Summer solstice festivals hold great importance in various cultures around the world, with the longest day and shortest night of the year marking a significant astronomical event. These festivals typically celebrate the power of the sun, the abundance of nature, and the cycle of life, and often include bonfires, music, dancing, and feasting.
The summer solstice holds particular significance in Scandinavia, since the region has such a stark contrast between seasons and sunlight hours – and a Scandinavian-inspired summer solstice festival is headed to Osaka this year.
The event is set to include music performances featuring the nyckelharpa (a traditional Scandinavian instrument), violins, and flutes, a Scandinavian goods market, flower crown making workshops, and food available to purchase.
Getting there
The festival takes place at various Keitto buildings around the Morineki area of Shijonawate. The venues can be accessed in 5 minutes on foot from from Shijonawate Station on the JR Gakkentoshi Line.
