Illumination in Osaka, Over the shining Water

2012 is going to close the curtain and New Year's holidays are coming around soon. At this time of the year, illumination events are held all over Japan.

I would like to introduce the popular illumination events held in Osaka since 2003.

In Nakanoshima which is the downtown business area in Osaka, the lighting displays under the theme "Over the Shining Water" are shown until Dec. 25.

The most spectacular feature in the lighting events is the multi-colored 3D projection.  The images are projected on the face of Neo-Renaissance style Osaka City Central Public Hall.

A Merry Christmas to You!

Osaka City Central Public Hall

Midosuji Street which is the primary main street in central Osaka, running north-south, has sparkled with the stardust illumination. You can enjoy it until Jan. 20, 2013. The stretch of stardust is 1.9 km, the longest of its kind in Japan.

A tiny moon over the street decorated with stardust

Icho （銀杏　Ginkgo trees) are planted along Midosuji Street. In autumn, the street becomes famous autumn leave viewing spot.

 

Thank you very much for visiting our site always.

May a new year be the best year for all of you and people all over the world!!!

Fireworks Pickups! (2011)

Expect crowds, traffic jam, summer heat and beautiful fireworks! There are more fireworks festivals than listed below.

Mie: The 59^th Fireworks Competition Dedicated to Ise Jingu Shrine

July 16(sat) 19:25-around 21:15

(Postponed to 17th if weather is stormy)

@Riverbank of Miyagawa River near Watarai Bridge (upper stream side) (10min ride on a shuttle bus from Kintetsu Ujiyamada Station/JR Iseshi Station)

*Shuttle buses from the stations to the competition ground run 17:00~19:30, from the competition ground to the stations run from 20:00 to 30min after fireworks are finished. Runs every 15-20min. Fare: 180yen/person

ca. 9000 fireworks

Osaka: Fireworks Dedicated to Tenjin Matsuri Festival

July 25(mon) around 19:00-21:00

(Cancelled if rains)

@Ohkawa area in Kema Sakuranomiya Park, Sakuranomiya Park ground

ca. 3000 fireworks

Website

Nara: Fireworks Dedicated to the 55^th Onpara Matsuri Festival

July 31(sun) 19:30-20:10

(Go rain or shine; cancelled if weather is stormy)

@Shiba Undo Koen Park (15min walk from JR Miwa Station; walk towards west from the station)

ca. 2000 fireworks

Nara: Uda-city Haibara Fireworks Festival

August 4(thu) 19:30-21:00

(Postponed to 5th if weather is stormy)

@Udagawa River riverbank (3min walk from Kintetsu Haibara Station)

ca. 3000 fireworks

Osaka: The 23^rd Naniwa Yodo River Fireworks Festival

August 6(sat) 19:50-20:40

(Go rain or shine; postponed to 7th if weather is stormy)

@Yodo River riverbank (between Shin Midosuji Yodogawa railway bridge and National Highway Route 2)

Website

Kobe: The 41^st Minato Kobe Fireworks Festival

August 6(sat) 19:40-20:30

(Go rain or shine; cancelled if weather is stormy)

@Meriken Park

ca. 10,000 fireworks

Website(This is a link to last year’s website. Date and Time are wrong, but Map, Transportation and Inquiry parts are useful.)

 Shiga: 2011 Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival

August 8(mon) 19:30-20:30

(Go rain or shine; postponed to 11th if weather is stormy)

@Otsu Port, Lake Biwa(5min walk from Keihan Hamaotsu Station, 15min walk from JR Otsu Station) (Access to Otsu Port)

ca. 10,000 fireworks

Website (Jpn Only)

Kyoto: The 51^st Uji River Fireworks Festival

August 10(wed) 19:45-20:45

(Go rain or shine; postponed to 13th if weather is stormy)

@Uji Bridge area (10min walk from JR/Keihan Uji Station)

ca. 5000 fireworks

Website (Jpn Only)

