Recommended for summer Kansai trip! Summary of summer festivals, fireworks, and traditional events in Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo from June to August

Speaking of the summer tradition in Japan, there are traditional events such as summer festivals and fireworks held all over the country. Following "Summary of tourist spots and events in Hokkaido from June to August", we will introduce three each of the summer festivals, fireworks, and traditional events held in Kansai region's Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo from June to August. Please refer to it when going out with family and friends!

※The information in this article is as of March 2024. Please check the official website for the latest event information.
※If you purchase or reserve a product introduced in the article, a portion of the sales may be returned to FUN! JAPAN.

💡Tourism TIPS

If you want to travel around multiple prefectures in Kansai at a great value, we recommend the 'KANSAI RAILWAY PASS', which allows you to get on and off the designated railway lines freely. You can also receive benefits at various facilities, making it a great ally for saving travel expenses.

• 【kkday】KANSAI RAILWAY PASS 2-day & 3-day ticket｜E-ticket
• 【klook】KANSAI RAILWAY PASS

What is the summer climate and average temperature in Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo? What kind of clothes are recommended?

Among the Kansai region, the three prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo are adjacent to each other, but due to conditions such as topography, they have different characteristics in climate. Before heading out for a summer trip in the Kansai region, let's first understand the climate and average temperature from June to August.

Also, in the Kansai region, the rainy season runs from early June to mid-July. The Pacific side of the region, including the southern parts of Kyoto, Hyogo, and Osaka, sees the highest annual rainfall during this period, and temperatures can be unstable.

However, once the rainy season ends, the temperature rises sharply, and it is not uncommon for the mid-July to August period to record intense heat exceeding 35℃. To prevent health problems due to the temperature difference between the air-conditioned indoors and the hot outside, it is reassuring to have something to wear. In addition, it is necessary to take measures against heatstroke, such as taking in water frequently and cooling the body.

Three traditional summer festivals, fireworks, and events you'll want to attend in Osaka Prefecture from June to August

In summer in Osaka, a variety of lively events are held. From here, we will deliver three nationally famous events, from the summer festival, which is counted as one of the "three major festivals in Japan", to the fireworks display where you can enjoy a series of powerful large fireworks. All of them can be easily accessed by train from downtown areas such as Umeda and Namba.

1. 【Osaka City】Osaka Tenmangu Shrine Tenjin Festival

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, boasting a history of over 1,000 years, is known for its "Tenjin Festival", one of the three major festivals in Japan. The festival is held over approximately one month from a lucky day in late June to July 25th, with the "Eve Festival" on July 24th and the "Main Festival" on July 25th attracting particular attention.

At the eve festival, the "Hokonagashi Shinji" ritual is held on the river to pray for good health and safety, along with drum performances and lion dances. On the other hand, the grand event held at the main festival is the "Rikutogyo", where about 3,000 people parade through the town, and the "Funatogyo", where about 100 boats travel around the Okawa River. The dedication fireworks that decorate the finale of the last day are also a must-see!

• Address: 2-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
• Event period: Usually from a lucky day in late June to July 25th
• Example of event schedule:
  【July 24th・Eve Festival】Hokonagashi Shinji from 08:50,
  【July 25th・Main Festival】Rikutogyo parade starts from 15:30, Funatogyo parade starts from 17:30, Dedication fireworks from 19:30
  *The above is the schedule for 2023
• Access: About 2 minutes on foot from JR "Osaka Tenmangu Station" or Osaka Metro "Minamimorimachi Station"
• Official website: https://osakatemmangu.or.jp/

2. 【Osaka City】Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival

The 'Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival', held on the Yodo River between Shin-Osaka Station and Osaka Station, is one of the largest fireworks festivals in Osaka, attracting over 600,000 people annually. A variety of fireworks, including large spherical fireworks, underwater fireworks, and rapid-fire star mines synchronized with music, are launched.

If you want to enjoy the fireworks while relaxing in your seat, we recommend the sponsored viewing seats on the right bank of the river, on the Tsukamoto station side. However, securing tickets is a fierce battle every year. Be sure to check the release period regularly and apply early.

• Address: Yodogawa Riverbank, Kita-ku, Osaka (between Juso Bridge and under the JR Kobe Line)
• Event period: Usually the first Saturday in August
  *Scheduled for August 3, 2024
• Event time: Usually 19:30~20:30
• Nearest station: Hankyu Railway "Juso Station" & "Minami-Kata Station", Hanshin Railway "Himejima Station", JR "Tsukamoto Station" & "Mihomishima Station" or Osaka Metro "Nishinakajima-Minamigata Station"
• Official site: https://www.yodohanabi.com/

3. 【Osaka City】Kumata Shrine Summer Festival

The "Summer Festival" held every July at the Kumata Shrine, which is said to have been founded in 862. The biggest feature of the festival is that during the period, you can see the procession of 9 Danjiri (※). It is known as one of the largest "Danjiri Festivals" in Osaka, and it is said that over 300,000 tourists visit every year.

