhism beforehand. 🌿

You can simply drop in, look around, read the explanations, try a small cultural activity, or join the morning service if you want a deeper experience.

So even if you only have 15 or 20 minutes, Mitsutera is well worth a stop. It offers history, architecture, photography and a glimpse into living Buddhist culture — all right in the middle of one of Osaka’s busiest entertainment districts. ✨⛩️🏙️

📍 Mitsutera Temple
2-7-12 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku, Osaka
🚶 Around 5 minutes from Shinsaibashi or Namba Station
💬 Would you be more interested in joining the morning Buddhist ceremony 🙏, trying sutra copying 🖌️, or simply seeing this unusual temple-and-hotel architecture for yourself?

11/09/2026

🐠 A New Reason to Visit Hirakata Park! 🚀✨

If it has been a while since your last visit to Hirakata Park, there is now another reason to come back! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦✨

Opened in late 2025, Planet Aqua Port – UNDER WATER SPACE is a completely new kind of aquarium experience inside the park, combining aquatic life with light, sound and digital technology.

The idea is simple but wonderfully imaginative: instead of walking through a normal aquarium, visitors become “passengers on a spaceship” and travel through 10 different themed zones, discovering aquatic creatures as though exploring strange new planets. 🚀🌌🐟

Today, the aquarium is home to around 5,000 aquatic creatures from approximately 200 species, so there is plenty to discover along the way.

What really makes it stand out, though, is the atmosphere.

💫 Colourful lighting
🎵 Immersive music
🌌 Futuristic spaces
🐠 Beautiful aquatic displays

Together, they create something that feels halfway between an aquarium and a journey through another world.

And because it is located inside Hirakata Park, families can enjoy the aquarium alongside the park's rides and other attractions, making it easy to build a full day out around it. 🎡🎢🐟

It is also a great option if you want something a little calmer between rides — and the colourful, futuristic interiors make for some fantastic photos too. 📸✨

🎟️ Admission to Planet Aqua Port is ¥700 and it can also be used with the park's Free Pass. Children under 2 enter free, while children below primary-school age need to be accompanied by an adult.

📍 Planet Aqua Port – UNDER WATER SPACE
Hirakata Park
1-1 Hirakata Koen-cho, Hirakata City, Osaka

So if you've already visited Hirakata Park before, this might be the perfect excuse to go back — and if you've never been, there is now even more to explore! 🐠🚀🎡

10/09/2026

💖 Discover Osaka’s Famous “Shrine of Love” ⛩️✨

Hidden amongst the busy streets and skyscrapers of Umeda is a shrine with a very different atmosphere — and a love story stretching back more than 300 years. 🌿⛩️

Tsuyunoten Shrine, better known locally as Ohatsu Tenjin, is said to have been founded more than 1,300 years ago, making it one of the historic spiritual spots right in the centre of modern Osaka.

But today, it is especially famous as a place to pray for love and good relationships. 💖

That reputation comes from a real-life tragedy that took place here in 1703, involving two lovers named Ohatsu and Tokubei. Their story inspired Chikamatsu Monzaemon’s famous puppet-theatre work The Love Suicides at Sonezaki, and the heroine’s name eventually gave the shrine its nickname, Ohatsu Tenjin. It is like a Japanese version of Romeo and Jul iet

Over the centuries, the shrine became closely associated with romance, and even today visitors come to make wishes for love, marriage and lasting relationships. 💕✨

One of the most fun things to try is the shrine’s koi-mikuji — a special love fortune. 💌 Unlike an ordinary paper fortune, this one has a little surprise: you place the paper into water and your fortune gradually appears before your eyes. 💧🔮 It’s a wonderfully Japanese experience, and a particularly memorable one for couples or anyone curious about Japanese shrine culture.

You’ll also notice rows of adorable heart-shaped ema, the wooden plaques traditionally used at Japanese shrines for writing wishes and prayers. Here, many visitors write messages about love before hanging them at the shrine. 💗🎋

And despite being surrounded by one of Osaka’s busiest districts, the shrine feels like a tiny pocket of traditional Japan hidden between the city buildings — making it an easy cultural stop while exploring Umeda, Osaka Station or nearby shopping areas. 🏙️➡️⛩️

📍 Tsuyunoten Shrine (Ohatsu Tenjin)
2-5-4 Sonezaki, Kita-ku, Osaka
🚶 Around 5 minutes from Higashi-Umeda / Osaka-Umeda stations

💬 If you tried the love fortune, what would you hope it told you? 💕🔮✨