Tenjin Festival

One hundred boats coming and going on the Okawa River is an intrinsic part of summer in Osaka

Along with the Gion Festival and the Kanda Festival, the Tenjin Festival is one of Japan’s three major festivals. Held by the Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, the festival has a long history is said to date back over 1,000 years, to 951. Yoimiya (pre-festival) is held on the 24th, and Hommiya (main festival) on the 25th. On the evening of Hommiya, more than 100 boats come and go along the Okawa River (formerly the Yodogawa River) in an event known as Funatogyo, accompanied by a votive fireworks display.

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine: Also known as Tenma Tenjin, Naniwa Kanbyo and Nakajima Tenmangu. People in Osaka affectionately call it “Tenma no Tenjin-san.”