※ "Danjiri" refers to a wooden float used in shrine festivals in the Kansai region, adorned with carvings and decorations. In the summer "Danjiri Festival", carriers pull the Danjiri to the local shrine to pray for health and a good harvest.

One of the biggest highlights is the "Kucho Joint Parade" held on Minato Avenue near Hirano Station. Nine town's floats gather and parade, with both the people riding on the roofs and the spectators dancing along to the rhythm of the drums. It's a sight to behold!

• Address: 2-1-67, Hirano Miyamachi, Hirano-ku, Osaka City
• Event period: Usually from July 11th to 14th
• Example of event schedule:
  【July 12th】Kumata Joint Parade from 21:45
• Access: About 6 minutes on foot from JR "Hirano Station"
• Official website: https://kumata.jp/

Three summer festivals, fireworks, and traditional events in Kyoto Prefecture from June to August that you'll want to attend

Many of Kyoto's festivals have a long history, and there are countless events that are indispensable for coloring Kansai tourism. One such event that you should definitely see in summer in Kyoto is an event where tradition and innovation coexist. In July, there is the "Gion Festival" at Yasaka Shrine, and in August, there is the "Kyoto Gozan Okuribi" and "Kameoka Peace Festival Hozu River Citizen Fireworks Displayl". You can fully experience the uniqueness of Kyoto.

1. 【Kyoto City】Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival

One of the 'Three Great Festivals' of Japan, alongside the Tenjin Festival in Osaka and the Kanda Festival in Tokyo, is the 'Gion Festival' of Yasaka Shrine. It is said to have originated in 869, when a portable shrine was sent to a garden once made for the emperor to calm a plague that was spreading throughout Japan, praying for the removal of the disaster.

Various rituals and events are held over a month from July 1 every year, but the most bustling are the "Pre-Festival (Sakimatsuri)" and "Post-Festival (Atomatsuri)". Let's imprint the tradition of over 1,000 years in your eyes, such as the "Yamahoko Parade (Yamahoko・Yamaboko Junko)" where a Yamahoko (Yamahoko・Yamaboko*) reaching a weight of 12 tons and a height of 25 meters is pulled around, and the "Hanagasa Parade (Hanagasa Junko)" where about 1,000 people line up and dedicate a dance.

*Yamahoko: Refers to a thing that is set up on the platform of a float pulled in a shrine festival, with structures such as houses and mountains, and further spears and long swords are set up on it. The Yamahoko event of the Kyoto Gion Festival is one of the nationally designated important intangible folk cultural properties "Yama/Hoko/Yatai: the Float Festivals of Japan", and is also registered as a "UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage".

• Address: North side of Gion-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
• Event period: Every year from July 1 to 31
• Example of event date and time:
  【July 17】Yamahoko Parade (Pre-Festival) from 09:00, Divine Festival from 16:00
  【July 24】Yamahoko Parade (Post-Festival) from 09:30, Hanagasa Parade from 10:00
• Access: About 5 minutes on foot from "Gion Shijo Station" on the Keihan Electric Railway, about 8 minutes on foot from "Kyoto Kawaramachi Station" on the Hankyu Electric Railway
• Official website: https://www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp/

2. 【Kameoka City】Kameoka Peace Festival Hozugawa Citizen Fireworks Display

Located about 30 minutes by train from JR Kyoto Station, the city of Kameoka hosts the 'Kameoka Peace Festival Hozu River Citizens Fireworks Display' every August. Known as one of the largest fireworks displays in the Kansai region with about 10,000 fireworks launched, it is the only event in Kyoto where special selection balls recommended by the 'Japan Fireworks Art Association' are launched.

Another feature is the provision of about 10 types of paid viewing seats. Unique to the Kansai region, there are special viewing seats on the bridge and seats near JR Kameoka Station, where you can enjoy fireworks synchronized with popular music through a full-area sound system while relaxing with street food in hand.

💡For the 2023 event, a paid ticket system were introduced for all viewing areas, and viewing was only possible in the paid areas. Please check the official website for the sale of paid viewing seats for 2024.

• Address: Hozucho Hozubashi upstream, Kameoka City
• Event period: Annually on August 11
• Event time: 19:30～20:30
• Nearest station: JR "Kameoka Station" (About 10 minutes on foot to Venue A, about 20 minutes on foot to Venue B)
• Official website: https://www.kameoka-hanabi.com/

3. 【Kyoto City】Kyoto Gozan Okuribi

Every year on the night of August 16th, the summer tradition of "Kyoto Gozan Okuribi" is held in the mountains surrounding Kyoto. Okuribi is a traditional event that concludes the summer Obon festival, symbolizing the return of the ancestral spirits that were welcomed into this world back to the afterlife. Each Okuribi is registered as an intangible folk cultural property of Kyoto City.

At 8 p.m., the characters "Daimonji" (大), "Myo" (妙), "Ho" (法), "Funagata" (ship-shaped), "Hidari Daimonji" (left 大), and "Torii-gata" (torii-shaped), drawn in flames, appear on the six mountains surrounding the Kyoto Basin. The bonfires can be seen from open areas along the city's rivers and some hotel rooftops. The best viewing spots vary for each mountain, so it is recommended to check before visiting.

