Winter is Cozy! A Kotatsu Picnic on the Water

A kotatsu on a boat is being offered at β Honmachi Bridge in Osaka this winter, giving visitors a warm place to relax while floating on the river. The event pairs a traditional Japanese kotatsu—a low table with a heater and blanket—with a picnic on the water, making it possible to stay cozy while enjoying the winter scenery from a prime seat on the river.

The experience runs every Saturday from November 21, 2026, to March 20, 2027, with four daily time slots: 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, and 14:00. Each boat is reserved as one group of one to four people. The regular fee is 11,000 yen per group, while an early bird rate of 9,900 yen is available for those who plan ahead.

A cassette stove rental service is also offered, though participants need to bring their own fuel. This makes it easy to bring your favorite ingredients and cooking tools for teppanyaki, takoyaki, or other hot dishes. Beyond an ordinary picnic, the setup works well for family outings, gatherings with friends, year-end parties, New Year’s parties, and surprise parties.

Event Details

• Period: Every Saturday from 2026/11/21 (Sat) to 2027/3/20 (Sat)
• Time: 11:00 / 12:00 / 13:00 / 14:00
• Location: β Honmachi Bridge (4-8 Honmachi-bashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka City)
• Fee: 1 group (1–4 people): Regular 11,000 yen, Early Bird 9,900 yen
• Contact: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.citysup.jp/picnic-win/

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A kotatsu is a low wooden table with a heater underneath and a heavy quilted blanket over the top. It is a winter fixture in Japanese homes: people sit on the floor, put their legs under the blanket, and the small heater warms the space below. Because the upper body stays at room temperature, a kotatsu uses less energy than heating the whole room. It also tends to be comfortable enough to linger at, so in daily use it doubles as a place for meals, tea, and conversation.

The β Honmachi Bridge event has adapted this idea to a boat. A kotatsu is set up on a pontoon deck, and passengers keep their legs warm while the boat moves along Osaka’s canal in the cold air. The contrast between the warm blanket and the winter surroundings is practical rather than scenic. It is a heated seat with a changing view.

Festival for Bountiful Seas

Osaka will host the 45th National Rich Sea Creation Convention, “Uoniwa (Naniwa) no Umi Osaka Convention,” for the first time. As a related event, the Rich Sea Creation Festival—a major public event centered on the protection and cultivation of fishery resources and the conservation of the marine environment—will be held at two venues: Aqua Park in Kishiwada City and Rinku Ice Park in Izumisano City. Admission is free at both venues.

At the venues, visitors will find experiential projects where they can get close to the creatures living in Osaka Bay, participatory workshops that parents and children can enjoy together, and numerous gourmet booths serving fresh seafood caught in Osaka Bay. Both venues will also sell the “Uoniwa (Naniwa) no Umi-dukuri Don” (Rich Sea Creation Bowls) using seasonal fishery products caught in Osaka.

The event also includes talk shows featuring convention ambassador Shingo Murakami of SUPER EIGHT, special supporter Ayami Nakajo, and Sakana-kun. Popular characters, including Myaku-Myaku (the official character of the Osaka-Kansai Expo), Mozuyan, Chikirikun, and Yurunakin, will be present to show their support. This lineup is intended to let visitors experience the full appeal of Osaka’s rich seas.

Event details

• Dates: Saturday, November 14, 2026, and Sunday, November 15, 2026
• Hours: 9:00–16:30 on both days
• Admission: Free
• Contact: 06-6210-9612 (weekdays 9:00–17:00)
• Website: Official event page

Locations

• Kishiwada Old Port District Green Space (Aqua Park): 4 Minatomidori-cho, Kishiwada City, Osaka. A 15-minute walk from Kishiwada Station on the Nankai Main Line.
• Rinku Ice Park: 1-23 Rinku Ourai Kita, Izumisano City, Osaka. A 5-minute walk from Rinku Town Station on the Nankai Airport Line/JR.

Access and safety

• Neither venue has parking. Please use public transportation.
• Route buses within Kishiwada City will be free for visitors heading to the Kishiwada venue.
• Baggage inspections will be conducted upon entry to ensure the safety of visitors.

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What is the “Rich Sea” of Osaka?

The “Rich Sea” of Osaka is the name for a set of efforts to restore Osaka Bay’s marine environment and support sustainable use of its resources. The bay was once one of Japan’s main industrial zones; decades of landfill, shipping traffic, and wastewater discharge left its waters polluted and its ecosystems degraded. Since the 1990s, local governments, residents, and businesses have worked to improve water quality, rebuild tidal flats, and restore seagrass beds. The “Rich Sea” concept brings these measures together with a practical goal: to ensure that the bay can continue to provide seafood, recreation, and habitat without being exhausted. It assumes that conservation and local livelihoods are not opposed, and that residents and visitors have a role in maintaining the water they use. The 2026 festival is an example. Its program includes tastings of fish caught in the bay, classes on how coastal habitats function, and guided cleanup activities. These events are less about promoting an idea than about showing how the bay is being restored and how people can contribute.

