📢Introducing a new hands-on experience✨ Make matcha with a stone mill and learn how to whisk it at a long-established tea shop🍵 At Nishio Meikouen Tea Shop, a venerable establishment in Sakai where the tea ceremony tradition still lives, would you like to try making matcha from tencha? You will whisk and enjoy the matcha you grind with the stone mill yourself🍵 A lecture by the head of the shop is included, so even first-timers can feel at ease🔰😊 In the second half, you will learn how to brew sencha to bring out its best flavor and hear stories about tea🎀 The shop offers not only tea leaves but also tea-based products perfect for souvenirs, such as “Rikyu, Sakai and Wanichabi Chocolate,” which was selected as a representative Osaka product, and jams🎁 Please join us in the delicious new-tea season🌿 This is a recommended plan to introduce Sakai to friends visiting Expo from afar ✨🔔 For details, search “Sakai matcha making”🔍

BICYCLE INN PARK 2025 BICYCLE INN PARK 2025 will be held to coincide with the Tour of Japan 2025 Sakai Stage! 🎉 With a flea market, bicycle test rides, music, art, and workshops, we offer a wide range of activities to help you discover new things and meet new people. Please come and join us! ✨ 📅 Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18, 10:00–16:00 (scheduled) 📍Daisen Park *Traffic restrictions will be in place on the 18th, so please refrain from coming by car. Access to the park will also be limited during the race. Allow extra time when planning your visit.* Bicycles come in many forms—the first bike you ever rode, one you bought as an adult, bikes built for speed, and bikes that carry lots of gear and toys. Through many experiences, the ways to enjoy cycling keep expanding and evolving. You’ll likely want a new bike or play equipment, and you may discover new places to go and play. 🚲

From Sakai to the Expo site by boat. No traffic, perfect views. Comfortable access via the water route✨ Departing from Sakai Old Port, it’s only 30 minutes to the Expo site. Take this boat and you’ll no longer worry about traffic jams or crowded crowds. No road congestion, no long lines on station platforms. Onboard, just enjoy the water-city scenery of Osaka as the breeze blows🏯 The evening sail is especially recommended. After enjoying the Expo, avoid the rush-hour trains and return to Sakai on a relaxing cruise. It’s travel that feels like a mini getaway even though it’s just transportation. With a slightly different way to get there, make your Expo experience more comfortable and more special. 🎫Search “Universal Cruise” to make a reservation!

Osaka Festival! — EXPO2025 Spring Showcase The Osaka Festival — EXPO Spring Showcase will take place at the Osaka-Kansai Expo EXPO Arena. Around 40 floats and platforms gathered from across Osaka, including danjiri, yagura, and taiko-dai, will come together in one place! A vibrant lineup of energetic festivals will open Osaka Week. From Sakai City, the Keana-cho danjiri and the Shinzaikehama futon taiko will be demonstrated and exhibited. 📅 Dates and times: Friday, May 9 — Danjiri Keana-cho (Naka Ward) Saturday, May 10 — Futon Taiko Shinzaikehama (Sakai Ward) 🔴 Registration: No advance registration required Anyone attending the Osaka-Kansai Expo is welcome to join. 🏠 Venue: Osaka-Kansai Expo EXPO Arena 🔍 For details, search “Re-Discover”! 🔍 Also be sure to check the Sakai Tourism Guide Expo special site (If you come to Expo, please come to Sakai too). We look forward to seeing you there!😄

The 3rd India DAY in Sakai✨3rd India DAY in Sakai🎉 😋 Booths will feature Indian food, spices, and sundries, and the stage will showcase a packed lineup including Bollywood dance and traditional Indian dance, as well as Japanese traditional arts such as Japanese taiko drumming!

📍 “Futari demo Sakai” Heart-Pounding Darts Journey! 🎯🚶‍♂️ Decide destinations with a dart throw and solve challenges about each spot as you tour the city on this fresh travel experience.✨ Rediscover Sakai’s charms and set off on an exciting adventure.💡💛 📅 Event Period: March 14 (Friday) – May 31 (Saturday) ✅ Free to participate 🆓 ✅ No reservation required 📆✖️ ✅ Win prizes 🎁🎯 🔍For details, search “Futari demo Sakai” on the Sakai Tourism Guide website!

