In May 2027, the 90th anniversary of the completion of Osaka’s symbolic street, the Omicho Street, will be celebrated. In the run-up to this, from Friday, November 6 to Sunday, November 8, 2026, the “Omicho Challenge 2026” will be held across the Omicho Street from Umeda New Road to Namba Square.
Over three days, there’s plenty to experience: music, food, and fun activities. We’ll introduce the highlights of the area around Namba Square in the Ebisudani shopping street, as well as the Shinsaibashi-Namba area.
What is the Omoridori Challenge? A total of 3 projects aimed at the 90th anniversary of its completion
The Omoridori Challenge is a project that aims to create the “world’s most prosperous street where people can find peace and happiness.” It is a collaboration between local communities, businesses, government agencies, and citizens to transform Omoridori into a “people-centered” space where people can stop, relax, and interact. This is also an effort to envision the future of Omoridori together.
The characteristic of the Gondo-Ryo Challenge is to disseminate new ways of enjoying Gondo-Ryo through a variety of content including music, art, sports, food, and learning. From Umeda Shodoi to Namba Hiroba, the entire street transforms into a large event venue.
In fact, this 90th anniversary event will be held as a large-scale project over three times, not just this time. In 2026, it will be a year of preparation and countdown as the "Prologue"; in the spring of 2027, it will be the "Festival"; and in the autumn of 2027, it will continue with the "Start" towards the 100th anniversary. This time, it marks the beginning of that journey.
▪️Outline of the 2026 Omorodani Challenge
Date: November 6th (Fri)-8th (Sun), 2026, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
*The date and time of the event may vary depending on the program.
Venue: Omoridori (Meidai Shodou-mae to Namba Square)
Enjoy the world and Minami at Namba Square
Right near the Eishibashi shopping district, Namba Square is the hub for this event. There are activities from the experience booths to stages and learning programs, ensuring that you can enjoy the event all day long.
Fun, create, and enjoy experience booths
The event booth at Namba Square is packed with activities that adults and children can get involved in. There’s the “Target the Wolf!” archery game using cardboard-made rubber guns, a hand-woven experience using colorful threads, and making accessories from the fabric of a dollhouse doll.
You can also enjoy unique experiences here, such as the "Radio DJ Experience" where you can truly feel like a real radio DJ at FM Osaka, and "ONE HEART Omicho," where everyone who attends works together to create a large-scale artwork.
Learn the rules of cycling in a fun way: "Be the champion of Minami's cycling rules"
Because Minami is a neighborhood where many people go about their daily lives, one of the things that people often worry about is bicycle etiquette. At Namba Square, the "Let's Aim for the Minami Bicycle Rule King!" event is held, where you can answer quizzes and have fun learning the rules of the road while riding a bicycle.
For those who participate, there is also a happy bonus: original goods unique to Minami will be given away. Since you can learn traffic rules in a playful way, it’s perfect for participating with your family.
A diverse lineup of stages bustling from morning to night
The stage at Namba Square will feature music and performances over the course of two days. The "Minami Student Music Festival," featuring high school and university students from the prefecture, brings together a wide range of genres, including jazz, brass band, and dance.
In addition, you can enjoy performances such as the dance of the Minami Traditional Culture Association, live performances of shamisen and shinobue, and the Awa Odori (a traditional dance of the Kagawa region). There are also stages with local idols and musicians, so you won’t get bored all day long.
An experiential event where you can learn and play: "Michi Fest"
"Michi Fest" is an experiential program that allows you to explore the streets along the Omron Line and the booths gathered from all over the country.
At each booth, if you collect three or more points for learning, you can participate in workshops to create original goods and have fun experiences. With a learning sheet in hand, you can learn while playing, so it also adds to the excitement of children’s free research.
Top Attractions in the Shinsaibashi-Namba Area
The Omicho Street area from Namba Square to Shinsaibashi is also a vibrant area where you can find a variety of unique events. We will introduce highlights from cultural activities for adults to Expo-themed attractions.
The Ame-Mura Culture Market brings together all the culture of Ame-Mura
The "AmeMura Culture Market," which embodies the culture of America Village, is a pop-up event where apparel, food, and music intersect. You can enjoy an extraordinary and unique space surrounded by DJ and live music. Held from 11:00 to 20:00 on November 7th and 8th, this is a spot worth checking out that gets even more lively towards evening.
A break at the Millennium Expo Legacy bench: "Sato-Omorodome 2026"
The "Sato-Midorin 2026" is appearing along the route from the south end of Dotonbori Bridge to Chichien-dori Street.