The 8th Cheese EXPO at Expo Park

The Cheese EXPO, one of the largest cheese festivals in Western Japan, returns to Expo Memorial Park for its eighth edition. Visitors can enjoy a diverse range of cheese gourmet, including Japanese, Western, and Chinese cheese dishes, direct sales booths from domestic cheese workshops, and the Cheeseburger EXPO, where a lineup of cheeseburgers takes center stage.

Running alongside the Cheese EXPO is the Oimo (Sweet Potato) EXPO, featuring trending sweets that range from roasted sweet potatoes to cheesecakes. Together, the two events offer a chance to enjoy cheese and sweet potato specialties with family and friends over the autumn weekend.

Event highlights

• Japanese, Western, and Chinese cheese dishes
• Direct sales booths from domestic cheese workshops
• Cheeseburger EXPO with a carefully gathered selection of cheeseburgers
• Simultaneous Oimo (Sweet Potato) EXPO with sweet potato sweets

Event details

• Dates: November 14 (Saturday) and November 15 (Sunday), 2026
• Time: 9:30–17:00
• Location: Expo Memorial Park, East Plaza (1-1 Senri Banpaku Koen, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture)
• Fee: 500 yen (event admission); free for junior high school students and younger. Park admission fee is required separately.
• Contact: [email protected]
• Website: https://cheese1expo.com/

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Expo Park is the short name for Expo ’70 Commemorative Park in Suita, Osaka. The park occupies the site of the 1970 Japan World Exposition. After the fair closed, the grounds were converted into a public park, and they now function as one of the Kansai region’s larger green spaces.

The Tower of the Sun, designed by artist Taro Okamoto for the exposition, still stands near the center of the park. The structure was retained after the fair, and it remains the most visible landmark on the grounds. The park also contains lawns, seasonal flower beds, a Japanese landscape garden, the National Museum of Ethnology, and the Expo ’70 Pavilion. Several open-air spaces and plazas are used throughout the year for concerts, food events, and seasonal light displays.

For visitors attending the 8th Cheese EXPO 2026, the park’s layout is a practical advantage. There is enough level ground for vendor booths, food trucks, and tasting areas, while the gardens and museum sections remain separate. Attendees can combine the event with visits to the museum, the Japanese garden, or the Tower of the Sun. The park is directly connected to Osaka Monorail at Expo Commemoration Park Station, and the main event areas are a short walk from the station.

Tokyo Christmas Market 2026 in Shin-Toyosu

Tokyo’s winter moves to the waterfront. For 2026, the Tokyo Christmas Market will be held at two venues: Shiba Park (Onarimon Station Front Plaza), with views of Tokyo Tower, and Shin-Toyosu, which joins the market for the first time.

Christmas markets are a European tradition dating from the Middle Ages, with Germany at the center of that tradition. The Tokyo Christmas Market is a winter mainstay in the city, offering the atmosphere of those authentic markets without leaving Tokyo. In past years, it has recreated those streetscapes with Christmas pyramids and hüttes (wooden huts) imported directly from Germany, set in city-center parks such as Hibiya Park, Meiji Jingu Gaien, and Shiba Park. For the Shin-Toyosu edition, the space is being developed to make use of the waterfront location unique to the bay area.

Food and drink are central to the market experience. The venue will offer a broad range of winter foods and sweets, including face-sized giant pretzels, Glühwein in three colors (red, rosé, and white), Santa Claus-themed churros, and stews and cheese fondue served directly from bread bowls. The lineup also covers the European street food Lángos, German beer from Berlin, and photogenic hot chocolate and one-hand sweets, with options ranging from full meals to desserts. It is a chance to spend time with family, friends, or a partner while enjoying Christmas-themed dishes and drinks with the Shin-Toyosu waterfront as a backdrop.

Basic Information

• Nearest Station: Shin-Toyosu Station / Shijomae Station
• Venue: Toyosu 6-4, Koto-ku, Tokyo
• Event Period: 2026/11/20 (Fri) – 2026/12/25 (Fri)
• Time:
  • Start 11:00 / End 21:30
  • Opening day (November 20): 16:00–21:30
  • Final entry: 20:30 / Last order: 21:00
• Admission Fee:

• Official Website: https://tokyochristmas.net/

Please note that the listed content may be subject to change. For the latest information, please check the official website of the venue or organizer.

