Universal Studios Japan, a popular destination for both Japanese and international visitors, is celebrating "Thanks Love Month 2024," a special month dedicated to expressing gratitude and love to important people in our lives.

Under the theme "LOVE HAS NO LIMIT," this event encourages guests to celebrate their appreciation for family and friends. Running from May 9 to June 16, it includes Mother's Day and Father's Day, aiming to establish a new tradition of gratitude for all types of families.

Guests can receive "Thanks Love Stickers" to share with each other and enjoy "Thanks Love Greetings" with characters from Sesame Street, Peanuts, and Hello Kitty.

Come to this special event and express your heartfelt thanks to your loved ones.

Event Details
Dates: May 9–June 16, 2024

HARRY POTTER and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © J.K. Rowling.
Minions and all related elements and indicia TM & © 2024 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.
© Nintendo
TM and © 2024 Sesame Workshop
© 2024 Peanuts Worldwide LLC
© Walter Lantz Productions LLC
TM & © Universal Studios & Amblin Entertainment
TM & © Universal Studios. All rights reserved.

At the Hyogo Prefectural Awaji Island Anime Park, Nijigen no Mori, enjoy a blend of the two-dimensional worlds of "Crayon Shin-chan," "NARUTO," "Godzilla," and the natural beauty of Awaji Island!

Event Details
Dragon Quest Island Onion Slime Rolling Game
・Dates: April 26–June 30, 2024
・Hours: 10 AM–6 PM
・Details: Challenge the "Onion Slime Rolling Game" at the anniversary festival booth in the attraction area. Successfully complete the game to win a realistic "Onion Slime" decorated with real Awaji Island onions.

NARUTO & BORUTO Shinobi-zato Incense Craft Experience
・Dates: March 16–September 1, 2024
・Hours: 10 AM–10 PM (last entry at 8 PM)
・Details: Create your own unique incense using fragrance, essential oils, dyes, and molds in Awaji Island, Japan's largest incense production area. Molds include "Leaf Village Mark," "Uchiha Family Crest," and "Akatsuki Cloud" symbols.

Godzilla Interception Operation Pair Zipline Experience
・Dates: March 2–June 30, 2024
・Details: Enjoy two zipline courses, "Body Surveillance Course" and "Surface Surveillance Course." During the event period, the "Body Surveillance Course" allows two people to start the zipline side by side. Note: The pair zipline may revert to a single line during maintenance.

The Tenjin Festival, held at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, is one of Japan’s top three festivals, alongside Kyoto’s Gion Festival and Tokyo’s Kanda Festival. Dating back to 951, this historic celebration honors the deity of scholarship, Sugawara Michizane. The festival runs from late June to July 25, with the main events occurring on July 24 and 25.

The festival kicks off with a ritual at the shrine and various preliminary ceremonies. On July 24, the Yomiya-sai (pre-evening festival) features traditional drum performances and rituals to pray for the city’s prosperity. The climax is on July 25 with the Honmiya (main festival day), which includes a grand land procession (Rikutogyo) and a river procession (Funatogyo). Over 3,000 participants, including traditional dancers and musicians, parade through the streets of Osaka, eventually transitioning to boats on the Okawa River. The festival concludes with a spectacular fireworks display starting at 7:30 PM, featuring over 5,000 fireworks​.

Event Details
・Dates: Late June – July 25, 2024
・Main Events: July 24–25, 2024
・Highlights: Land and river processions, fireworks display

If you're visiting the Kansai region in June, don't miss the Sumiyoshi Taisha Rice Planting Ritual, held annually on June 14. This event is a significant ceremony dedicated to praying for a bountiful harvest and expressing gratitude to the deity of agriculture. Recognized as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, it is a precious cultural heritage that conveys Japan's unique traditions and spirituality.

With a long history, this ritual embodies the agricultural culture deeply rooted in the Japanese heart. The prayers and rice planting actions performed by the priests showcase the Japanese way of life in harmony with nature and the changing seasons, offering a profound understanding of Japan's spiritual values.

