The year may be near its end, but December still has lots to offer for visitors to Osaka. Despite the cold, there’s plenty of things to see and do to warm event the coldest of hearts in Osaka this December.
Here’s our top 10 recommendations.
Lantern Night Osaka, Late December, Suminoe Park
At the time of writing the dates for theis 3 day even have yet to be finalized. However, based on previous years, the Lantern Night Osaka Festival usually takes place over 3 days towards the end of December.
The centerpiece of the show is a spectacular LED drone show encompassing hundreds of drones, in festive arrangement. The venue also has the usual Christmas market-style sideshows, food and drinks etc. Younger visitors will especially enjoy this event, where Santa himself has been known to put in an appearance from time to time.
Lantern Night Osaka takes place over 3 days in late December, the venue is Suminoe Park, in Suminoe Ward. Admission is 6,500 yen for adults and 2,500 yen for kids. Whilst these prices may seem a little steep, please note that this also includes your very own LED sky lantern that you can take home with you after the event.
Suminoe Park is a short walk from Suminoe Koen Station, on the Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line.
Osaka Christmas Market, Until December 25th, Tennoji Park
In keeping with the festive spirit, no trip to Osaka in December is complete without stopping by the Osaka Christmas Market. Tennoji Park is the venue for this huge event, that drew over 200,000 visitors last year. As well as the huge centerpiece Christmas tree, and stalls selling various handmade gifts, visitors can also enjoy festive food and drinks with a distinctly European flavor.
I especially recommend the warm, mulled wine. Something of a Christmas delicacy in Germany, this mildly alcoholic hot drink, complete with its own cinnamon stick, is the perfect tonic to the biting cold of Osaka’s December chill.
The Osaka Christmas Market runs daily throughout December, until Christmas Day. It opens at 11am and closes at 9pm. However, I personally recommend going in the early evening. The Christmas lights are in full show at this time, and you can really feel the festive atmosphere at its fullest.
Christmas at Umeda Sky Building, Until December 24th
On a slightly smaller scale, though certainly no less festive, is Umeda Sky Building’s Christmas Festival. Whilst Tennoji Park as grown to surpass this event in size in recent years, there remains a charm to this more intimate setting.
You’ll still be able to enjoy Christmas crafts, fine foods, and that all important mulled wine. The LED Christmas tree in the middle of the square is a lovely blend of modern and traditional aesthetics too.
My advice would be, if you’re looking to enjoy the Christmas spirit as a family, or a large group then Tennoji Park is probably a better idea. However, if you’re going there as a couple, then Umeda certainly has a more romantic and less commercial feel to it.
There’s also the added option of visiting the Umeda Sky Garden atop the building’s twin towers if the weather is good that day. The panoramic views offered of the entire Osaka Bay area are well worth a look.
Osaka Hikari Renaissance, December 14th to 25th
The green land area between Osaka City hall and Nakanoshima Park has long served as a relaxation spot for visitors and locals alike. However, in the last few years, this area has developed a reputation as one of December’s celebrational hotspots. This is thanks, in no small part, to the emergence of the Osaka Hikari Light Show.
The light show’s theme changes each year, with various sights spread out over a wide area. Osaka City Hall always has a unique light display on its building façade. Meanwhile, the nearby Osaka Public Hall Has a full length 3D projection show on its front wall. The projection showcases not just festive imagery, but also contemporary art and cultural items from Osaka’s colorful history.
The boardwalk along the riverside next to Nakanoshima station also has its own illuminate street for vistors to walk along. Several bars and cafes along the waterfront also offer special menu items and promotions during the festival. And lets face it, after all that walking around in the wintery Osaka air, a hot coffee or cocoa may be just what the doctor ordered.
Shimekake Shinji at Hiraoka Shrine, December 23rd
Sometimes, we all just need a good laugh. The Japanese realized this centuries before the concept of stand-up comedy was even a thing. The annual Shimekake Shiji ritual at Hiraoka Shrine on the outskirts of Osaka City, continues this fine tradition. Holding amulets, said to bestow good fortune for the coming year, participants engage in about 20 minutes of non-stop laughter.
And to help you get into the right frame of mind for the necessary merriment, there’s plenty going on in the grounds of Hiraoka Shrine in the run up to the ritual itself. From 10am on the day, the shrine opens, offering rice cakes, seasonal snacks and other such fare. Of special interest may be the “amazake”. This is a very sweet form of fermented rice wine. It comes in both alcoholic and non-alcohol varieties. It’s what you might call an acquired taste. The yoghurt like texture, mixed with the undercurrent of sugar and sake flavors really is unlike anything else you’ll drink this December.
I can’t really describe it accurately with mere words, so I’d advise you all to try it yourself. Then join the priests and everyone else for a good old laugh afterwards!
