Enjoying New Years Eve 2024 in Osaka Japan

New Years Eve celebrations in Osaka

Situated at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay. This is the third biggest city in Japan after Tokyo and Yokohama. With great fireworks, amazing countdown parties, unique events and celebrations, Osaka is one of the best destinations in Japan for welcoming New Year’s Eve 2024.

Introduction to Osaka

Osaka is a large port city and commercial center on Honshu Island. The city is known for its modern architecture, boisterous nightlife and hearty street foods. The 16th-century shogunate Osaka Castle is its main historical landmark, surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry trees. The Shinto Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine is among Japan’s oldest.

NYE Celebrations

Traditional activities on New Year’s Eve include watching the popular music program “kohaku uta gassen” on television and visiting a shrine or temple around midnight. If you are in Osaka during New Years Eve, you can join the crowds doing hatsumode, the year’s first visit to a shrine or temple. Hatsumode festivities are held at practically every shrine and temple across Japan during the first dew days of the year, especially on January 1.

At Kitamido Temple, a count down with fireworks and music At Sky Building, big count down with light, sound, fireworks and… 10.000 spectators expected !! From around 23:45. The 40th floor will be open too for few happy ones will start around 23:00. At Minamimido Temple, avoid bad luck for next year by ringing the bell of the temple from 23:30 (only for the 108 first ones, but groups can ring the bell all together at once).

Inside Osaka, be aware that everything will be crowded. If you hope to ring the bell or receive some of the free foods, go there early and with enough patience to stay in the queue for few hours in the chilly night! To ring the bell you usually need to get a ticket which are distributed few hours before the start of the ringing. Buy tickets to events as soon as possible.

NYE Fireworks

Get to Osaka by Plane

Kansai International Airport is the main international airport of Japan’s Kansai region, including the trio cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.

Best hotels

Intercontinental Osaka
The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka
The St. Regis Osaka
Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel
Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka
Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport
Hotel Brighton City Osaka Kitahama
Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier
Hotel Osaka Bay Tower
Hotel Universal Port
Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka

Kitchens of Japan

Osaka is affectionately known as the “Kitchen of Japan”, and with this title, it only means that every meal at the Japanese city will be a good meal. There are no lack of options when dining at Osaka – from street snacks to fast meals at local eateries to a gastronomical display of kappo – and it is impossible to run out of ideas on what to eat because whether you are craving for an okonomiyaki or you need a bowl of piping hot ramen on a cold winter night, Osaka will feed you well on this Christmas and New Year season.

If you are planning to spend next coming New Years Eve in Osaka, early booking is strongly recommended.