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Matsuri Guide

Citizen festival and parade • Osaka (大阪府)

箕面まつり

Minō Matsuri, the citizen festival of Minoh

Minō Matsuri (箕面まつり)

Next date From Saturday, October 3, 2026 to Sunday, October 4, 2026
Status Date confirmed
Period A weekend in early October
Date type Variable date: weekend set annually
Venue Ashihara Kōen (芦原公園)
Access Hankyu Minoh Station (Hankyū Minoh-eki), then about 10 minutes on foot to 芦原公園

Name in Japanese and English

  • 箕面まつり (Minō Matsuri)
  • Minō Matsuri, the citizen festival of Minoh

Summary

The 箕面まつり (Minō Matsuri) is the major annual citizen festival of 箕面市 (Minoh-shi), in 大阪府 (Ōsaka-fu) prefecture. Unlike many Japanese matsuri, it is not directly linked to a shrine: it is based on a 市民手づくり (shimin-tezukuri) organization, literally "made by citizens," and on the involvement of many volunteers.

Created in 1986 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Minoh's elevation to city status, the festival now gathers stalls, dance and music stages, family activities, 盆踊り (bon odori), and, depending on the edition, a large パレード (parēdo) between the city hall and Minoh station.

Since the 37th edition in 2022, the festival has moved from its summer period to early October to reduce risks related to heat. The 41st edition is officially scheduled for October 3 and 4, 2026, with more than 70 stalls at ときめき広場 (Tokimeki Hiroba) and the return of the パレード (parēdo) after its cancellation in 2025.

Access and landmarks

Location

芦原公園 (Ashihara Kōen), メイプルホール (Maple Hall), 中央生涯学習センター (Chūō Shōgai Gakushū Center) and, during the パレード (parēdo), the route connecting 箕面市役所 (Minoh Shiyakusho) to 阪急箕面駅前ロータリー (Hankyū Minoh-eki-mae Rotary).

Address

〒562-0001 大阪府箕面市箕面5-11-23 — area of 芦原公園 (Ashihara Kōen), メイプルホール (Maple Hall) and the learning center.

Landmark

The heart of the festival is ときめき広場 (Tokimeki Hiroba), set around 芦原公園 (Ashihara Kōen). The パレード (parēdo) route follows 府道豊中亀岡線 (Toyonaka-Kameoka-sen) between city hall and Minoh station.

Access

From 阪急箕面駅 (Hankyū Minoh-eki), it is about a 10-minute walk to 芦原公園 (Ashihara Kōen). From central Osaka, generally reach 石橋阪大前駅 (Ishibashi-Handai-mae-eki), then take the 阪急箕面線 (Hankyū Minoh-sen). Public transport is strongly recommended.

Event program

The 箕面まつり (Minō Matsuri) usually takes place over two days, from early afternoon until evening. The main area is ときめき広場 (Tokimeki Hiroba), located at 芦原公園 (Ashihara Kōen) and nearby cultural facilities.

For the 41st edition in 2026, ときめき広場 (Tokimeki Hiroba) is scheduled from 1 pm to 8 pm on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4. More than 70 出店 (shutten), stalls and booths, will be set up around the park.

On Saturday, October 3, the outdoor stage operates from 2 pm to 8 pm. The program includes dances, concerts, よさこい (yosakoi), a karaoke contest, and several participatory activities. Children's activities are also organized in メイプルホール (Maple Hall) and 中央生涯学習センター (Chūō Shōgai Gakushū Center), including workshops, go, shōgi, and a haunted house.

On Sunday, October 4, the outdoor stage also runs from 2 pm to 8 pm. The program features dance, hula, cheerleading, family activities, and 盆踊り (bon odori), a traditional group dance held in the late afternoon.

The grand パレード (parēdo) is planned for Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 2 pm to 5 pm. It starts at 箕面市役所 (Minoh Shiyakusho) and proceeds to 阪急箕面駅前ロータリー (Hankyū Minoh-eki-mae Rotary) following 府道豊中亀岡線 (Toyonaka-Kameoka-sen).

An オープニングセレモニー (ōpuningu seremonī), opening ceremony, is scheduled from 2:10 pm, followed by the parade departure around 2:30 pm. Participants include fanfares, よさこい (yosakoi) groups, dance, 民舞 (minbu), 和太鼓 (wadaiko) drums, majorettes, marching groups, and floats or フロート (furōto).

The 2026 theme is 「彩れ、箕面の未来。」 (Irodore, Minoh no mirai.), "Color the future of Minoh." More specifically, the パレード (parēdo) uses the theme 「Minoh 70th カラフルパレード」 (Minoh 70th Karafuru Parēdo), referencing the city's 70th anniversary.

The festival remains highly participatory. Its organization is managed by 市民ボランティア (shimin borantia), citizen volunteers, who handle much of the preparation, operation of spaces, and activities.

