🔴Special Exhibition: “Fenice Sakai × Gashibaru Discovery! Sakai”🔵


🔷〈Encounter the active arm movement in Sakai today—people, things, and happenings〉🌈

■Dates: Tuesday, February 3, 2026–Thursday, February 19, 2026
■Hours: 9:00 AM–8:00 PM (last admission 7:30 PM)
*Final day only: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
*Closed: Monday, February 16
■Admission: Free
■Venue: 📍Fenice Sakai (@fenice_sacay)
Exchange and Creation Galleria (2-1-1 Okinabashicho, Sakai Ward, Sakai City)

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1. Nostalgic Record Jacket Exhibition💽
From the owner of jazz cafe cafe RVC (Sakai Ward, Sakai City), we present over 30 record jackets that colored the era, centered on jazz, drawn from a collection of more than 3,000 records.


2. My Bookcase📚
From the share-style bookstore HONBAKO (Sakai Ward, Sakai City), lively personalities of “box owners” bring a one-box bookstore—"bookcase"—to the event♪ (Sales on weekends only)
Experience building your own "bookcase," enjoy storytelling sessions, and visit the book exchange corner!


3. Visual Artist Yusen Yoneda and the Mansion Midori Renovation Project🎈
Showcasing woodblock prints by Yusen Yoneda, registered with the Sakai City Emerging Artists Bank, and the exchanges between young creators and local residents fostered through activities at Mansion Midori.
On February 15, Yusen Yoneda will hold a woodblock print workshop. (Advance registration required; details on the website)


4. Special Exhibit: Large Sheet Metal Roof Ring✨
A large-scale craft art piece—2 m in diameter and weighing 130 kg—previously exhibited at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, comes to Sakai.
Manufactured by Modern Industrial Co., Ltd., supervised by architect Sou Fujimoto.


5. Special Exhibit: Oceano⛓️
An artwork created in Sakai reusing the distinctive exterior ship ropes from the Portugal Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, expressing the sea that connects Portugal and Japan.
(By Vanessa Barragan / Owned by Sakai City)


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🔷Fenice Sakai × Gashibaru Collaboration Event
This year again, about 80 eateries and shops in the Sakai Higashi area participate in the food and drink festival🍴☕️
Collaborating with the 18th Gashibaru (February 17–20)!
・Gashibaru
🔗https://e-sacai.com/gashi-bar
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💁For more details
🔗https://www.fenice-sacay.jp/event/33048/
Search “Gashibaru × Fenice Sakai”
https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/event/detail/850

🔪✨ Knife Factory and Sakai Takayuki Knife Gallery Tour 🏭🔍
~ Experience Sakai’s blade culture and the craftsmen’s skill! ~


Held on 2/26 (Thu), 5/28 (Thu), 8/27 (Thu), and 11/26 (Thu)! ✨
A rare public opening of the factory that produces the world-renowned Sakai Takayuki knives! 🛠️✨

🔹 For an additional option fee of 18,000 yen, add a tour-exclusive Sakai Takayuki ‘‘meat deboning knife’’ souvenir valued at about 30,000 yen! 🔥

🔹 Highlights
🔹 Tour the Sanpo Factory and watch the knife-making process (forging, rough sharpening, etc.) 🏭
🔹 Visit the gallery displaying about 500 knives 🔍
🔹 Try a simple knife sharpening experience! ✨
🔹 Optional knife ‘‘meat deboning’’ add-on available 🎁

💰 Participation Fees
🔹 Tour only: 4,000 yen
🔹 Tour with the exclusive souvenir knife: 22,000 yen
📌 Registration deadline: up to 3 days before each event date!

🔍 For details and registration, search for "Knife Factory and Sakai Takayuki Knife Gallery Tour with Simple Knife Sharpening Workshop"
https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/tourism/detail/183

💠⋆⸜ Sakai Tourism Concierge reported on 【O
osaka Sakai Balloon】 ⸝⋆💠

Before boarding the balloon, learn some tips, sights, and history that will make your experience more enjoyable, presented clearly on the website with photos💚
Please refer to it --ꕤ

▶️Check the website for more👀
〈 Sakai Tourism Guide Website 〉
🔗https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/feature/detail/107

🔍Search for "Sakai Tourism Concierge Experience Report"!

