About Osaka
It has been over a year since we’ve been living in Osaka and this city can still surprise me! After writing about our experience how we moved to Japan, and how our life in Osaka is, I would like to give you some actual ideas what to see and do here. Osaka may not be as big, flashy and exciting as Tokyo, nor peaceful like historical Kyoto and you also cannot find here free roaming wild animals like in Nara, but it a has lot to offer to its visitors and it has the best cuisine wide and far! If you are planning a trip to Japan, please don’t miss this great city.
During the WW II. Osaka suffered several bombings that almost completely destroyed the city, however it raised from the ashes and was completely rebuilt in a short time. That’s why the architecture isn’t very picturesque and may seem to be a bit random at some parts, but Osaka has certain cool vibe that will make you fall in love with it. Here are my top things and ideas what to do here during your stay. top things to do in Osaka
1. Join a Food Tour
Osaka is all about food! It has the nickname “The Nation’s Kitchen” for a reason. You can find here unique street food stalls, the best fine dining, high-end restaurants, tiny izakayas, eccentric bars etc. Basically the whole culture of this city is built around its cuisine. Being able to see and smell all the food in the streets can be a little bit overwhelming, that’s why joining a food tour is probably the best way how to learn about the food, try different samples of popular Kansai dishes, educate yourself about Japanese cuisine and visit places where you’d probably never go by yourself. top things to do in Osaka
Arigato Japan food tours are number one around Japan. They are suitable for all types of travelers, from solo, through couples, to families with children, and having fun is guaranteed! I am not saying this only because I work as a tour guide for them, but I know they care deeply about their customers, they are very experienced and knowledgeable.
2. Visit Osaka Castle
You cannot visit Osaka without seeing the famous Osaka Castle. Called Osaka-jo in Japanese, this magnificent building has great historical significance and it belongs to premier Japanese tourist attractions. Built in 16th century, but completely restored in the 90ties, the castle is rising up above the city offering some great views on the city’s skyline. If interested, you can visit the museum inside, or just chill in the park surrounding the castle and enjoy the view. The park is also a great popular spot to have hanami picnic – a picnic under the cherry blossom trees at the end of March and beginning the April. It’s big enough to accommodate large groups of people so it doesn’t feel crowded. Osaka Castle is one of my absolute favorite spots. It’s visually stunning, so it’s visited daily hundreds of tourists and photographers. To get a nice photo, you’ll need some patience. top things to do in Osaka
3. Nightlife in Dotonbori
After Osaka Castle, Dotonbori is another “must-see” place in Osaka. District built around the Dotonbori canal has been attracting visitors from wide and far since the 17th century (the canal was built in 1615). Today it’s mainly famous for its neon lights, busy nightlife, restaurants and izakayas decorated with massive moving mascots! Dotonbori is anything but dull and you’ll love the hustle and bustle of this place. It’s also a great place to really experience “Kuidaore” or “Eat until you drop!”
Fun fact – did you know it doesn’t matter if you write/say Dotombori or Dotonbori…? Same with Namba or Nanba. Both are correct as the pronunciation is basically the same and there’s no difference in writing in Hiragana alphabet. top things to do in Osaka
4. Hozenji Temple
Hozenji temple is the guardian of the soul of old Osaka. It’s hidden in a small alley right in the middle, where crazy streets of Dotombori are meeting with crazy streets of Namba. It’s an old Buddhist Temple that has been standing here and welcoming worshipers since the 17th century. Locals used to put up food stalls to welcome and feed the pilgrims and that’s how the area of food and entertainment started. If you are around Namba or Dotombori, don’t miss out this charming place.
5. See the whole Osaka from Harukas 300
The highest building of Japan isn’t in Tokyo, it’s in Osaka (now talking about a building/skyscraper, not a construction like Tokyo Skytree). Abeno Harukas has 60 floors and the famous viewing platform Harukas 300 is spreading through the last three – from 58th to 60th in the 300 meter height. You will be taken to the top by a futuristic lift and then you simply admire the urban sprawl of Osaka wide and far through large floor-to-ceiling glass panels all around the top floor.
Harukas Tower is located right above the Tennoji station, where you can get by Osaka JR Loop Line from Osaka Station, or by metro Midosuji line from Namba Station. The entrance fee is 1500 yen per adult but it’s absolutely worth it! The view is incredible and there’s also a café on the 59th floor from where you can watch the sunset. The more adventurous ones can try Edge The Harukas, which takes you, as the name suggests, to the very edge outside of the building in special overalls and harnesses. top things to do in osaka
6. Find your inner child in Universal Studios
Universal Studios Osaka are the first Universal Studios built outside the United States. I realize that this stop isn’t very “Japanese” but you can find here amazing attractions for everyone, including new section of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (which for me is the biggest temptation), Jurassic Park, and much more. There are rides, shops, restaurants and I bet one day won’t be enough! top things to do in Osaka
Universal Studios are located on the bay side outside of the city center. You can get there with JR Sakurajima Line from Nishikujo station. To Nishikujo there are multiple trains from both Osaka/Umeda and Namba stations. I wrote a very detailed article about visiting USJ for Osaka.com. You can find it here.
