The Dotonbori River Lantern Festival, a summer tradition at Dotonbori Ebisu Bridge, will be held in winter with a renewed look. This will be the first, small-scale event, conducted as a social experiment to create a winter buzz. Furthermore, this winter's festival, named "Hatsushun Kotobuki" (New Year's Celebration), will feature lanterns illuminated in red and white! Unlike the summer festival, these lanterns will cast a different atmosphere, brightly and cheerfully illuminating the town. This winter, the "Light Objects" inspired by the Dotonbori Five Theaters, previously held at Tonbori River Walk, and one of the New Year's traditions held at Ebisu Bridge will be canceled. It has also been announced that the historic Osaka Shochikuza Theater will close in the spring. Amidst the gradual loss of old-fashioned traditions and culture in Osaka Minami, the "Ittoko Minami Executive Committee," aiming to create a vibrant Osaka Minami, believes that while wishing for the continuation and revival of these traditions, it is also important to create and transmit new, sustainable culture. We aim for the Hatsushun Kotobuki Dotonbori River Lantern Festival to become a new winter tradition by first holding it on a small scale as a social experiment, with the goal of a grander event next winter. (Photo is for illustration purposes)
Name: Early Spring Wishing Lantern Festival in Dotonbori River (Shoshun Kotohogi)
Schedule: Friday, January 9, 2026 – Saturday, February 28, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM - 2:00 AM (scheduled)
Location: Tonbori Riverwalk (Ebisubashi - South side of Dazaemonbashi Bridge)
Quantity: 100 lights