The program varies significantly from one edition to another. In 2025, for example, the traditional パレード (parēdo) was canceled due to difficulties in gathering enough security personnel, while the rest of the festival and the 40th anniversary celebrations were maintained.

In 2026, the parade returns after two years of absence. 交通規制 (kōtsū kisei), traffic restrictions, are planned on October 4 from 2 pm to 5 pm on the road section used by the procession.

Weather or other exceptional circumstances may cause partial or total modification or cancellation. Decisions made during the event are published on the 箕面まつり推進協議会 (Minō Matsuri Suishin Kyōgikai) website.

No precise date has yet been officially announced for 2027. Since the festival is now held in autumn but without a strict calendar rule, the date fields will be completed after the 42nd edition schedule is published.

Practical tips

Photos

Note: since 2024, photography and video recording are prohibited throughout ときめき広場 (Tokimeki Hiroba). This rule is still explicitly indicated for the 2026 edition. For the パレード (parēdo), check the specific instructions for the route and respect areas reserved for participants and the public.

Weather

Early October is generally more comfortable than the festival's former summer period, but residual heat, rain, and temperature drops in the evening remain possible. Plan for light clothing complemented by a light jacket and rain protection.

Transport

Favor 阪急箕面駅 (Hankyū Minoh-eki) and walking. In 2026, no temporary parking is planned for the festival, and the organization explicitly requests visitors to come by public transport or on foot. The パレード (parēdo) also causes traffic changes and some bus line modifications.

Visitor tips

Arrive from 1 pm to enjoy the stalls before the peak crowd. If you want to see the パレード (parēdo), get to its route well before 2:30 pm, then return to ときめき広場 (Tokimeki Hiroba) late afternoon for the 盆踊り (bon odori) and evening activities.

What to bring

Bring comfortable shoes, water, cash yen, a portable battery, and a compact raincoat. Also respect site rules: some areas prohibit food and photography, and trash must be disposed of in designated places or taken away.

History

The 箕面まつり (Minō Matsuri) is a relatively recent festival. It was created in 1986, corresponding to 昭和61年 (Shōwa 61), to celebrate the 市制施行30周年 (shisei shikō 30-shūnen), the 30th anniversary of Minoh's city status.

Its original goal was to contribute to a dynamic and pleasant city by giving residents a shared event. It was thus designed not as a religious ceremony but as a 市民手づくり (shimin-tezukuri), a festival directly created and run by citizens.

This volunteer organization remains one of its main features. The 箕面まつり推進協議会 (Minō Matsuri Suishin Kyōgikai) coordinates the event, but much of the preparation and operation relies on ボランティアスタッフ (borantia sutaffu), volunteers from the local community.

During its development, the festival gradually adopted a structure based on two main poles: ときめき広場 (Tokimeki Hiroba), with its stalls, shows, and activities, and the パレード (parēdo), gathering associations, schools, dance groups, fanfares, and other local organizations.

For many years, the festival was held in summer. However, increasing heat and concerns about 熱中症 (netchūshō), heatstroke, led the organizers to reconsider the schedule.

After several interruptions due to the pandemic, the 第37回 (dai 37-kai), 37th edition, was held on October 1 and 2, 2022, for the first time in three years. The city explicitly stated that the event, previously in summer, was moved to October due to heatstroke risks. The hours were also shifted to 1 pm–8 pm.

This autumn schedule then became established. The 第38回 (dai 38-kai) took place on September 30 and October 1, 2023, then the 第39回 (dai 39-kai) on October 5 and 6, 2024.

The 2024 edition retained the パレード (parēdo), with 36 groups announced between city hall and Minoh station. That same year, an important new rule was introduced: photography and video were banned in ときめき広場 (Tokimeki Hiroba).

The 第40回 (dai 40-kai), held on October 4 and 5, 2025, marked the festival's 40th edition. About 80 stalls were announced, and a special ceremony and commemorative shows were organized. However, the パレード (parēdo) had to be canceled, mainly due to difficulties securing enough security personnel.

The 第41回 (dai 41-kai), scheduled for October 3 and 4, 2026, coincides with Minoh city's 70th anniversary. It marks the return of the パレード (parēdo), with a theme specifically designed around this anniversary: 「Minoh 70th カラフルパレード」 (Minoh 70th Karafuru Parēdo).

Despite its shorter history compared to major Japanese religious festivals, the 箕面まつり (Minō Matsuri) is now presented by the municipality as an important city tradition, built on forty years of citizen participation and volunteerism.

Sources & References

Location

Minō Matsuri, the citizen festival of Minoh

📍 Venue:
Ashihara Kōen (芦原公園)
5 Chome-11 Minoo, Minoh, Osaka 562-0001, Japon

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Upcoming Schedule
  • Oct 3, 2026 - Oct 4, 2026
  • Oct 2, 2027 - Oct 3, 2027
  • Sep 30, 2028 - Oct 1, 2028