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Events

Update：2025/11/28

City Affiliated Facilities

For events at Harvest Hill and Sakai Alphonse Mucha Museum, please see our Museum & Facilities page. Thank you!

Fortepiano Recital Series

©Taira Tairadate

Focusing on the teenage years of great composers, this recital series presents a carefully selected programme of works written in their youth. Enjoy the exquisite tones of fortepiano master Naruhiko KAWAGUCHI, performed on period-specific instruments.

Date/time:
Vol. 1: “With Sorrow and Joy…” December 20th (Sat) from 15:00 (doors open at 14:30)
Vol. 2: “With Longing and Nostalgia…” January 24th (Sat) from 15:00 (doors open at 14:30)
Venue: Fenice Sacay, small hall
Ticket prices (per concert): General 4,000 yen, 22 years and under 1,500 yen (limited quantity)
※ 22 years and under tickets not available via ticket purchasing websites. Proof of age required at entry.
※ Preschool children not admitted.
Capacity: 300 people
Application:
- Online: Sacay mate, various ticket-purchasing websites
- Phone: Sakai City Cultural Foundation ticket center (0570-08-0089)
- In person: Fenice Sacay ticket counter (9:00-20:00)
Click here for event details on the Fenice Sacay website (Japanese only).

Sakai Illumination 2025

Sakai Illumination 2025 will be held from December 1st (Mon) to January 15th (Thu), 17:00-23:30. Spanning around 1.7km, the champagne gold lights and blue lights will colour the streets along the rows of the trees on Oshoji street, from Sakaihigashi station to Sakai station.
A lighting ceremony will be held on December 1st (Mon), starting at 17:00 at Mina Sakai (Citizens Plaza) in front of the City Hall. Additionally, a photo contest will be held during the event period. For more details click here (Japanese only).

What is “Toshikoshi”? (New Year’s Traditions Around the World)

The timing and customs of New Year’s celebrations vary across countries and regions. This workshop offers a chance to explore different cultures and lifestyles through storytime with picture books and hands-on research using books.
Date/time: December 26th (Fri), 10:30-12:00
Venue: Sakai City Naka Library, 1F meeting room
Access: 15 mins walk from Fukai station (Nankai Semboku line), located in Sophia Sakai (library building)
Fee: Free
Capacity: 20 people (ages 5 and up, first-come-first-served)
Application: From December 12th (Fri) 10:00, in person at the library, by phone (072-270-8140) or fax (072-270-8149)

Ebisu Festival

Date/time: January 9th (Fri), 10th (Sat), 11th (Sun) 10:00-22:00
Location: Sugawara Shrine (2-1-38 Ebisuno-cho Higashi, Sakai-ku)
Nearest station: Hankai tramway, Oshoji station
This is a festival honoring Ebessan, the deity of prosperous business. After worshipping at the main shrine, visitors offer a hatsuhoryo (first harvest offering) within the shrine grounds. They receive a fukuzasa (lucky bamboo branch), which is then decorated with charms symbolizing wishes for business success and household safety. The grounds also bustle with people receiving kumade (decorative rakes), auspicious items said to “rake in” good fortune and luck.

Yassai Hossai

Date/time: December 14th (Sun) fire lighting and firewalking from 20:00-21:00 (time subject to change due to weather conditions)
Location: Iwatsuta Shrine (4-12-7 Hamadera-ishizu-cho Naka, Nishi-ku)
Nearest stations: Nankai line, Ishizugawa station or Hankai tramway, Ishizu station
A sacred ritual is held in which 108 bundles of firewood are burned before the deity, and participants walk through the fire while chanting “Yassai Hossai.” It is said that taking home the remaining embers wards off evil spirits.

First Shooting Archery Ceremony

Date/time: January 2nd (Fri), 11:00-12:00
Location: Mozu Hachimangu Shrine (5-706 Mozuakahata-cho, Kita-ku)
Nearest stations: JR Hanwa line, Mozu station or Nankai Koya line, Mozuhachiman station
To pray for peace across the land and abundant harvests, this ceremonial event will be held at a specially prepared archery range within the shrine grounds. Archers dressed in traditional attire will shoot arrows at a large target set 60 meters away.
Come and enjoy the beauty of this historic ritual and the elegance of Japanese archery. Free to visit and observe.

Indonesian Kopi (Coffee) and Film

Join us to explore the country and culture of Indonesia and learn about its coffee. While enjoying coffee made from Indonesian beans, which rank third in global coffee production, watch a documentary film that highlights the story of Indonesian coffee. (Audio: Indonesian, subtitles: Japanese & English). Free admission, capacity 50 people (lottery system if applications exceed the limit).
Application: Up to 4 people per application. Apply via Sakai City's e-application system (from December 19th 9:00 to January 14th 17:00), or by return postcard (must arrive by January 14th).
Date/time: February 1st (Sun), 14:00-16:00
Venue: Plaza of Multicultural Exchange Sakai, large meeting room

Live English picture book reading

Let’s enjoy English picture book reading, hand games, and English songs! Free of charge, no registration required, just come directly to the venue.
Date/time: December 21st (Sun) 15:00-15:30
Location: Sakai City Kita Library, 3F 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.

Hatsumode and Shrines in Sakai City

In Japan, it is traditional to visit a shrine or temple at the beginning of the New Year to pray for happiness and good health throughout the year. This first visit of the year is called “Hatsumode.” Many people go between January 1st and 3rd. Below are some representative shrines in each ward. Why not try Hatsumode yourself?
● Aguchi Shrine
Kaino-cho Higashi 2-1-29, Sakai-ku
(Accessible via Hankai tramway, get off at Shukuin station)
● Hochigai Shrine
Kitamikunigaoka-cho 2-2-1, Sakai-ku
(Accessible via Nankai Koya line, get off at Sakaihigashi station)
● Otori Taisha (Otori Grand Shrine)
Otorikita-machi 1-1-2, Nishi-ku
(Accessible via JR Hanwa line, get off at Otori station)
● Mozu Hachimangu Shrine
Mozuakahata-cho 5-706, Kita-ku
(Get off at Nankai Koya line Mozuhachiman station or
JR Hanwa line Mozu station)
● Suearata Shrine
Ueno 1215, Naka-ku
(Accessible via Nankai bus, get off at Ueno stop)
● Tajihayahime Shrine
Miyayamadai 2-3-1, Minami-ku
(Accessible via Nankai bus, get off at Miyayamadai-2 stop)
● Hagiwara Shrine
Hikishoharadera-machi 75-1, Higashi-ku
(Accessible via Nankai Koya line, get off at Hagiharatenjin station)
● Sugo Shrine
Sugo 178-1, Mihara-ku
(Accessible via Nanka bus, get off at Sugo stop)

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