What's on in Osaka
Osaka events in May 2027
56 events in May 2027: 22 festivals, 18 markets, 8 performances, 4 exhibitions, 2 gardens and 2 anime and games events, from headline festivals to neighbourhood fairs. 23 of them are annual events whose 2027 dates are still to be confirmed, listed with their usual window.
Warm, with highs around 25°C. Sumiyoshi Taisha holds its Unoha rite on 12 May, and across the border Kobe has its Matsuri on 16 May and Himeji its Oshiro Matsuri from 21 to 23 May. More on the season in Things to do in Osaka.
MapOsaka weather in May
- Average high
- 25°C (77°F)
- Average low
- 16°C (61°F)
- Rain
- 137 mm
- Rainy days
- about 10
Light clothes work in the day, with a thin layer for evenings around 16°C (61°F). Pack a small umbrella too, as it rains on about 10 days.
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 May 2027
Festival Shomu Tenno-sai at Todai-ji 2 May, dates to be confirmed · Nara On 2 May the Tenno-den hall for Emperor Shomu is open to see from outside for free during the services. About 250 people in procession leave the Nara Kasugano International Forum around 13:00 for the Daibutsuden. Bugaku is offered on the Kagamiike stage from 13:30, followed by Noh, and anyone may watch. Photo: Tetsuhiro Terada, CC BY 2.0
Performance Cerezo Osaka vs Nagoya Grampus 9 May · Nagai Cerezo Osaka's home match against Nagoya Grampus in the J1 League round 34. Kick-off time is not yet published, and the club says dates can change.
Festival Unoha Shinji at Sumiyoshi Taisha 12 May · Sumiyoshi The festival for the shrine's founding anniversary, on the first rabbit day of May at 13:00. Tamagushi offerings are made with deutzia leaves and bugaku is danced on the stone stage.
Festival Kobe Matsuri 16 May, dates to be confirmed · Kobe Kobe's big spring festival, based around Higashi Yuenchi, the old foreign settlement and the waterfront. The 53rd edition was on Sunday 17 May 2026, from 11:00 to 16:30, with free entry and no registration. The 2027 dates haven't been announced yet.
Performance Takigi Onoh at Kasuga Taisha 21 to 22 May, dates to be confirmed · Nara Noh by firelight on the third Friday of May and the day after, with a rite at 11:00 on each day. The shrine hasn't posted the 2027 programme yet, so the dates are to be announced. Photo: Fredrik Rubensson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Anime and games FLOWER MOON FES 2027 30 May · Nanko (Suminoe) A doujinshi sales event run by Akaboo Tsushinsha at Intex Osaka, on the organiser's 2027 schedule. Its schedule page doesn't print hours or admission, so check the organiser before going.
Calendar
Showing all 59 events in May 2027
110Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+8 more+4 on for weeks29Shomu Tenno-sai at Todai-jiAfternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+6 more+4 on for weeks34Gamba Osaka vs Kashima AntlersAfternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+1 more+4 on for weeks42Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+4 on for weeks53Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+1 more+4 on for weeks63Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+1 more+4 on for weeks74Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+2 more+4 on for weeks811Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand KagetsuIsshinji Monzen Rokyoku Yose+8 more+4 on for weeks911Cerezo Osaka vs Nagoya GrampusAfternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+8 more+4 on for weeks103Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand KagetsuIsshinji Monzen Rokyoku Yose+3 on for weeks112Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+3 on for weeks124Unoha Shinji at Sumiyoshi TaishaAfternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+1 more+3 on for weeks133Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+1 more+3 on for weeks142Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+3 on for weeks157Gamba Osaka vs Mito HollyHockAfternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+4 more+3 on for weeks1610Kobe MatsuriNipponbashi Street FestaAfternoon Rakugo Show at Hanjotei+7 more+3 on for weeks174Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+2 more+3 on for weeks185Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+3 more+3 on for weeks193Chukoki Bonmo-e and Uchiwamaki at Toshodai-jiAfternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+3 on for weeks203Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+1 more+3 on for weeks216Takigi Noh at Kofuku-jiTakigi Onoh at Kasuga TaishaHimeji Oshiro Matsuri+3 more+3 on for weeks2212Takigi Noh at Kofuku-jiTakigi Onoh at Kasuga TaishaHimeji Oshiro Matsuri+9 more+4 on for weeks2311Himeji Oshiro MatsuriAfternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+8 more+4 on for weeks243Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+1 more+4 on for weeks253Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+1 more+4 on for weeks262Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+4 on for weeks274Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+2 more+4 on for weeks286Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+4 more+4 on for weeks299Cerezo Osaka vs Urawa RedsGamba Osaka vs Shimizu S-PulseAfternoon Rakugo Show at Hanjotei+6 more+4 on for weeks309FLOWER MOON FES 2027Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+6 more+4 on for weeks312Afternoon Rakugo Show at HanjoteiRegular Shows at Namba Grand Kagetsu+4 on for weeks
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.