The azaleas along Asakayama Greenway are in peak bloom now. Enjoy the vibrant azaleas stretching about 600 meters along Asakayama Greenway. Take in the colorful display of azaleas along this roughly 600-meter stretch.

[Osaka/Kansai Expo] Koinobori Workshop🎏✨ At the Osaka/Kansai Expo Jordan Pavilion, we will hold a workshop using Sakai’s traditional industry, the Sakai May Koinobori (carp streamers)🎏 If you are visiting the Expo site that day, please join us 📅 Date and time: Thursday, April 24 <Session 1> 10:00 AM–12:00 PM <Session 2> 2:00 PM–4:00 PM 🔴 Registration: No advance registration required (about 20 participants per session on a first-come, first-served basis) Anyone attending the Osaka/Kansai Expo is welcome to participate 😊 ⭐ Program: Participants will write wishes for peace and hopes for the future on hand-painted Sakai May Koinobori over five meters long to create a one-of-a-kind original carp streamer. The completed koinobori will be flown at the Jordan Pavilion from Thursday, May 8 through late May. 🏠 Location: Osaka/Kansai Expo Jordan Pavilion If you cannot participate on the day, you can still see the Sakai May Koinobori at Sakai Densho-kan, so please visit Sakai City🎶 🔎 For details, search for “Sakai Densho-kan”! 🔎 Also be sure to check the “Sakai Sightseeing Guide Expo Special Site (If you come to the Expo, come to Sakai too)” and the “Sakai City website: 2025 Osaka/Kansai Expo (collaboration with pavilions and information on local companies exhibiting).” We look forward to seeing you all 😄

🌷✨ Seventy thousand tulips in full bloom! A spectacular spring view ✨🌷 At Harvest Hill, the tulips are now at their peak! 💕 A colorful carpet of tulips stretches across the fields, creating a beautiful floral landscape to enjoy 🌈💐 Step into the tulip fields to feel the arrival of spring and capture wonderful memory photos 📸 In addition, baby blue eyes (nemophila), north-pole daisies, and unique tulip varieties are also reaching their best viewing period 🌼 📍 Location: Village area flower field “Sun Hill” (about 3,000 m²) 🎟 Admission: Viewing is included with Harvest Hill park entry fee 🌷 Plus! A spring photo contest is being held ✨ 🌞 Come and enjoy the spring spectacle! 🌞 *The blooming period may vary depending on the weather, so please check the official website before visiting✅

🍀May 25th (Sunday) 【Morning Yoga at the Temple】 Participants Wanted🍀May 25th (sun) – Start a refreshing morning at Myohoji Temple🎪🌿🍀 Revitalize your mind and body in the temple grounds glowing with fresh green leaves🌿 At Myohoji Temple, one of the oldest temples in Senshu with about 700 years of history, you will enjoy a welcoming morning rice porridge and tea service after yoga🍵 We look forward to your reservation😊🎶 Date: Sunday, May 25th 🎉Event likely to proceed soon🎉 Location: Myohoji Temple (4-1-3 Nakanomachi Higashi, Sakai Ward, Sakai City) Meeting time: 8:20 AM Fee: 5,000 yen ・ With rental mat 5,100 yen (2 spots remaining) For details, search “Sakai Morning Yoga”🔍 📢Event Notice📢 On the same day, the Daisen Tea Gathering will be held at Daisen Park’s Large lawn area, Dai-Shibafu Hiroba Plaza🍵🍡 It’s about a 15-minute bike ride or a 30-minute walk from Myohoji Temple to the venue. Why not spend the afternoon visiting Doigawa Park and Nansoji Temple along the way🌳 Please check the website for details about the Daisen Tea Gathering🔍

🎨 Special Exhibition "Mucha: The Mysterious Painting" ✨ 1 We present for the first time a new tapestry that weaves Alphonse Mucha’s painting Quo Vadis, a masterpiece by one of Czechia’s leading artists, using Sakai’s traditional craft Sakai Dantsu. This work marks a new chapter in the history of painting. 2 Alongside one of the world’s foremost Mucha collections, the exhibition unveils the full story of the enigmatic painting Quo Vadis. Exhibition Highlights Explore freely through five rooms designed like pavilions. A grand gathering of works related to the magnificent World Expo of 1900 Paris, held 125 years ago!