Nara: The 40^th Yoshino River Fireworks Festival

August 15(mon) 20:00-21:00

(Go rain or shine; cancelled if weather is stormy)

@Riverbank of Yoshino River, near Ookawa Bridge (upper stream side) (10min walk from JR Gojo Station)

ca. 4000 fireworks

Sue
-NARAWALK guide  

Kuniyoshi: Spectacular Ukiyo-e Imagination

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797~1861) is an Ukiyo-e artist with imagination and humour. He is known for action-packed Ukiyo-e printings of historical and legendary heroes. As an ardent cat lover, he also created many works depicting personified cats (and other animals), in addition to usual subjects like Kabuki actors, beautiful ladies and landscapes.

This year is Kuniyoshi's 150th death anniversary. An exhibition "Kuniyoshi: Spectacular Ukiyo-e Imagination" is held to commemorate him. About 400 works, including newly discovered, are exhibited at Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts. This exhibition is scheduled to tour to Shizuoka and Tokyo after Osaka.

Exhibition Tour Schedule:
April 12, 2011 ~ June 5, 2011 Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts
July 9, 2011 ~ August 21, 2011 Shizuoka City Museum of Art
December 17, 2011 ~ February 12, 2012 Mori Arts Center Gallery

@ Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts
Duration: April 12, 2011 ~ June 5, 2011
Closed on Mondays (except for May 2)
Hours: 9:30~17:00 (enter 30min before closing time)
Admission: Adults 1300yen, University and High School Students 900yen, Junior High School Students and under Free
Access: click here

Sue
-NARAWALK guide

Garden of Painting Japanese Art of the 00s

What do you make of this picture? Is this a drawing of a manga, Japanese animation, character? Or a piece of art?

To find out go to the National Museum of Art in Osaka. The museum is now holding its fifth anniversary exhibition titled "GARDEN OF PAINTING Japanese Art of the 00s"

In the exhibition you will be able to see some 200 recent and new works done by 28 Japanese artists including Atsuchi Tomoko, Goto Yasuka, Kobayashi Takanobu, Kusama Yayoi, Nara Yoshimoto, O JUN and Sakamoto Natsuko.

As those names indicate the exhibition focuses on new figurative paintings by younger generation of Japanese artists.

Whether you like modern art or are interested in Japanese pop culture, this exhibition has something to catch your eye and imagination.

Duration: ~ 2010.4.4

closed on Mondays (except for March 22) and March 23
Hours: 10:00–17:00, Fridays until 19:00
admission until 30 minutes before closing
Admission Fee: Adults 1000yen, University students 400yen

*Children (up to High school students), under 18, people with disability with one attendant are Free (need to prove their age or status)
**advance tickets sold at major train stations of Kintetsu line and other are 200-100yen cheaper.

By the way, while the National Museum of Art, Osaka is celebrating its fifth anniversary year, Nara is also celebrating its 13ooth anniversary year...1300th year of what? Can you guess? You can find it out during our tour.

Sue
-NARAWALK guide

Free Museum Admission On Kansai Culture Day

Attention~ if you like going to museums and want to save on admission fees! November in Kansai region (that is Nara, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo etc) is especially good time for you to come! Many of the museums in Nara, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Shiga, Mie, Fukui, Wakayama, Tokushima, Tottori prefectures are admission free throughout or on certain days of November. This month long event is known as Kansai Culture Day.

Most of museums scheduled their free day on Nov. 14 & 15.
Here is a list of museums free on those two days. (not complete one. There are just too many to list all...)

Nara
Nara National Museum
Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography(JPN link only)
Hakomotokan Konya

Kyoto
Insho-Domoto Museum of Fine Arts
Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto (special exhibition not free)
Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum(JPN link only)
Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Museum (special exhibition not free)
The Tale of Genji Museum

Osaka
National Museum of Ethnology
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics
Osaka Castle (only on Nov. 14)

Sue
-NARAWALK guide