Fire Flies' Evening (HOTARU NO YUUBE)

Hello, this is Nori!

Have you ever seen fire flies?

Normally, they can be seen in rural area in Japan. You might be able to see them in some part of Osaka, but not around main areas in Osaka.

But you can get chance to see them at Namba Parks!

They will release 300 fire flies there and you can enjoy to see them.

"Fire flies' Evening (HOTARU NO YUUBE)"

Place: Parks garden 5F in Namba Parks (next to Nankai Namba station)

Date & Time: between 8 pm and 10 pm on the 1st and 2nd of June

Fee: Free (first come, first served for 300 people)

You can enjoy their natural warm lighting :)

An enchanted night walk at Osaka Castle

Hello. This is Maho from Oska Hana Hostel.

Today I recommend Digital Art at Osaka Castle:)

Have you been to Osaka Castle?

Of course you can enjoy there in the daytime.

Especially in April, it has a lot of beautiful cherry blossom!

(全国お花見1000景 - ウォーカープラス)

But today I introduce Osaka Castle after sunset.

It's An enchanted night at Osaka Castle.

A night walk experience blending enchanting sound and light 

into Osaka Castle Park.

(FRaU)

Not only sound and light.

Interactive digital art will transport you into a story world where Akiko,

a girl from the future, and her fantastic joyspirit are looking for a way back to 

the future from Osaka Castle Park.

(sakuyalumina.jp)

Sounds fun, right?

walk-in ticket

Adult(18 or older):3,200yen

Teenagers(13to17) and senior(65 or older):2,200yen

Children(4to12):1,200yen

There is advance ticket too.

↓Check it link below↓

https://sakuyalumina.jp/en/

If you would like to see different face of Osaka Castle,

you should go there:)

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!!