2 events
Regular Shows at Namba Grand KagetsuNamba · Namba Grand Kagetsu · also 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and more MayRegular market
1 event
Shomu Tenno-sai at Todai-jiNara · Todai-ji · 2 MayUsual dates
1 event
Gamba Osaka vs Kashima AntlersSuita (Expo Park) · Panasonic Stadium Suita · 3 MayUsual dates
1 event
Isshinji Monzen Rokyoku YoseTennoji · Isshinji · also 9, 10 MayRegular market
1 event
Cerezo Osaka vs Nagoya GrampusNagai · Yanmar Hanasaka Stadium Nagai · 9 May
1 event
Unoha Shinji at Sumiyoshi TaishaSumiyoshi · Sumiyoshi Taisha · 12 MayFree
1 event
Gamba Osaka vs Mito HollyHockSuita (Expo Park) · Panasonic Stadium Suita · 15 MayUsual dates
2 events
Kobe MatsuriKobe · Higashi Yuenchi and the old foreign settlement · 16 MayFreeUsual dates
Nipponbashi Street FestaNipponbashi · Sakaisuji, Nipponbashi Den Den Town · 16 MayFreeUsual dates
1 event
Chukoki Bonmo-e and Uchiwamaki at Toshodai-jiNara · Toshodai-ji, Kodo and Shariden · 19 MayUsual dates
3 events
Takigi Noh at Kofuku-jiNara · Kofuku-ji, Nandaimon ruins · 21 to 22 MayUsual dates
Takigi Onoh at Kasuga TaishaNara · Kasuga Taisha · 21 to 22 MayUsual dates
Himeji Oshiro MatsuriHimeji · Himeji Castle area · 21 to 23 MayUsual dates
2 events
Cerezo Osaka vs Urawa RedsNagai · Yanmar Hanasaka Stadium Nagai · 29 MayUsual dates
Gamba Osaka vs Shimizu S-PulseSuita (Expo Park) · Panasonic Stadium Suita · 29 MayUsual dates
1 event
FLOWER MOON FES 2027Nanko (Suminoe) · Intex Osaka · 30 May
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On for weeks
5 long runs, such as exhibitions and illuminations: on for more than a week, so shown once instead of every day.
Eric Carle Exhibition: It Began with The Very Hungry CaterpillarTennoji · Abeno Harukas Art Museum · 20 Mar to 9 May
The Muto Sanji Collection Returns: The Spinning King Who Found a National TreasureTennoji · Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts · 24 Apr to 20 Jun
Nakanoshima Rose Garden, Spring BloomNakanoshima and Kitahama · Nakanoshima Park Rose Garden · 25 Apr to 31 MayUsual dates
Unohana Garden Open at Sumiyoshi TaishaSumiyoshi · Sumiyoshi Taisha · 1 to 31 MayUsual dates
HOKUSAI: The Era When Hokusai Was HokusaiTennoji · Abeno Harukas Art Museum · 22 May to 19 Jul
Planning a trip in May
National holidays in May 2027:
- Monday 3 May Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日)
- Tuesday 4 May Greenery Day (みどりの日)
- Wednesday 5 May Children's Day (こどもの日)
Holidays from the Cabinet Office's list of national holidays.
The calendar above lists 56 events in May 2027, and it's updated every week. Where to stay in Osaka compares the main areas.
More things to do in Osaka in May
Beyond the dated events, here's what the season brings and which guides cover May.
At their best in May
Also worth a look
Good to know
What is on in Osaka in May 2027?
There are 56 events listed for May 2027 (22 festivals, 18 markets, 8 performances, 4 exhibitions, 2 gardens and 2 anime and games events). The big dates are Shomu Tenno-sai at Todai-ji (2 May, dates to be confirmed), Cerezo Osaka vs Nagoya Grampus (9 May), Unoha Shinji at Sumiyoshi Taisha (12 May), Kobe Matsuri (16 May, dates to be confirmed), Takigi Onoh at Kasuga Taisha (21 to 22 May, dates to be confirmed) and FLOWER MOON FES 2027 (30 May). 33 have confirmed dates and 23 are annual events whose exact 2027 dates are still to be announced, shown with the usual window. Every listing links to the interactive map.
What's on in Osaka during Golden Week 2027?
Golden Week is the run of national holidays from Showa Day (29 April) to Children's Day (5 May). 5 listed events are on during it, among them Cerezo Osaka vs V-Varen Nagasaki (29 Apr), Sakai City Marathon (29 Apr, dates to be confirmed), Unohana Garden Open at Sumiyoshi Taisha (1 to 31 May, dates to be confirmed), Shomu Tenno-sai at Todai-ji (2 May, dates to be confirmed) and Gamba Osaka vs Kashima Antlers (3 May, dates to be confirmed).
What's the weather like in Osaka in May?
In May Osaka averages a high of 25°C (77°F) and a low of 16°C (61°F), with 137 mm of rain on about 10 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 May 2027?
The 5 festivals listed for May 2027 are Shomu Tenno-sai at Todai-ji (2 May, dates to be confirmed), Unoha Shinji at Sumiyoshi Taisha (12 May), Kobe Matsuri (16 May, dates to be confirmed), Chukoki Bonmo-e and Uchiwamaki at Toshodai-ji (19 May, dates to be confirmed) and Himeji Oshiro Matsuri (21 to 23 May, dates to be confirmed). Smaller local festivals are under Around the neighbourhoods, further down the page.
Are there free events in Osaka in May 2027?
Yes. 11 of the 56 events listed for May 2027 are free to attend, including Unoha Shinji at Sumiyoshi Taisha (12 May), Kobe Matsuri (16 May, dates to be confirmed) and Nipponbashi Street Festa (16 May, dates to be confirmed).
Is May a good time to visit Osaka?
Warm, with highs around 25°C. Sumiyoshi Taisha holds its Unoha rite on 12 May, and across the border Kobe has its Matsuri on 16 May and Himeji its Oshiro Matsuri from 21 to 23 May.
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.