Event Details
・Date: June 14, 2024

Every year, the Nagai Botanical Garden in Osaka's Nagai Park hosts the Hydrangea Fair. This event features the largest display of hydrangeas in Osaka, with approximately 10,000 blooms adorning a garden designed to resemble a mountain valley with a flowing stream. The hydrangeas are especially beautiful during the rainy season, their colors enhanced by the glistening rain and dew.

Event Details
・Dates: June 1–30, 2024
・Time: 9:30 AM–5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM)
・Admission: 200 yen, free for junior high school students and younger

Kannon-ji Temple in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto, is renowned as the oldest hydrangea temple in the Kansai region, earning the nickname "Tamba Hydrangea Temple."

This temple, dedicated to Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy, is famous for its association with curing eye diseases. According to legend, a worshiper planted hydrangeas that change color in gratitude for healing his eyes, giving rise to the temple's fame as a hydrangea haven. Visitors can enjoy a vibrant display of white, blue, purple, and pink hydrangeas, creating a picturesque scene known as "Flower Paradise."

Event Details
・Date: Fourth Sunday of June each year

Perched 400 meters above sea level with a stunning view of Kobe, the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden and Ropeway is hosting the "Lavender & Rose Fair 2024" starting from May 11.

The fair features twelve themed gardens at their peak, showcasing vibrant and fragrant lavender and roses. Visitors can admire around 60 varieties and 170 rose bushes in the "Rose Symphony Garden" and about 60 varieties and 200 rose bushes in the "Garden of the Four Seasons." The roses are at their best from mid-May to late June.

Lavender reaches its peak from late May to early July, with approximately 1,200 plants transforming the garden into a sea of purple. Additionally, from mid-June to late July, about 1,500 hydrangeas will be in full bloom.

The garden is conveniently located just a 5-minute walk from Shin-Kobe Station, accessible via Shinkansen and Kobe Municipal Subway. Visitors can also enjoy panoramic views from the ropeway. If you're traveling through Kansai, this aromatic garden offers a perfect escape.

Event Details
・Dates: May 11–July 7, 2024

The Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art is currently hosting the "Keith Haring Exhibition: Art to the Streets," with special cooperation from the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection, the only museum dedicated to Keith Haring in the world, located in Yamanashi.

This comprehensive exhibition covers Haring's intense but brief 10-year career, featuring approximately 150 works, including his famous subway drawings. Haring's art, infused with social critique and hope, continues to resonate strongly with audiences today.

The Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, designed by internationally renowned architect Tadao Ando, is known for its modern architecture and prime location facing Kobe Harbor. This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience Haring's vibrant world of art in the beautiful setting of Kobe.

Event Details
・Dates: April 27–June 23, 2024
・Closed: Mondays (open if Monday is a holiday, closed the following day)
・Hours: 10 AM–5:30 PM (last entry at 5 PM)

At Solaniwa Onsen OSAKA BAY TOWER, Kansai's largest hot spring-themed park, two engaging mystery-solving games are currently taking place. These interactive events invite participants to explore the facility and solve riddles scattered throughout various areas.

The two stories are "Ayakashi Onsen and the Mysterious Friends" and "Ayakashi Onsen and the Glittering Night Cherry Blossoms," each offering a unique experience. The first game is family-friendly and available in multiple languages (Japanese, English, and Chinese), making it enjoyable for international visitors. The second game offers a more challenging experience for those who prefer to think deeply while they play. Visitors are encouraged to take their time and enjoy the games in the comfort of the on-site cafes and restaurants.

To participate, purchase a kit at the reception. The kit includes a clear file that can be kept as a souvenir.

Event Details
・Dates: March 20–August 31, 2024 (ends when the maximum number of participants is reached)
・Hours: 11 AM–10 PM
・Cost: "Ayakashi Onsen and the Mysterious Friends" - 770 yen (tax included), "Ayakashi Onsen and the Glittering Night Cherry Blossoms" - 1,100 yen (tax included)
*Note: Separate admission fee required

June in the Kansai region is a time when raindrops nourish the fresh greenery, making it an ideal season for various events. When planning your trip to Japan, consider incorporating some of these events into your itinerary. Whether you're with friends, family, or a significant other, a day spent enjoying the rain-soaked beauty of Kansai will add a vivid page to your memories.

(This article was originally published in May 2023 and updated in May 2024.)