What's on in Osaka

Osaka events in December 2026

162 events in December 2026: 47 festivals, 37 performances, 31 exhibitions, 25 markets, 10 illuminations, 4 gardens, 4 sports events, 3 anime and games events and 1 food event, from headline festivals to neighbourhood fairs. 14 of them are annual events whose 2026 dates are still to be confirmed, listed with their usual window.

The illuminations carry on until the end of the year. On 31 December Shitenno-ji, Sumiyoshi Taisha and Todai-ji ring in the New Year, and Kasuga Taisha's Wakamiya On-matsuri runs from 15 to 18 December. More on the season in Things to do in Osaka.

Map

Osaka weather in December

Average high: 12°C (54°F)
Average low: 5°C (42°F)
Rain: 56 mm
Rainy days: about 6

You'll want a warm coat, with a hat and gloves for evenings near 5°C (42°F).

Averages from the Japan Meteorological Agency normals for 1991 to 2020, Osaka station (rain table). Rainy days have at least 1 mm of rain.

Don't miss in December 2026

Cylindrical Osaka Science Museum building on Nakanoshima

Performance Science Guide Day 6 Dec · Nakanoshima and Juso Day of guide-led programs in the exhibition halls. Programs are free but exhibition admission (adults 400 yen) applies. Photo: Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0

Market HandMade In Japan Fes' Osaka 12 to 13 Dec · Nanko (Suminoe) A craft market with about 1,700 makers selling accessories, fashion, interiors, art and ceramics, plus workshops, handmade food and music stages. This edition has a Christmas gift area at the entrance, in Hall 2.

Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall with its wide tiled roof in Nara

Festival Butsumyo-e at Nigatsu-do 14 Dec · Nara A service in which monks recite the names of the Buddhas of the three worlds and confess the year's wrongdoing. It runs from 08:30 to about 12:00. Photo: Tetsuhiro Terada, CC BY 2.0

Garden Hanatomo Festa in Osaka 19 Dec · Nanko (Suminoe) A gardening fair in Hall 6A with plant, succulent, gardening goods and food sellers from across Japan. It is the first Kansai edition, with YouTuber Kamen-kun as ambassador.

Performance Stargazing: See the Moon and Saturn 19 Dec · Nakanoshima and Juso Free evening stargazing session at the Osaka Science Museum with a view of the Moon and Saturn. Photo: Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0

Five-storey pagoda and halls of Shitenno-ji behind a pond with flower beds

Festival New Year's Eve Bell at Shitenno-ji 31 Dec · Tennoji The temple rings out the year with the Joya no Kane. Numbered tickets are handed out at 23:00 and the bell-ringing starts at 23:30, with the first 108 visitors able to ring. Photo: Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0

Calendar

Day by day

Each event on its first day still ahead, regular markets on each of their days. Tap a day in the calendar for everything on that day and its gigs.

Tue 1 Dec 3 events · 19 gigs

19:00 Live at Namba Grand KagetsuNamba · Namba Grand Kagetsu · also 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 20 and more DecRegular market

Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiTenjinbashi · Tenma Tenjin Hanjotei · also 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and more DecRegular market

Regular Shows at Namba Grand KagetsuNamba · Namba Grand Kagetsu · also 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and more DecRegular market

Sat 5 Dec 1 event · 40 gigs

Cerezo Osaka vs Mito HollyHockNagai · Yanmar Hanasaka Stadium Nagai · 5 Dec

Sun 6 Dec 6 events · 47 gigs

Gamba Osaka vs Yokohama F. MarinosSuita (Expo Park) · Panasonic Stadium Suita · 6 Dec

Horse Meet-and-GreetTsurumi Ryokuchi · Tsurumi Ryokuchi Riding Park · 6 DecFree

Kaeka Experience: Making Thread from Elm BarkSuita (Expo Park) · National Museum of Ethnology · 6 Dec

