Osaka December 2025 Event Guide: Winter Illuminations, Year-End Festivals & New Year Celebrations
Osaka is located in western Japan and has long flourished as a center of commerce and culture. Historic temples, shrines, and castles coexist with modern cityscapes, making it popular among visitors seeking gourmet food and shopping experiences.
When visiting for tourism, it's a place where you can simultaneously experience Japan's traditions and contemporary vibrant atmosphere.
In this Osaka, diverse events are held throughout the year, but December is especially a season when the city is brilliantly decorated.
Illuminations vividly light up street trees and buildings, and year-end events are held, spreading winter's unique charm.
Therefore, this time we'll introduce illumination events you can enjoy in Osaka in December 2025, focusing on recommended events for winter travel.
Table of Contents
-Spectacular Illumination Events to Enjoy in Osaka in December
-Family-Friendly Fun! Anime and Manga-Related Events to Enjoy in Osaka in December
-3 Recommended Shrines and Temples for a Traditional Japanese New Year Experience
Spectacular Illumination Events to Enjoy in Osaka in December
When December arrives, various parts of the city become decorated with illuminations. Illumination has become a major event in December, and illumination events are held in various areas throughout Osaka.
From here, we'll introduce carefully selected recommended illumination events among them.
OSAKA Hikari Kyoen (OSAKA Festival of Lights)
Speaking of illuminations representing Osaka's winter, it's "OSAKA Hikari Kyoen." Held simultaneously in multiple areas throughout the city, the entire city is enveloped in fantastical light.
The centerpiece Midosuji Illumination is a tree-lined avenue of lights continuing for approximately 4km along Osaka's main street, where you can experience winter's special atmosphere just by walking.
Additionally, in the Nakanoshima Area, illuminations and projection mapping are performed against the backdrop of historic buildings such as Osaka City Central Public Hall and Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library, creating a landscape where the buildings' grandeur fuses with cutting-edge technology.
While it usually begins in November each year, in 2025 it's being held from April through December to coincide with the Expo being held in Osaka. There's also special content commemorating the Expo, so please enjoy this year's unique scenery.
Since there are many photo spots, it's recommended as a place to color your travel memories. I also visit every year and take lots of photos.
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Dates: April 9 - December 31, 2025
Access: [Midosuji] Each station from Osaka Metro "Umeda Station" to "Namba Station," JR "Osaka Station," etc./ [Osaka City Hall Front] Immediately after disembarking at Osaka Metro Midosuji Line/ [Nakanoshima] Approximately 2 minutes walk from Yodoyabashi Station
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.hikari-kyoen.com/index.html
Nakanoshima Area
Source:Official website
The Nakanoshima Area is a sandbar surrounded by rivers flowing through central Osaka, characterized by cityscapes lined with historic buildings.
In December, this area becomes a main venue for "OSAKA Hikari Kyoen," with buildings and waterfront gorgeously illuminated.
Osaka City Central Public Hall in particular has its walls change into vivid colors through projection mapping, with performances fusing music and light mesmerizing audiences.
The riverside promenade is also decorated with lights, and the attractive point is that you can enjoy a fantastical atmosphere while strolling.
While Osaka is called the "City of Water," in the Nakanoshima Area you can enjoy scenery unique to Osaka with rivers flowing through the city center.
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Dates: April 9 - December 31, 2025
Access: Approximately 2 minutes walk from Yodoyabashi Station
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.hikari-kyoen.com/
Midosuji Area
Source:Official website
Midosuji is Osaka's representative main boulevard, a main street continuing approximately 4km from Umeda to Namba.
In December, as part of "OSAKA Hikari Kyoen," street trees along the avenue are decorated with colorful lights, and a magnificent illumination road appears.
Theme colors are set for each area, with lights in blue, gold and other colors creating the cityscape.
When driving along Midosuji, the scenery viewed from the car window is also beautiful, and when walking, you can experience the extraordinary just by strolling the tree-lined avenue.
Since it's also an area lined with commercial facilities and restaurants, it's recommended to visit combined with shopping and dining.
I also enjoy Midosuji's illuminations every year before and after going out for drinks at night.
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Dates: April 9 - December 31, 2025
Access: Midosuji: Each station from Osaka Metro "Umeda Station" to "Namba Station," JR "Osaka Station," etc.
