Re-Discover Japan's Beauty in Sakai, Osaka
CONCEPT コンセプト
Japanese beauty and aesthetics are renowned across the globe. At Expo 2025, gain a deeper understanding of the essence and origins of Japanese aesthetics through experiences delivered by Sakai City.
Events at Expo 2025 hosted by Sakai City *All experiences are free of charge
A grand stage for
tea ceremony and hospitality
(5-min walk from East Gate)
Sakai is the birthplace of Sen no Rikyu, the great tea master who refined Japanese tea ceremony culture.
On this comfortable, grand stage decorated with vibrant Japanese umbrellas and paper lanterns, both works of master artisans, guests may savor matcha tea as well as sencha, or infused tea, offered by masters of the san-senke ("three great schools of tea ceremony") paired with Japanese traditional sweets from long-established shops.
Post a photo sharing Sakai's appeal on
social media to get Free traditional Japanese sweets!
Venue
Highlights
Enjoy hospitality and receive tea from the masters of Japan's "three great tea ceremony schools" alongside special traditional Japanese sweets
Special performance of the theme music from the NHK historical Taiga drama "What Will You Do, Ieyasu?" by Sakai City artist Wataru Inamoto
Photo op with vibrant Japanese umbrellas and paper lanterns dyed with traditional “chusen” technique
Listen to the enchanting shamisen, first introduced to Japan via Sakai through overseas trade
Enjoy mesmerizing global grooves by DJ JUN TANAKA
Envision a future urban retreat
where silence and tranquility
sharpen the mind
(5-min walk from East Gate)
A dignified, relaxed space in the middle of the vibrant Expo 2025 site.
With a focus on chanoyu (tea ceremony), visitors can experience tranquility and mindfulness while learning about the culture and spirituality of Sakai.
Venue
Highlights
Enjoy green tea prepared just for you in a calming space
Experience tea ceremony in harmony with nature through bamboo artwork by Tanabe Chikuunsai IVPhoto by：Tadayuki Minamoto
Cherish fleeting life through tea ceremony surrounded by plants and flowers
Immersive experiences transport visitors to another world
Appreciate the beauty of modern artists’ tea ceremony implements
Free your mind through the open spirit of Sakai’s tea ceremony
Enjoy unique encounters with
Sakai's open mind philosophy
(Near East Gate)
Spring tours discovering local attractions
Highlights of Osaka's 43 Municipalities
Expo 2025, Expo Messe
(5-min walk from West Gate)
Exhibition of Sakai's traditional craftsmanship
Sakai, a city of craftsmanship, presents
masterpieces passed down across generations
View masterfully crafted knives and blades, alongside other masterpieces forged through the passion of Sakai craftsmanship. The exhibits are from the Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum, a facility that showcases and sells traditional crafts of Sakai.
Kofun burial mound experience on Minecraft
Explore the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Create your own kofun (burial mound tombs) and explore the Kofun World on Minecraft
Wagashi sweets demonstration and sales: Tenjin Mochi
Wagashi sweets demonstration and salesTenjin Mochi
Purchase mochi rice cake made since 1952
Since establishment in 1952, this shop has been making a variety of sweets by hand with the highest-quality ingredients, from traditional to modern flavors changing with the eras. Each piece is a subdued, beautiful representation of Sakai's tradition and culture in a delicious package.
Wagashi demonstration and sales: Hamadera Soka-an Minoya
Wagashi demonstration and salesHamadera Soka-an Minoya
Taste a sweet potato confectionery made since 1928
Established in 1909, this wagashi maker has provided customers with incredible products made from the best ingredients with utmost attention to quality and detail. Passing down this philosophy to future generations, Hamadera Soka-an Minoya continues to produce sublime seasonal confectionery.
Osaka Festivals
Expo 2025: Spring Events
Expo 2025, Expo Arena
(6-min walk from West Gate)
Kena-cho: Danjiri exhibition and performance
Experience the danjiri that the locals take pride in as their treasure
The danjiri floats in this festival are decorated with nearly 100 unique hand-carved motifs as they parade through the streets to the local shrine to pray for bountiful harvests and large fishing catches. The festival highlight is the dynamic, powerful people pulling the danjiri along as they revel in the moment.
Shinzaike Hama: Futon Daiko exhibition and performance
Watch gorgeous Futon Daiko carried heroically around with flair and invigorating cries of festive joy
This is a vibrant autumn festival originating in Sakai to offer thanks to the gods for bountiful harvests and large fishing catches. The highlight is the portable shrines themselves, weighing nearly two tons with a taiko drum and five-layer bright red cushions, carried in glorious unison.
Events in Sakai City Held
During the Expo 2025 Period
Osaka International Culture and Arts Project: Daisen Japanese Tea Ceremony
Enjoy sublime matcha green tea served by masters of the san-senke ("three great tea ceremony schools") alongside music performed on diverse global instruments.
- Date: May 25 (Sun), 2025
- Location: Grand Lawn, Daisen Park
Exhibition of bamboo artwork by Maeda Chikubosai and Tanabe Chikuunsai IV
Exhibition of bamboo craft works from past eras and hands-on workshops
- Date: September 20 ~ November 3(est.), 2025
- Location: Tea House Shin-an, Sakai City Museum
Casual ryurei-style tea ceremony using an artisan tea bowl
Enjoy green tea from a gorgeous contemporary artisan tea bowl, for a limited time only.
*May 18 only at the Old Gunsmith Workshop and Residence
- Date: May 15 (Thu) ~ 28 (Wed), 2025
- Location: Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko (Risho no Mori), Sakai City Tea House Shin-an, Daisen Park Japanese Garden, Old Gunsmith Workshop and Residence
The beauty of Japanese irises in early summer
Take in the elegant Japanese iris, a sign of early summer. On June 8, a Japanese iris-centric tea ceremony will be held in the style of the Omotesenke school.
- Date: May 24 (Sat) ~ June 8 (Sun), 2025
- Location: Daisen Park Japanese Garden – Dojakuchi
Japanese traditional craft “chusen” hand-dyeing exhibition
Enjoy an exhibition of "chusen" hand-dyed yukata (summer kimono) and fabric on sale for a limited time only
- Date: June 10 (Tues) ~ 15 (Sun), 2025
- *Available for purchase on June 14 (Sat) and 15 (Sun) only
- Location: Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum
Japanese Traditional Crafts
Chusen Hand-dyeing Exhibition
Exhibition and sales of "tenugui" hand towels and more, with newly designed patterns alongside a demonstration of the hand-dyeing technique, designated a traditional craft by the Japanese government
- Date: June 30 (Mon) ~ July 4 (Fri), 2025
- Location: Sakai City Hall, Main Building, 1F Entrance Hall
SAKAI TICKETS
What are Sakai Tickets?
Discount tickets available for use in Sakai City after Expo 2025Visitors to the Sakai event site at Expo 2025 can participate in a lottery for "Sakai Tickets" offering discounts on sightseeing locations in Sakai. "Sakai Tickets" can be obtained by scanning a QR code at the venue on the day of the event and entering a lottery. We look forward to seeing you at the Expo 2025 Sakai event site and in Sakai!
