Best 9 Traditional Festivals "Matsuri" Guide in Osaka & Kobe, July 2017 (w/Photos)
We are introducing top 9 traditional festivals in Osaka & Kobe, July 2017 to you, recommended by MagicalTrip’s Local Staff in Osaka & Kobe! You will be feeling local atmosphere and will experience traditional lifestyle in the best way through these festivals. You will be able to enjoy the traditional festivals much more and it will become a highlight of your trip to Osaka & Kobe if you are dressed up with a rental Kimono!
In addition to traditional festivals, we are introducing several kinds of must-see events in Osaka & Kobe, July 2017.
Must-see! Tenjin Festival – 24 to 25 July
Tenjin Festival is counted as one of Japan’s three major festivals along with Kanda Festival, Tokyo and Gion Festival, Kyoto attracting near 1.3 million visitors every Summer. It is also considered to be one of three major Summer festivals in Osaka followed by Aizen Festival and Sumiyoshi Festival. Every year, the festival is carried out setting Osaka Tenmangu as center on July 24th and 25th. 24th is considered as pre-festival event and the actual festival is held on the 25th. On the morning on 24th, divine goods are sent down the river by divine child selected from local elementary school notifying the beginning of the festival. On 25th main event, Mikoshi and Daishi are led by taiko playing men with crimson bandana towards the Tenjin Bridge. There will also be unique “Gal (Japanese word for exotic teenage girls) Mikoshi” and fireworks dedicated to god. This event is so major that it became near-necessary for Osaka’s Summer to even begin.
Schedule
24th July : PM7:30-10:00
25th July : PM2:00-4:30 & PM7:00-10:00
Access & Address
5 min by walk from Osakatemmangu Station
- 12 min by train from Osaka Station
Held around 2-1-8 Tenjimbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Price / Charge & Reservation
For free & don’t need to reserve.
Official Site
Must-see! Summer Festival at Sumiyoshi Temple (Sumiyoshi Festival) – 17,30,31 July & 1 August
Source: flickr
Sumiyoshi Temple is so loved by the local people that nearly everyone mentions this temple when asked “Where do you go for New-Year’s shrine/temple visit?”. Sumiyoshi Festival which is held at such loved temple is held on July 31st, the main festival, and August 1st, the follow up festival. The festival is counted as one of the three major Summer festivals in Osaka along with Tenjin Festival, Osaka Tenmanguu and Aizen Festival, Aizendou Shoumann-in. The divine event known as “Nagoshi no Harai” is held on 31st. This event is conducted by beautiful women dressed in traditional cloth and toddlers going through rings made from plants to purify themselves. On climax of the event, traditional dances such as “Kumano Mai” and “Sumiyoshi Dance” are dedicated. Countless visitors visit this festival to see the gorgeous Mikoshi go around the town.
Schedule
17th July : Time to be determined
30th to 31st July : Time to be determined
1st August : Time to be determined
Access & Address
3 min by walk from Sumiyoshitaisha Station
5 min by walk from Sumiyoshihigashi Station
1 min by walk from Sumiyoshitoriimae Station
- 25 min by train from Osaka Station
Held around 2-9-69 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Price / Charge & Reservation
For free & don’t need to reserve.
Official Site
Summer Festival at Sumiyoshi Temple (Sumiyoshi Festival) Official Site
1. Ikukuni Tama Festival – 11 to 12 July
Source: flickr
Osaka’s oldest shrine, Ikutkuni Tama shrine is located at Tenouji-ku, Osaka City and is called by the nickname “Ikutama-san (Mr. Ikutama)”. It was moved from the land where the Osaka Castle sits today during the reign of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. The Ikukuni Tama Festival is the first festival to be held in the Summer, June 11th and 12th, followed by Osaka’s three major Summer Festivals; Ikutama Festival, Tenn-man Festival, and Sumiyoshi Festival. At the dawn of 11th, countless visitors visit the shrine while a “Daishi” told to be dedicated by Hideyoshi Toyotomi is brought out in the shrine’s precinct. On 12th, the festival’s main event “Okatogyo” starts at the main shrine. From the main shrine, around 700 people marches towards Osaka Castle lead by taiko followed with Shishimai, Mikoshi for noble families, and Mikoshi for the God cheering up Summer in Osaka.
Schedule
11th 12th July : AM9:30-8:30
Access & Address
6 min by walk from Tanimachi9chome Station
10 min by walk from Osakauehommachi Station
- 15 min by train from Osaka Station
Held around 13-9 Ikutamacho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Price / Charge & Reservation
For free & don’t need to reserve.
Official Site
Ikukuni Tama Festival Official Site
2. Summer Festival at Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine – 15 to 16 July
Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine is a traditional shrine told to be built in the Autumn of B.C. 12. This shrine is also related to the Toyotomi family. The festival will be held on July 15th and 16th every year and visitors can see honoring monument of Senri-kyu, a major figure in Japanese tea culture. On 15th, there will be tasting event of Tamazou Kokumon Ekka, a traditional vegetable of Osaka harvested in farm located on the South of the shrine’s precinct. Ekka is vegetable like cucumber and is served differently every year making every year unique. On 16th, various comedians from Japan visits the festival to perform in memory of Minoru Akita (1905~1997), father of modern Osaka comedy. Such festival can only be experienced in Osaka, town of comedy.
