Autumn in Osaka has the perfect weather for some outdoor fun. With fall foliage adding an extra dash of color to this already vibrant, neon-lit city, autumn days can be as exciting as the nights here. We’ve lined up a fun little list of activities for you to indulge in this September. So, go ahead and enjoy as many of them as you can!
Artwork on display at the Art Festival – Photo Credit: Osaka Kansai Expo International Art Festival
Study: Osaka Kansai Expo International Art Festival
This year, the Osaka Kansai International Art Festival is being held to coincide with the Osaka Expo. Installations, sculptures, and 3D art by local artists, including Hiwa Kazuhiko, Miyake Mai, and Mori Mariko, as well as international artists, such as Tony Matelli, Patricia Piccinini, and Maurizio Cattelan (best known for his artwork Comedian featuring a banana duct-taped to a wall), are on display. The humongous exhibition is spread across several locations, including Osaka Culturarium at Tempozan, Osaka Prefectural International Convention Center, Cocoroom, and the National Museum of Ethnology. If you are into art, you are likely to come away feeling chuffed.
Date: April 11 – October 13, 2025
Location: Various sites around Osaka listed above
Website: https://osaka-kansai.art/en
Fee: 1,800-3,500 yen
USJ’s Halloween Horror Nights poster – Photo Credit: Universal Studios Japan
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Japan
If you equate Osaka with Universal Studios, you will not be disappointed by this one. Though Halloween is still some time away, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is likely to keep you on the edge of your seat. Because the night films may not be appropriate for children, trick-or-treating, candy parties, parades, and a host of other exciting activities featuring the ever-popular Pokémon and the quirky Minions are scheduled during the day. With zombies walking around, churning rollercoaster rides, a horror-inducing maze featuring Chucky, the Chainsaw Man’s gruesome theater experience, and many horror movies, “spook” enthusiasts would want to spend their nights at the USJ this September for some early Halloween celebrations. Extreme fans can also enjoy the Halloween-themed food and the exclusive Halloween seasonal merch. Book your USJ tickets early!
Date: September 5 – November 3, 2025
Location: Universal Studios Japan, 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana-ku, Osaka, 554-0031
Website: https://www.usj.co.jp/web/en/us/events/fall-2025/halloween-horror-nights-2025
Fee: 8,600-8,900 yen
Tenshiba Oktoberfest poster – Photo Credit: Tenshiba Oktoberfest
Tenshiba Oktoberfest
Beer and wine lovers rejoice! Another early celebration, Osaka’s very own Oktoberfest, will be held in the verdant Tenshiba area near Osaka’s Tennoji Station starting September 12. Modeled after the snazzy original Oktoberfest in Munich, this fest offers official Oktoberfest beers and imported German beers, as well as Japanese craft beers. A special tie-up with the World Wine Festival means that wine connoisseurs can savor wines from the Kansai region with some amazing food pairings to look forward to as well. Over the weekends, music performances that you can dance to will be hosted at the open-air venue. Plan your trip around the performances for that extra zing to your evening!
Date: September 12 – October 5, 2025
Timing: 15:00-20:30 (weekdays) and 11:00-20:30 (weekends and holidays)
Location: Tennoji Park Entrance Tenshiba, Tennoji Park, Osaka 543-0063
Website: http://tenshiba-oktoberfest.com/
Admission Fee: Free
Kishiwada Danjiri Parade – Photo Credit: Kishiwada City Hall
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri
Kishiwada Danjiri is a must-see if you are all for high-energy vibes. This thrilling matsuri in Osaka is all about muscle. The intricately carved wooden float (“danjiri”) weighing four tons being pulled by teams of men, the “daikugata” (carpenter) dancing and directing his team’s moves from the top of the danjiri, and the difficult maneuvers around the streets of Osaka all make for a one-of-a-kind, thrilling racing spectacle that one doesn’t normally associate with glitz-and-glam Osaka. The race can be seen from several locations across Kishiwada City, but the best view is, of course, near the Kishiwada Castle. All the wild fun makes for a whole new experience of Japanese culture, just going to show that every Japanese matsuri (festival) is a healthy combination of religious fervor and fun. Enjoy this harvest festival like a local and make a few friends in the local community!