Osaka Evessa vs Nagoya Diamond DolphinsBay Area · Ookini Arena Maishima · 6 Dec

Ritsumeikan University Gakuensai, OIC FestivalIbaraki · Ritsumeikan University Osaka Ibaraki Campus · 6 Dec

Science Guide DayNakanoshima and Juso · Osaka Science Museum · 6 Dec

Tue 8 Dec 4 events · 10 gigs

Curators' Picks Gallery Talk (NHK Sunday Art Museum 50 years)Nakanoshima and Juso · Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka · 8 DecFree

Joto-e at Shitenno-ji (Buddha's Enlightenment Day)Tennoji · Shitenno-ji · 8 Dec

Osame Yakushi Service at Ryozen-jiNara · Ryozen-ji · 8 Dec

Year-end Dusting of the Buddhas at Horyu-jiIkaruga · Horyu-ji · 8 DecUsual dates

Thu 10 Dec 1 event · 21 gigs

Musical Touken Ranbu: Shinken Ranbu-sai 2026Osaka Castle · Osaka-jo Hall · 10 to 11 Dec

Sat 12 Dec 8 events · 40 gigs

Braille Experience Workshop, DecemberSuita (Expo Park) · National Museum of Ethnology · 12 DecFree

Cerezo Osaka vs FC Machida ZelviaNagai · Yanmar Hanasaka Stadium Nagai · 12 Dec

Gamba Osaka vs Tokyo VerdySuita (Expo Park) · Panasonic Stadium Suita · 12 Dec

Hanazono Kintetsu Liners vs Red Hurricanes OsakaHigashiosaka (Hanazono) · Higashiosaka City Hanazono Rugby Stadium · 12 Dec

Minpaku Film Screening: The Minzoku Bunka Film Institute and Kayano ShigeruSuita (Expo Park) · National Museum of Ethnology · 12 Dec

HandMade In Japan Fes' OsakaNanko (Suminoe) · Intex Osaka · 12 to 13 Dec

Nara Marathon 2026Nara · Roto Field Nara (Nara Kounoike Stadium) and the course through Nara and Tenri · 12 to 13 Dec

Isshinji Monzen Rokyoku YoseTennoji · Isshinji · also 13, 14 DecRegular market

Sun 13 Dec 2 events · 33 gigs

Kansai University Rugby League A vs League B MatchesTsurumi · Tsurumi Ryokuchi · 13 Dec

Sing Together at Nagai Youth HostelTennoji · Nagai Youth Hostel · 13 Dec

Mon 14 Dec 1 event · 11 gigs

Butsumyo-e at Nigatsu-doNara · Todai-ji, Nigatsu-do · 14 Dec

Tue 15 Dec 2 events · 12 gigs

Annual Dusting of the Buddhas at Toshodai-jiNara · Toshodai-ji, Kondo · 15 Dec

Kasuga Wakamiya On-matsuriNara · Kasuga Taisha · 15 to 18 Dec

Wed 16 Dec 2 events · 15 gigs

Gamba Osaka vs Kashiwa ReysolSuita (Expo Park) · Panasonic Stadium Suita · 16 Dec

Osaka Evessa vs Toyama GrousesBay Area · Ookini Arena Maishima · 16 Dec

Fri 18 Dec 2 events · 25 gigs

Kamaitachi Solo Live 2026: Bai IjoAmerikamura · ORIX Theater · 18 Dec

Osaka Evessa vs Utsunomiya BrexBay Area · Ookini Arena Maishima · 18 Dec

Sat 19 Dec 5 events · 37 gigs

Gamba Osaka vs FC Machida ZelviaSuita (Expo Park) · Panasonic Stadium Suita · 19 Dec

Hanatomo Festa in OsakaNanko (Suminoe) · Intex Osaka · 19 Dec

Osaka Bluteon vs Hiroshima ThundersBay Area · Ookini Arena Maishima · 19 Dec

Red Hurricanes Osaka vs Shimizu Construction Koto Blue SharksNagai Park · Yanmar Stadium Nagai · 19 Dec