#Sakai City #Sakai Tourism Concierge #Tourism PR #Experience Report
#Oosaka Sakai Balloon #Balloon #Experience #Spectacular Views
https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/feature/detail/107

Attention moms and dads! 🌸 Why not make spring memories by running the Sakai City Marathon? 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

The event takes place beside the World Heritage Tomb of Emperor Nintoku, in the verdant Daisen Park. 🌳 The popular Family Category is a short 2.5 km course, ideal for those returning to exercise or for little ones making their race debut. ✨

The sense of achievement from “I finished!” becomes a lifelong treasure that boosts your child’s confidence. 🏆 Hold hands with your child and aim for the finish line with your best smiles. 🤝💕

Seeing your child run with all their heart might just move moms and dads to tears… 🥺💖 After the race, enjoy a picnic in the park or stroll through Sakai—both are wonderful. 🍱🍡

This spring, let the whole family aim for a joyful finish line! 🏁✨ We look forward to your entries! 🤗🌈

Check the website for detailed rules and how to enter. 🔍✨

📅 Date and time: Wednesday, April 29 (national holiday)
📍 Location: Daisen Park, near Nintoku-tenno-ryo-mae — loop course

Search “Sakai City Marathon” for more details!
🔗 https://sakaicitymarathon.com/

🐬✨Half-price Admission for Sakai City Residents!✨🐬

One day only: Sunday, February 1, 2026
With thanks for your continued support
＼ Sakai Citizen Appreciation Day ／ celebrates with you🎉

On this day only, residents of Sakai City receive half-price admission!
Enjoy thrilling dolphin training sessions and paid hands-on programs suitable for both adults and children✨
It’s a special day the whole family can enjoy💙
We look forward to welcoming you😊

[Eligibility]
Residents of Sakai City
*Please present proof that confirms your residence in Sakai City.
*Discount applies only to the person shown per one form of ID presented.
*This offer cannot be combined with other discounts.
*The dolphin interaction experience program requires a separate regular fee.

[Admission Fees]
◯ Regular admission
Adult (junior high school age and older): ¥1,210
Child (age 4 to elementary school): ¥770
◯ Nighttime (admission from 5:00 PM onward)
Adult (junior high school age and older): ¥770
Child (age 4 to elementary school): ¥550
*Free for children age 3 and under all day

[Hours]
10:00 AM–8:00 PM (last admission 7:30 PM)
🔍 For details, search “Noah Dolphin Dome”!

https://www.dolphindome.jp/

HIPPO to MOCA Valentine Chocolates Reservations Now Open!

This is HIPPO to MOCA, a chocolate and rice-flour chiffon cake shop in Sakai.
Announcement: HIPPO to MOCA Valentine Chocolate Reservations Now Open

We offer many chocolates ideal for Valentine’s gifts or a treat for yourself, centered on bonbon chocolates made with ingredients linked to Sakai, along with smooth-melting raw chocolate, candied orange peel, and simple chocolate bars.

[How to Reserve] Instagram DM, in-store, or by phone (business days only)
[Pickup Period] February 1 (Saturday) – February 14 (Friday) ※Closed: February 3, 4, 5, 10

For details, please check HIPPO to MOCA’s Instagram (@hippotomoca).
🔗 https://www.instagram.com/hippotomoca

♬ Sophia Sakai Starry Teller keisuke’s Planetarium Laughter SHOW ♬

We invite starry storyteller keisuke, the owner of the “Hoshi Cafe SPICA” in Osaka and a performer who blends humor into sky presentations under the motto “making the starry sky entertainment,” for a laugh-filled starry sky entertainment show.✨
Sign up online via the website😊

