THINGS TO DO IN OSAKA IN MARCH 2026

Feb 27, 2026

BY Maria Diaz

March in Osaka offers a wide range of events, from large-scale festivals and exhibitions to seasonal outdoor activities and cultural performances. With mild weather and plenty happening across the city, it’s a great month for visitors looking to experience both modern and traditional sides of Osaka. So if you’re planning to visit Osaka in March and aren’t sure what to do, join us as we discover the must-see events you won’t want to miss.

Delicious oysters with lemon – Photo Credit: Try Hard

Sennan Oyster Festival

The Sennan Oyster Festival is a seasonal food event celebrating fresh oysters and seafood on the coast of Sennan City, Osaka. Visitors can enjoy oysters in a variety of ways, including grilled, as part of set meals, in tasting comparisons, and with other seafood dishes. The festival also sometimes includes special projects such as free oyster soup on select days, local sake tastings, and entertainment, making it a lively, food-centric outing by the sea.

Date: January 10th – March 29th (weekends and holidays only)

Time: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Admission:  Free

Address: Japan, 〒590-0535 Osaka, Sennan, Rinkuminamihama, 4-201 内 泉南りんくう公園

Website: https://www.tryhardjapanevent.com/oyster-festival

Immersive ukiyo-e digital art exhibition – Photo Credit: Kimonoto

Ukiyo-e in Motion Exhibition

This is a limited-time immersive digital art experience that brings over 300 classic ukiyo-e artworks to life using 3D CGI animation and projection mapping. Visitors walk through multiple themed visual spaces where iconic works by masters such as Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Kitagawa Utamaro, and more are transformed into dynamic, animated environments. The exhibition mixes cutting-edge digital art with historical prints and cultural context to offer a modern way to experience traditional Japanese woodblock art. March marks the final month for this unique display, so if you want to experience it for yourself, now’s the time to do it before it’s gone for good!

Date: January 17thMarch 14th

Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Admission: Adults ¥2,000 (advance sales) / ¥2,300 (at the door)

Children ¥ 800 – ¥1,000 (advance sales) / ¥1,000 – ¥1,600 (at the door)

*Children’s prices vary depending on age

Address: 4-20 Ōfukachō, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0011

Website: https://www.ukiyoeimmersiveart.com/osaka (in Japanese)

Bloomed Plum Trees at Osaka Expo ‘70 – Photo Credit: Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park

Osaka Expo ‘70 Park Plum Blossom Festival

The Plum Festival at Expo’70 Park marks the arrival of early spring with the blooming of hundreds of plum trees throughout the park. Visitors can wander along scenic paths, relax with tea at the traditional garden teahouse, join hands-on workshops such as plum dyeing or crafts, and take part in guided walks through the blossoms. The festival also features food stalls offering plum-inspired treats, along with fun activities like plum-picking events and tasting corners, making it a lively and family-friendly way to experience Japan’s plum blossom season.

If you want to learn more about cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, and hanami culture in Japan, join us on our Daytime Hanami Tour.

Date: February 7thMarch 8th

Time: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (entry until 4:30 PM)

Admission: ¥260

Address: Senribanpakukoen, Suita, Osaka 565-0826

Website: https://www.expo70-park.jp/event/73814/ (in Japanese)

People testing colorful inks at a stationery table – Photo Credit: Bungu Joshi-haku

Bungu Joshi Haku Stationery Festival

Bungu Joshi Haku is one of Japan’s largest stationery festivals, celebrating all kinds of paper goods, pens, notebooks, inks, tapes, and creative supplies. It brings together hundreds of stationery brands and over 50,000 products for visitors to see, try, and buy directly from creators and makers. The event is a highlight for stationery fans and offers themed displays, limited-edition items, and hands-on shopping experiences that appeal to both enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.

