Tenjinmatsuri (Festival)

Tenjin Matsuri is a festival that has continued since the Heian period, held to appease the spirit of Sugawara no Michizane. It takes place every year on July 24 and 25, with July 24 as the Yoimiya (eve festival) and July 25 as the Honmiya (main festival). On the 24th, the first drum sounds at 4:00 a.m., and the Yoimiya rituals begin at 7:45; events such as the dedication of the Shinkō Shishimai (lion dance) follow, and the Yoimiya concludes at 19:30. On the 25th, the Honmiya begins at 13:30, and the famous Funatogyo (boat procession) departs; the boat procession runs roughly from 18:00 to 21:00. The highlight is the fireworks dedication, launched from 19:30 to 20:50, creating a fantastical scene of fireworks intertwined with the bonfire-lit fleet of about 100 boats—an iconic sight unique to Tenjin Matsuri. Multiple stations provide access, including JR Tozai Line Osaka Tenmangu Station, JR Loop Line Temma Station, and Sakuranomiya Station. For those focused on fireworks, Sakuranomiya Station is especially popular, but because crowds are huge, early arrival is strongly recommended.