Schedule
9th July : starts at AM10:00
Access & Address
10 min by walk from Tamatsukuri Station
6 min by walk from Morinomiya Station
- 20 min by train from Osaka Station
Held around 2-3-8 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Price / Charge & Reservation
For free & don’t need to reserve.
Official Site
Summer Festival at Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine Official Site
3. Doumyouji Tenmanguu – Tenjin Festival – 24 to 25 July
Source: flickr
Doumyouji Tenmanguu is a shrine that worships the God of Academics and is also famous for cherry blossom sightseeing spot. In the treasure hall, there are various cultural assets including Sugawara Michizaneko’s, God of Academics, favorite items “Den Kanko Ihin”, one of Japan’s national treasures. Every year, on July 25th, “Tenjin Festival” is carried out to wish for health and productive harvest. On the second day of the festival, traditional Mikoshi and Daishi lurks around the town along with unique “Gal (Japanese word for exotic teenage girls) Mikoshi” and energetic “Kid’s Mikoshi” attracting numerous visitors. On both nights, a local traditional dance “Kawauchi Ondo” is performed lighting up the festive mood.
Schedule
24th July : PM7:30-10:00
25th July : PM2:00-4:30 & PM7:00-10:00
Access & Address
3 min by walk from Domyoji Station
- 40 min by train from Osaka Station
Held around 1-16-40 Domyoji, Fujiidera-shi, Osaka
Price / Charge & Reservation
For free & don’t need to reserve.
Official Site
Doumyouji Tenmanguu – Tenjin Festival Official Site
4. Sakai Oouo Yoichi (Sakai Large-Scale Fish Night Market) – 31 July
Source: flickr
Sakai Oouo Yoichi is a festival carried out on July 31st every year centered around Oohama Park, Sakai City, Oosaka. Sakai Oouo Yoichi has quite a history and is told to be started in Kamakura age and has continued for near 700 years. The must-see event is the fish auction that starts from 19:00. Sakai being a major merchant town in Japan, the auction itself provides a unique experience just by itself. Of course, there will be booths where visitors can enjoy fresh foods from the fish market along with local citizens. It is said that the number of visitors of this event is increasing every year.
Schedule
31st July : PM1:00-9:30
Access & Address
15 min by walk from Sakai Station
- 30 min by train from Yokohama Station
Held around 4-3-50 Ohamakitamachi, Sakai-shi, Osaka
Price / Charge & Reservation
For free & don’t need to reserve.
Official Site
Sakai Oouo Yoichi (Sakai Large-Scale Fish Night Market) Official Site
5. Abeno Seimei Shrine – Tanabata Festival – 7 July
Source: tanabata potalsite
Abeno Seimei Shrine enshrines Heian age’s Japanese diviner Abeno Seimei. The shrine is found near Higashi Tenga Chaya station which can be reached 10 minutes from Tennouji with a streetcar. Every year on July 7th, Tanabata Festival is carried out at the shrine. The shrine precinct is beautifully decorated with tanabata bamboo and decorative paper balls aweing the visitors. The Festival starts at 14:00 and from 15:00 a comedy show and lottery will be held at Abe Ouji shrine.
Schedule
7th July : Time to be determined
Access & Address
5 min by walk from Higashitengachaya Station
- 30 min by train from Osaka Station
Held around 5-16 Abenomotomachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Price / Charge & Reservation
For free & don’t need to reserve.
Official Site
Abeno Seimei Shrine – Tanabata Festival Official Site
6. Souja’s Summer Festival (Yudate Ritual) – 10 to 11 July
Source: jalan
Harimano Kuni Souja is popular amongst the local citizen by the name “Mr. Souja” or “God at Souja”. The Summer Festival is held on July 10th and 11th but of all the events, the most important event is the yudate ritual that happens on 11th at 19:00. A divine boiling water is dedicated to the God followed by shrine maiden wishing for health, family safety, and business prosperity for all the visitors by spraying the hot water with bamboo. When sprayed with the hot water, it is said that “You cannot lose to the heat of the summer,” and the bamboo that is used will be awarded to the worshipers as an amulet of house safety. Numerous street stalls line up in the precinct and various event are held attracting many visitors.
Schedule
10th to 11th July : Time to be determined
Access & Address
15 min by walk from Himeji Station
- 50 min by train from Kobe Station
Held around 190 Soshahommachi, Himeji-shi, Hyogo
Price / Charge & Reservation
For free & don’t need to reserve.
Official Site
Souja’s Summer Festival (Yudate Ritual) Official Site
7. Hoshiai Tanabata Festival – 7 July
Source: flickr
“Hoshiai Tanabata Festival” is a festival held at the Hoshiai pond in Osaka Tenmangu shrine on the evening of Tanabata. Since legend says that people’s wishes will be granted if they come here, it is often crowded with couples every year. During the festival, Chinowa Kuguri, said to make you free of disasters and Daidogei contests are held. In addition, a parade lead by Orihime and Hikoboshi and 40 others will be held, starting from Tenjibashi 3-chome to Osaka Tenmangu shrine.
Schedule
7th July : PM4:00-9:00
Access & Address
6 min by walk from Minamimorimachi Station
5 min by walk from Osakatemmangu Station
- 15 min by train from Osaka Station
Held around 2-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Price / Charge & Reservation
For free & don’t need to reserve.