A bench, a legacy from the Osaka/Kansai World Expo, has been installed, perfect for a break when you’re tired from walking. Take a seat on the open space of the Omicho Street and relax while taking in the city view.
Osatoji Temple's "Monks' Cafe & Live"
At Sanji Temple along Omoridori, they are holding an "Abbot's Tea" where you can enjoy tea while chatting with the monks in the temple grounds. After the tea time from 14:00 to 17:00, you can also enjoy a music performance from around 18:00 in the evening. This is a special moment to spend at a local temple.
The "Midoroku Disaster Festival" for parents and children to learn together
The “Omorodome Disaster Prevention Festival,” themed “Learning by Observing, Learning by Touching, and Learning by Eating,” is an event where you can have fun experiencing disaster prevention with your family. There are plenty of hands-on booths, including earthquake experiences in a seismic vehicle, riding a mini fire truck, displays of Self-Defense Force vehicles, and a cooking event. It will be held from 11:30 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, November 7th.
Experience the next-generation mobility that has been a hot topic at the World Expo: the e-SNEAKER
The test drive experience of Daihatsu’s walking area mobility device “e-SNEAKER” (e-Sneaker), which became a hot topic at the Osaka/Kansai World Expo, is also featured.
This is a new kind of vehicle that allows you to walk on the sidewalk electrically, giving you a real feel for the future of city travel. It runs between Shinsaibashi and Namba, so if you see it, please take a look.
The "Midorigo Street Challenge Walk" to enjoy the city
For a more enjoyable experience of the Omoridori Challenge, we recommend the stamp rally "Omoridori Challenge WALK." By walking around the venue with a brochure in hand and collecting stamps in the stamp fields on the maps of each area, you can receive original souvenirs for each area.
Check-in and ticket exchange will be held on Saturday, November 7th and Sunday, November 8th from 12:00 to 17:00.
In addition, there are various plans available to collect and enjoy, such as learning sheets from the "Michi Fest" that compiles the highlights of learning, and a digital stamp rally held in the Yodoyabashi and Honcho areas. Take a walk and discover your favorite spots along the way.
A little introduction to the Yodoyabashi, Honcho, and Shinsaibashi areas
The main attraction this time is the area around Namba, but the area north of the Omicho Street area is also full of charm.
In the Honcho-Shinsaibashi area, events such as the “Tokushima Experience at Omorodome” featuring a parade of floats at Naniwa Shrine, a kickboxing experience, and the Awa Odori of Tokushima are held.
In the Umeda Shindo area, including Yodoyabashi and Honcho areas, there will be a variety of unique programs, such as "Gomurodo Granping 2026" where you can relax on the grass, "Shabashibara Dog Fest" where you can enjoy with your dog, and "Gomurodo Infiorata" where you can decorate the streets with petals.
Why not take a little trip and enjoy the entire Omorodzukien area?
Traffic regulations and access (check before you leave)
During the event period, there is expected to be heavy traffic on the Omicho area, and some areas will be subject to traffic restrictions.
On Saturday, November 7, lane restrictions will be in effect from 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM near Honcho-nanba Square (at the intersection of Senbaku Chuo 3 and Shimbashi intersections; from the intersection of Nanba to the intersection of Nanba-Nishiguchi); in addition, from November 6 (Friday) to November 8 (Sunday), from 6 AM to 11 PM, some side roads will be closed to traffic.
We recommend that you refrain from visiting by car and that you use public transportation whenever possible. From the Namba Square station of the subway, the Nankai Line and the Kintetsu Line, you can reach Namba Square within a short walk. To avoid the crowds and enjoy the festival smoothly, please use public transportation.
Summary
The “Omorodome Challenge 2026,” which marks the start of the 90th anniversary of Omorodome’s completion, is packed with highlights. There are plenty of attractions just in the Omorodome shopping district, including the experience booths, stages, and cultural and disaster prevention festivals in the Namba Square area. In 2027, this will be the “Festival,” followed by the “Start” for the 100th anniversary. This fall, please try experiencing the new ways of enjoying Omorodome from around Namba Square.
▪️The Muromachi Challenge 2026
Official websitehttps://midosuji-challenge.jp/challenge2026/
X/https://x.com/midosuji_ch/
YouTube/https://www.youtube.com/@midosuji_challenge
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/midosuji_challenge/
I am currently working as a reporter based in Kansai.
I cover events, introduce the shops' charms, and write column articles.
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