7. Visit Umeda Sky Building
Umeda Sky Building is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. It has a very unique structure made of glass and steel and it consists of two separate towers connected by a ‘ring-like’ viewing platform on the top. It’s 173 m high, located on the north of the Osaka-Umeda Station, from where it’s about 10 minutes walking distance.
The entrance fee per adult is the same as with Abeno Harukas – 1500 yen. Apart of the viewing platform, which is called Floating Garden Observatory, inside Umeda Sky Building there’s a café to watch sunset from, futuristic elevator to take you all the way up and an underground market called Takimi Koji Gourmet Street which resembles the streets of the early and mid-20th century Japan during Showa Era. top things to do in Osaka
The surroundings of the Osaka Station are popular entertainment area with gardens on top of buildings, shopping malls, cinemas, restaurants, cafés and a giant ferry’s wheel. You can make a whole day out of it!
8. Visit Ancient Shitennoji Temple
Shitennoji Temple is the oldest, officially administrated Buddhist temple in Japan. It was founded in 593 by Prince Shotoku who supported the introduction of Buddhism in Japan and even though the original buildings had to be rebuilt over the centuries (especially after the WW II.), this place has a great historical significance. The temple grounds are big and it’s truly a pleasant place to explore and soak up the spiritual vibes. Shitennoji is a very popular temple among the Japanese and there are always food and souvenir stalls set up all around.
9. Take a Half-Day Trip to Katsuo-ji Temple
Even though the temple is not directly situated in Osaka, but tucked away in the mountains, it’s a beautiful half-day trip, especially in autumn when all the maple leaves around the temple grounds turn red and orange. The first thing you’ll see when getting into the premises is a big majestic entrance gate, a pond with koi fish and a torii gate on the other side of a small bridge.
Katsuo-ji Temple is dedicated to prayers for good luck and victory, surrounded by stunning natural beauty of Japanese forests. The word “katsuo” refers to winning and people come here to buy daruma dolls as an offering, while hoping to obtain the “winner’s luck” after they pray. You’ll see the darumas of all sizes everywhere around the temple and if you feel like you need a little bit more luck, you can buy one for yourself in a souvenir shop.
10. Eat until you drop on Kuromon Market
Kuromon Ichiba market is an experience you cannot miss when in Osaka. It’s a place of great energy, full of tantalizing aromas and flavors, amazing fresh seafood and it’s always busy with locals as well as tourists. The market has been established here since 1902 when the first traders came to this area. Today you can find here over 150 shops, restaurants and food stalls selling food you’ve probably never tried before – baby octopuses on a skewer filled with quail egg, grilled unagi eel, super fresh crab sticks (pulled out from a crab right in front of you), bacon wrapped onigiri rice balls, white strawberries, char-grilled pineapple, mochi rice cakes, about ten different flavors of KitKat and much much more. top things to do in osaka
I mentioned it in my previous article that Osakans love their food and they are proud of their cuisine and Kurumon market is one of the best places to experience famous “Kuidaore” or at least to observe the atmosphere and step out from your comfort zone while snacking on something you’ve never had before.
11. Go on a Shopping Spree
If you are tired of sightseeing and you like to spend one day shopping while traveling, I have some good news for you! Osaka has great malls, world class shopping districts and covered shopping arcades that together create every shopaholic’s dream coming true! You can find here upscale designer boutiques, smaller independent Japanese brands, vintage clothing and inexpensive thrift shops. Everyone finds here something unique that will remind them their time spent in Osaka.
The largest, modern department stores and shopping malls are concentrated nearby the biggest stations – Namba and Osaka/Umeda. If you prefer shopping arcades with smaller boutiques, thrift shops and inexpensive items, head to Dotombori, where you can find covered shopping streets Shinsaibashi-suji and Ebisubashi-suji. Closer to Kyobashi station, you can find another shopping arcade Tenjinbashi-suji, which is actually one of the longest and busiest covered shopping streets in whole Japan. It spreads over few kilometres! Suburb Amerikamura is a great place full of youth fashion (similar to Harajuku in Tokyo) and Den Den Town is dedicated to electronics, gaming goods and manga comics. For unique items from Japanese designers, furniture and home décor, head to Orange Street.
