Summer is one of the best times to discover unique experiences in Osaka, from lively culinary events to vibrant traditional festivals. Whether you’re a foodie looking for the next great bite, a culture enthusiast eager to join a summer celebration, or simply looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon, this season offers plenty of opportunities to try something new. In this guide, we’ve rounded up some of the most interesting events happening this July, each offering its own blend of delicious food, entertainment, and memorable cultural experiences.
Edogawa Conan’s Blue Cherry Drink – Photo Credit: Walkerplus
Detective Conan Café
For those who love the Detective Conan anime, we have great news for you. Detective Conan Café is a limited-time themed café celebrating the release of the latest Detective Conan movie. Located on the HEP FIVE in Umeda, the café features exclusive food, desserts, and drinks inspired by Conan characters and scenes from the film. One of the more fascinating aspects of the cafe is how the menu actually changes during the first and second half of the event. Fans can also enjoy exclusive merchandise and photo-worthy presentations, making it a fun stop for both anime enthusiasts and casual visitors looking for a unique dining experience.
Date: April 10th – August 2nd
Time: 11:15 AM – 9:30 PM
Admission: ¥715 (regular reservation), ¥3850 (premium novelty item included reservation)
Address: 530-0017 Osaka, Kita Ward, Kakudacho, 5−15 HEP FIVE 7階
Website: https://conan-cafe.jp/information/osaka/
30 different menu items are available for all-you-can-eat – Photo Credit: Hankyu Department
Umeda Hankyu Beer Garden
The Umeda Hankyu Beer Garden is one of Osaka’s most popular summer dining events, held on the rooftop plaza of the iconic Hankyu Umeda Main Store. This year’s theme is “Traveling Rooftop Beer Garden”, taking visitors on a culinary journey through Asia, the Americas, and Europe with rotating seasonal menus, international flavors, music, and a festive open-air atmosphere. Guests can enjoy approximately 30 all-you-can-eat dishes and 120 all-you-can-drink options, including beer, highballs, cocktails, and a wide range of non-alcoholic beverages, all while overlooking the Osaka skyline.
Date: May 20th – October 12th
Time: 5 PM – 10 PM
Admission: ¥5,000 per person (Elementary student ¥1,800 )
Address: 8-7 Kakudachō, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0017
Website: https://website.hankyu-dept.co.jp/honten/h/beergarden
People enjoying the Bon Odori in front of Umekita Ship Hall – Photo Credit: Umeda Connect
Yukata Festival
The Yukata Festival is a vibrant summer celebration taking place across Osaka’s Umeda district, centered around bringing people and communities together. The festival features traditional Bon Odori dancing, festival games, cultural performances, and yukata-themed activities at venues including Grand Front Osaka, Osaka Station City, Hankyu Umeda, and other major locations throughout the area. Visitors are encouraged to wear a yukata and experience the festive atmosphere while enjoying one of Osaka’s most popular summer traditions. Event details and schedules will be announced closer to the festival dates.
Date: July 10th – 31st
Time: Whole day (Check event times on their website)
Admission: Free
Address: 4-20 Ofukacho, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0011 (Grand Front Osaka), 8-7 Kakudacho, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-8350, Japan (Hankyu Umeda), 3 Chome-1-3 Umeda, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0001, Japan (Osaka Station City), and more.
Website: https://umeda-connect.jp/yukata/matsuri2026/
Lion dance at Ikutama Shrine – Photo Credit: Osaka Nichinichi Shimbun
Ikutama Festival
Every year on July 11 and 12, Ikutama Shrine comes alive with its vibrant summer festival, one of Osaka’s three most celebrated traditional festivals, alongside the Tenjin Matsuri and the Sumiyoshi Festival. The festivities begin with a lively lion dance and portable shrine procession, building up to the festival’s most thrilling highlight, the powerful Makura Daiko parade. As worshippers in striking red caps beat their drums in perfect rhythm, the massive drum floats sway dramatically from side to side, creating an unforgettable atmosphere. On July 12, the grand parade makes its way from Ikutama Shrine to Osaka Castle, featuring participants dressed in authentic costumes representing nearly every era of Japanese history, including famous historical figures, bringing Japan’s rich heritage vividly to life.