📅 Date and time: Saturday, January 24, 18:00–18:45
📍 Venue: Sophia Sakai Planetarium ( @sophiasakai_pla )
💰 Admission: Adults 600 yen, Children 250 yen
👥 Capacity: 140 people (first-come, first-served registration)

🔍 For details, search “Sophia Sakai Starry Teller”!

https://www.sofia-sakai.jp/events/スターリーテラーkeisukeのプラネタリウムで笑いまshow/

The incense of agarwood favored by Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Have you been watching the Taiga drama “Toyotomi Brothers!” (Sundays at 8:00 PM)?
The incense made from agarwood, which Hideyoshi—older brother of the drama’s protagonist Toyotomi Hidenaga—loved, is gaining popularity✨
Regarding Hideyoshi’s fondness for agarwood,
it is said that the missionary Luís Fróis, who was close to him, recorded this in his writings, and you can experience that scent across the ages with this incense
Baieido, a long-established incense maker in Osaka and Sakai, planned and produced the Taiga drama “Toyotomi Brothers!” title logo licensed product “Limited Edition Toyotomi Hideyoshi Incense.” Why not try it while watching the drama?

🔍For details, search for “Limited Edition Toyotomi Hideyoshi Incense”!

https://www.kokoudo.jp/?pid=189254243

📣 The Candle Night that was hugely popular last year returns as "Chapter 2" 🕯️

Inside the dimmed restaurant, candlelight flickers gently.
A night theater is projected across an entire wall 🎥
This year we have amplified the production to create an even more immersive and special evening for you to enjoy 🍝
Perfect for dates and anniversaries, and also recommended for anyone who wants to spend a slightly more luxurious weekday night💕

🕯️ Candle Night Chapter 2
📅 Event period: January 13 (Tue) – February 28 (Sat)
🗓 Mondays through Thursdays only (excluding public holidays)
📍 AOI NAPOLI UMISOBA
We look forward to welcoming you.

A commemorative ema and goshuin designed by Kobukuro Kuroda-san of "Kugatsu Youka" have been created!✨ Heartwarming news has arrived from "Kugatsu Youka" in East Sakai!👀

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～
Kugatsu Youka in East Sakai has, with the cooperation of the local Hochigai Shrine,
prepared special ema and goshuin.
As it happens, there is a story from a mother who used to visit Hochigai Shrine when she moved from Harumidai to Makizukadai in third grade,
and we once again felt how deeply the shrine is rooted in Sakai.
When we consulted with Hochigai Shrine, who share this connection,
they said, “We have long known that Kugatsu Youka has been working hard to enliven the streets of Sakai. We are happy to cooperate.”
With those warm words, this initiative became a reality.
Visitors may write their wishes on the ema and dedicate them on the ema racks set up at Hochigai Shrine and at three locations within the Sakai Higashi Shopping Street.
Please come by and receive these special ema and goshuin along with your heartfelt wishes.
Details will be announced at Kugatsu Youka’s counter (@kugatsu.youka) and on their social media.
Look forward to it.
～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

🦀 A luxurious, reservation-only winter delicacy to savor❄

From Natural Garden in Naka Ward, Sakai City comes the winter reservation-only Crab Extravaganza Bento🍱✨
This indulgent bento is packed with the season’s crab, concentrating savory and sweet flavors
One bite delivers an unforgettable taste…!🤤
It’s a perfect treat for special occasions or a thoughtful gift for someone dear✨

At the shop, in addition to the Crab Extravaganza Bento,
you’ll find many items made with trusted ingredients and great taste!
Customers often say, “Natural Garden’s bentos offer a flavor you can’t buy elsewhere!”
They are very popular🍱

Natural Garden also hosts a much-loved buffet restaurant featuring seasonal vegetables and tofu🥦🍲✨

Experience these winter-only flavors at Natural Garden!
We look forward to your reservation✨

If you’re interested, check the details below👀
📅 Crab Extravaganza Bento sales period
Sunday, January 4 – Saturday, February 28
💰 Price: 2,900 yen (tax included 3,132 yen)
*Available for order from 5 boxes*
*Please reserve at least 3 business days in advance*

