doudou5Summer Travel Tip: Enjoy Japanese Summer Fun at Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store in Osaka
Where’s the best place for a summer vacation? If you’re still unsure, we highly recommend a trip to Osaka!
Osaka offers unique activities, delicious food, and fun experiences that you can’t find anywhere else.
When it comes to summer in Japan, fireworks festivals and summer celebrations immediately come to mind!
Local Bon Odori dances and summer festivals are perfect opportunities to immerse yourself in traditional Japanese culture. Attending a bustling fireworks festival in a yukata (a casual summer kimono) will make your trip to Osaka truly memorable.
The “Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival,” located near Osaka Station and Umeda, is one of Osaka’s signature events. This year marks its 36th edition and will take place on Saturday, August 3rd. With the Yodogawa River as its backdrop, approximately 20,000 fireworks will light up the night sky “as if dancing to music,” offering a spectacular show for all attendees.
Each burst of these vibrant fireworks illuminates the night sky with passion, creating unforgettable memories for your summer getaway!
To enhance your summer trip in Osaka and make souvenir shopping easier, the Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store provides a one-stop shopping experience!
If you’re looking to experience wearing a yukata while watching fireworks during your Osaka trip, head over to the kimono section on the 11th floor of Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store!
Here, you’ll find a wide selection of yukatas that let you enjoy a unique summer vibe.
From traditional designs to modern fashion trends! There are Japanese-style yukatas featuring bold colors created with traditional dyeing techniques, elegant classic styles, and cute designs full of personality! Accessories like wooden clogs and bags add an exquisite touch, letting you fully enjoy fashionable fun.
The store also offers children’s yukatas and jinbei. Enjoy Japan’s summer with your family by dressing up together!
If you’re searching for unique Japanese gifts this season, consider small items like wind chimes, uchiwa fans, and tenugui towels. They not only bring coolness during summer but also blend beauty with functionality!
On the 7th floor of Hankyu Department Store’s Umeda Main Store in the household goods section, there’s an Aramono Zakkaten where the delightful sound of wind chimes fills the air during this season, warmly welcoming every visitor.
Edo Furin , established in Tokyo in 1915, boasts over a century of history and continues to use traditional Edo-period blown glass techniques and hand-painted designs. A gentle breeze makes these charming wind chimes jingle, offering a visual sense of coolness amid the summer heat. Discover your favorite style to enhance your summer decor.
Ihei Ori’s linen uchiwa fans seamlessly blend Japanese aesthetics with cooling comfort. Crafted from 100% ramie fabric combined with bamboo, these fans feature handcrafted summer-themed patterns. They provide not only a refreshing breeze but also an elegant touch.
Riyuen-zome tenugui towels utilize “chusen” , a dyeing technique recognized as traditional craftsmanship. This ensures that both sides of the tenugui are evenly colored. The vibrant hues and fine texture result from expert artisans’ hand-dyeing skills. Apart from daily use for wiping sweat, they can also serve as decorative hangings or framed art pieces, allowing you to enjoy seasonal changes!
In Japan, there’s a special dietary tradition known as “Doyo no Ushi no Hi,” where people eat foods containing the character “wu” when their physical strength tends to wane. Particularly during this hot summer period, there’s a custom of eating eel. The cooking methods for kabayaki eel vary between Kanto and Kansai regions. In Kanto, eels are cut from the back, skewered with bamboo sticks, steamed first to remove excess fat, then grilled for a lighter taste.
In contrast, Kansai’s method involves cutting eels from the belly, skewering them with metal sticks, and grilling them directly without steaming—this technique is called “jiyaki.” This results in eels that are crispy on the outside yet tender inside with an aromatic flavor.
For an authentic taste experience, try “Manman” for Kanto-style grilled eel or “Uoi” for Kansai-style grilled eel.
Renowned shop “Nishiasakusa” selects high-quality eels based on seasonal availability and grills them meticulously over charcoal. Comparing flavors of eels from different seasons can be quite fascinating.
For meat lovers, we recommend trying the “Kobe Beef Marbling Comparison Set” (450g) at “Ashiya Chikuen.”