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Gallery

What is Shin-Toyosu?

Shin-Toyosu is a waterfront district in Koto City, Tokyo, on reclaimed land along the northern edge of Tokyo Bay. The name means “New Toyosu,” and the area is newer than its neighbor, with wide streets, high-rise residential towers, office buildings, and public parks arranged around the bay.

Its atmosphere is noticeably quieter than in central Tokyo. The streets are laid out on a larger scale, footpaths are wide, and the waterfront is accessible from several points. The sea is visible from many parts of the district, and the air carries a steady breeze. People use the promenades for walks and runs; the parks have open lawns and places to sit. In the evening, the area is less brightly lit than commercial districts, and the water reflects the surrounding buildings.

The dining and leisure options have grown in recent years and are spread along the waterfront. There are cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating, a few event halls, and open plazas that host seasonal events. The Tokyo Christmas Market, held here, works well in this setting: there is enough space for stalls, the crowd density stays manageable, and the open layout makes it easy to move from one stand to another. The mulled wine and German holiday foods are the main draw, as with any Christmas market, and the location gives visitors room to enjoy them without the squeeze common in other parts of the city.

Shin-Toyosu is a practical place to spend an evening along the bay, especially during the winter market. It is not a historic neighborhood or a particularly lively one, but it offers a clean, open environment and an unobstructed view of Tokyo’s waterfront.

TOKYO TOWER Christmas Market 2026

A winter-limited market appears where you can enjoy Christmas at the foot of Tokyo Tower

A Christmas market is an event where you can experience the unique atmosphere of the season while enjoying food, drinks, and miscellaneous goods during the period leading up to Christmas. It is a winter tradition popular primarily in Europe, and it has also become one of the events that define winter outings and the Christmas season in Japan.

“TOKYO TOWER Christmas Market 2026” is a limited-time market in a prime location with Tokyo Tower directly overhead, where you can enjoy food and drinks unique to the Christmas season. It will be held at the special venue in front of the main entrance of Tokyo Tower from November 13 to December 25, 2026, with operating hours from 12:00 to 22:00 (last order 21:30). Admission is free.

The pleasure of a Christmas market is not only tasting the food and drinks, but also enjoying seasonal shopping while exploring the venue. At the venue, eight huts are lined up and various foods and drinks will be provided. You can enjoy a wide range of menus, from meal options such as fragrantly grilled sausages, pretzels, and pasta, to sweets such as churros. Furthermore, warm drinks that are welcome in the cold season, such as hot wine and hot chocolate, are also available. With your favorite food or drink in hand, you can spend a moment unique to the Christmas season.

Christmas miscellaneous goods are also sold at the venue. You can choose gifts for your loved ones, as well as Christmas gifts for yourself, and enjoy new encounters with food, drinks, and miscellaneous goods.

Why not enjoy a special Christmas only found here? This is a space where you can enjoy the Christmas mood combined with Tokyo Tower sightseeing during the day, while gazing at the lit-up Tokyo Tower from evening to night.

*Please check the official website for detailed contents.

Basic Information

• Location / Nearest Station: Tokyo Tower / Kamiyacho Station / Onarimon Station / Akabanebashi Station / Hamamatsucho Station / Daimon (Tokyo) Station
• Address: 〒105-0011 4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo MAP
• Venue: Special Venue in front of the Main Entrance of Tokyo Tower
• Period: 2026/11/13 (Fri) ～ 2026/12/25 (Fri)
• Time: Start 12:00 / End 22:00 (Last order 21:30)
• Fees/Cost: Free admission
• Official Website: https://christmasmarket.jp/202611-tokyotower/

*The listed content may be subject to change. For the latest information, please check the official website of the venue or organizer.

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What is Tokyo Tower?

Tokyo Tower is a 333-meter steel lattice structure in central Tokyo, completed in 1958. It was built to serve as a broadcasting antenna for television and radio signals, and it also includes two observation decks. The design takes some structural cues from the Eiffel Tower, but the engineering was developed independently for Japan’s conditions, including seismic and wind loads. The tower is painted white and international orange, a color scheme required for aviation safety.

The main observation deck is at 150 meters; the top deck is at 250 meters. On clear days, the view covers much of the Greater Tokyo area, with Mount Fuji visible when atmospheric conditions allow. At night, the tower’s exterior lighting follows a seasonal schedule and changes color over the course of the year. During the Christmas Market, the lit tower serves as a visual anchor for the plaza below, where the stalls and events are laid out around its base.