🎻 Osaka Symphony Orchestra Fenice Sakai Masterpieces Series Vol.3 🎼 The third installment of the "Masterpieces Series," in which the Osaka Symphony Orchestra based in Sakai selects and presents beautiful works🎶✨ 🌟 Conducted by Keiko Mitsuhashi, who was named one of Newsweek Japan’s "100 Japanese People the World Respects"🎼 🎻 Violinist Mariko Senju, who had a fateful encounter with the legendary Stradivarius "Duranti," appears🎶 Enjoy Bruch’s Violin Concerto No.1, one of the cornerstones of the violin concerto repertoire, and Brahms’s Symphony No.1, a work he completed over 21 years with a strong awareness of Beethoven’s achievements. ●Performers Keiko Mitsuhashi (conductor), Mariko Senju (violin), Osaka Symphony Orchestra (orchestra) ●Program Bruch: Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor, Op.26 Brahms: Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op.68

🔪✨ Knife Factory and Sakai Takayuki Knife Gallery Tour 🏭🔍 ~ Experience Sakai’s blade-making culture, where craftsmen’s skills shine! ~ Held on Thursday, May 29; Thursday, August 28; and Thursday, November 27! ✨ A special public opening of the factory that produces the world-renowned Sakai Takayuki kitchen knives! 🛠️✨ 🔹 May 29 is a special edition! Includes a Sakai Takayuki petty knife 🔥 ▶ Special plan for the JR Destination Campaign (DC)! 🔹 Highlights 🔹 Tour the Sanpou factory to watch knife-making processes (blacksmithing, rough grinding, etc.) 🏭 🔹 Visit the gallery displaying about 500 knives 🔍 🔹 Try a simple knife sharpening experience! ✨ 🔹 May 29 only: receive a Sakai Takayuki petty knife as a gift 🎁 💰 Participation Fee 🔹 May 29: ¥15,000 (includes petty knife 🎁) 🔹 August 28 and November 27: ¥4,000 📌 Application Deadline: Until 3 days before each event date! 🔍 For details and to apply, search for "Knife Factory and Sakai Takayuki Knife Gallery Tour with Simple Knife Sharpening Workshop"

Brno National Theatre Mother Mother / Kansai debut! Brno National Theatre Mother Mother \ The famed work by Czech playwright Karel Čapek comes to Sakai! The cast from the Brno National Theatre will give passionate performances. (Japanese and English subtitles provided) Dates: Wednesday, June 4 and Thursday, June 5 Venue: Fenice Sakai Tickets on sale now📢

📢 Osaka Destination Campaign is here! 🎉✨ ✨Special Osaka DC experiences from April 1 to June 30 only! 📍Sakai offers a host of special experiences!📍 🛕 Kofun stroll｜Walk atop the normally off-limits Oritsuka Kofun!⛰️ 🌳 Japanese garden tour｜See a gardener’s craft up close🌿✨ 🍵 Tea ceremony experience｜Authentic thick and thin matcha services🍃🎁 🔫 Gunsmith (teppo blacksmith) house guide｜Romance of Edo-period history🏯 🖼️ Mucha exhibition｜Lost oil paintings paired with Sakai’s dantsu rugs🎨 🌷 Harvest Hill｜70,000 tulips in full bloom🌼 📖 Check the Osaka DC official website for details! Which one would you like to join? Tell us in the comments 💬

