The Charms of Osaka Come Together! EXPO 2025 Osaka Week – Spring, Summer, and Autumn

The Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai is currently being held in Yumeshima, Osaka. Various events are held every day, and no two days are the same. From among the many events, we would like to introduce “Osaka Week,” where you can fully experience the charms of Osaka, the venue of the expo. The event will be held three times during the expo period.
This time, we will report on the spring events and highlight the highlights of the summer and autumn events. If you want to know everything about Osaka, be sure to check it out!

What is Osaka Week?

This event, held within the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai venue, is organized by 43 municipalities in Osaka Prefecture to promote the charms of Osaka both domestically and internationally. During the Expo2025 period, the event will be held in three phases—spring, summer, and autumn—with different content prepared for each season.
The event will be held at two venues: EXPO Arena, where performances and live shows will be held, and EXPO Messe, where participatory and experiential events will be held.

▲EXPO Arena

▲EXPO Messe

As the slogan “Smile! Dance! Sing! Enjoy All of Osaka” suggests, you can be sure to enjoy all the charms of Osaka to the fullest. Come and witness the excitement of the Osaka-Kansai Expo venue!

Main Schedule

●EXPO Arena
Osaka Festival!~EXPO2025 Spring Battle~ May 9 (Fri) to May 10 (Sat), 2025 *Ended
Osaka Festival! ~EXPO2025 Midsummer Battle~ July 26 (Sat) to July 29 (Tue), 2025 (planned)
Osaka Festival! ~EXPO2025 Autumn Battle~ September 4 (Thu) to September 7 (Sun), 2025 (planned)

●EXPO Messe: Tour to discover the charms of the region: Highlights of Osaka’s 43 cities and towns
Spring: May 9 (Fri) to May 11 (Sun), 2025 *Ended
Summer: July 28 (Mon) to July 30 (Wed), 2025
Autumn: September 13 (Sat) to September 15 (Mon), 2025

Opening event & danjiri parade! Osaka Festival!~EXPO2025 Spring Battle~

Osaka Week ~Spring~ On the first day, May 9 (Fri), Kodawari Times also went to cover the event, so we will report on what happened.

The opening event, which kicked off Osaka Week, featured many famous people who livened up the venue. The comedy duo Football Hour and talent Aina Fukumoto served as MCs, and the talk show with Osaka Prefectural Governor Yoshimura and Osaka Mayor Yokoyama was a lively exchange, much like a comedy routine.

Guest performers Kobukuro, a musical duo, performed the official theme song for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, “Kono Hoshi no Tsuduki wo” (The Continuation of This Earth), bringing the venue to a fever pitch! The audience also danced along to the lyrics of “Konnichiwa” (Hello in Japanese), making circles with their hands above their heads. It was a moment when the venue became one.

After the opening event, wooden floats with wheels used in festivals called “danjiri” gathered from various parts of Osaka Prefecture. It was the first time that so many danjiri floats had been gathered together, and the venue was instantly filled with a festive atmosphere as the powerful parade began.

Osaka’s food, culture, and history experience booths are on display

Meanwhile, at the EXPO Messe “WASSE,” there were exhibition booths showcasing the charms of municipalities in Osaka Prefecture. Visitors could enjoy four different booths: the “Minahare Zone,” which showcased traditional industries and culture; the “Yarinahare Zone,” where visitors could participate in workshops and other hands-on activities; the “Tabenahare Zone,” a food and beverage zone where visitors could enjoy Osaka’s food culture; and the “Stage Event” zone, which featured talk shows and other events. Booths showcasing Osaka’s food, culture, and history

Learn all about Osaka at the exhibition! Minahare Zone

When you enter the Minahare Zone at Osaka Week Spring, you will first see a section dedicated to Izumi City’s traditional craft, Izumi glass. The accessories designed with the Expo logo mark are very beautiful!

There were also displays introducing traditional crafts from Sakai City, known as a manufacturing town, such as Sakai Knives, Sakai incense, and Sakai Handwoven Carpets.