• Event period: Annually on August 16th
• Lighting location & time:
  【Daimonji Bonfire】Ryoanji Gatake, Sakyo Ward, from 20:00～
  【Matsugasaki Myoho Bonfire】Matsugasaki Mantoro Mountain & Daikokuten Mountain, Sakyo Ward, from 20:05～
  【Funagata Mantoro Bonfire】Nishigamo Myoken Mountain, Kita Ward, from 20:10～
  【Hidari Daimonji Bonfire】Daimonji Mountain, Kita Ward, from 20:15～
  【Torii-gata Torch Bonfire】Sagatoriimoto Mandala Mountain, Ukyo Ward, from 20:20～
  ※All in Kyoto city, each mountain will be lit for about 30 minutes
• Official website: https://ja.kyoto.travel/event/major/okuribi/

Three summer festivals, fireworks, and traditional events you'll want to attend in Hyogo Prefecture from June to August

Recommended for summer tourism in Hyogo are local events deeply rooted in the community. We pick up three events where the summer-like and local-like are beautifully fused, such as summer fireworks witnessed with locals in yukata at the hot spring town, a fireworks festival with a history of over 70 years, and a Bon dance festival where anyone can participate for free.

1.【Toyooka City】Kinosaki Onsen Natsu Monogatari (Yume Fireworks)

One of the representative hot springs of Hyogo, which has a history of over 1,300 years, is Kinosaki Onsen. Not only the baths (indoor baths) in the ryokan, but there are also seven public baths (outdoor baths) in the town, and the entire town can be relaxed like one large hot spring inn, and you can go around the hot springs in a yukata and geta.

The "Natsu Monogatari (Yume Fireworks)" is held in the summer at Kinosaki Onsen. The fireworks viewed while wearing a yukata in the hot spring town lined with willow trees offer a different atmosphere from the fireworks in the city. In late August, another event, "Oikawa Lantern Floating," is held before the fireworks launch. The sight of lanterns with wishes written on them floating down the river can only be described as fantastical.

• Address: Kinosaki Onsen, Yushima, Toyooka City
• Event period: Usually weekdays from late July to late August
  *Excluding the Obon period (around August 10 to 16)
• Event time: From 21:00 for about 5 minutes
• Access: Immediately on foot from JR "Kinosaki Onsen Station"
• Official website: https://kinosaki-spa.gr.jp/

2. 【Kawanishi City】Inagawa Fireworks Festival

The 'Inagawa Fireworks Festival', held annually in mid-August on the Inagawa River, which forms the border between Osaka's Ikeda City and Hyogo's Kawanishi City. This traditional fireworks festival has been held since 1948, and every year more than 100,000 people visit from both banks. Approximately 4,000 fireworks, including special fireworks, color the night sky. In 2023, fireworks with a dahlia motif and a large star mine "Great Sky Niagara" that fires in a quick succession were launched.

You can enjoy the view from both banks of the river, the Osaka side and the Hyogo side. However, the first venue near the station is usually crowded every year, so if you want to enjoy it leisurely, we recommend the second venue near the Inagawa Bridge, which is a little far away. Also, the second venue is closer to the launch site, so you can enjoy powerful fireworks.

• Address: Near 2-chome, Kohna, Kawanishi City, Inagawa Riverbed
• Event period: Usually the 3rd Saturday of August every year
• Event time: 19:20～20:20
• Access: About 10 minutes on foot from Hankyu Railway "Kawanishi-Noseguchi Station" and "Ikeda Station". About 15 minutes on foot from JR "Kawanishi-Ikeda Station"
• Official website: https://www.city.kawanishi.hyogo.jp/shiseijoho/shokai/kisetu/index.html

3.【Kobe City】Kobe Sea Bon Odori

The "Kobe Sea Bon Odori", a summer tradition set in Meriken Park, a representative night view spot of Kobe, Hyogo. Started in 1993, it is one of the largest Bon Dance festivals in the Kansai region, where you can dance to representative folk songs from all over Japan and unique folk songs from Kobe with live singing and live performances.

This is an event where anyone, regardless of age, gender, or nationality, can participate for free and enjoy dancing together to the powerful sound. The model videos of the folk songs often danced in the actual event are also available on YouTube, so you can watch them in advance and practice dancing.

• Address: 2 Hatoba-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, at Meriken Park
• Event period: Usually the 3rd Saturday of August every year
• Event time: 15:00～20:30 (Bon dance starts at 18:00～)
• Access: About 8 minutes on foot from "Minato Motomachi Station" on the Kobe Municipal Subway. About 10 minutes on foot from "Motomachi Station" on JR and Hanshin Electric Railway
• Official website: https://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/index.html

Enjoy the summer tradition of the Kansai region!

In the Kansai region of Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo, there are plenty of unique summer events, such as the three major festivals of Japan, historical festivals, traditional events, and dynamic fireworks. Find the event you're interested in and fully enjoy the summer traditions that can only be experienced at this time of year!