Many rivers run through and around the city and thus the city has been given the title of "a city of water." The presence of water notwithstanding however, the city today has 2 distinctive 'centers.' In the north, the Kita area around Umeda and to the south of Kita, running along the north-south Mido-suji Street, the Minami area around Namba are always filled with crowds. Kita plays host to many modern shops and various shopping-cum-entertainment complexes while Minami contains both fashionable stores and shops selling local Osakan goods and dishes all wrapped up in a lively, bustling atmosphere. When you talk about Osaka, you can't forget to talk about the food culture of Japan's 3rd largest city and supporting the well known European image that portrays Osaka as the kitchen of Japan is the local saying that people in Osaka will eat themselves out of house and home; the result of the city being host to a wealth of inexpensive restaurants. |
- Shumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Shumiyoshi-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture - July 30th (Wed)-31st (Thurs), 2008 The Nagoshi-harai ritual held on the 31st is the focal point of this festival and sees scenes in which Nagoshime women and children, decked out in costumes of the Middle Ages go through the Chinowa (a large ring made of thatch) to purify themselves and wish for good health in what is aptly known as the Chinowa-kuguri event. Visitors, if interested are more than welcome to stop being onlookers and participate themselves. Following the parade of the portable shrine, the solemn Aranigono-ooharai ritual is held at Shukuin Tongu in Sakai City on August 1st.  http://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/ (Japanese version only) |
- Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture - July 24th (Thurs)-25th (Fri), 2008 The Tenjin Matsuri of Osaka's Tenmangu Shrine is one of the annual summer festivals of this shrine that is said to enshrine Sugawarano Michizane, god of learning. As one of the nation's three major festivals, alongside the Gion Matsuri in Kyoto and the Kanda Matsuri in Tokyo, it boasts a 1,000 years of history. Various rituals including Hokonagashi-shinji and Shishimai dancing are held on the 24th. The Rikutogo starts with Moyooshidaiko performances (in which a large drum is used) on the 25th and a procession involving two portable shrines follows the performance. The festival comes to a climax at Funatogyo, held on the local river and surrounded by bonfires as fireworks illuminate the night sky above. http://www.tenjinsan.com/ (Japanese version only) |
- Shoman-in Temple (Aizendo), Tennoji-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture - June 30th (Mon)-July 2nd (Wed), 2008 This festival is one of the three major summer festivals in Osaka and a famous summer feature of the city. It is dedicated to "Aizome-san," the deity of amiability, popularity and marriage and is also called "Yukata Matsuri." Twelve girls who wear yukata, a cotton kimono for the summer season, ride on a hoe-kago, a palanquin which is decorated with a red and white cloth and artificial morning glories and other artificial flowers. The palanquin is paraded about with calls of "Aizen-san jaa, hoekago" and attracts many visitors. A large memorial service for getting rid of bad luck and bringing better fortune and accomplishment of a good marriage match is held by the chief priest and all monks of Shitenno-ji temple at 5 pm on June 30th. http://www.aizendo.com/festival.htm (Japanese version only) |
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