Tenjin Matsuri

Highlights | Sample Itinerary

Highlights

Tenjin Matsuri

Date: July 24-25 
Venue: Osaka
 

Sample Itinerary

The Tenjin Matsuri is Osaka's biggest summer festival.The people of Osaka are more open than the Tokyo people. It's a fun, energy-filled festival with Geisha, mikoshi (sacred religious palanquin), fireworks, and river bonfires. Osaka in festival mode is a sight to be seen!

The Matsuri has been celebrated for more than 1000 years. The main celebrations are held on July 25, including both a land procession and a river procession with fireworks. The highlight of the festival is a procession of 3000 celebrants dressed in imperial-court costumes of the Heian era parade in the streets of Osaka and then by boat down the Dotonbori River. Spectacular bonfires are lit aboard the festive boats in the evening. Such fires were lit in the past by river patrols in the area. Mikoshi are also paraded through the streets. The festival closes with music, fireworks, and an Osaka-style hand-clapping performance that the crowd can join.