Osaka River Fantasy

Long before Osaka became a modern megalopolis, crowned with skyscrapers and laced with concrete highway overpasses, it used to be a water city crossed by about a dozen of rivers. The natural streams were arranged into waterways as soon as the early Edo Period (1603 – 1868) and used for transporting food and goods, especially between the Seto Inland Sea and the former imperial capital Kyoto via the Yodo-gawa river. However, the city’s hectic urbanization in the Post-war era, and the transfer to train and road for transportation caused the disappearance of most of the watercourses.

Since the beginning of the 2000s, the regional organization Suito Osaka Consortium (Osaka Aqua Metropolis Consortium) has been supporting a river tourism development policy and aiming at reestablishing the rivers to their former glory. This initiative encompasses 4 of the main streams that crisscross the center of Osaka, that is to say:

• Okawa River (or Kyu-Yodo-gawa), located north, flowing from the castle’s moats to Tempozan and around Nakanoshima Island. Some of its sections are also called Dojima River, Tosabori River and Aji River;
• Dotombori River, located in the south, one of the iconic view of the touristic Namba area;
• Higashi-Yokobori waterway, a more than 3 kilometers-long stream that crosses the east of Osaka; and,
• Kizu River, running in the west of the city.

3 light paintings along Osaka’s rivers

On the occasion of the 2025 Universal Expo that takes place between April 13 and October 13 on Yumeshima Island in Osaka Bay, the consortium launched a temporary artistic project themed on water and called OSAKA River Fantasy on March 20, 2025. It manifests in 3 large animations set up on the banks of the main rivers of Osaka:

• Water and Light Fountain Show is set on the right bank of the Okawa River, facing Hachikenyahama Pier. At nightfall about 50 fountains create a monumental and fairy-tale-like light and music show.
• Waterside Projection Mapping is characterized by video mapping projections on the architectural structures surrounding Higashi-Yokobori, one of the city’s oldest waterways. Colors and animations thus spread on buildings’ facades and pillars of the Hanshin Expressway, between Korai-bashi bridge and Honmachi-bashi bridge.
• Minamo Wide Vision consists in an 80 meters-long giant LED screen, that can be seen from Kawaguchi district, near Nakanoshima Island, on the right side of Aji River. It is also a new pier that connects Osaka city-center to the site of Expo 2025 by Nakanoshima’s water stream.

Osaka River Fantasy’s installations are in place until February 2026, and can also been freely admired from the banks, especially the fountain show on the Okawa river. However, we recommend the view during a nightly cruise, for example in summer, when the sea breeze can bring a much needed fresh air at the end of a warm and sunny day.

Seasonal and thematic cruises to enjoy all year long

Several waterway transport companies provide touristic cruises on Osaka’s rivers. Several tours are available, from 20 minutes to about 1,5 hours cruises, depending on the waterway route and the animations on board.

To add another layer of experience to the Osaka River Fantasy’s cityscape and architectural projections, we recommend going on a themed cruise, according to taste and the time of travel, to choose among:

• Seasonal cruises, in spring and in autumn, that are scheduled to enjoy the blooming of the sakura, and then the red koyo foliage, especially on the Okawa River, that is bordered by the cherry trees of Kema Sakuranomiya Park and Osaka Mint Bureau;
• Gourmet cruises that allow to enjoy a good meal or a hearty snack while sailing;
• Historical and cultural cruises are also available, for example with a guide specializing in the history of the city or with an artist performing on board (rakugo theater, short jazz live concert, etc.)

The wide range of offers allows to cater to every travelers’ budgets and wants. Note that some cruises can show only part of the Osaka River Fantasy’s installations, depending on their sailing routes.