Osaka Summer Poetry: 2023 Tenjin Matsuri, Tanabata, Fireworks, and Shaved Ice

📍 Osaka · 👁 1463 reads

When it comes to summer, it must be festivals and entertainment, full of all kinds of fun activities. Osaka also holds various lively events, such as the Tanabata Festival, fireworks displays, summer festivals, and more.

Let's enjoy some photos of Osaka's summer poetry together ♪

The first major summer event is, of course, Tanabata on July 7! Every year on this day, Vega and Altair can meet once across the Milky Way—a very romantic day.

In Japan, there is a custom of writing wishes on short strips of paper and decorating bamboo branches during Tanabata. It's a holiday much loved by children.

A popular Tanabata activity is the "Reiwa OSAKA Milky Way Legend."

This event began in 2009, where glowing LED spheres called "Wishing Stars®" are released into the large river near Tenmabashi Station. The scene resembles the actual Milky Way!

And then there is another Tanabata event.

At the famous Osaka landmark Umeda Sky Building, "Umeda Tanabata" is held.

These rows of colorful, beautiful bamboo decorations come from the "Sendai Tanabata" of the Three Great Festivals of Tohoku.

They flutter gently in the wind, feeling cool and refreshing.

It is said that these bamboo decorations also carry the wish for recovery and reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake a decade ago. This Umeda Tanabata event continues until Tuesday, August 8.

Why not walk a little away from the heart of Umeda, gaze at the bamboo decorations, and make a wish to the Tanabata sky?

Naturally, summer traditions include fireworks! Japanese fireworks come in a rich variety of designs, such as chrysanthemums, peonies, animals, and even anime characters, blooming across the entire night sky. Firework shells are handmade, relying on the precisely calculated craftsmanship of artisans—truly awe-inspiring.

Speaking of Osaka's most famous fireworks festival, it is the Tenjin Matsuri, one of the three great festivals of Japan.

Tenjin Matsuri is a traditional event with a long history, starting in 951, two years after the founding of Osaka Tenmangu Shrine.

The festival consists of the Yoiomiya (eve festival) and the Honmiya (main festival). During the Honmiya, about 100 boats take part in the Funatogyo (boat procession), and the festival culminates with the Hono Hanabi (dedicatory fireworks).

Additionally, the Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival is one of Osaka's representative fireworks displays.

Be sure to look at past photos and videos to experience the summer feeling.

And of course, we can't forget summer sweets! Shaved ice is also a part of summer poetry.

Besides enjoying simple shaved ice topped with strawberry or melon syrup from festival stalls, nowadays there are evolved versions with flavors like matcha, tiramisu, mousse, and various toppings—super popular ♡

Mousse shaved ice from "GARURU Ice" in Nakazakicho, and...

The Uji Kintoki shaved ice from the taiyaki shop "Osaka Naniwaya"! Mmm~. Its photogenic appearance is adorable, and just looking at it gives a cool, refreshing feeling.

In fact, Nakazakicho in Osaka is a fierce battleground for shaved ice, with many popular and delicious shaved ice shops. As the scorching summer approaches, why not treat yourself to a refreshing bowl of shaved ice?

Travel Diary Directory:

1. Finally, summer has arrived in July!

2. Tanabata on July 7

3. A symbol of Japanese summer – Fireworks! Tenjin Matsuri with over 1,000 years of history

4. Of course, the intense heat calls for this! Evolved shaved ice

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