Museums & Facilities

This is a must-visit attraction to learn about two historical Sakai figures, grand tea master Sen no Rikyu and poet Yosano Akiko. It is affectionately called "Risho no Mori" in Japanese, using characters from the two figures' names. Sakai tourist information is also available here.
Hours: 9:00-18:00 (Tea ceremony experience: 10:00-17:00)
Closed: 3rd Tuesday of the month. (excl. public holidays, closed the next day), New Year holidays
Admission: Adult: 300 yen, high school students: 200 yen, junior high school students and under: free
*free for pre-schoolers, Sakai residents aged 65 and over, and those with disabilities (proof required)

• Ryu-rei teicha with Japanese sweets (tea ceremony with tables and chairs): Adult: 800 yen, high school students: 700 yen, junior high school students and under: 600 yen

TEL: 072-260-4386
URL: https://www.sakai-rishonomori.com/english/

Date/time: May 3rd 10:00-16:00

Food and drink stalls using tea

Special exhibition: You can view the process of tea from being harvested till becoming a drink.

Photo spot: You can take a photo with a large tea bowl as if you are drinking from it.

Free participation, no prior reservation necessary.

● Tea picking experience: 10:00~ until the leaves are picked.

● Grinding matcha experience: 10:00-16:00.

● Japanese paper-dyeing experience: 11:00-12:00 and 13:00-15:00

Sakai City Museum is home to exhibitions occupying about 1,330 square meters of gallery space that introduce the ancient, medieval, premodern, and modern periods of the city's history. Information is also available in video form, and the museum holds special exhibitions focusing on selected themes a few times a year.
Hours: 9:30-17:15 (Doors close at 16:30)
Closed: Monday (open if public holiday) and New Year's holiday
Admission: General 200 yen, high school and university students 100 yen, elementary and junior high school students 50 yen
*Free of charge for junior high school students and younger living or studying in Sakai, Sakai residents aged 65 and over and those with disability status (proof of status required)
*Admission fee is subject to change for special exhibits
Access: Mozu station (JR Hanwa Line)
Address: 2 Cho, Mozusekiun-cho, Sakai-ku
TEL: 072-245-6201

The Sakai City Mihara Museum of History combines a hall where visitors can exchange ideas while experiencing culture and art with a gallery designed around the theme of "master craftsmen." Exhibits explore two of the Mihara district's most important historical legacies: the medieval Kawachi metal casting tradition and the Kurohime-yama kofun, a burial mound where 24 sets of iron armor were excavated.
Hours: 9:00-17:15 (Doors close at 16:30)
Closed: Monday and days following national holidays
Admission: 200 yen (500 yen for special exhibitions)
*Free of charge for junior high school students and younger, Sakai residents aged 65 and over, and those with disability status (proof of status required)
Access: Daiho bus stop (Kintetsu bus)
Address: 281 Kuroyama, Mihara-ku
TEL: 072-362-2736
URL: https://www.mc-mihara.jp/
Days of closure: April 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 30th, May 7th, 13th, 20th & 27th

‘Sakai is a nice place’ photo exhibition 2024
Everyday scene and scenery photos that people think ‘Sakai is a nice place’ will be displayed
Period: April 13th ~ May 12th 9:30-17:00

• Let’s enjoy MC Mihara! Spring 2024

Entrance fee is free. Participants will get a present if you challenge yourself with a worksheet while you explore the exhibition room and the Kurohimeyama Kofun History Plaza.
Date/time: April 6th 9:30-16:30

• Viewing Kurohimeyama Kofun tour

You can experience the vastness of the kofun, while learning about it through the exhibition room and the Kurohimeyama Kofun History Plaza.
Date/time: April 6th, 13:00-14:00

• Bell-ringing experience, ring the Buddhist temple bell!

On the 1st Sunday of every month a bell ringing experience is held. Why don’t you come and ring the bells made using the skills of the histrical Kawachi foundry?
Date/time: April 7th & May 5th, 10:00-15:00 (cancelled in case of rain)
Participation fee: Free

• Field of 70,000 Tulips

Peak viewing: Late March to early April
You can go onto the field and take photos!

• Rose Road

Peak viewing: Early May
You can walk on the small road to the top of the hill.

• Interesting bike experience

Date/time: Everyday 10:00-16:30
Cost: 400 yen/15 mins
Target: Above elementary school students. You can ride interesting bikes such as a bike with no handles or a bike that 4 people can ride!

• Strawberry Harvest and Crepe-making

Pick one pack of strawberries from the greenhouse and make crepes. You can eat it there or take it home.
※The strawberries are not all-you-can-eat
Date: Weekends & public holidays in April.
Time: 13:30~
Duration: 90 minutes
Cost: 2100 yen
Capacity: 48 people

When the Sophia Sakai Planetarium's gigantic dome-shaped 18-meter diameter screen comes to life, the audience feels as if they have been lifted gently into space. Attractions at this family-oriented facility include a family hour for toddlers and children of early elementary school age as well as opportunities to view celestial bodies at its observatory, which has a 60-centimeter telescope.
Closed: Monday (however open if a public holiday), New Year's holiday, other temporary closure dates
Access: Fukai station (Semboku Rapid Line)
Address: 1426 Fukaishimizu-cho, Naka-ku
TEL: 072-270-8110
URL: http://www.sofia-sakai.jp/

Cost: Adult 510 yen, Child 250 yen (4 years old to junior high school student)
Additional temporary closure dates until March 2025: April 9th, April 30th, May 7th, July 9th, July 10th, July 16th, September 17th, September 24th, October 15th, November 5th, Novemer 12th, December 10th, December 11th, January 14th, January 15th, February 25th, March 11th

Based on the idea that toys encourage children to play and that playing one way that children create their own culture, this giant children's museum features a spaceship design. Children love this world of fun, complete with a Toy Spaceship where kids can play with unusual and old-fashioned toys.
Hours: 10:00-17:00 (Doors close at 16:30)
Closed: Monday (however open if a public holiday and closed the following day)
Admission: Adults 1,000 yen, junior high school and elementary school students 800 yen, children age three and older 600 yen, children age three and younger free
Access: Izumigaoka station (Semboku Rapid Line)
Address: 1-9-1 Chayamadai, Minami-ku
TEL: 072-294-0999

The Urban Greenification Center is dedicated to responding positively to the desire of citizens to increase the amount of greenery and flowers in their daily lives. The Center maintains a greenery consultation room and Greenery Hall as well as several beautiful gardens, including a greenhouse and a four-season garden.
Hours: 9:30-17:00
July & August 9:30-18:00
December to February 9:30-16:30
Closed: Monday (however open if a public holiday and closed the following day), and New Year's holidays
Admission: Free
Access: Mozu station (JR Hanwa Line)
Address: 1-4-3 Higashiuenoshiba-cho, Sakai-ku
TEL: 072-247-0310

The traditional industries of Sakai all gathered under one roof. There are areas where you can see, learn about and experience for yourself Sakai's traditional knives, incense, chusen wazarashi commodities (made of bleached cotton and dyed in a traditional method), rugs and carpets, processed kelp products, bicycles and Japanese confectionary, as well as a shop where you can buy finest examples of each craft, in addition to Sakai's other local specialties. There's also the Sakai Hamono Museum within the facility, where they exhibit and sell a variety of rare and professional-quality knives.
Hours: 10:00-17:00
Closed: New Year's holiday
Admission: Free
Access: Myokokujimae station (Hankai Tramway)
Address: 1-1-30, Zaimoku-cho Nishi, Sakai-ku
TEL: 072-227-1001
URL: https://www.sakaidensan.jp