Tenjin Matsuri 2026: Osaka's Great Summer Festival July 24–25
Tenjin Matsuri, held on July 24–25 each year at Osaka Tenmangu shrine, is one of Japan’s three greatest festivals alongside Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri and Tokyo’s Kanda Matsuri. The 2026 edition follows the traditional format that has run for over a thousand years: a land procession on the evening of July 24, followed by the river procession (funatogyo) on July 25, when more than a hundred ceremonial boats carry portable shrines, musicians, and attendants down the Okawa River while fireworks burst overhead.
The Two-Day Schedule
July 24 (Yomiya): The preliminary ceremony begins at Osaka Tenmangu in the late afternoon. Portable shrines (mikoshi) are carried through the surrounding streets in a land procession, with participants dressed in Heian-period court costumes. The evening sees music performances and stall food in the shrine precinct.
July 25 (Honmiya): The main event. The river procession departs from Okawa pier in the late afternoon, with boats carrying the shrine deities alongside traditional court performers, flaming torches (taimatsu), and musical groups. Fireworks (approximately 5,000 shells) launch over the river as darkness falls, typically between 19:30 and 21:00. This is what most visitors come for, and prime riverside spots fill up several hours in advance.
Viewing the River Procession
Free viewing areas line both banks of the Okawa River, primarily between Tenjinbashi Bridge and Tenmabashi Bridge. The southern bank (closer to Temmabashi) tends to be slightly less crowded. Ticketed boat viewing and terrace seating are sold months in advance through Osaka Tenmangu directly - by July these are generally sold out.
Crowds of up to 1.3 million people attend over the two days, concentrated on July 25. The nearest stations are Minamimorimachi (Tanimachi/Sakaisuji lines) and Temmabashi (Tanimachi/Keihan lines). Expect very slow movement around these stations from mid-afternoon onwards.
Getting Around Osaka During Matsuri
Traffic restrictions and road closures affect several routes near the Okawa from mid-afternoon on July 25. Subway is strongly preferable to taxis or buses. All-day passes on the Osaka Metro cost ¥820 for adults and are valid on the day of purchase.
Our Osaka travel guide covers the city’s neighbourhoods, logistics, and key sights year-round, and our guide to things to do in Osaka includes the major free and ticketed attractions beyond the festival calendar. If you want to see more of the city with a local guide, GetYourGuide’s Osaka tours include food walks, Dotonbori evening tours, and day trips to Nara and Kyoto.