Christmas Shopping in Namba and Shinsaibashi
Of course, as we’ve already alluded to, despite not being a Christian country, Christmas plays a big part in December events in Osaka. So, its not surprising really that Osaka is also an excellent venue to get your all important Christmas shopping done too.
Of course all of Osaka’s commercial hubs have various department stores and specialist shops to suit all kinds of gift requirements. However, for the purposes of this article, I decided it best we focus on the Namba and Shinsaibashi area. I believe that this part of Osaka offers not only the best selection of eclectic gift ideas, but also the best chance of snagging a bargain or two.
Namba is a more traditional shopping hub. You’ll find big brand department stores like Takashimaya, and the all-in-one shopping and entertainment complex Namba Parks. This is the place to go for named brands, high end electronics and so on.
Shinsaibashi on the other hand, offers more variety. You’ll still find big brand names and high end jewelers’ stores. However, along the many alleyways and sidestreets you’ll find a wider variety of locally owned stores, selling traditional products. Want a nice kimono for your mother? Or some trendy kanji-clad t-shirts for your teenage kids? Well, Shinsaibashi has you covered from several angles on both fronts.
In any case, with just the width of the Dotombori Canal separating these two shopping hubs, there’s plenty of time to check out both on a December afternoon.
Midosuji Illuminations, Throughout December
Ok, just one more seasonal light show, we promise!
Midosuji is one of Osaka’s longest streets. It spans from Umeda in the north of the city all the way down to Shinsaibashi, in Chuo Ward.
And throughout December, this entire street is illuminated on both sides, giving both visitors and residents a sense of Christmas cheer.
Of course, along the Midosuji there are also numerous shops to check out, as well as bars and restaurants to visit and enjoy. Many of these venues will also have their own seasonal promotions running alongside the illuminations.
However, even without the food, drink and shopping, The Midosuji Illuminations are worth a visit just for their own sheer spectacle. In essence, they embody the best qualities of Osaka. A flawless fusion of old and new, traditional and innovative, Japanese and foreign.
They are a must see for all visitors to Osaka in December.
Joya No Kane at Shitennoji Temple, December 31st
We now move onto New Year for our next couple of Osaka December events. In many ways the holiday season in Japan is kind of an inverse of the holidays as we know them in Europe and the US. Most western nations view Christmas as a religious festival, and new year as a party. Well, in Osaka, it’s the other way around. Christmas is the time for partying with friends, and New Year is a time for religious observance.
In Osaka, perhaps the best place to see this idea in action is Shitennoji Temple on New Years’ Eve.
One of Japan’s oldest new year rituals, dating back more than 1000 years is Joya no Kane. This loosely translates to bell-ringing ceremony. Visitors gather as priests and residents take it in turn to ring the large bell in the temple’s central courtyard 108 times to bring in the New Year.
There are various versions of this ritual u and down the country. However, as one of the oldest religious sites in the world that is still in daily use, Shitennoji offers something a bit special, on this the most auspicious and hopeful night of the year.
The temple will be very busy on the night, so be sure to get there early.
Shiwasu No Oharaeshiki at Sumiyoshi Taisha, December 31st
Before the new year arrives, there is one final chance to put yourself in the right spiritual frame of mind. Shiwasu no Oharaeshiki, or the cleansing and purification ritual, is a ritual performed on New years Eve at various shrines across Japan to prepare everyone spiritually to welcome the new year. Shiwasu no Oharaeshiki aims to cleanse the spirit of any impurities accumulated in the previous 6 months. Perhaps the best place to enjoy this ritual is Sumiyoshi Taisha.
Events kick off at 1pm on December 31st. Alongside the rituals themselves, there’s also an assortment of stalls offering the aforementioned amazake, alongside other seasonal snacks and souvenirs.
Christmas at USJ, until December 25th
We close out today’s list with undoubtedly Osaka’s most famous Christmas venue. Universal Studios Japan.
Universal Studios has a Christmas extravaganza so extensive; they need to start in early November just to fit it all in. Familiar characters such as Harry Potter, Mario, Pikachu and even the Terminator don Christmas attire and join in the festivities. There are several Christmas parades each day. Some of the attractions are also specially adapted at this time each year, to reflective a more festive theme. The exact nature of the events changes year by year, with a new overriding theme. The broad theme for 2024’s Festive season was titled “No Limit Christmas!”
And so our December activities round up draws to a close. We hope you found this as well as our other month by month activity suggestion lists useful. For readers of Osaka.com this isn’t the end of our month by month travel guides. We will revisit each monthly guide from here on out as the months pass, to ensure that information remains up to date for 2025 and beyond.
So be sure to check back regularly for updates. And most of all. Happy holidays!