🚩 Store information Natural Garden
🕒 Business hours
Restaurant (90-minute seating)
▶︎ First seating: 11:00–12:30
▶︎ Second seating: 12:45–14:15
🍴 Shop hours
10:00–19:00
✖ Closed: Tuesdays (open on public holidays)
🚃 Access: 9-minute walk from Fukai Station on the Nankai Senboku Line; parking available

🔍 For details, search “Natural Food Restaurant Natural Garden”
https://sakai-natural-garden.jp/

This is the nighttime view of Kaiyukan Aquarium at Mount Tenpō in Osaka. The winter night breeze chilled the air and sharpened the scenery, making it feel just right.

📣 A chocolate seminar at Sakai Risho no Mori💕🍫

Presented by HIPPO to MOCA, a chocolate specialty shop in Sakai Ward, this seminar invites you to taste and compare chocolates while hearing stories—“A Chocolate Tasting and Talk: Learn to Tell the Differences.”

You will enjoy both learning and tasting as the program includes accounts from a cacao farm, hands-on encounters with specialty beans, and a sampling of bonbon chocolates made with ingredients tied to Sakai. We look forward to your participation✨

🔍 For details, search “A Chocolate Tasting and Talk.”


https://sakai-rishounomori.com

Uenoshiba Station East Side Illumination

When night falls, a glittering tree bathed in light welcomes you at JR Uenoshiba Station🎄✨
Enjoy the warm illumination created by local residents and volunteers❄

📣Share your beautiful photos of the illumination in Nishi Ward on Instagram with #Nisshii-chan attached!💫

📅Event period: Until Saturday, January 31
🕐Lighting hours: 5:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m.
📍Location: East side of JR Uenoshiba Station (3-1 Uenoshibacho, Nishi Ward, Sakai)

On the bridge at Tennoji Station.
A November weekend morning with a clear sky that warms the heart just by watching.
Autumn is drawing to a close, but there’s an exciting feeling that something new is about to begin.
For some it may be just another ordinary day, but for others it becomes a beautiful scene—the start of a day. The beginning of encounters, the beginning of a journey.

Suwanomori Station Building Illumination

The old station building of Suwanomori Station, a nationally registered Tangible Cultural Property, charms visitors with its small Taisho-era waiting room and a stained-glass window depicting the Hamadera shoreline🧣
This winter, come and see the station building transformed into a magical scene wrapped in Christmas lights🎄✨

📣 For beautiful illumination photos in Nishi Ward,
post them on Instagram with "#Nisshii-chan"!💫

📅 Event period: Until Saturday, January 31
🕐 Lighting hours: 5:00 PM–12:00 AM
📍 Location: Suwanomori Station building (2-78 Suwanomori-nishimachi, Nishi Ward, Sakai City)

From Sakai: A refreshing scent of green yuzu fills the air at the “Yuzukaralin Cafe”
— A collaboration cafe between SAKAINOMA and Yuzukaralin —

SAKAINOMA cafe and hotel Kuma (Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture) will host a special event, Yuzukaralin Cafe, in collaboration with the Kochi Prefecture yuzu-based seasoning brand Yuzukaralin for five days only, from Saturday, January 10 to Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

We will offer lunch menus, sweets, and drinks that make the most of the green yuzu’s fragrance, gentle acidity, and the faint spiciness unique to Yuzukaralin.

🔍For more details, search “SAKAINOMA and Yuzukaralin collaboration cafe”!
https://sakainoma.jp/

Reusing the Portugal Pavilion ropes! Presenting the artwork "Oceano"✨

The Portuguese artist Vanessa Barragan created the artwork Oceano and is exhibiting it together with the ropes from the Portugal Pavilion. The piece was made in Sakai City starting in late October, and its production process was opened to the public in November. Oceano was crafted in Sakai using ropes from the Portugal Pavilion and expresses the sea that connects Portugal and Japan. It will serve as a legacy of exchange between Portugal and Sakai for the future.