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.hikari-kyoen.com/index.html
Nagai Botanical Garden (teamLab)
Source:Official website
teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka is a permanent outdoor night museum inside Nagai Botanical Garden, which opened in 1974, where the nighttime botanical garden transforms into a fantastical space of light and art.
Nagai Botanical Garden is located within the vast comprehensive park "Nagai Park" in Osaka City's Higashisumiyoshi Ward, with an area of approximately 24.2 hectares, containing 1,200 varieties of plants.
Additionally, "teamLab," which operates "teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka," is famous as a company producing digital content utilizing cutting-edge technology, holding digital art events throughout various parts of Japan.
At Nagai Botanical Garden, you can enjoy light art whenever you visit, but during the "OSAKA Hikari Kyoen" period, autumn-winter limited works can be seen.
There are many attractive art works, but I especially love the fantastical landscape of the Camellia Garden area. The objects change color when blown by wind or when visitors touch them, which is very interesting.
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Dates: Permanent exhibition
Access: Approximately 10 minutes walk from Osaka Metro Midosuji Line "Nagai Station"
Admission: Adults (high school students and above) from ¥1,800 (※dynamic pricing system implemented)
Website: https://www.teamlab.art/jp/e/botanicalgarden/#information
Illuminight (Osaka Expo Park)
Source:Official website
At "Illuminight Expo" held annually at Expo'70 Commemorative Park in Suita City, you can experience art woven from light and images with the nighttime Tower of the Sun as the stage.
The "Tower of the Sun" is an iconic monument from the "Japan World Exposition (Osaka Expo)" held in 1970, created by the renowned Japanese artist Taro Okamoto. It's still a very beloved presence for the people of Osaka.
Each year, magnificent projection mapping using this tower as a screen is performed, where you can enjoy dynamic performances fusing colorful images and music.
The tower wrapped in light shows a completely different expression from daytime, and the attractive point is being enveloped in a fantastical atmosphere.
2025 is the year the Osaka-Kansai Expo is being held. Visiting this place where memories from the expo 55 years ago remain, you can feel both the past and future.
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Dates: 2025 schedule not yet announced
Access: Disembark at subway Karasuma Line "Kitaoji Station," transfer to city bus route 37, disembark at "Kamigamo Misonobashi" bus stop (approximately 3 minutes walk)
Admission: Adults ¥260/ elementary and junior high school students ¥80
Website: https://www.expo70-park.jp/
Osaka Castle Illuminage
Source:PR TIMES
Osaka Castle Illuminage is an illumination event held during winter at the grounds of Osaka Castle. Every year, with the theme of fusing "Osaka's essence" and history, the garden transforms into a nighttime fantasy space through light and sound.
The detailed program for 2025 has not yet been officially announced, but the theme is "Toyotomi Hideyoshi." Toyotomi Hideyoshi was a military commander in the 1500s who unified all of Japan. Osaka Castle is the castle built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
In honor of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who loved gold, golden illuminations are scheduled to appear. Against the backdrop of the castle and castle grounds landscape built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, you can enjoy the scenery of illuminated light tunnels, promenades, and silhouettes of historical architecture.
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Schedule: November 1, 2025 - February 1, 2026
Access: Approximately 10 minutes on foot from Osaka Metro Tanimachi 4-chome Station or JR Morinomiya Station
Admission Fee: Adults (junior high school students and above) ¥2,000/ Children (1 year old to under junior high school age) ¥1,000
Website: https://illuminagegroup.com/%E5%A4%A7%E9%98%AA%E5%9F%8E%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB%E3%83%9F%E3%83%8A%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A52025/#
Namba Light Journey (Namba Parks)
Source:NANKAI
"Namba Light Journey" is a winter illumination event held in the center of the bustling district area called "Minami," enveloping the large-scale commercial facility "NAMBA PARKS," which is directly connected to Nankai Railway's Namba Station, as well as surrounding facilities with light.
Using approximately 1 million LED lights, the city sparkles with illumination from 5:00 PM to midnight.
Many spots offer free admission, making it easy to drop by casually.
One of the highlights is a light curtain called "Light Waterfall" that measures 18 meters in length, creating a fantastical atmosphere at night as lights pour down from above.