🔪✨Sakai Cutlery Festival 2025 is here! Experience two days of traditional craftsmanship! Exhibitions and direct sales of kitchen knives and gardening shears, sharpening services, and highlights including traditional forging demonstrations and signature engraving by artisans🎉 🍎An apple-peeling contest and cooking shows will also take place!👨‍🍳✨ 📅Dates: Saturday, April 12 – Sunday, April 13 ⏰Time: 10:00–16:00 📍Venue: Sakai City Industrial Promotion Center Event Hall (183-5 Nagasonecho, Kita Ward, Sakai), free admission!🎫 Please note parking is limited and parking lots and surrounding roads may be congested, so please use public transportation if possible🚋 🔍For details, check the official website of the Sakai Cutlery Commerce and Industry Cooperative Federation

40th Anniversary Regular Performance Madame Butterfly “Everything begins in Sakai” 🔶 Founded by citizens more than fifty years ago, Sakai City Opera has held numerous exchanges with overseas opera houses and companies In 2006, it became the first Japanese company to co-produce a local staging of Puccini’s festival production of Madame Butterfly in Italy. On May 2, we will present a performance for young people—children who have grown through the COVID-19 pandemic and the youth who will shape tomorrow—so that their rich sensibilities can be entrusted to the future society. Madame Butterfly, a love opera set in Nagasaki, comes to Fenice Sakai, a source of pride for Sakai City. Enjoy the power of live music and the drama’s emotion this Golden Week! Ticket reservations → ticket＠sakai-city-opera.jp ★ Please contact us with “Madame Butterfly ticket request,” seat type, number of tickets, your name, address, and phone number.

📢 Monster Hunter × Sakai 🔥 A life-size tachi sword appears at Sakai City tea room Shin-an! ⚔️🏯 In Sakai City, we have recreated a full-scale tachi sword, about 2.2 m long, as seen in Capcom Co., Ltd.’s popular game series Monster Hunter, and it will be exhibited at Sakai City tea room Shin-an. 🎮✨ 📷 Plus! Show a photo of the recreated tachi at participating facilities to receive special perks in a campaign. 🎁🎉 ※The tachi displayed at the main site is a sculpted item made from metal materials and does not fall under the category of blades covered by the Swords and Firearms Control Law. 🛠️ This special piece was created for the collaboration event with the same series held in fiscal 2022. 💡 🔍 For details, please see the Sakai City website.

🌸Shūzuka Kofun Plaza "Cherry Blossom Viewing Party"🌸 Cherry blossom season has arrived! At the "Cherry Blossom Viewing Party" held at Shūzuka Kofun Plaza, many food trucks and vendor booths will be on site✨ Enjoy light meals and drinks while spending a spring moment🌷 When you visit Daisen Park, be sure to stop by!🌸🎉 📅 Date and Time: Saturday, March 29, 6:00 PM–7:30 PM 🚶‍♂️ Access: 5-minute walk from Mozu Station on the JR Hanwa Line 🎟️ Admission: Free 📍 Venue: Daisen Park (Sakai Ward, around the Mozu Kofun Group) 📞 Inquiries: PULLPUSH Planning Co., Ltd. 📧 Email: support@mycity-epco.co.jp 📱 Phone: 070-3184-0237 (Miko) 🔍 For event details, please see Sakai City’s official website

The 4th Kanga—CAN GO—Hashiwatashi Fest ＼Kanga-CAN GO-Hashiwatashi Fest is happening／ The “Hashiwatashi Fest,” where events take place simultaneously across the kanga area, is back✨ 🌸 Thursday, March 20, 2025 (national holiday) – Sunday, April 6, 2025 🌸 This time, the main venue is the former Sakai Fire Station, hosting the “Hashiwatashi Marche” on April 6! Many vendors will gather, centered on the charming shops in the kanga area. On April 6, four events will be held simultaneously within the kanga area☺️ From March 20 to April 6, visit shops and facilities throughout the kanga area to enjoy limited-time Hashiwatashi Fest perks and a stamp rally🚶 Prizes from the stamp rally may include Expo tickets or a hotel stay for two, awarded by lottery!? While enjoying the “Hashiwatashi Marche,” explore nearby shops, facilities, and historical sites to discover and feel the kanga area—the medieval merchant town of Sakai💓 🔍Details here👉 Kanga Salon Instagram: @sakai_cango