Beyond its role as a tourist attraction, Tokyo Tower remains a functioning broadcast transmission site. That original purpose—rather than any symbolic status—continues to define the structure and its place in the city.

ODAIBA DRONE SHOW 2026

Characters from popular games, anime, and movies gather in the night sky of Odaiba during the moon-viewing season! The large-scale drone show “ODAIBA DRONE SHOW 2026” will be held!

This September, 1,000 drones will draw a “Pixel Moon” over the night sky of Odaiba. The theme is Otsukimi, the traditional Japanese custom of admiring the moon with prayers and gratitude for the autumn harvest, reimagined as a technology harvest festival originating from Odaiba. Popular characters from games, anime, and movies that Japan is proud of will gather around the moon, with the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower as a backdrop. Lighting and lasers coordinated with “Tokyo Aqua Symphony,” one of the world’s largest fountains, will extend the production across the bay. The drone show will be held twice a day, and because each performance features a different program, there is reason to attend more than once. Why not visit to experience the spectacle coloring the night sky of Odaiba?

Unique content floating in the night sky

Characters representing Japanese games, anime, and movies will be drawn in the night sky by 1,000 drones, with the Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo night view as their stage. This year’s lineup coincides with several major anniversaries, giving the event a commemorative character:

• “Sonic the Hedgehog” (35th Anniversary)
  (C)SEGA
• “Puyo Puyo” (35th Anniversary)
  (C)SEGA
• “Persona” series 30th Anniversary
  (C)ATLUS. ©SEGA.
• TV anime “Tokyo Revengers”
  (C)Ken Wakui・Kodansha / Anime “Tokyo Revengers” Production Committee
• “Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-“
  (Ichiro Yamada, Samaki Aohirasaka, Ramuda Amemura, Jakurai Jinguji, Sasara Nukaubara, Kūkai Harai)
  (C)King Record Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Movie “Godzilla -0.0” Releasing November 3 (Tue/Holiday)
  TM & (C)TOHO

Highlights

The drones reach a maximum altitude of 125 meters, nearly the same height as the main tower of the Rainbow Bridge (126 meters). The formations therefore appear on the same scale as the bridge itself, integrated with the bay area’s night view. Admission is free, making this a night event from Odaiba that can be enjoyed across generations and nationalities.

Performances take place twice daily at 19:00 and 21:00, and each performance presents one of two different programs.

TRACK A

• “Sonic the Hedgehog” (35th Anniversary)
• “Puyo Puyo” (35th Anniversary)
• “Persona” series 30th Anniversary
• Movie “Godzilla -0.0” Releasing November 3 (Tue/Holiday)

TRACK B

• TV anime “Tokyo Revengers”
• “Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-“
• Movie “Godzilla -0.0” Releasing November 3 (Tue/Holiday)

Note that the Godzilla content is included in both TRACK A and TRACK B, so audiences will see it regardless of which program is staged.

Spatial Production

Spatial production is led by ULTRA PLANET Co., Ltd., which plans, develops, and produces Location-Based Entertainment (LBE). The company will provide dynamic spatial production using lighting and lasers in coordination with “Tokyo Aqua Symphony,” one of the world’s largest fountain facilities, developed at Odaiba Seaside Park (Minato-ku, Tokyo). The fountain stands 150 meters tall and 250 meters wide, and shoots water to a height surpassing the main tower of the Rainbow Bridge (126 meters), unfolding a show fused with music and light.

Including a fountain show and a special production in which the drone show and fountain synchronize, approximately 30 minutes of content is expected to run twice a day. Please check the official website for the detailed program.

Basic Information

The published content may have changed. Please check the official websites of the venue or organizer for the latest information.

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Odaiba is a waterfront area in Tokyo Bay, built on reclaimed land. It is connected to central Tokyo by the Rainbow Bridge and consists of shopping complexes, museums, hotels, and open public spaces. The district was originally developed in the 1850s as a set of defensive fortifications, and its current form dates from the late 20th-century redevelopment of Tokyo’s waterfront.

The area is frequently used for exhibitions and public events, in part because its wide plazas and unobstructed bay views can accommodate temporary infrastructure. One such event is scheduled for 2026, when a formation of 1,000 drones is expected to perform over the waterfront.

Odaiba’s attractions include the Statue of Liberty replica, the Fuji Television building, and several large shopping centers. It is also a popular place for evening walks along the bay, with views across the water to the central city.

