Events
Update：2026/7/30
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- English Picture Book Live
- Futon Daiko and Danjiri Festivals
- ASEAN Photo Contest 2026
- GIORNO ARTE 2026 Art Aquarium
- “Let’s take a closer look at our hometown Sakai” Exhibition: Kombu and Flowers
Events at City-affiliated Facilities
For events at Harvest Hill, Sakai City Museum, Mihara History Museum, Sophia Sakai, Fenice Sacay, Alphonse Mucha Museum and Sakai Plaza of Rikyu & Akiko, please see our Museum & Facilities page. Below are some highlights of what's going on in the next two months:
- ‘Parade of living things’ Exhibition at Sakai City Museum
- Mucha Art Exposition Returns at Sakai Alphonse Mucha Museum
English Picture Book Live
Enjoy English picture book reading, hand games, and English songs! Free of charge, no registration required, come directly to the venue.
Date/time: August 23rd (Sun) 15:00-15:30 for preschool children and their guardians, September 27th (Sun) 15:00-15:30 for elementary school students
Location: Sakai City Kita Library, 3F ohanashi room (training room) (inside Kita Ward Office)
Access: 200 meters east from Exit 2 of Shinkanaoka station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji line. From Mikunigaoka station (JR Hanwa line/Nankai Koya line), take the Nankai bus and get off at Kita Ward Office stop and it is right in front.
Futon Daiko and Danjiri Festivals
Both of these are autumn traditional festivals of Sakai. At Futon daiko festivals you will see large portable shrines being shouldered and paraded around. At Danjiri festivals you will see large floats with exquisite wood carvings pulled by many people, with the highlight being the thrilling corner turns.
Futon daiko
The most renowned Futon daiko festival takes place at Mozu Hachimangu Shrine, with the following schedule:
September 26th (Sat): Procession into the shrine, 11:00-22:30
September 27th (Sun): Procession out of the shrine, 9:00-22:00
In addition to this, various Futon daiko festivals are held at multiple locations across the city during September and October.
Danjiri
The most renowned Danjiri festival is the Otori Taisha Danjiri Festival, held from October 2nd (Fri) to October 4th (Sun).
October 3rd (Sat): Ten Danjiri floats enter the shrine in the morning, followed by their departure.
October 4th (Sun): A Nishi Ward Danjiri Parade takes place around noon. In addition to this, various Danjiri festivals are held at multiple locations across the city during September and October.
Click here to visit the Sakai Hyakucho website for detailed times and more.
ASEAN Photo Contest 2026
We invite you to submit photos that highlight the appeal of the ASEAN nations (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste & Vietnam) in scenery, people, history, culture and more. We also accept photos such as ASEAN food that you’ve made at home, or where you could feel the ASEAN culture in Japan, too.
The winners (the top 12 entrants) will be awarded famous goods of Sakai. In addition, the photographs of the top 50 entrants will be displayed between October 24th (Sat) ~ November 6th (Fri), on the first floor of Sakai City Hall high rise building.
Application period: Until 23:00, August 31st (Sun)
Application method: Sakai electronic application system (can’t apply by post)
Application conditions:
- 1 photograph per person
- Must be 18 years or older. Can be amateur or professional.
- A photograph that the creator has not yet published (regardless of date of photoshoot)
- Do not infringe on the copyrights, portrait rights or any other rights of a third party
- Do not violate the laws, public orders and morals
- Photos cannot be overly photoshopped to add or erase objects (colour or saturation adjustments and trimming is allowed)
- 3.8million pixels or 2,200 x 1,600 pixels and over, either in JPEG/PNG style (less than 10MB)
The photo is a winning piece from last year.
Click here for more details about the event (Japanese)
GIORNO ARTE 2026 Art Aquarium
The glass walls inside the Giorno shopping mall in Sakaihigashi have been transformed into art! Local children dipped their hands in paint and created sea creatures, turning the space into something like an aquarium. Be sure to check it out while you’re shopping! Free viewing.
Date/time: Until August 31st (Mon), 10:00-20:00
Venue: Giorno, 2F & 3F
Access: 200 meters south of Sakaihigashi station (Nankai Koya line)
“Let’s take a closer look at our hometown Sakai” Exhibition: Kombu and Flowers
This is an exhibition of works by junior high and high school students combining kombu (kelp), a local specialty of Sakai, with ikebana (flower arrangement). Why not come and see an ikebana display that is unique to Sakai? Free admission.
Date/time: August 27th (Thu) ~ September 1st (Tue), opens at 10:00
Venue: Takashimaya Senboku store, 4F
Nearest station: Izumigaoka station (Nankai Semboku line)