▲Sakai Knives

▲Sakai Incense

▲Sakai Handwoven Carpets

▼For those who want to learn more about the history of Sakai City, click here.

Taishi Town is showcasing a historical exhibition booth featuring the mausoleum of Prince Shotoku, a sacred site in Japan.

You can also read explanations in English by scanning the QR codes displayed in each exhibition corner.

In addition, there is an exhibition corner where you can learn about the history, culture, and industry of various parts of Osaka all at once, making it perfect for those who want to learn more about Osaka.

Experience Osaka’s crafts and technologies! “Yarinahare Zone”

In the “Yarinahare Zone,” where visitors could participate in workshops and hands-on activities, there was an exhibition of Yao City’s “Kawachi cotton,” as well as hands-on experiences in weaving and spinning yarn.

In addition, there are lots of fun activities, such as writing wishes on the giant winning daruma doll at Katsuoji Temple, a tourist spot in Minoh City, and taking photos of skateboard tricks in Matsubara City!

Staff members from each region energetically attracted visitors, and the booth became very popular, drawing not only Japanese people but also many foreigners!

Osaka’s exquisite gourmet foods gather in the “Tabenahare Zone”

In the “Tabenahare Zone,” local gourmet foods from each region were lined up, including Ikeda City’s B-class gourmet champion “Ikekara” (fried chicken) and Katano City’s craft beer

Sennan City and Kawachinagano City exhibited unique retort curry products. They tasted so authentic that it was hard to believe they were retort products, and they were very delicious!

The Osaka Prefectural Government’s Department of Environment, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries presented dishes made with agricultural, forestry, and fishery products from Osaka Prefecture, promoting them as “Super delicious! These are Osaka’s spring products!”
There are also summer and autumn versions, so you can look forward to enjoying seasonal ingredients.

In addition, the stage events feature performances by mascots and Shishimai (A traditional Japanese performing art in which performers wear lion head masks and dance) that showcase the charms of each region, so be sure to check them out as well!

What are the highlights of Osaka Week: Summer/Autumn?

Summer means Bon Odori!

Osaka Week ~Summer~, the highlight event is the summer tradition of Bon Odori. Bon Odori is a Japanese custom in which people dance to music in honor of their ancestors during the Obon festival (August 13-16).

On July 26, we will attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the number of people and nationalities participating in a Bon dance at EXPO Arena “Matsuri”!
From July 27 to 28, Bon dance performances from within Osaka Prefecture will be showcased.
On the 28th, there will also be an event where participants will dance Bon dance on top of the Grand Roof Ring, the symbol of the Expo. (Applications are now closed.)

Come watch and dance Bon Odori, and experience the summer festival of Osaka!

Autumn is music! Gourmet food! Craftsmanship!

During Osaka Week ~Autumn~, from September 4th to 7th, EXPO Arena “Matsuri” will host music performances by artists from Osaka representing various genres, including jazz.

At EXPO Messe “WASSE,” from September 13 to 15, there will be live demonstrations of traditional Japanese sweets from Sakai City, sales of Kofun-yaki, and a new dessert called “Tirapuri®,” which combines tiramisu and pudding—perfect for the autumn season.

Additionally, at Gallery EAST, from September 5 to 8, there will be an exhibition and workshops themed around “HigasiOsaka Brand: Let’s Visit the Workshop!” featuring the craftsmanship of Osaka’s manufacturing industry and small factories. From September 9 to 11, there will be an event themed around “Manufacturing Theme Park” in Kadoma City, offering a chance to experience the skills of Osaka’s artisans.

Enjoy all the charms of Osaka!

Osaka Week is an event where you can enjoy all the charms of Osaka, including its history, culture, performing arts, gourmet food, and industry. There are two more Osaka Weeks scheduled for July and September, so be sure to check out the events and participate! You are sure to discover a new side of Osaka that you never knew before.

▼Osaka Week Official Website (English)
https://www-expo–osaka2025-com.translate.goog/osakaweek/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ja&_x_tr_pto=wapp