Located in the southern part of Osaka Prefecture, the city boasts a population of nearly 200,000. To the north of the city is the Hannan Port overlooking Osaka Bay, with the Izumi Mountains beyond the long, narrow terrain to the south.

The JR Hanwa Line and Nankai Main Line run between central Osaka and Wakayama Prefecture. The Nankai Wing Bus, a local bus service, is available at most times. The city is also conveniently located near Kansai International Airport.

In addition to the Danjiri Festival, which has a 300-year history, several other attractions are nearby, including Kishiwada Castle, which has a garden designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty. Surrounded by verdant landscapes, it also offers a bounty of fresh agricultural produce and seafood.

The Kishiwada Danjiri Festival boasts a history spanning more than three centuries. It originated as a festival to pray for a bountiful grain harvest, passed down from generation to generation by those born and raised in the area and continues to this day.

A danjiri is a type of float or portable cart pulled or carried during festivals in western Japan. They typically weigh over four tons and are pulled by 400 to 1,000 men with two sturdy ropes. Every year, 79 danjiri floats run through the city during the September and October festivals. But the most impressive part of the event is the "Yarimawashi," in which these massive floats execute dynamic turns around the corner.

After sunset, each danjiri is decorated with more than 200 lanterns, casting a captivating glow as they parade through the streets with children joining the procession.

In this article, Ms. Nana Deguchi from the Tourism Section of the Kishiwada City Attraction Creation Department shares insights into must-visit sightseeing spots in Kishiwada.

“There are lots of clever ways for international visitors to experience the history of Kishiwada and the Danjiri Festival,” says Deguchi. “Please enjoy Kishiwada’s traditional streetscapes, and don’t forget to try some of the city’s favorite foods!”

Kishiwada Castle, built in 1597 by feudal lord Hidemasa Koide, stands as the symbol of Kishiwada City. While the towering castle keep was unfortunately struck by lightning and destroyed in 1827, it was reconstructed in 1954, with three stories and three floors. Visitors can enter Kishiwada Castle and learn all about its history through special exhibitions that change three or four times a year.

“One highlight is the Kishiwada Castle Garden,” says Deguchi, “which was landscaped by the gardener Mirei Shigemori in 1953.”

Also known as “Hachijin-no-niwa,” this garden is said to feature a general’s masonry in the center of its upper, middle, and lower tiers, with eight stonework pieces arranged in a circle around the center. They’re inspired by the “Eight Batlle Formations” of Koumei Shokatsu (or Zhuge Liang), a famous general of 3rd-century China. It is designed to be viewed from any angle, encompassing a full 360 degrees.

"The view from the castle tower is another important part of Hachijin-no-niwa,” explains Deguchi. “I recommend climbing up the castle tower to admire the entire garden from above!”

Just one street west of Prefectural Route 204 lies the Old Kishu-kaido, an old road that once connected Osaka and Wakayama. Along the road, just west of Kishiwada Castle, is the Honmachi district.

Here, remnants of merchant residences from the castle town era endure, with street-level facades featuring traditional tiled roofs and latticed windows, evoking the nostalgic charm of the past.

Machizukuri no Yakata, located along the old Kishu-kaido road, is a free rest stop. It offers pamphlets in multiple languages and tablets for international visitors, the option to print maps (for a fee), and a complimentary tea service.

“Visitors can also stroll along the Japanese streets and take a tea break inside an authentic Japanese structure,” says Deguchi. “This area, with its distinct Japanese ambiance, comes highly recommended for foreign tourists!”

The Kishiwada Danjiri Kaikan is a museum that showcases artifacts associated with the iconic danjiri floats that are synonymous with Kishiwada City.

Reopened on March 3, 2024, the hall features various danjiri-related materials that have been digitized, accompanied by multilingual explanations for international visitors.

Visitors can explore three floors spanning from 2-4F, where they can learn all about danjiri through observation and interactive experiences.

On the fourth floor exhibition room you'll find a carpenter's corner, offering a hands-on experience of riding atop a moving danjiri with leaps and dances. There's also a “narimono” (or noisemaker) corner, where visitors can try their hand at playing the instruments used to liven up the festival.

The newly renewed Danjiri Theater also allows visitors to experience the dynamic Danjiri Festival through an immersive three-screen multi-image display.

Ms. Deguchi encourages visitors to learn about the Danjiri Matsuri, regardless of their Japanese level, as the theater's images are composed only of the sights and sounds of the festival, which makes it easy to enjoy, even for international tourists!

During your castle town tour, we recommend checking out Gofuso for lunch near Kishiwada Castle. Spanning about 8,000 square meters, Gofuso is designated as a registered tangible cultural property of Kishiwada City. It boasts a luxurious setting where patrons can enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine amidst a beautiful garden.

Deguchi suggests, “Visitors can also enter the garden, so I recommend taking a stroll before or after your meal!”

The restaurant offers kaiseki cuisine and hot pot courses, made from carefully-selected seasonal ingredients from across Japan. However, its lunchtime set menus are equally popular! Alongside their seasonal Kamameshi Gozen (kettle rice set meal), there’s also the Gouka Gozen (luxury set meal) for 4,950 yen, that showcases a variety of Kishiwada's local seafood and mountain delicacies.