Stargazing: See the Moon and SaturnNakanoshima and Juso · Osaka Science Museum · 19 DecFree

Tue 22 Dec 1 event · 12 gigs

Winter Solstice Festival at Shoryaku-jiNara · Shoryaku-ji · 22 Dec

Thu 24 Dec 1 event · 20 gigs

Takarazuka Snow Troupe: Monte-CristoUmeda · Umeda Arts Theater Main Hall · 24 to 30 Dec

Sat 26 Dec 3 events · 30 gigs

Osaka Marvelous vs Aleeza AichiSumiyoshi · HOS Sumiyoshi Sports Center · 26 Dec

Sparkling Star Gazing on the Lawn vol.15Tennoji · Nagai Park · 26 Dec

Suntory Sunbirds Osaka vs Fragolad KagoshimaBay Area · Ookini Arena Maishima · 26 Dec

Tue 29 Dec 1 event · 13 gigs

Year-end Dusting of the Buddhas at Yakushi-jiNara · Yakushi-ji · 29 Dec

Wed 30 Dec 1 event · 10 gigs

Osaka Evessa vs Levanga HokkaidoBay Area · Asue Arena Osaka (Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium) · 30 Dec

Thu 31 Dec 5 events · 6 gigs

New Year's Eve at Ishikiri ShrineHigashiosaka (Ishikiri) · Ishikiri Tsurugiya Shrine · 31 Dec

New Year's Eve Bell at Shitenno-jiTennoji · Shitenno-ji · 31 Dec

Year-end Bell at Kanshin-jiKawachinagano · Kanshin-ji · 31 DecUsual dates

Year-end Great Purification at Kasuga TaishaNara · Kasuga Taisha, Haraido Shrine · 31 Dec

Year-end Purification and Bonfire at Nara Gokoku ShrineNara · Nara Prefectural Gokoku Shrine · 31 Dec to 3 Jan

On for weeks

42 long runs, such as exhibitions and illuminations: on for more than a week, so shown once instead of every day.

EXPO'70 Pavilion Exhibition: 1970 Expo Before and AfterSuita (Expo Park) · EXPO'70 Pavilion, Expo Commemorative Park · 14 Mar to 28 Feb

Toyotomi Osaka Castle Digital Stamp RallyOsaka Castle · Osaka Castle Park · 14 Apr to 27 Dec

Super Spacetime Theater Touring ExhibitionSuita (Expo Park) · EXPO'70 Pavilion, Expo Commemorative Park · 29 Aug to 28 Feb

Minpaku: The Torres Strait and JapanSuita (Expo Park) · National Museum of Ethnology, Expo Commemorative Park · 10 Sept to 15 Dec

Curators in Panic 2: Tadanori YokooKobe · Yokoo Tadanori Museum of Contemporary Art · 19 Sept to 27 Dec

Special Exhibition: Making Delicious, Sakai Food and the Knife TradeSakai (Daisen Park) · Sakai City Museum · 19 Sept to 13 Dec

Minpaku: Ainu Crafts of the Saru RiverSuita (Expo Park) · National Museum of Ethnology, Special Exhibition Hall · 25 Sept to 15 Dec

Andrew Wyeth: Hometown of the HeartTennoji · Abeno Harukas Art Museum · 3 Oct to 6 Dec

Calligraphy of the Ming Dynasty: Treasures of the He Chuangshi Collection, TaipeiTennoji · Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts · 9 Oct to 20 Dec

East Asian MetalworkTennoji · Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts · 9 Oct to 20 Dec

Jingdezhen Ceramics of the Late Ming and Early QingTennoji · Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts · 9 Oct to 20 Dec

Sculpture of AsiaTennoji · Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts · 9 Oct to 20 Dec

Wolf Bench Comes to the MuseumNakanoshima and Kitahama · Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, 2F Passage · 10 Oct to 5 Jan