Tokyo DisneySea® 25th Anniversary “Sparkling Jubilee” In Concert

When Tokyo DisneySea opened in 2001 as the world’s first sea-themed Disney park, it established a distinct identity separate from its landlocked counterparts. Twenty-five years later, the milestone anniversary brings with it a concert tour that translates the park’s accumulated musical history into a live performance format. “Tokyo DisneySea® 25th Anniversary ‘Sparkling Jubilee’ in Concert” launches in June 2026, visiting thirteen cities across Japan with a program designed for audiences who have followed the park’s evolution from its opening year through the present day.

A Musical Retrospective with Live Orchestra

The concert format combines a full live orchestra—conducted by Keisuke Ito—with vocal performances from the “Sparkling Jubilee” Special Singers: Chika Ishii, Anri Isobe, Ema, Seiji Oka, Mina Shibata, Shuntaro Tanaka, Chan-he, Kai Hasegawa, Eurick Musashi, and Kana Yoshida (cast subject to change). Dancers and projected memorial images accompany approximately thirty selected songs drawn from the park’s attraction soundtracks and entertainment history. This structure allows the performance to function simultaneously as a retrospective and a concert experience, presenting nostalgic numbers alongside recent additions to the musical catalog.

What Differentiates This Tour

DisneySea has staged similar orchestral celebrations for prior milestones: “Tokyo DisneySea 15th Anniversary ‘The Year of Wishes’ in Concert” toured in 2016, followed by “Tokyo DisneySea 20th Anniversary: Time to Shine! in Concert” in 2022. The four-year interval since the last tour marks the longest gap between these musical retrospectives, and the 2026 edition distinguishes itself through expanded content. In 2024, the park opened Fantasy Springs as its eighth themed port—an addition that introduced new musical themes and significantly broadened the available repertoire. Unlike the 2022 concert, which preceded this expansion, the 25th anniversary program incorporates these recently debuted compositions alongside established favorites spanning the full twenty-five year history.

Confirmed Venues and Schedule

While the tour encompasses thirteen cities nationwide, specific performance details have been announced for the following venues:

Tokyo International Forum Hall A
Nearest stations: Yurakucho Station / Ginza-itchome Station / Ginza Station

• June 14 (Sunday), 17:00 start
• August 1 (Saturday), 17:00 start
• August 2 (Sunday), 13:00 start

Pacifico Yokohama
Nearest station: Minato Mirai Station (5 minutes walk)

• July 25 (Saturday), 17:00 start

Omiya Sonic City
Nearest station: Omiya (Saitama) Station

• July 4 (Saturday), 17:00 start

Ichikawa City Cultural Hall
Nearest station: Moto-Yawata Station

• June 6 (Saturday), 17:00 start
• June 7 (Sunday), 13:00 start

Ticketing and Additional Information

Advance ticket applications for each performance commence on Saturday, January 24th. Given that most performances begin at 17:00—with select Sunday matinees at 13:00—planning travel to these venues requires attention to the specific time slots listed.

For the most current scheduling details and ticketing procedures, consult the official concert website. Note that published content is subject to change; verify specifics through official venue and organizer channels closer to performance dates.

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Tokyo DisneySea is a nautical-themed park at the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba, located just east of metropolitan Tokyo. It opened on September 4, 2001, and marked its 25th anniversary in 2026. The park occupies 176 acres of reclaimed land along Tokyo Bay and was constructed at a cost of approximately 335 billion yen, representing one of the most expensive theme park developments of its era.

The layout centers on Mount Prometheus, an artificial volcano containing the Journey to the Center of the Earth attraction. Seven themed “ports of call” radiate from this landmark. Mediterranean Harbor replicates Italian port architecture with functioning gondolas; Mysterious Island houses 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; the Lost River Delta features the Indiana Jones Adventure within Central American ruins; Arabian Coast recreates Middle Eastern waterfronts based on Disney’s Aladdin; the American Waterfront depicts early 20th-century New York and Cape Cod; Port Discovery offers retro-futuristic marine technology; and Mermaid Lagoon provides an indoor environment themed to The Little Mermaid.

DisneySea targets a different demographic than Tokyo Disneyland. While the original park emphasizes classic Disney characters and family attractions, DisneySea includes more table-service restaurants and serves alcohol—a policy that distinguished it from other Asian Disney parks until recent years. The design emphasizes evening entertainment; harbor shows synchronize pyrotechnics, projection mapping, and lighting with the periodic eruptions of Mount Prometheus.

The park remains unique among Disney resorts. Imagineering developed the concept for other locations in the 1990s, including a proposed Long Beach, California port district, but only the Tokyo version was realized. The park consistently ranks among the world’s most visited theme parks, typically drawing between 12 and 14 million guests annually. Operational practices here include strict daily capacity limits and advance reservation systems for popular attractions, distinguishing its management approach from other Disney properties.