○ The sea that connects Portugal and Sakai
Inspired by the Portugal Pavilion, ropes are displayed from the ceiling!
Two works produced in Sakai City on display!
🗓️ January 6 (Tue)–January 11 (Sun)
⏰ 10:00–17:00 (last admission 16:30)
📍 Higashi Cultural Hall (Hall Building) Gallery

🔍 For details, search "Sakai City Expo Legacy"!
https://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/kanko/bunka/art_kanrenjigyo/expo_legacy/SpecialExhibition_Portugal.html

Tsukuno Station West-Side Illuminations

This winter, JR Tsukuno Station brightens up with festive illuminations✨
A large tree, filled with the warm feelings of the local community, lights up the night🎄
Stop by and enjoy the sparkle of the lights❄

📣Share lovely photos of Nishi Ward’s illuminations
and tag Nissy-chan on Instagram!💫

📅Event period: until January 13 (Tuesday)
🕐Lighting hours: 5:00 PM–12:30 AM
📍Location: West side of JR Tsukuno Station (Tsukuno-cho 1-2, Nishi Ward, Sakai City)

Former Hamadera Park Station Building Illumination

The Former Hamadera Park Station Building, a nationally registered Tangible Cultural Property, is a precious piece of architecture designated as a national registered Tangible Cultural Property.✨ At night it sparkles with illuminations, making you feel as if you’ve wandered into a storybook world…☺
The event runs through this Friday! Come and see it❄

📣 For beautiful illumination photos from Nishi Ward,
add "#Nissy-chan" and post them on Instagram!💫

📅 Event period: Until Friday, December 26
🕐 Lighting hours: 5:00 PM–12:00 AM
📍 Location: Former Hamadera Park Station Building (2-188 Hamadera Park Town, Nishi Ward, Sakai City)

Nishi Ward Office Illumination

The season when Nishi Ward Office is wrapped in light ✨
A 5-meter-tall giant Christmas tree and the cute Nissy-chan welcome everyone 🎄 On chilly nights, enjoy a heartwarming moment under the sparkling illuminations ❄ The display runs until this Friday! Come and see it 🐥

📣 Post your beautiful photos of Nishi Ward’s illuminations on Instagram with “#Nissy-chan” attached! 💫

📅 Period: Until Thursday, December 25
🕐 Lighting hours: 5:00 PM–10:00 PM
📍 Location: Sakai City Nishi Ward Office (600, 6-chome Otorihigashimachi, Nishi Ward, Sakai City)

✨A new spot for freshly made sweets has arrived🍨
Salon de Franchise, a cake shop with 27 years in business, has opened a specialty salon for freshly made sweets in Naka Ward, Sakai City on November 27🍨✨

Desserts and parfaits finished after you order let you enjoy the sound and aroma of baking and the unique textures of just-made treats—a special experience you can only have here.

Each dish will make you want to tell someone, “That was delicious.”
This new spot is perfect not only for afternoon tea but also for indulgent days or time spent with someone special.

Check the menu below if you’re curious👀✨

📍Salon de Franchise (@salon_de_franchise)
🕒 Hours: 11:00–19:00 (Last order 18:00)
❌ Closed: Tuesdays (open on public holidays)
🚃 Access: An 8-minute walk from Fukai Station on the Nankai Semboku Line; parking available

🔍 Search for “Salon de Franchise” for more details!
🔗 https://www.franchise1998.com/

――――――――――
Year-end and New Year holiday closure
December 23 (Tuesday)–January 6 (Tuesday)
※Normal business resumes on Wednesday, January 7
――――――――――

🔵Collect official pavilion stamps while touring Sakai!🔴

Official stamps from Osaka–Kansai Expo pavilions related to Sakai are now available!
Enjoy exploring Sakai as you gather stamps placed at facilities throughout the city.
Daisen Park will also host an event on the same days, so please stop by there as well!