Please note that lunch reservations must be completed by 6 PM the day before your visit. And while the menu is written in Japanese, there’s also a picture menu to give you a better idea of the dishes.

Kinchakuya is a seafood restaurant that draws in visitors from Kishiwada and beyond. Their signature dish is the bowl of fresh shirasu (sardines), freshly landed at the fishing port right in front of the restaurant. Shirasu is available here year-round, even when the fishing season is closed from May to December, thanks to their unique preservation technique that locks in their flavor (limited daily quantities available).

The set menus, featuring daily specials like sea bream and yellowtail prepared in various styles, also come highly recommended.

Deguchi explains, “While availability varies by the day's catch, visitors arriving after 11 AM during fishing season can indulge in the freshness of freshly caught raw shirasu!”

Kishiwada fishing port's fresh shirasu boast a smooth texture with no unpleasant odors. The restaurant also offers a variety of tempura made with Osaka's unique ingredients, including Osaka conger eel with its high fat content, and Izumi octopus with its tender meat and subtle sweetness. In fact, many customers order these together with other items on the menu. The menu is in Japanese only, picture menus are also available for easier ordering.

While Kishiwada City is located just about 30 minutes from the heart of Osaka, the city is also abundant in nature, nestled between the vast sea and mountains.

Let’s take a look at the two distinct areas: the coastal region, full of shopping and culture, and the mountains, home to some of the city's most famous scenic spots.

So if you’re visiting Kishiwada City, be sure to step outside for a moment and lose yourself in the breathtaking beauty of its natural landscapes.

Northwest of Kishiwada Station lies the captivating sea area facing Osaka Bay. You’ll find lots to see and do here, from shopping at Kishiwada CanCan Bayside Mall, to venues dedicated to sports, culture, and the arts.

Jizohama Minato Marche is a market held on Sundays only at the port of Jizohama, with vendors selling freshly caught fish and shirasu, as well as seafood rice bowls, shirasu croquettes, and grilled skewers. It’s a 25-minute stroll from Nankai Kishiwada Station, so why not add the Jizohama seaside scenery to your sightseeing list?

The mountains of Kishiwada City are divided into two distinct regions. The central part is home to the vast Kumeda Pond, Osaka Prefecture’s largest reservoir, along with gently rolling hills. The southern part is where you’ll see the majestic Izumi Mountain Range.

There’s also Ushitakisan Daidekoku-ji Temple, one of the city’s most scenic spots, and Roadside Station Aisai Land, where visitors can purchase mountain-grown produce, cultivated in the region’s rich natural surroundings.

For a fun family outing, you may also want to check out Kishikan (formerly Kishiwada Kanko Farm), where strawberry picking awaits you from January through June!

Kishiwada City offers visitors the chance to enjoy nature in every season. The city is tinted in the spring in delicate pink, while summer offers sweet, juicy peaches at peak ripeness. Autumn sees the famous temples dyed in hues of crimson. No matter what time of year you visit, you’re guaranteed to see a different face of the city, enticing you to want to come back and visit again and again.

In Kishiwada, spring means the arrival of cherry blossoms. From late March to early April, Kishiwada Castle is adorned with nearly 170 beautifully blooming cherry trees, during which the castle comes alive with the Kishiwada Castle Festival. At this festival, the cherry blossoms are illuminated with paper lanterns in the evening, making it a popular hanami spot after sunset, offering an ambient nighttime scene of cherry blossoms against the castle backdrop.

Kishiwada City takes pride as the leading producer of peaches in Osaka Prefecture. Among its varieties, those from the Kanechika area, boast a history of cultivation of over 150 years, and have recently gained sudden popularity as the Kanechika Peach brand.

The sugar content of peaches is usually between 11-14.

But these are over 22, which has contributed to their worldwide popularity.

With their season spanning from mid-June to early August, these sought-after peaches are available at locations like Roadside Station Aisai Land, although they tend to sell out quickly due to high demand.

Autumn is the season when the Danjiri Festival is in full swing and the whole town is bustling with activity, but if you go a little further afield, you can enjoy the tranquility of a typical Japanese landscape.

At Tonboike Park, 2,300 autumn roses of about 200 varieties are in full bloom, while the maple trees are ablaze with color at Ushitakisan Daiitoku-ji Temple, creating a tapestry of colors all across the landscape.

To get the most out of your trip to Kishiwada, we recommend participating in tours and activities! Below are some activities we highly recommend checking out!

If you’re planning to visit the Danjiri Festival and Kishiwada, here are some nearby recommended accommodations, each with an 8+ rating on Booking.com. They also offer easy access to Kansai International Airport!

Kishiwada City is most famous for the Danjiri Festival, one of the most popular festivals in Japan. However, this city is home to a number of other attractions you wouldn’t find in Tokyo or other areas, like the historic Kishiwada Castle and castle town, seasonally-changing landscapes like autumn foliage and cherry blossoms, and local delicacies brought about by the city's unique climate. So head to Kishiwada City, and embark on a journey to discover a unique side of Japan!

*Information in article as of February 2024. Please see official websites for the latest updates & information.

English translation by: Krys Suzuki