🌿✨ Cleaning the shrine grounds for two 🏯🧹 – Start your day at Otori Taisha – A special offering from the “Futari Demo Sakai” campaign! ✨ Enjoy the unusual calm of the shrine in the early morning and experience cleaning the historic Otori Taisha grounds (※). ✨ ※If it rains, participate in a ritual prayer transcription experience Join a Shinto priest for the daily sunrise worship called “Nippai,” hear an introduction to Otori Taisha, and receive a special “Omamori that helps you see ahead.” ⛩️🌿 📅 Dates: Friday, April 11 and Sunday, May 18 📍 Location: Otori Taisha 💰 Fee: 6,400 JPY per pair (2 people), includes two omamori 📢 Applications accepted until one week before each event date! 🌟 Experience a special chance to purify your heart at this historic shrine—join us! 🔍 For details and to apply, search “Cleaning the shrine grounds for two – Start your day at Otori Taisha”

🕵️Solve the Mysteries of Sakai – The Spirit Kajira and the Vanished Legendary Blacksmith A roving real-world puzzle game takes place in Sakai!🎉 📜A detective story set across Sakai as you search for the vanished legendary blacksmith🔍 Walk around Sakai city and unravel puzzles as you go🚶‍➡️ Those who clear the mystery receive a completion reward🎁‼ Whether with family, friends, or solo, why not become the detective who solves the mystery?🕵️ 📅Event period: Saturday, March 22 – Monday, October 13 📍Location: Sakai Ward, Sakai City, moat area 🔍For details, search for “Solve the Mysteries of Sakai – The Spirit Kajira and the Vanished Legendary Blacksmith”

📢 Locals’ Picks: Savory Eats in Sakai🍽️✨ Sakai offers not only tourist spots but also many local culinary delights unique to the area!😋🌸 We invited recommendations from residents for eateries so visitors to the Osaka-Kansai Expo can savor Sakai’s flavors!📍🍜🍣 Enjoy Sakai’s local cuisine along with the Expo!🎡✨ 🎁 Instagram posting campaign runs until June 30! Five winners will be drawn to receive Sakai specialty products🎊🎁 🔍 For details, search for “Locals’ Picks: Savory Eats in Sakai”!

🚴 Exploring the mystery of how the bicycle industry began in Sakai ♬ In Sakai, famed as "the birthplace of many things," the bicycle industry took root and flourished 🚲 Join a guided tour led by a curator to learn about Sakai’s unique craftsmanship and history 🕵️ 📢 “Untangling Sakai: Investigating Sakai’s Mysteries 2025” 🎉 🗓️ Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23, 2025 📍 Shimano Bicycle Museum 🔍 For details, please check the announcements on the Sakai Tourism Guide website. 📬 Registration: on-site, first-come, first-served 🎫 Participation fee: Free (museum admission not included) 📞 Inquiries: 072-221-3196

🚴 Delving into the mystery of how the bicycle industry was born in Sakai ♬ In Sakai, hailed as “the place where everything begins,” the bicycle industry flourished🚲 Join a curator-led guided tour to learn about Sakai’s unique craftsmanship and history🕵️ 📢 “Untying the Threads: Uncovering Sakai’s Mysteries 2025”🎉 🗓️ Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23, 2025 📍 Shimano Bicycle Museum 🔍 For details, please check the announcements on the Sakai tourism guide website. 📬 Registration: first-come, first-served on the day 🎫 Participation fee: free (museum admission not included) 📞 Contact: 072-221-3196

