A new year has begun, and what better way to celebrate than taking a trip to Japan, especially Osaka? While the past December may have seemed like the peak for holiday celebrations in the country, do not underestimate the January season, full of New Year’s welcomings, cultural opportunities, and fun everywhere. While some countries may not see much importance in the first month of the year, for Japan the entire month is an opportunity for shrine visiting, wish making, enjoying delicious food with family and friends, with everyone positive for the fresh start of a new year.
While Osaka will still be chilly this time of year, seeing the area decorated with New Year’s banners and other decor, on top of the various culturally rich festivals and experiences you’ll get to be a part of, weather won’t be an issue. Whether you are looking forward to New Year’s celebrations, curious about the cultural differences around this holiday, or just some general fun activities and food available in Osaka in January, this blog is for you!
Lining Up for the First Hatsumode of the New Year at Ikukunitama Shrine – Photo Credit: tera.ken
Hatsumode
Hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the New Year, is a very important and widely celebrated holiday in Japan, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities in Osaka to participate. As these visits are meant to pray for peace and other good things to come this new year, taking the trip to a nearby shrine or a popular one (though the lines may be longer) may be worth the trip if you want to make wishes for the New Year and experience an important part of Japanese culture!
While you’re there, you can also enjoy pulling omikuji to see what your fortune will be and even buy amulets or omamori to put towards any wishes you have. Whether that be for studying, getting accepted into a college or success in school, winning a sports game, and so much more!
Many make these trips during the first three days of January as a way to pray and make wishes for the new year, but since shrine visits are a great way to experience Japanese culture, you can still use any of the following recommendations if you simply want to visit one during your trip. Just be aware that you may miss out on certain practices and rituals done at these shrines, which are performed only on those three days.
Shrine Suggestions:
Sumiyoshi Taisha
Location: 2 Chome-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka, 558-0045, Japan
Opening Hours: 7 days a week, 6 am – 5 pm
Price: Free
Website: https://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/
Osaka Tenmangu
Location: 2 Chome-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0041, Japan
Opening Hours: 7 days a week, 5:30 am – 6:30 pm
Price: Free
Website: https://osakatemmangu.or.jp/
Shitenoji
Location: 1 Chome-11-18 Shitennoji, Tennoji Ward, Osaka, 543-0051, Japan
Opening Hours: 7 days a week, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Price: Varies depending on individual and area (check official website for price table)
Website: https://www.shitennoji.or.jp/
Dates: January 1st – January 3rd
Boys at Mizumadera Temple Participating in the Mochitsuki Festival – Photo Credit: ameblo
Senbon Mochitsukisa
At a Buddhist temple called Mizumadera, there is a mochitsuki (mochi pounding) festival at the beginning of every year. This is an integral part of Hoyo, which is the process temples go through to prepare for the new year, contrasting with hatsumode at Shinto shrines.
Coming from the legend of a Buddhist monk, Gyoki, who was searching for the Kannon Bodhisattva, he had sixteen boys pound mochi as offerings for the deity of the temple. Thus, at this festival, sixteen boys, all holding mochi mallets, take turns hitting mochi in a wooden barrel to keep it soft and malleable for making mochi cakes. The reason why so many come to witness this mochitsuki is that these boys are skilled at what they do, and it will feel like a show just from watching. The sounds of the rhythmic mallet pounding and the sight of the mochi being thrown toward the ceiling make this a fun event to witness and see how mochi is made and also to understand a new cultural tradition in Japan.
Location: 638 Mizuma, Kaizuka, Osaka 597-0104, Japan
Website: https://mizumadera.or.jp/contact/
Time: 10 AM – 3 PM
Price: Free
Dates: January 2nd and 3rd
Osaka’s January Food Festival – Photo Credit: nippon-food
Japanese Food Festival
If you’re looking for a spot to try all the different types of Japanese food, Osaka’s January Food Festival is the perfect spot to visit. With food such as ramen, seafood, karaage, and various types of rice bowls, a trip to the Hanahaku Memorial Park is a must during your January trip to experience something familiar or perhaps completely unheard of. With the use of Japan’s rich resources such as fish and rice, you’ll get the opportunity to enjoy fresh, handmade food often cooked or prepared right in front of you at the various stalls. No matter what you order, it will make both a great meal and a fun visit.
Admission to the park and festival is free, however, you should bring enough cash with you for all of the different foods you are bound to try. Additionally, this event only occurs for two days, and since the dates are yet to be determined, keep an eye out by checking the website before your trip for when they publish the schedule for the festival!
Location: 2-163 Ryokuchikoen, Tsurumi Ward, Osaka, 538-0036, Japan
Website: https://nippon-food-fes.com/#place
Time: 10 AM – 4 PM
Price: Park admission is free
Dates: January 2nd-4th
Shinsaibashi – Photo Credit: Surachet Jo
Shop New Year Deals at Shinsaibashi
Like most places, Osaka has multiple shopping districts full of travelers and stores of all kinds in narrow streets referred to as shotengai. As it is the new year, sales are rampant, making it a perfect time to shop for family or souvenirs for yourself. A perfect spot to find multiple stores one after the other would be Shinsaibashi, a long, stretching shotengai with stores selling traditional Japanese snacks, clothing, souvenirs, food, electronics, and more. Ranging from huge department stores to small variety stores, the possibilities are endless with what sales you may find this time of year, and even if shopping isn’t your thing, you may find some good deals on Japanese snacks or food!