I have visited before, and the sight of sparkling particles of light cascading down was truly magnificent.
Furthermore, there are AR-based interactive content experiences and other attractions that make it full of highlights.
With excellent access and easy walking distance from Namba Station, I recommend visiting after evening hours combined with shopping or dining.
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Schedule: December 2025 dates not yet announced
Access: Directly connected to Nankai Railway Namba Station
Admission: Free
Website: https://nambamarutto.com/hikaritabi/ (2024 version)
To Enjoy Osaka at Night, Try Bar Hopping with a Local Guide
If you want to experience more of Osaka's nightlife, I recommend a bar hopping night tour guided by an English-speaking guide.
Osaka is a city where you can enjoy abundant gourmet food, but especially in the Namba area, there are many alleys and yokocho (narrow streets) where izakayas frequented by locals gather, and if it's your first visit, you might wonder where to go.
With a guide who knows the local establishments well, you can smoothly enter even establishments that seem difficult to enter.
The "Osaka Bar Hopping Night Tour in Namba" is approximately 3.5 hours long, visiting three izakayas where you can experience bar hopping while enjoying local dishes such as sushi, takoyaki, and okonomiyaki along with drinks.
You'll also visit Dotonbori, Osaka's famous spot where neon lights shine along the riverside, so you can enjoy taking photos too.
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Meeting point: Subway Namba Station Exit 15-B
Tour area: Namba/Dotonbori area
Start times: 18:00, 19:00
Family-Friendly Fun! Anime and Manga-Related Events to Enjoy in Osaka in December
Events held in Osaka in December 2025 aren't limited to illuminations alone.
From here, I'll introduce anime and manga-related events held in Osaka in December that families can enjoy. Along with illuminations, please enjoy Japanese pop culture.
Osamu Tezuka Black Jack Exhibition
Source:Official website
Osamu Tezuka is a representative Japanese manga artist called the "God of Manga," who created numerous masterpieces including "Astro Boy" and "Kimba the White Lion."
One of his representative works is "Black Jack." It's a story about the protagonist Black Jack, a genius surgeon who is unlicensed, saving people suffering from illness and injury, with human drama and medical themes deeply portrayed.
The "Black Jack Exhibition" allows you to experience the world of this popular work through original artwork and materials.
Over 500 manuscripts and valuable materials from magazine publications are displayed, and you can learn about the birth stories of characters and the production process of famous scenes.
Even those unfamiliar with the story will surely feel the depth of Japanese manga culture by encountering universal themes such as life and friendship.
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Schedule: September 27, 2025 to December 14, 2025
Access: 0 minutes walk from Kintetsu "Osaka Abenobashi" Station, JR "Tennoji" Station
Admission: Adults ¥2,000, High school/University students ¥1,600, Junior high/Elementary school students ¥500
Website: https://www.aham.jp/exhibition/future/blackjack/
Sanrio Character Fest in Hirakata Park
Source:Official website
Sanrio is a Japanese brand globally popular for "kawaii (cute)" characters such as Hello Kitty, My Melody, and Cinnamoroll.
The "Sanrio Character Fest," where you can experience the world of Sanrio, is being held at Osaka's amusement park "Hirakata Park."
Hirakata Park is a historic amusement park in Hirakata City that opened in 1912, a place where everyone from children to adults can enjoy through rides, games, and seasonal events.
The highlight of the "Sanrio Character Fest" is that numerous Sanrio character panels and large photo spots are set up throughout the venue, allowing you to take commemorative photos with your favorite characters.
Additionally, at a corner called "Character Greeting," you can meet popular characters like Hello Kitty directly and take photos and interact with them.
There are also original sweets and drinks, and I ate ice cream topped with marshmallows. Characters were drawn on the sweets too, and they were cute.
You can enter just the Sanrio Character Fest, but there are also tickets bundled with Hirakata Park admission. If you're going to visit, I recommend playing on Hirakata Park's attractions as well.
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Schedule: August 26, 2025 to January 12, 2026
Access: Ages 2 and up ¥800 (Ticket with Hirakata Park admission: Junior high and above ¥2,700, Ages 2 to elementary school ¥1,900)
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.hirakatapark.co.jp/topics/2025-sanrio/#sweets-drinks
3 Recommended Shrines and Temples for a Traditional Japanese New Year Experience
In Japan, there is a custom called "Hatsumode" where people visit shrines to pray when welcoming the new year.