🗓️Saturday, December 20; Sunday, December 21; Wednesday, December 24; Thursday, December 25
*Entry may be limited during busy periods

🔍For more details, search for “Sakai Expo Stamps”!
https://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/shisei/sonota/banpaku/expo_stamp.html

✨At Sakai City Tea Room Shin-an, the contemporary artists’ tea utensils used at Sakai’s spring event for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai make an appearance✨

✨From Saturday, December 20 through Sunday, January 25, 2026, for a limited time, guests who use the tea service at Sakai City Tea Room Shin-an can, if they wish, enjoy matcha served in the contemporary artists’ tea utensils used at Sakai’s spring event for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai✨ (You cannot choose the type of tea utensil, so look forward to a surprise ☺)

While reminiscing about Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, savor authentic matcha served in these special tea utensils ☺
Tea service is available from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM✨
One serving 500 yen (with dry confectionery) ☺

🔍For details, search for “Daisen Park Area: Rediscover the Attractions of the Expo”
https://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/kanko/kanko/kohosakaievent/sinan.html

📣 A program to rediscover the charms of the Expo will be held in the Daisen Park area!✨

At Daisen Park Japanese Garden, we will exhibit works that were displayed or sold at pavilions from 18 countries, including Japan, at the Osaka-Kansai Expo!
In addition, contemporary artists’ tea utensils will be used at Sakai City Tea House Shin-an to serve tea in a standing-seated (ryurei) style!

📅 Event period: Saturday, December 20 – Sunday, January 25

🔍 For details, search “Rediscover the Charms of the Expo in the Daisen Park Area”!
https://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/.../kohosakaievent/sinan.html
https://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/kanko/kanko/kohosakaievent/sinan.html

This photo was also taken at Osaka Castle Park. I visited in the morning, and the contrast as dawn broke was beautiful.

Taken from Osaka Castle Park. I snapped the shutter as a crow flew through vivid ginkgo leaves, its black silhouette contrasting beautifully.

From Wednesday, December 17, receive an original postcard featuring a hot-air balloon and Shin-an at the Sakai City Tea Room, Shin-an.

Starting Wednesday, December 17, when you enjoy a tea service at the Sakai City Tea Room, Shin-an, show the Osaka Sakai Balloon reservation QR code or a hot-air balloon ticket receipt and everyone will receive an original “Balloon and Shin-an” postcard.

When you visit the Osaka Sakai Balloon hot-air balloon experience, take a relaxing break with a warm bowl of matcha at the Sakai City Tea Room, Shin-an, and pick up a charming postcard.

Tea service is available from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Enjoy an authentic bowl of matcha for 500 yen per serving (with dry confectionery).

⋆⸜ ⭐️<Daisen Park Japanese Garden> Wa Light Nights ⭐️ ⸝⋆
[Special Winter Evening Opening]💫
On winter nights, this tranquil Japanese garden comes alive with the soft glow of Japanese-style lights.
Forget the everyday and spend a warm, luminous moment with someone special✨☺♡⃛


<Daisen Park Japanese Garden ( @daisenteien )>
🔶Event Period
・ Saturday, December 20 – Sunday, December 21
・ Wednesday, December 24 – Thursday, December 25
・ 5:00 PM–8:00 PM (last admission 7:30 PM)


🔍For details, search “Daisen Park Japanese Garden Special Winter Evening Opening”!
🔗 https://www.daisenteien.jp/event/tw2wj5c1lke1
https://www.daisenteien.jp/event/tw2wj5c1lke1

⋆⸜ ⭐️<Daisen Park Japanese Garden> Wa Light Nights ⭐️ ⸝⋆

【Special Winter Night Opening】💫
On winter nights, a serene and beautiful Japanese garden comes alive, bathed in traditional Japanese light.
Leave everyday life behind and spend a warm, glowing moment with someone special ✨😊♡⃛

< Japanese Garden in Daisen Park >
🔶Event Period
・ Saturday, December 20 to Sunday, December 21
・ Wednesday, December 24 to Thursday, December 25
・ 5:00 PM–8:00 PM (last admission 7:30 PM)

🔍For details, search “Daisen Park Japanese Garden Special Winter Night Opening”!


https://www.daisenteien.jp/event/tw2wj5c1lke1