Location: Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0085 Japan
Time: Opening/Closing times depend on individual stores, which can be checked in the maps link
Price: Free
Dates: Starting from January 4th
Photo Credit: japantravel
Toka Ebisu Festival
Looking for financial success this new year? Then the Toka Ebisu Festival is a must-visit to pray for either a business, your job, and so forth. Taken place at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, you’ll see many congregated waving bamboo sticks, and people praying and making offerings to the shrine’s god, Ebisu: the god of commerce and money, thus the reason why it attracts so many in Osaka.
Before you engage in any festival activities, you should take a look at what the shrine itself has to offer. Most Shinto shrines sell omamori (amulets) and other various items to bring you luck or fortune, but Imamiya goes above and beyond and sells a vast amount. On top of that, there are women called fukumusume, or lucky daughters, who hand out charms- so grab one of those if you can! But also, definitely take a look and pick up an amulet or two before you wish for financial success! If you’re hungry during or after the festival, there are plenty of food stalls lining the streets with typical Osaka takoyaki, but there are also many other different types of food for you to enjoy.
Location: 1 Chome-6-10 Ebisunishi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0003, Japan
Website: https://www.imamiya-ebisu.jp/tokaebisu
Time: 9 AM – 9 PM
Price: Free
Dates: January 9th – January 11th
Junior High and Highschool Boys Fighting for Talismans in the Doya Doya Festival – Photo Credit: magicaltrip
Doya Doya Festival
Looking for something unique to experience on your trip to Osaka this upcoming January? Visit Shitenoji Temple, where this once-a-year festival occurs. While at first, you may not understand what is going on, having a brief idea of what this festival is about before going is recommended, so allow me to explain! Certainly, at first glance, it just looks like a group of boys in different-colored loincloths, but these boys are all fighting for talismans meant to ward off evil—thus, they are highly sought out and something worth being fought over. Originally this festival was for farmers who would fight over talismans that would bring their farms and fields a good harvest, and even now, these talismans are still used for agricultural wishes.
Location: Tennoji Ward, Osaka, 543-0051 Japan
Website: https://www.shitennoji.or.jp/event/1/#event971
Time: 2 PM – 6 PM
Price: Free
Dates: January 14th
Shrine Workers Preparing for the Tug-of-War Competition – Photo Credit: Nambayasaka
Namba Yasuka Tug-of-War Festival
Held on the third Sunday of January every year, this folk cultural property of Osaka is one you won’t want to miss if you want to get a good sense of the real Osaka. This huge tug-of-war festival is celebrated based on an old myth of the enshrined deity, Susano-no-Mikoto, who killed the serpent god Yamata-no-Orochi, thus saving his people from the hardship this serpent had caused.
Why tug-of-war, you ask? By having a long, winding rope, the people involved in the festival replicate the attack between the deity and serpent god through a massive tug-of-war competition. Whether you go to appreciate this cultural event or go to see who wins, Namba Yasaka’s liveliness will energize everyone, leaving behind a good time and a great memory.
Location: 2 Chome-9-19 Motomachi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0016, Japan
Website: https://nambayasaka.jp/?post_type=post&order&orderby&paged=3
Time: 8 AM
Price: Free
Dates: January 19th
Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Minoh Onsen Interior – Photo Credit: t-space.info
Try an Onsen During the Cold Weather
Since January is still in the winter season, Osaka has been cold for quite a while, prompting some to seek restaurants or stores for heating. But did you know Osaka has multiple onsen to choose from instead? By going to an onsen, you can warm yourself up after a long day of walking around Osaka this time of year, or even before your errands so that you can start your day off warm.
One onsen that sticks out and holds that typical onsen feel is the Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Minoh Onsen, with beautiful interiors to show off Mount Fuji, a common design choice in onsens, and beautiful wide bath spaces. Upon your arrival at this Edo Period-inspired hot spring, you’ll pay for the onsen ticket price (1813 yen on weekdays and 2253 yen on weekends/holidays for adults), then be taken to the yukata closet where you can choose from various yukata for when you are done with the warm, rejuvenating hot spring.
Beyond the onsen, you can choose to stay the night, as it serves as a hotel, eat some delicious seasonal food, or enjoy the various forms of entertainment at Minoh Onsen, such as musical and theatre performances. There are also ways to spend some time with friends, such as various games you may have seen at Japanese festivals, and more familiar games like table tennis. If you plan to visit, make sure to check out their website for prices and their coupon tab to get 200 yen off your ticket!
Location: 1-1 Onsencho, Minoh, Osaka 562-0006, Japan
Website: https://www.ooedoonsen.jp/article/trends/?slug=minohspa-otoku&hotel=minoh-spa
Time: 10 AM – 11:45 PM (Last entry is 10:45 PM)
Price: Adults: 1813 (weekdays) 2253 (weekend/holiday)
Children: 638
Dates: Open Daily
Osaka’s Bright Nightlife Scene – Photo Credit: pinklemonadesocial
With how culturally rich Osaka is, January makes a great time to get out there and widen your experiences with Japanese culture. From the very beginning of the month, travelers can enjoy their first shrine visit of the year from a select number of beautiful shrines in the area. If you happen to make it to a shrine, and without minding the crowds, you can start both your trip and your year off with wishes for good luck and fortune. As shrine visits are popular this time of year, other shrines open their doors in January for people to come and wish for all specific types of things, even financial success, as performed at the Toka Ebisu festival.
No matter what you prioritize on your trip to Osaka in January, there are plenty of opportunities bound to make anyone’s trip full of great memories of Japanese culture, pockets full of omamori and trinkets from shrines for good luck and success, and fulfilled from various types of delicious Japanese food.
Featured Photo Credit: OliOpi
