Traditional New Year celebrations for families will be held at a museum in Osaka's Kita Ward from Jan. 3-11.
The museum, Kids Plaza Osaka, teaches various traditions such as a cooking class on how to make ozoni, a soup containing rice cakes and vegetables. Parents and children can join the class on Jan. 3, 9, 10 and 11. The class starts at 10:45 a.m. and then again at 2:15 p.m. It costs ¥400 for one family.
On Jan. 3-4, Wakakoma, a group of professional performers, will perform a lion dance, traditional juggling and taiko drumming at a hall in the museum.
From Jan. 5-9, kids can learn traditional New Year's games such as a card game known as karuta. Children can also take part in spinning tops, another seasonal favorite.
On Jan. 11, a workshop on making traditional kites will be held at 11 a.m. and at 2 p.m. Participants of the workshop can fly the kites they make at a nearby park. The workshop costs ¥500.
At a separate workshop on Jan. 10, participants can color a tiger made out of papier-mache. The tiger is 2010's animal of the year according to the Chinese zodiac. The workshop costs ¥400.
The Kids Plaza Osaka is located close to Ogimachi Station on the Sakaisuji Subway Line or JR Temmabashi Station. For more information, visit www.kidsplaza.or.jp