Date: March 5th – 8th

Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last day until 4:00 PM)

Admission: ¥990 (March 5th-6th) / ¥1,190 (7th-8th)

Address: 2 Chome-1-10 Nankokita, Suminoe Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 559-0034

Website: https://bungujoshi.com/event/osaka2026/ (in Japanese)

Warriors procession at Daito – Photo Credit: Tokushima Shimbun

Miyoshi Nagayoshi Warrior Procession

The Miyoshi Nagayoshi Warrior Procession is an annual historical festival held in Daito City, Osaka, typically in early March. It celebrates Miyoshi Nagayoshi, a powerful 16th-century samurai warlord who once ruled much of the Kansai region before the rise of Oda Nobunaga. For one day only, the streets around Hojo Park transform into a lively spectacle where participants dressed in traditional armor and attire march through town in a dramatic procession. The event also features sword-fighting demonstrations, stage performances, music, food stalls highlighting local specialties, and family-friendly attractions, including an inflatable castle for kids.

Date: March 7th

Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Admission:  Free

Address: 2 Chome-19 Hojo, Daito, Osaka 574-0011

Website: https://www.city.daito.lg.jp/site/miryoku/49322.html (in Japanese)

Sumo wrestler performing a ceremonial stance during a match – Photo Credit: JAF

Osaka March Grand Sumo Tournament

This is one of Japan’s official Grand Sumo tournaments, bringing the ancient sport’s electrifying atmosphere to Osaka each March. Over 15 days, rikishi (sumo wrestlers) from top divisions compete in bouts that blend ritual, strength, and tradition. Spectators watch thrilling matches, including the dramatic ring-entering ceremony, and feel the raw power of Japan’s national sport up close.

Date: March 8th – 22nd

Time: TBC

*Oosumo matches start in the morning and finish around 6:00 PM

*Main matches of the top-division Sumo wrestlers start around 2:00 PM

Admission:  ¥3,500 – ¥60,000 (varies depending on the area)

*Tickets are on sale as of February 7th, 2026, at 10:00 AM

*A ¥2,000 service fee will be charged

Address: 〒556-0011 Osaka, Naniwa Ward, Nanbanaka, 3 Chome−4−36 大阪府立体育会館 内

Website: https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnTicket/year_schedule

Candlelight at Otsuki Nogaku Theater – Photo Credit: Fever

Candlelight Concert: A Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto

This candlelight concert in Osaka pays tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto, the legendary composer behind film scores such as The Last Emperor and The Revenant. The performance features a live ensemble playing selections from his most iconic works in an intimate setting illuminated by hundreds of candles. The concert lasts about 65 minutes and offers a calm, atmospheric experience that highlights Sakamoto’s emotional and cinematic music. It is part of the popular Candlelight concert series and is open to audiences aged 8 and up, with seating arranged by zone.

Date: March 14th

Time: 4:00 PM

Admission: ¥4,150 – ¥8,650

Address: 〒540-0005 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Uemachi, A7

Website: https://feverup.com/m/394555/en

Live tuna cutting demonstration at a seafood festival – Photo Credit: SAKANA & JAPAN PROJECT

Sakana & Japan Festival

The SAKANA & JAPAN FESTIVAL is a big seafood celebration held at Expo ’70 Commemorative Park. It brings together fresh, seasonal fish and seafood from across Japan, letting visitors taste a wide range of seafood dishes, from classic Japanese seafood bowls and grilled fish to creative offerings like seafood paella and ramen.

Date: March 19th – 22nd

Time: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Admission: ¥260 (+ food costs extra)

Address: Senribanpakukoen, Suita, Osaka 565-0826

Website: https://37sakana.jp/sjfesosaka/ (in Japanese)

Osaka in March offers an incredible variety of experiences, all packed into one lively month. From cultural traditions and seasonal festivals to immersive exhibitions and unique local events, there’s always something happening across the city. Whether you’re visiting for a short stay or planning a longer trip, these events are a great way to experience Osaka’s character, creativity, and energy at the start of spring.

Featured Photo Credit: FrentaN

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