Kobe beef is considered a premium delicacy among wagyu beef. Its moderate thickness makes it perfect for both sukiyaki and shabu-shabu preparations, allowing you to enjoy distinct textures of chuck roll and shoulder meat.
Now, let’s recommend some Japanese sake that make excellent gifts!
The “Junmai Daiginjo Hakkaisan Kouwa Kuramoto” from Hakkai Brewery captures the pinnacle of the brewer’s craftsmanship and passion, resulting in a light yet richly flavored Junmai Daiginjo. Another offering, the “Daiginjo Hakkaisan Kouwa Kuramoto,” boasts a refreshing taste and clear aroma, making it an excellent companion to meals. This sake embodies the abundant natural resources and snow country culture of Minamiuonuma in Niigata Prefecture.
Many people are likely familiar with the renowned sake “Kubota.” The “Kubota Manju Junmai Daiginjo” is an immensely popular Junmai Daiginjo sake known for its rich aroma and full-bodied flavor.
Now, for those who find their appetite waning as soon as summer hits, here are some delectable fruit recommendations!
First up, we have the renowned “Daitouryou” peaches from Yamanashi Prefecture, which are currently in season. Only peaches that pass a sweetness sensor test with a sugar content of 12 degrees or higher earn the name “Daitouryou,” making them a top-tier choice! Don’t miss out on these premium seasonal peaches.
Next, we have Kyokurakukan’s “Ichiritsu Muscat Grape” (pack of 4), featuring Alexandria Muscat grapes exclusively harvested in Okayama Prefecture. Each grape is meticulously hand-coated with a delicate layer of sugar frosting. The combination of large Muscat grapes and thin sugar coating offers an explosion of juice and pure bliss with every bite!
Finally, there’s PATISSERIE MONCHER’s popular “Dojima Fruit Jelly” (pack of 9), crafted from meticulously selected fruit juices and pieces sourced from various regions. These jellies are vibrant and glossy, with controlled sweetness to emphasize the natural flavors of the ingredients.
“HIBIKA’s” summer fuki yose “Star” is a refreshing summer-themed dessert platter featuring lemon sablé, white chocolate-filled vanilla cookies, and lemon soda meringue, all inspired by stars.
“TULIP ROSE,” known for its delightful tulip shape and crispy texture, is another fantastic souvenir option.
These cat tongue cookies are shaped like tulip petals and topped with chocolate cream that blooms like a rose. They come in three flavors: berry, passion mango, and caramel nut.
Okada’s “Bijou Collection” (12 pieces) features amber sugar candies inspired by birthstones. Each candy has a unique flavor, offering a dual sensory experience both visually and taste-wise.
Finally, we recommend an Osaka foodie hotspot where you can soak up the essence of Japanese summer – the “Beer Garden”!
On warm summer nights, there’s nothing quite like enjoying delicious food and refreshing drinks in an open-air rooftop setting. This is a unique aspect of Japanese summertime.
From sunset until nightfall, indulge in food and drinks to your heart’s content – it’s incredibly refreshing!
Until October 6th, the “Umeda Hankyu Beer Garden” will be hosted at the rooftop plaza on the 13th floor of Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store. It’s quite rare to see a beer garden on top of a department store in Japan. The event features around 30 different dishes and 100 types of beverages available in an all-you-can-eat buffet! Plus, there are specialty food trucks serving freshly made delicacies. You won’t be able to resist wanting to try everything! Enjoying drinks, savoring local foods, and soaking up the vibrant atmosphere at this beer garden – why not come and experience it for yourself?
This adds another exciting spot to your Osaka summer travel itinerary!
Indulge in delightful shopping at the Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store, taste the exquisite local dishes, and immerse yourself in the Japanese summer!
Be sure to visit Osaka this summer for an unforgettable experience!
Address: 8-7 Kakuda-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Business Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Closed on January 1)
Getting There: A short walk from JR Osaka Station, Hankyu, Hanshin, and Osaka Metro Midosuji Line Umeda Station
