When is the Best Season to Visit Osaka?
ShinobuYou want to visit Japan’s second largest city, Osaka, but don't know which is the best season to go?
Or you've decided when to visit, but unsure of where to visit in Osaka?
Here is a quick list for you to get started on your itinerary!
Contents
- Winter Season (December - February) - enjoy a chilly night with bright illuminations
- Spring Season (March - May) - Japan’s sakura cherry blossoms are a must-see
- Summer Season (June - August) - enjoy hot summer days with flaming fireworks and festivals
- Autumn Season (September - November) - see the vibrant colours of autumn momiji leaves
- Recommended Seasons to Visit
- Summary : Visit Ninja Experience Cafe Osaka Dotonbori for a ninja experience all-year round!
1. Winter Season (December - February) - enjoy a chilly night with bright illuminations
Winters in Japan are generally from December to February, and the chilliness can continue to halfway through March, offering visitors a few months in a year in which they get to experience winter in Japan.
Although winters in Osaka are generally cold, it is probably bearable as long as you bring a couple of winter attire with you.
The average temperature in January is usually around 6 Celsius / 42.8 Fahrenheit, making it rather moderate for a winter.
Although there are many activities you can do all year round in Osaka, there are some specific events that become especially appealing in specific seasons.
Here are some activities you can do in Osaka when you are here in winter time.
Midosuji and Hikari Illuminations
From mid to late December, enjoy a series of light up and festival events which take place at night from around 5pm to 10pm.
Also get the chance to see some projection mapping along with the illuminated Ginkgo trees that enhance the charm of Midosuji.
Setsubun Festivals at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Naritasan Fudoson
Setsubun is an annual festival held in the beginning of February when people hold events such as mamemaki (bean throwing) in the hopes of bringing good fortune to the family.
Various shrines in Osaka such as Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, and Naritasan Fudoson hold the setsubun event where you get to participate in the prayer for a certain fee.
2. Spring Season (March - May) - Japan’s sakura cherry blossoms are a must-see
With spring comes warmer days and comfortable temperatures, and it is no exception in Osaka.
It is also a season in which nature comes to life, and we are presented with beautiful cherry blossoms (sakura) which are symbolic of, and unique to Japan.
It is a great season to enjoy the temperate days with the scenic landscapes of Osaka.
There are various locations to see cherry blossoms at its peak, but here are two especially appealing places to visit.
Night Cherry Blossoms at the Osaka Castle Nishinomaru Garden
During the special nighttime cherry blossom viewing season, the Nishinomaru Garden will be open until 9pm for you to enjoy the illuminated mystical cherry blossoms and the Osaka Castle Museum.
Around 300 Yoshino and weeping cherry blossoms will be in full bloom in the park alone, and around 3,000 cherry blossoms in the entire compound.
Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park and Tower of the Sun
Formerly the site of the 1970 World Exhibition, the park has now turned into a large public area with a Japanese landscape garden with 5,500 cherry trees planted throughout the grounds.
Many like to have hanami picnics whilst enjoying the food and scenery of the season. Perhaps sneak in the Tower of the Sun in your pictures when taking photographs of the cherry blossoms!
3. Summer Season (June - August) - enjoy hot summer days with flaming fireworks and festivals
Due to its geographical location, Osaka can get especially hot in the summer months.
Shaped like a basin, it is surrounded by mountainous regions, which means that Osaka has little rainfall throughout the year due to the poor passage of wind from the sea.
This makes it easy for heat to accumulate in the area.
Yet, there are some distinctive events in Osaka that are sure to make an impression on you when you visit.
Yodogawa Fireworks Festival
The annual Yodogawa Fireworks Festival is ranked among the top 10 most popular fireworks in the Kansai region.
Fireworks in Japan are especially creative, for firework craftsmen put tremendous effort into decorating the dark summer sky.
For a typical Japanese experience of a fireworks festival, wear a yukata and enjoy the various food on offer from the street vendors while waiting for the fireworks to start.
Tenjin Festival
The Tenjin Festival is ranked as one of Japan’s top three festivals (along with Gion Matsuri in Kyoto and Kanda Matsuri in Tokyo).
It has a long history since its beginning in the 10th century, and the main celebrations include a land procession and a river procession with fireworks.
4. Autumn Season (September - November) - see the vibrant colours of autumn momiji leaves
Autumn brings out the most vibrant of colours in leaves, as the momiji (maple leaves) turns all kinds of red, brown and green, creating the autumn foliage.
Osaka doesn't seem to instigate images of momiji but there are actually plenty of locations where you can enjoy nature and scenery in this city.
Also, autumn is often referred to as the season of appetite since the Edo period.
The term originated from the change of season from summer to autumn where people began to eat more as the amount of harvest increased and there were more to eat.
The cooler autumn also revived people’s appetite which had dwindled from the heat of summer.
For anyone visiting Osaka in autumn, have a look through these places.
Minoh Park
As opposed to autumn foliage at temples and shrines, you can see the autumn colours in a natural setting.
The magnificent Minoh Waterfall combined with the autumn leaves in the background creates a natural balance of harmony.
Simply enjoy a stroll through the foliage to the waterfall where the autumn air will gently envelope you with a touch of chilliness.
Eat Till You Drop at Dotonbori
Experience the “kuidaore” or “eat til you drop” culture here in Osaka. Dotonbori, popular for the Glico sign, is home to many restaurants as many food eateries crowd the streets in the area.
From takoyaki to okonomiyaki, you name it!
For 8 Best Things To Do in Osaka, visit our Ninja Blog!
5. Recommended Seasons to Visit
In my opinion, the most recommended seasons to visit Osaka would be spring and autumn.
This is because these two seasons offer the most temperate and comfortable climates for sightseeing, such as cherry blossoms and autumn momiji leaves.
Wintery sights are beautiful and breathtaking for sure, but it often gets quite chilly which necessitates tourists to take refuge indoors.
Summers offer festivals and a cheery atmosphere of fireworks, it can sometimes get unbearably hot in Osaka.
Summary
If you are at a loss of where to go, a certain destination is Ninja Experience Cafe Osaka Dotonbori where us ninjas are always here to welcome you!
You get to enjoy Japanese culture with your friends and family of all ages, and take photos and videos to bring back with you home.
And since it is indoors, there is no need to worry about the weather!
It would make your trip in Japan much more enjoyable if you do visit one of the locations above, for a scenic and unique experience in Osaka.
Whether it be the illuminations in winter, the cherry blossoms in spring, the festivals in summer, the food and scenery in autumn, they are all sure to leave you with happy memories.
What are we?
We run Ninja Experience Cafe in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, Japan.
Here you can immerse yourself in Japanese culture through experiencing ninja training.
Both adults and children are welcome to try their hand at defeating the ninja master inside the cafe.
The cafe is an indoor interactive zone, so it can be enjoyed even on rainy days.
If you are thinking "I want to be a real ninja too!” or interested in becoming a real ninja, please visit us.
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