Date: September 13-14, 2025
Timing: 6:00-22:00
Location: Kishiwada, Osaka
Website: https://www.city.kishiwada.osaka.jp/site/danjiri/
Fee: Free
Customers at a food stall at TV Osaka Yatai Fest – Photo Credit: TV Osaka Yatai Festival
TV Osaka Yatai Festival
A great place to hang out with your friends and family, the TV Osaka Yatai festival showcases gourmet food from across the nation. Whether you are looking to tick off items from your Japanese food bucket list — be it ramen, sushi, or Osaka’s crispy horumonyaki — or savor international cuisines, like Italian or Chinese, this is the place to be. But there’s not just food on the menu at the TV Osaka Yatai Festival. Thrilling virtual sports competitions, lively talk shows, and enthralling live music and dance performances add to the fun and festive vibes.
Date: September 19 – 23, 2025
Timing: 10:00-18:00 (weekdays) and 10:00-20:00 (weekends)
Location: Ryokuchi Memorial Expo Park, 2-163, Ryokuchikoen, Tsurumi Ward, Osaka 538-0036
Website: https://www.tv-osaka.co.jp/tvofes/
Fee: Free
Cosmos flowers in a field – Photo Credit: Takamaso Okano
Toyono Cosmos no Sato
If you love nature and haven’t felt the stalks of beautiful flowers on your face in a while, this may just be the right opportunity to reconnect with nature. Though the exact blooming dates are hard to predict, the best viewing times are from September 20th to October 10th based on last year’s viewing dates. The Toyono Cosmos Park, spread over one hectare, is a picturesque train trip away from central Osaka. After a beautiful but long train ride through Osaka, the Toyono Cosmos Park invites you in with a million white, pink, and purple cosmos flowers, which are as tall as adults. Walking along the promenade surrounded by such beauty is an experience you are not likely to forget soon, and it will leave you asking for more. Also, while you are there, don’t miss checking out Kametani Main Store in Toyono, which is famous for local log-grown shiitake mushrooms and boiled udon noodles made from local wild boar meat. In short, unmissable for nature lovers! Check out the Insta account @toyono_cosmos_nosato for live bloom updates!
Date: Mid-September to late October (best viewing period September 20th – October 10th)
Timing: 9:00-17:00
Location: Toyono Cosmos no Sato, Maki, Toyono, Toyono District, Osaka 563-0211
Website: https://www.town.toyono.osaka.jp/page/page003986.html
Fee: 300-500 yen
Dance performance at Koiya Festival – Photo Credit: Koiya Festival
Koiya Festival
If dance gets you going, the Koiya festival is a must-watch as the matsuri season winds down and draws to a close. A celebration of the region’s cultural spirit, the Koiya festival is considered one of the top Yosakoi dance festivals in the country. However, the Koiya festival also features a variety of dances ranging from hip-hop to Awa Odori, with some cheerleading performances thrown in for good measure. Nearly a hundred teams with participants from across the country are expected to compete for the grand prize in the event. The grand finale is a spectacle worth watching as spirited performances and vibrant music rock the stage. Of course, spectators are spoilt for choice when it comes to variety in the food stalls too, since this is the nation’s kitchen after all!
Date: September 27-28, 2025
Location: Fukanokita Green Space, 4 Chome-284, Fukonokita, Daito City, Osaka 574-0071
Website: https://koiya.net/
Bustling Osaka street at night – Photo Credit: Royce Ho
If you are in Osaka this September, don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the energetic vibes at Kishiwada Danjiri and Koiya matsuri as the traditional Japanese festival season draws to a close. In a nod to Halloween traditions, Osaka’s USJ is hosting a Halloween horror party all through September. What’s a festival in Japan without food, right? Food and beer lovers have more occasions to rejoice at the TV Osaka Yatai Fest and the Tenshin Oktoberfest. But if all you yearn for is some peace and quiet, head over to Toyono Cosmos Park to enjoy the blooms. From high-octane events to rollicking food and beer fests, Osaka in September packs in a few surprises that tourists don’t expect.
Featured Photo Credit: Nguyen Hung on Pexels
While you’re in Osaka for these events, make sure to book one of our fantastic food tours to explore more of Osaka like a local!
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