Autumn Special Exhibition: Ruri, Tracing Japan's Ancient Glass MakingKanan (Minamikawachi) · Osaka Prefectural Chikatsu-Asuka Museum · 10 Oct to 6 Dec

Expo Forest Acorn FestSuita (Expo Park) · Expo '70 Commemorative Park, Nature Observation Learning Center moricara · 10 Oct to 6 Dec

Autumn Special Exhibition: People and War, the Yayoi Warrior with WeaponsIzumi · Osaka Prefectural Yayoi Culture Museum · 17 Oct to 13 Dec

ALL OF EVANGELION: 30th Anniversary ExhibitionHirakata · Hirakata Park Event Hall · 18 Oct to 11 Jan

Autumn Rose Week at Nagai Botanical GardenTennoji · Nagai Botanical Garden · 24 Oct to 6 Dec

Special Exhibition: The Story of the Toyonaka City History (90th Anniversary)Toyonaka · Toyonaka City Local History Museum (Toyomyu) · 27 Oct to 13 Dec

Hirakata Park Light Amusement Park IlluminationHirakata · Hirakata Park · 31 Oct to 4 Apr

British Museum Japanese Art Collection: Edo Paintings Across the SeaNakanoshima and Kitahama · Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka · 31 Oct to 31 Jan

OSAKA Hikari Renaissance: Osaka City Hall Facade and Nakanoshima Illumination StreetNakanoshima and Kitahama · Osaka City Hall and Nakanoshima Park · 3 Nov to 31 Dec

Kagaku no Mikata: Everyday Things Are Full of SurprisesNakanoshima and Kitahama · Osaka Science Museum · 7 Nov to 17 Jan

Umeda Sky Building Christmas 2026: The Starlight TownUmeda · Umeda Sky Building (Wonder Square, 1F plaza) · 13 Nov to 25 DecFree

Osaka Directory 13: Tachibana HazukiNakanoshima and Kitahama · Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka · 14 Nov to 13 DecFree

Osaka Castle Illuminage 2026-2027Osaka Castle · 20 Nov to 14 Feb

Himeji Otemae-dori and Himeji Castle IlluminationHimeji · Himeji Station front, Otemae-dori and Himeji Castle · 20 Nov to 11 Jan

AI x Python Workshop: Making a Science Museum ExhibitNakanoshima and Juso · Osaka Science Museum · 21 Nov to 6 MarFree

Expo Park Projection MappingSuita (Expo Park) · Expo '70 Commemorative Park, Tower of the Sun and EXPO'70 Pavilion · 22 Nov to 30 Dec

Okuda Benjiro, Showman of SennichimaeOsaka Castle · Osaka Museum of History · 25 Nov to 1 Feb

Boku no Dragon ga Gohan wo Tabenai!!Umeda · Sankei Hall Breeze · 27 Nov to 6 Dec

Collection 2: Historicising the Contemporary (50th anniversary pre-event)Nakanoshima and Kitahama · National Museum of Art, Osaka · 1 Dec to 22 Mar

Where Words Overlap (working English title)Nakanoshima and Kitahama · National Museum of Art, Osaka · 1 Dec to 14 Mar

Miss Saigon (musical)Umeda · Umeda Arts Theater Main Hall · 5 to 17 Dec

Christmas CommonsNakanoshima and Kitahama · Nakanoshima Park (rose garden to the lawn plaza) · 11 to 25 Dec

Light MarcheNakanoshima and Kitahama · Around Naniwabashi Station, Nakanoshima · 11 to 25 Dec

Osaka Central Public Hall Projection MappingNakanoshima and Kitahama · Osaka City Central Public Hall · 11 to 25 Dec

KUBOSO YORU no SEKAI, Light and Video EventIzumi · Kuboso Memorial Museum of Arts, Izumi · 12 to 25 Dec