Date: July 11th – 12th
Admission: Free
Address: 13-9 Ikutamacho, Tennoji Ward, Osaka, 543-0071
Website: https://ikutamajinja.jp/ (in Japanese)
Mikoshi Washing Ritual – Photo Credit: Sumiyoshi Taisha
Sumiyoshi Festival
The Sumiyoshi Festival held at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine is one of Osaka’s most important summer festivals and serves as a traditional purification ritual for the city. The festival begins with ceremonies to purify the shrine’s portable shrines (mikoshi), followed by the Yoimiya Festival on July 30th and the Nagoshi no Harae purification ceremony on July 31st, where participants pass through large rings of woven grass to pray for health and protection from misfortune. Traditional performances, including kagura dances and Sumiyoshi Odori, are also held. A distinctive highlight is the Mikoshi Washing Ritual, during which the portable shrines are ceremonially purified with seawater before the main procession, symbolizing spiritual cleansing and renewal. The festival culminates on August 1st with a grand mikoshi procession, as a massive portable shrine weighing nearly two tonnes is carried from Sumiyoshi Taisha toward Sakai City, creating one of Osaka’s most spectacular and historic summer celebrations.
Date: July 20th – August 1st
Admission: Free
Address: 2 Chome-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka, 558-0045
Website: https://sumiyoshitaisha.net/events/special.html#anchor02
Illuminated boats along the Okawa River – Photo Credit: Discover Japan
Tenjin Festival
Tenjin Festival is one of Japan’s most famous and historic festivals, taking place every July in Osaka, and celebrates over 1,000 years of tradition honoring Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of learning. The festival begins with sacred shrine rituals and purification ceremonies, including the symbolic floating of a sacred spear on the river to pray for peace, health, and prosperity. It then builds to a vibrant celebration featuring traditional processions, cultural performances, illuminated boats sailing along the Okawa River, and a spectacular fireworks display. Blending spirituality, history, and summer festival excitement, Tenjin Matsuri offers a unique glimpse into Osaka’s cultural heritage and festive spirit.
Date: July 24th – 25th
Time: 7:45 PM (Evening Festival) – 8:50 PM (Hokonagashi Shinto Ritual)
Admission: Free
Address: 2 Chome-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0041
Website: https://osakatemmangu.or.jp/saijireki/tjm
Beautiful views of Ikune Shrine and its glowy lanterns – Photo Credit: Good Luck Trip
Daigaku Festival
The Daigaku Festival is a centuries-old celebration with roots stretching back more than 1,100 years. According to local tradition, the festival began when farmers prayed for rain during a devastating drought and later celebrated the life-saving rainfall that followed. Its centerpiece is the towering Daigaku, a massive lantern-covered structure standing about 20 meters tall and weighing roughly four tons, believed to be the last surviving structure of its kind in Japan. During the festival, the illuminated tower becomes the focus of lively processions, traditional drumming, and community festivities, with smaller Daigaku structures carried through the surrounding streets. Despite periods of decline caused by war and modernization, the tradition was revived by local residents and is now recognized as an important cultural asset. Today, the Daigaku Festival remains a vibrant symbol of gratitude, community spirit, and the preservation of Osaka’s rich cultural heritage.
Date: July 24th – 25th
Admission: Free
Address: 2 Chome-1-10 Tamadenishi, Nishinari Ward, Osaka, 557-0045
Website: https://www.ikune.net/daigaku.php?top=3&top3=1&moji=1
Summer brings a special energy that makes exploring new experiences even more exciting. Seasonal festivals, themed attractions, unique dining concepts, and limited-time events all offer opportunities to create memorable moments and discover something new. From vibrant celebrations to immersive experiences inspired by popular culture, these events showcase the creativity and atmosphere that make summer such a rewarding season to explore. No matter which ones catch your eye, you’re likely to come away with great memories, new discoveries, and a few stories to share.
Featured Photo Credit: Sumiyoshi Taisha
