GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
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GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
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Tour of Osaka Tenjin-matsuri Festival / Cruising on the rivercover image

Tour of Osaka Tenjin-matsuri Festival / Cruising on the river

Osaka
4 hours

(Highlights) Held in the evening of July 25 each year, this festival attracts more than a million spectators. Dozens of rafts full of invited, kimono-clad people towed by small boats go upstream the major river in the heart of Osaka, while on-lookers watch from the river bank, nearby bridges and the pier. There stand stalls selling varieties of food, filling in every nook and corner of the river bank. Thousands of fireworks are shot up into the night sky to the great enjoyment of visitors. (Origin of the festival) The myth says that in the year 951, two years after God descended from heaven and settled in the Tenmangu Shrine, they flowed a sacred float in the river from the nearby beach and a funeral hall was built and "misogi" purification ceremony held at the shore where the float reached. Then, those living near the shrine and worshipers built a ship to contributed to the shrine. (How to enjoy) You can see rafts full of "yukata"-clad people in the festive mood on board slowly going upstream the river, while being soaked in the cool evening atmosphere. After dark, fireworks setting the skies ablaze make you sigh in joyful excitement. You can have whatever food you like at the stalls built in the riverbank. (Transportation) The JR train fare from Kyoto station to Osaka station is 560 yen and the subway fare, 180 yen. (Others) Since the venue is very crowded, please do your utmost in protecting yourself from being bumped by others and from theft. If you are there on the days other than the festival day, you can enjoy cruising on board a sightseeing ship called "Osaka water-bus" for a fee of 1,700 yen for one-hour ride. You can see the landscape of Osaka city from different angles as the ship sails along the river. Daytime only, however.

FROM$136/ per group
Japan Tour Guide - Tatsuhiro N.
Tatsuhiro N.
4.55 / 5
(60 reviews)

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Osaka Tour Reviews

Thanks Hideo!! The Best!!

Hideo, you were the most wonderful guide for our trip to Nara! I would NOT have wanted to navigate the trains buses and subways without you! We would have never seen or learned as much as we did on our own! We really appreciate you going at the pace that suited all 4 of us - you are so kind, patient and generous with your time, attention and knowledge!!

Celia K.

Hideo Y.

I'm very happy to receive your excellent review. We took subway, train and bus between Kyoto and Nara. Cherry blossoms are almost in full bloom. We could enjoy taking pictures under the cherry trees. I wish you all the best for your good health and continued success. Thank you.

Very interesting Kyoto- and Osaka-Tour

Our two 8-hour day tours (March 25 and 26, 2025) to Kyoto and Osaka with Atsuko were very interesting, varied and entertaining. Atsuko is a friendly guide and was able to enthusiastically introduce us to her hometown Osaka as well as to Kyoto. She was perfectly organized, has profound knowledge of the region, is humorous and communicative, and is flexible in accommodating individual requests. Long story short: We had a lot of fun and learned a lot. Highly recommended!

Martin K.

Atsuko T.

Hello Mr. Martin, Thank you for your kind review and words for me. I am happy to know you really enjoyed the two tours. Each of Kyoto and Osaka has its own attractive aspect. Although they are crowded with people, we could find some quieter places on these tours. It was fun to show you my hometown and share our own countries with each other. Thank you for joining my tours. Please say hello to Christine. Please enjoy the rest of your long journey. Thank you. Best regards, Atsuko

Informative and Patient Tour Guide

We hired Atsuko for a tour of the Osaka area, leading a group of 6 adults and 2 children. Throughout the tour, Atsuko lent her area expertise in a thoughtful and informative manner. She gave informative insights on the cultural and historical significances of every location we visited and was an expert guide, helping us find the most accommodating pathways for a number of elderly participants in our party. She was also very patient with our children and helped to find engaging topics and areas of interest for each child. We will be highly recommending Atsuko to friends and family with plans to visit Japan in the near future and we definitely hope to engage her services for a more rural (read: less busy) tour of areas outside of Osaka when we return to Japan.

George W.

Atsuko T.

Hello Mr.George, Thank you for your kind review and words for me. I really enjoyed showing my home town and talking with you. Your family was very kind to me. I am happy to hear you also enjoyed the tour in Osaka. It was fun to join your family trip in Japan. It was fun to talk with all of you and sharing our histories and cultures with you. Please say hello to everyone. Thank you. Best regards, Atsuko

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Travel like a real local. With our lineup of varied tours we want to help you customize and realize your ideal tour in Osaka. Our guides can arrange for you to visit areas specific to your interests, so there will be no filler in the itinerary! Browse all the tours we offer in Osaka, and find the perfect one for you. The tours come in a variety of categories and lengths, so chances are you will be able to find the tour for you. Looking for something you couldn’t find in our lineup? Go ahead and send a message to one of the guides, they will create your tour for you! Teaming up with a local guide and getting their help in planning the itinerary is the smart way to travel, so let them sort everything out for you.