12. Learn about Underwater Life in Kaiyukan Aquarium and Explore Osaka Bay
Located in the Osaka Bay, Kaiyukan Aquarium is known as one of the largest aquariums in the world. It hosts 17 interactive exhibitions, which will take you on an epic journey from Arctic through Great Barrier Reef and Pacific Rim, to the Ecuadorian jungle. You can see here great whale sharks, manta rays, penguins, sea otters or even iguanas and capybaras. Even though you can see it’s not the newest, Kaiyukan is still a really cool place for everyone who is at least a little bit interested in the marine life. The water tanks are huge and you will literally walk couple of kilometers to go through it all.
The aquarium is located in the Tempozan Village at Osaka Bay, which a popular entertainment area with shops, restaurants, giant Ferris wheel and Legoland. Within walking distance from the village, you can also visit Glion Showroom, an old brick warehouse displaying vintage, imported and rare models of cars, or Culturarium, a contemporary museum offering ever-changing exhibitions.
13. Visit Museum of Housing and Living
Museum of Housing and Living is my favorite museum in Osaka and a perfect place to see and experience how Japanese people lived in the past. The museum recreates a life-sized townscape with little streets, houses and back-yards from Edo period and it is the first museum in Japan that focuses on the theme of history and culture of living. You can walk inside the houses, take photos, and even rent a kimono. This place is anything but boring!
14. Check out Modern Urban Architecture in Namba Parks
Although Osaka has some great large public parks, the city center is very urban and lacks greenery. Luckily, creative architects came with an idea to plant trees on top of high-rise buildings and that is how Namba Parks came to life.
Namba Parks are located on top of Namba complex, which consist of railway station, shopping mall, office spaces, cinemas and a hotel. It’s a unique architectural structure that feels like a little oasis in the middle of concrete jungle. From November till the end of January, you can find here beautiful winter illuminations. When visiting Osaka, you cannot miss Namba station as it is one of the main transportation hubs. It doesn’t take long to follow the sings so this pleasant rooftop garden with plenty of benches, little fountains and bird songs (although they from speakers, not real birds, it’s a nice touch to feel more relaxed).
15. Relax in Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
Sumiyoshi Taisha is considered to be one of the best “power spots” around Osaka and it welcomes approximately 2 million visitors every year. It’s believed that it answers prayers for safety during travels, for the well-being of households, and for prosperity of businesses. The main feature is beautiful red bridge over a small pond and the Main Hall, built in an ancient Japanese architectural style, free of any continental influence. It’s beautiful to visit especially in spring and in autumn. top things to do in osaka
16. Experience Japanese Retro Vibes in Shinsekai
Shinsekai is a popular district in Osaka with undeniable retro vibe. Inspired by Western culture, architecture and fashion, Shinsekai is not your typical Japanese neighborhood. The word Shinsekai itself means the New World (shin = new; sekai = world) and that was exactly what it was supposed to be when it was built in the pre-war era. Today’s Shinsekai is full of neon lights, amazing eateries and arcades. It’s one of my favorite places in Osaka, so don’t miss it out! For more tips what to do in Shinsekai and how to spend a memorable evening here, prepared a separate article with all the great places to visit.
Osaka Travel Tips
The most popular seasons in Osaka are spring and autumn, however you have to expect higher volume of tourists during these times. The cherry blossom season in Osaka starts at the end of March. You can read full article about cherry blossom season here.
Autumn in Japan starts later than in the rest of world and if you want to see really beautiful autumn foliage, plan your trip at the end of November and beginning of December.
I personally like September and May with pleasantly warm temperatures and low rain fall. I would try to avoid summer months June, July and August when it is really hot and humid with heavy rainfalls. In winter the temperature doesn’t go below 0 degrees of Celsius.
METRO AND TRAINS:
The most convenient way to get around the city is by trains and metro. There are seven different train lines operating around Osaka and nearby cities, plus there are eight metro lines. Check out my article about life in Osaka here, to read about the public transport in detail.
TAXI:
Taxis in Osaka are quite expensive and a ride from airport to the city can come to couple hundred USD, so if you are travelling on budget, I would try to avoid them. Unfortunately, Uber or Grab don’t operate in Japan.
BIKES:
Bikes are very popular mean of transport in Osaka and whole city is very bike-friendly! There are several bike hire companies where you can get your ride but usually you have to book in advance. If you are feeling spontaneous, try Umegle-Chari, an Osakan take on the Citi Bike. Their main station is located in between Osaka Station and Grand Front Osaka, all instructions are in English and one hour for an electric bike costs around 200 yen (about 2USD).
The most convenient areas to stay in Osaka are around the mains stations – Namba and Osaka/Umeda from where you can access all the attractions easily, or take the trains to the airport or other cities. In Osaka you will find all sorts of accommodation for every budget. From capsule hotels and stylish hostels, to traditional Japanese inns or luxury stays, this city has it all.
So this is my list of top 16 places to visit in Osaka! There’s more, but that article would be incredibly long. As you can probably tell, I really love this city and I wish everyone would come here to visit!
Have you ever been to Osaka? Or would you like to visit it while in Japan? Let me know in comment below!
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