This is an event where people pray for safety, health, and good fortune in the new year, and many people visit shrines and temples.
You can experience unique New Year's celebrations at each location, from temples where bells are rung to dispel the misfortunes of the past year, to shrines bustling with colorful lanterns and food stalls.
In Osaka, many spots are crowded with worshippers from New Year's Eve to New Year's Day, and some places allow all-night visits.
Here are three recommended shrines and temples in Osaka to visit during the New Year period, perfect for those looking for Osaka events in December 2025 and beyond.
Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine
Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine is one of Osaka's representative shrines, said to have been founded in 211.
It is the head shrine of all "Sumiyoshi Shrines" throughout Japan and has gathered faith as a guardian deity of maritime safety and navigation.
The unique architectural style "Sumiyoshi Zukuri" is famous, and all four buildings on the shrine grounds face the sea. The linear and majestic main hall is also designated as a national treasure.
During the year-end and New Year period, it boasts one of the highest numbers of worshippers in the surrounding area, with many people visiting for Hatsumode from New Year's Eve night into the new year.
In particular, the large arched bridge called "Taikobashi" is a popular photo spot, and at night you can enjoy a fantastic atmosphere illuminated by lanterns and lights.
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Schedule: Year-round
Access: Approximately 3 minutes walk east from Sumiyoshi Taisha Station on the Nankai Main Line
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/
Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
Osaka Tenmangu Shrine is affectionately known as "Tenjin-san" and is a shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, a nobleman and scholar from the 800s known as the god of learning.
Founded in 949, it is located in "Tenma" in central Osaka, and while having a long history, it continues to be deeply revered by local people today.
There is a constant stream of people visiting for Hatsumode from New Year's Eve night, with many students and families praying for success in entrance examinations and academic achievement.
Near the shrine is Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street, the longest in western Japan, with approximately 800 shops crowded into about 2.6km.
There are many restaurants, and you can feel Osaka's local atmosphere, so just walking around will lift your spirits.
It is recommended to visit the shopping street together with your visit to Osaka Tenmangu Shrine.
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Schedule: Year-round
Access: Approximately 3 minutes walk from Minamimorimachi Station on the Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line or Sakaisuji Line
Admission: Free
Website: https://osakatemmangu.or.jp/
Shitennoji Temple
Shitennoji Temple is one of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples.
It is said to have been built by Prince Shotoku, a politician from the 600s who had the legendary ability to distinguish the voices of 10 people at once.
While being rebuilt many times throughout its long history, it has gathered people's faith as an important base of Japanese Buddhist culture.
Within the grounds, a five-story pagoda, golden hall, and other structures stand in orderly rows, creating a solemn atmosphere.
During the year-end and New Year period, the bell called "Joya no Kane" is opened to general worshippers, offering a uniquely Japanese experience of striking the bell 108 times to dispel the year's worldly desires and welcome the new year.
At Hatsumode, the typical flow is to pray for family safety and good health, and purchase amulets to take home. Please try purchasing an amulet as a souvenir of your trip.
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Schedule: Year-round
Access: Approximately 5 minutes walk from Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka Station on the Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.shitennoji.or.jp/
For Exploring Osaka's Local Areas, Guided Tours are Recommended
Osaka is known as a city with lots of delicious food.
Among them, Kuromon Market is called "the nation's kitchen" and is known as a place where various foods gather.
There are many spots in this area where you can enjoy gourmet food.
With a tour guided by an English-speaking guide, you can efficiently visit shops popular with locals for their food in about 2 hours.
Not only can you enjoy Osaka-specific gourmet foods like takoyaki, but you'll also visit places where you can purchase uniquely Japanese kitchen utensils, making it recommended for those interested in food-related matters.
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Meeting point: In front of the SMBC ATM at Nipponbashi 1-chome near Kintetsu Nipponbashi Station (Exit 10 of Kintetsu Nipponbashi Station)
Tour area: Kuromon Market, Hozenji Temple, Dotonbori area
Start times: 10:00, 11:00
