February in Osaka is far from a quiet month. As the chill of winter begins to soften, the city awakens with a vibrant tapestry of ancient traditions, cutting-edge art, and captivating performances. If you’re planning a visit to Japan’s culinary capital during this time, get ready to dive into unique cultural experiences that blend the old with the new. Here’s your guide to making the most of Osaka’s February 2026 highlights, focusing on the events you won’t want to miss!
Installation view of Sasaoka Yuriko – Photo Credit: The National Museum of Art
For a Placard
Inspired by Mitsuko Tabe’s powerful 1961 text, this show brings together works by seven contemporary artists who explore how something as simple as words on paper or wood, creating a placard raised in protest or hope, can spark change, challenge society, and reflect on what it means to live with dignity in today’s world. It’s bold, reflective, and full of creative voices that turn quiet gestures into big ideas.
Date: November 1st, 2025 – February 15, 2026 (Closed on Mondays)
Open Hours: 10:00 – 17:00
Address: The National Museum of Art, 4-2-55 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka
Website: https://www.nmao.go.jp/events/event/20251101_for-a-placard/?lang=en
Price: Adults: ¥1,500; University Students: ¥900; Under 18: Free.
* Please wear earphones while listening to the guide.
Nakanoshima Museum of Art – Photo Credit: Jimmy CCC
Surrealism
At the stunning Nakanoshima Museum of Art, immerse yourself in the dreamlike and thought-provoking world of Surrealism. This exhibition goes beyond classic paintings, exploring how Surrealist ideas have permeated everything from fine art to the unexpected realm of advertising. It promises a fascinating journey through imagination and the subconscious.
Date: December 13th, 2025 – March 8th, 2026
Open Hours: 10:00 – 17:00
Address: 530-0005 Osaka, Kita Ward, Nakanoshima, 4 Chome−3−1 大阪中之島美術館 (4F Galleries)
Website: https://nakka-art.jp/en/exhibition-post/surrealism-2025-en/
Price: Purchase your tickets here
Adults – ¥1,800
University / High school students – ¥1,500
Junior high school / Elementary students – ¥500
Centara’s staff presents the Strawberry Sweets Buffet – Photo Credit: Centara Grand Hotel
Centara’s Strawberry Sweets Buffet
If you love strawberries, this is going to be your heaven! The Strawberry Sweets Buffet at Centara Grand Hotel Osaka is a bright, joyful spread of strawberry-filled treats that instantly puts you in a good mood. Think fluffy shortcakes, beautifully made desserts bursting with fresh berry flavor, and plenty of sweet surprises that make you want to go back for “just one more”. With savory Thai, Western, and Japanese dishes mixed in to balance things out, it’s relaxed, fun, and seriously satisfying, an easygoing buffet experience that feels like a little strawberry celebration.
Date: January 10th, 2026 – March 15th, 2026
Time: 15:00 – 17:00
Address: 2 Chome-11-50 Nanbanaka, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0011
Website: https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cgoj/strawberry-fair
Price: Purchase your tickets here
Adults ¥7,500; Children (ages 4 -12) ¥4,500
Seafood from the Senshu region – Photo Credit: Walkerplus
Sennan Oyster Festival
This oyster-focused event is held in collaboration with Sennan City and the Okadaura Fisheries Cooperative. Highlights include a tasting set that lets you compare oysters from the Sanriku region with fresh oysters harvested off the Senshu coast of Osaka Bay, as well as a Sennan Special Oyster Set Meal loaded with oysters and kankan-yaki (steamed oysters cooked in a tin).
In addition to this, visitors can enjoy other seafood specialties unique to the Sennan Oyster Festival, such as tempura and udon made with fresh local seafood from Senshu, and anago (conger eel) rice bowls. The event also features stage performances by taiko drummers, street performers, and dancers, along with special monthly activities including complimentary sake service and bingo games.
Date: January 10th, 2026 – March 29th, 2026
Open Hours: 11:00 – 17:00
Address: 2-201 Rinkuminamihama, Sennan, Osaka 590-0535, Japan
Website: https://www.walkerplus.com/event/ar0727e529962/price.html (in Japanese)
Price: Admission is free. Food and drinks are available for purchase.
Akiko Sumiyoshi’s exhibition – Photo Credit: Tezukayama Gallery
Tezukayama Gallery Exhibition
For a more intimate artistic experience, Tezukayama Gallery hosts solo exhibitions by Misato Kurimune and Akiko Sumiyoshi. These contemporary artists often explore unique perspectives through various mediums. It’s a wonderful chance to see emerging and established local talent up close in a more focused setting.
Date: January 24th, 2026 – February 21st, 2026 (Closed on Sundays/Mondays)
Address: Tezukayama Gallery, 1-19-27 Minami-horie, Nishi-ku, Osaka (Yamazaki Bldg. 2F)
Website: tezukayama-g.com
Price: Free
Tsuina Horse Archery Ceremony – Photo Credit: Ameba
Sumiyoshi Taisha Setsubun
One of Japan’s oldest and most beautiful shrines, Sumiyoshi Taisha, offers a particularly unique Setsubun experience. Here, you can witness the ancient Tsuina Horse Archery Ceremony. This isn’t your average bean-throwing; it involves priests and archers performing a ritual to symbolically drive away evil with arrows aimed at demon targets. It’s a truly atmospheric and photogenic event that transports you back in time.
Date: February 3rd
Address: 2 Chome-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka, 558-0045, Japan
Website: https://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/events/annualevents/02.html
Price: Free
Ichiya Kanjo – Photo Credit: Welcome Kansai
Ichiya Kanjo Festival
Held at Nozato Sumiyoshi Shrine in Osaka, this hauntingly beautiful festival reaches back more than 300 years. Born from a time of devastating floods and hardship, legend says young girls were once offered to the gods in desperate prayers for the village’s survival. When relief finally came, the ritual was etched into memory as a powerful act of gratitude and reverence.
Today, the story lives on without sacrifice. Instead, a hushed procession of girls in elegant traditional dress moves through the streets, embodying purity, prayer, and protection. The quiet pace, restrained gestures, and solemn atmosphere are no accident; they honor the past and remember the lives once offered for the community’s well-being.
Date: February 20th
Address: 1 Chome-15-12 Nozato, Nishiyodogawa Ward, Osaka, 555-0024
Website: https://omatsurijapan.com/blog/ichiya-kanjyo/
Price: Free
Hotel Granvia Osaka – Photo Credit: Hotel Granvia Osaka
Kagoshima Umakamon Festival 2026
Guests can enjoy a wide selection of special dishes prepared by the hotel’s chefs using the rich bounty of ingredients from Kagoshima Prefecture. The free-flow drink menu features nine varieties of shochu recommended by seven Kagoshima distilleries, along with beer, wine, whisky, and soft drinks. Gather your friends and family and join us for this one-night-only culinary celebration.
Date: February 24th
Open: 18:00 – 20:30
Address: 20F Banquet Hall, Hotel Granvia Osaka, 3-1-1 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka
Website: https://www.granvia-osaka.jp/event/000223 (in Japanese)
Price: Purchase ticket here ¥9,500
* This could be a non-child-friendly event
February is a great time to experience Osaka without the rush. The pace is calmer, the atmosphere feels more local, and the city’s cultural life takes center stage. From long-standing traditions to modern creative events, it’s an easy month to explore, take your time, and enjoy a side of Osaka that feels genuine and unforced. We hope to see you there!
Featured Photo Credit: Kingmaya Studio