📢 The “Futari Demo Sakai” Campaign Is Here!💑✨ Starting Friday, March 14, Sakai City kicks off the “Futari Demo Sakai” campaign!🎯🚶‍♂️ Enjoy plenty of activities made for pairs, from journeys decided by dart throws to special Sakai-only experiences💛🎉 📅 Period: Friday, March 14 – Saturday, May 31 ✅ Free to participate 🆓 ✅ No reservation required 📆✖️ ✅ Chances to win prizes!🎁 🔍 For details, visit the Sakai tourism guide website and search “Futari Demo Sakai”! 💡 Campaign Highlights 1. Dart Trip Let fate choose your destination! Visit spots while taking on quizzes along the way🎯 Answer all questions at a spot correctly to earn a chance to play a prize-winning dart game✨ 2. Special Experiences Try Sakai cultural activities like wagashi (Japanese confection) making and tea ceremony experiences🍵 3. Digital Stamp Rally Visit any 4 of the 7 spots to enter a lottery for prizes🎁 4. Share Campaign Post photos or videos of your pair trip in Sakai on Instagram with both hashtags #futari_demo_sakai and #futari_tabi! 🏯💑💫 Five winners will be chosen by lottery from those who post to receive lovely prizes!🎁 Share your memories and join the campaign!📲✨ We have posted a reel video for this campaign on our official Instagram and Facebook. Please take a look👀

🛕 Main Hall Guided Tour & Uncovering the Mystery of Sakai Prefecture In addition to a guided tour of the city’s largest wooden structure, the Main Hall, the temple’s sutra repository will be open for two days only😲 We will explore the mystery of “Sakai Prefecture,” which existed for 14 years in the past✨ 📢 "Untie the Strings: Exploring the Mystery of Sakai 2025"🎉 🗓️ Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23 📍 Honganji Sakai Betsuin, free admission! 🔍 For details, please check the Sakai Tourism Guide website news. 📬 How to apply: On the day, please speak to a nearby sightseeing volunteer guide. ※ During chanting, visitors cannot enter the Main Hall, so you may be asked to wait.

📜 Special Exhibition: Celebrating the 1st Anniversary of the Teppō Blacksmith Residence Opening 🎉 Holding “The World of Documents from the Inoue Sekuemon Family: Production, Sales, and Techniques of Sakai Firearms” To mark the first anniversary of the Teppō Blacksmith Residence, Sakai City Museum presents a special exhibition introducing Sakai’s firearms industry in the Edo period: “The World of Documents from the Inoue Sekuemon Family: Production, Sales, and Techniques of Sakai Firearms.” ✨ 🔍 This exhibition traces the history of the Inoue Sekuemon family through old documents to deepen understanding of Sakai as a town of craftsmanship, and introduces Edo-period Sakai firearms from the perspectives of production, sales, and technical skill. 📖 Don’t miss this rare opportunity to explore the production, sales, and techniques of Sakai firearms!

Kahori-bukuro Making Experience “Exploring the Mysteries of Aromatic Woods and Kampo Medicine” 🙌 In Sakai, where incense was first made in Japan, you can blend several incense ingredients to create your favorite kahori-bukuro (scent sachet) 💕 We will delve into the mysteries of aromatic woods and Kampo (traditional Japanese herbal medicine) ✨ 📢 “Untie the Strings, Explore Sakai — Investigating Sakai’s Mysteries 2025” 🎉 🗓️ Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23, 2025 📍Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum, 2nd floor TAKUMI EXHIBITION — held only on Saturday the 22nd! 🔍For details, please check the notices on the Sakai Tourism Guide website. 📬Registration: First-come, first-served on the day 🎫Participation fee: 500 yen (tax included) 💰Payment: Pay at the 1st-floor TAKUMI SHOP register on the day, and show the receipt at the venue. 📞Contact: 072-227-1001

🔪Delving into the Mystery of Blade Shapes🔪 📚Join Eric Chevalier, a blacksmith-trained native of France who apprenticed in Sakai, as he explores the many mysteries behind blade shapes! Blades are indispensable in our daily lives, and this event digs into the unique appeal of Sakai cutlery.✨ 📢“Untying the Threads of Sakai: Exploring Sakai’s Mysteries 2025”🎉 🗓️ Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23 📍Sakai Hamono Museum “CUT” (inside Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum) 🔍For details, please check the notices on the Sakai Tourism Guide website. 📬Registration: First-come, first-served on the day (Participation fee: free) ※If you wish to participate, please speak to staff at the TAKUMI SHOP on the first floor. 📞Contact: 072-227-1001