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, free for junior high school students and under
*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/

Period: July 6th ~ September 1st

Fee: Adult 300-yen, high school 200-yen, junior high school and under free.

(You can also see Sen no Rikyu Chanoyu Museum and Yosano Akiko Museum with the fee of this exhibition).

This event will be held to remember the Sakai born sculptor, Fukuoka Michio, who passed away at the end of 2023. Please enjoy this avant-garde sculptor’s artwork who represents the Kansai area.

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

Have fun while learning about the fish in Ishikawa River.
Date/time: July 28 th, 13:30-14:15, 14:30-15:15
Location: MC Hall
Target: Ages 4 elementary up to 6th grade (3rd grade and younger must be accompanied by a guardian)
Capacity: 15 pairs (first-come-first-served)
Cost: Free
What to bring: Stationary
Apply: Directly at the museum, phone, fax or email
Period of acceptance: Between July 4th~26th

Mobile Aquarium of River Creatures
You can see the variety of river creatures, such as carp, crayfish and tortoise.
Date/time: July 28 th 13:30-15:30
Location: Tent near the front entrance
Observation fee: Free

Closed days (Wed): June 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th & July 3rd, 10th, 17th

Jabujabu Hiroba Waterpark

This facility that is a big hit every summer is open this year too!

Date: Open every day until September 23rd

※Closed in case of rain

Harvest Hill flower information

Type: Hydrangeas

Period of bloom: Mid to late June

Location: Mura area Ajisai road

There is a approx. 80-meter long path with hydrangeas blooming on both sides

※There is a chance that the flower blooming period changes. Please check the website.

Making strawberry ice cream

We will make it by mixing in strawberry jam made at Harvest Hill.

Date/time: Every day in June from 14:00~

Length: Around 60 mins (including eating time)

Fee: 800 yen

Capacity: Prior reservation necessary up to 24 people

Making melon bread

Let’s make melon bread in the shape of the animals at Harvest Hill!

Date/time: Every day in June from 15:30~

Length: Around 60 mins (including eating time)

Fee: 1200 yen

Capacity: Prior reservation necessary up to 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: 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

The weekend and public holiday schedule until July 19th
11:00-11:40 Tio, the Ursa Minor※
12 :00-12:45 Chibi Maruko-chan Enchanted by the Southern Cross※
13:30-14:10 Yo-kai Watch! Let’s Go to the Black Hole※
14:30-15:15 Find the Oasis of the Universe music: Hakase Taro
15:30-16:15 To the Grand Universe
16:30-17:15 Starry Tales
18:00-18:45 Mt. Fuji’s Star Calendar
※Children Programmes
Combo tickets avaliable!

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

Sakai Botanical 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

Period: June 14th ~ 16th
Naniwa Honzome (chusen) is a government-designated traditional craft. Rolls of cloth hand-dyed by experienced craftsmen will be exhibited and sold.
From traditional patterns to modern styles, you can see the beauty of this hand-dyeing skill. Tailoring is available to those who have purchased a roll (fee-charged).
There are also yukata on sale that are ready-to-wear.