Fullmetal Alchemist x Yomi no Tsugai ExhibitionUmeda · Hankyu Umeda Main Store, 9F Hankyu Umeda Gallery and Art Stage · 16 Dec to 10 Jan

Osaka Directory 14: Sako TeppeiNakanoshima and Kitahama · Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka · 19 Dec to 17 JanFree

Lucie Rie: Elegant Vessels Linking East and WestTennoji · Abeno Harukas Art Museum · 26 Dec to 7 Mar

Odekake Kozame 5th Anniversary Exhibition: Omotenashi TourUmeda · Hanshin Umeda Main Store, 8F Event Hall · 27 Dec to 18 Jan

Planning a trip in December

No national holidays fall in December 2026.

Holidays from the Cabinet Office's list of national holidays.

The calendar above lists 162 events in December 2026, and it's updated every week. Where to stay in Osaka compares the main areas.

More things to do in Osaka in December

Beyond the dated events, here's what the season brings and which guides cover December.

Also worth a look

640 gigs are listed for December: See the live music listings
Free Things to Do in Osaka

Good to know

What is on in Osaka in December 2026?

There are 162 events listed for December 2026 (47 festivals, 37 performances, 31 exhibitions, 25 markets, 10 illuminations, 4 gardens, 4 sports events, 3 anime and games events and 1 food event). The big dates are Science Guide Day (6 Dec), HandMade In Japan Fes' Osaka (12 to 13 Dec), Butsumyo-e at Nigatsu-do (14 Dec), Hanatomo Festa in Osaka (19 Dec), Stargazing: See the Moon and Saturn (19 Dec) and New Year's Eve Bell at Shitenno-ji (31 Dec). 148 have confirmed dates and 14 are annual events whose exact 2026 dates are still to be announced, shown with the usual window. Every listing links to the interactive map.

Which temple light-ups are on in Osaka in December 2026?

8 light-ups are listed for December 2026, among them Hirakata Park Light Amusement Park Illumination (31 Oct to 4 Apr), OSAKA Hikari Renaissance: Osaka City Hall Facade and Nakanoshima Illumination Street (3 Nov to 31 Dec), Himeji Otemae-dori and Himeji Castle Illumination (20 Nov to 11 Jan), Osaka Castle Illuminage 2026-2027 (20 Nov to 14 Feb) and Expo Park Projection Mapping (22 Nov to 30 Dec).

What's on in Osaka on New Year's Eve 2026?

For New Year's Eve the listings are New Year's Eve Bell at Shitenno-ji (31 Dec) and New Year's Eve at Ishikiri Shrine (31 Dec).

What's the weather like in Osaka in December?

In December Osaka averages a high of 12°C (54°F) and a low of 5°C (42°F), with 56 mm of rain on about 6 days. Those are the Japan Meteorological Agency's averages for 1991 to 2020 at its Osaka station, counting days with at least 1 mm of rain.

What festivals are on in Osaka in December 2026?

20 festivals are listed for December 2026, among them Horse Meet-and-Greet (6 Dec), Osame Yakushi Service at Ryozen-ji (8 Dec), Nara Marathon 2026 (12 to 13 Dec), Butsumyo-e at Nigatsu-do (14 Dec) and New Year's Eve Bell at Shitenno-ji (31 Dec). Smaller local festivals are under Around the neighbourhoods, further down the page.

Are there free events in Osaka in December 2026?

Yes. 23 of the 162 events listed for December 2026 are free to attend, including Osaka Directory 13: Tachibana Hazuki (14 Nov to 13 Dec), Horse Meet-and-Greet (6 Dec) and Osaka Directory 14: Sako Teppei (19 Dec to 17 Jan).

Is December a good time to visit Osaka?

How current is this list?

Dated events are checked against the organiser's own page, and finished events drop off the page on their own. Annual events further out carry their usual dates until the official ones are published.

Running an event? Add your event and it's checked for the next weekly update.