Mid
Aug

Osaka Shitennōji Bon Festival

Free

Join the Obon festival at Osaka’s Shitennōji Temple for a combination of prayer, candlelight offerings, and spirited dancing.

What happens?

Obon is a time to honor and remember ancestors through temple visits, offerings, and the popular dance known as Bon Odori.

At Shitennōji, there will be Bon Odori dancing on select days. In addition, visitors can request a recitation of sutras by a monk in one of the temple halls, followed by incense offerings and the traditional floating of wooden prayer slips at Kameidō Hall. In the evenings, thousands of special candles inscribed with the names of the departed will be lit in the central temple area.

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Schedule 2025

The dates for this year are yet to be confirmed. In 2024, the Bon Odori took place on August 11 and 12, starting at dusk.

Osaka Shitennōji Bon Festival
Photo by ©Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.

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