Cherry blossom forecast

It is almost the season for cherry blossom!
Here is forecast for cherry blossom.

 https://sakura.weathermap.jp/sp/

Sakura will be blooming from the 26th of March in Osaka.
So the beginning of April must be much better for cherry-blossom viewing!

If you go to the place which has light up for sakura, it looks more beautiful:)

Let's party with sakura!!

A Valentine Chocolate Expo 2019

A Valentine Chocolate Expo will be held at Umeda Hankyu department store this year too!

About 300 brands and 3000 types of different chocolate will be gathered in this event.

Date:January 23rd ~ 14th of February

Time: 10am ~ 8pm(Sun-Thu)

Place: Hankyu department store on the 9th floor

Setsubun events

The 3rd of February is called "Setsubun" in Japan.

It means the end of winter and the beginning of spring. in the old lunar calendar.

On this day, people scatter roasted beans around their houses to get rid of evils from their houses and welcome happiness in.

So on this day, many temples and shrines will hold events for it.

One of the biggest events is "節分祭 (Setsubun Festival)" at Sumiyoshi shrine.

In this event, there is a Japanese traditional ritual.  And they serve free sweet red beans soup for 1,000 people.  

出典: http://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/events/annualevents/02.html

Date: the 3rd of February 9am

Place: Sumiyoshi Shrine

Price: Free

Many temples and shrines other than Sumiyoshi shrine will hold some events on this day, so why don't you feel Japanese tradition on this day? 

German Christmas Market at Sky building

The 27m high-Christmas tree is at Umeda Sky Building this year too. This is the extremely popular event that visitors can enjoy German Christmas while in Osaka. There is also the wooden Merry-Go-Round with 120year-history. In addition, the floating garden which is well-known all over the world is in the Christmas mood so that you can spend a special night with your precious one.

Place: Sky building / 7 mins on foot from Osaka station
Dates: November 17, 2018 - December 25, 2018
Hour: 5:30pm-10:30pm

Osaka Castle Illuminage

Osaka Jo Illuminage are going to be held this year again.
"Wa maze" will appear this year.  Illumination makes Japanese old town and that old town makes a maze.  It is the very first attempt in Japan!

You can enjoy not only illumination but also a maze...!
And also there will be some other programs such as a historical play performed by street performers, a monkey show, etc...


<出典:https://www.illuminagegroup.com/osaka2018-2019/>

The detail is as below,

Place: Osaka Castle Park NISHINOMARU GARDEN
Date: The 1st of December - The 3rd of March
Business hours: 5 pm- 10 pm
Light up hours: 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Price: Adult: 1,200 yen(Junior high school students or more)
         Child: 600 yen (elementary school students or less)
Free: Under 3 years old
Group discount: a group of 20 people or more can get 10% discount.

Tourist discount: Show your passport and you can get discount!
           Adult: 1,000 yen    Child: 500 yen
  *Only foreign passports applies (or non-Japanese resident).

This illumination is only for a few months, so Don't miss it!!

Ramen girls festival

Noodles which they choose and pulled for this event are the concentration Satoko Morimoto representative ramen Women eating 600 cups a year or more! Ramen Women Expo-limited ramen comes up, too! Man is entrance OK, too.

27 September, 2018 - 8 October, 2018

week day 11am - 10pm week end 10am - 10pm

Admission free *Eating and drinking are charged separately.

Full moon party!

Hello, this is Nori from Osaka Hana Hostel!
In September, Osaka was struck by the huge typhoon...
But mostly it was recovered and it is getting cooler these days.

This time we will introduce Full moon party held on the 24th of September.
Why don't you relax watching full moon in a sacred atmosphere?

Mizukisai Festival held in Sumiyoshi Shrine.



Reference source URL:http://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/events/special.html#anchor03


Date and time: 6pm - 8:30pm on the 24th of September
Place: Sumiyoshi shrine
Fee: Free (for table seat : 1,000yen)

Shushisai Festival held in Osaka Tenman-gu.
 
Reference source URL：http://www.osaka-info.jp/

Date and time: 6pm-9pm
Place: Osaka Tenman-gu
Fee: Free

According to the weather forecast, it will be cloudy on the day,
however, it is worthy of just experiencing such a sacred atmosphere!