If you are looking for a city that is both bustling and bizarre, then Osaka, Japan is the perfect place for you. This sprawling metropolis is known for its delicious food, its lively nightlife, and its unique culture.
I would recommend spending two full days in Osaka and more if you plan to use it as a base from which to visit Nara, Kobe, Himeji, or other spots around Kansai. Read on for my complete Osaka travel guide.
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If this is your first stop in Japan, read my 10 tips for planning a trip to Japan.
- What to Expect
- What to See and Do in Osaka
- Getting to Osaka
- Getting Around Osaka
- Where to Stay in Osaka
- Where to Eat in Osaka
- What Else to Do Near Osaka
What to Expect
If you are looking for a city that is both bustling and bizarre, then Osaka, Japan is the perfect place for you. This sprawling metropolis is known for its delicious food, its lively nightlife, and its unique culture. Osaka is also known for its many peculiar attractions, such as the Dotonbori district, where you may find yourself wandering through neon-lit streets, where giant robotic puppets and pulsating advertisements bombard your senses. Or perhaps you’ll find yourself in the heart of the city’s bustling markets, where vendors sell everything from fresh seafood to traditional Japanese souvenirs.
However, Osaka is not without its dark side. The city has a long history of jaywalking, littering, and smoking outdoors so tourists should be careful, especially at night. If you are planning to visit Osaka, please be prepared for a unique and unforgettable experience. Just be sure to keep your wits about you and don’t get too lost in Osaka-Umeda Station.
What to See and Do in Osaka
- Visit Osaka Castle: The resplendent castle, a beloved jewel of Osaka, welcomes countless visitors each year. This magnificent structure, erected in the sixteenth century, affords its guests with enchanting panoramas of the city below. But should you find yourself forced to choose between this castle and Himeji, choose the latter.
- Visit the Umeda Sky Building: This soaring 40 story building has an observation deck offering a sweeping vista.
- Eat your way through Kuromon Market: A cacophony of sights and smells that may prove overwhelming to delicate sensibilities. Here, one is confronted with a dizzying array of edible oddities, from the familiar to the bewildering. We spent a lot of our time in Osaka eating our way through this market.
- Relive your youth in America-mura: A chaotic microcosm of youth culture in Osaka. It is a place where trends are born, and fashion is a religion. Picture a labyrinth of narrow streets teeming with individuals sporting attire that I dare not describe on this page.
- If you seek a glimpse into eras long past, visit the Shinsekai district: A place where time seems to have paused, a relic of bygone decades. There, amidst the shogi parlors, one might imagine oneself transported to a forgotten age. Kushikatsu shops cling to life solely on the district’s reputation as the birthplace of kushikatsu.
- Make your own instant noodles at the Cup Noodles Museum: A most delightful treasury of noodle-related wonder. It is a celebration of the ingenious mind behind the beloved instant ramen, Momofuku Ando, and the global joy his creation has inspired. Visitors are invited to embark on a captivating journey through the history of instant noodles and the many great innovations in processed food technology. And design your own cup of noodles to take home!
- Explore Dotonbori: A veritable feast for the eyes and stomach awaits in the Dotonbori district, a lively hub near Namba Station. Its bustling main road and charming side streets are lined with a delightful profusion of eateries, each promising a unique culinary adventure.
- Visit the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan: This extraordinary aquarium boasts a captivating collection of marine creatures, from the gargantuan whale shark to the waddling penguin and the playful sea lion.
- Visit Universal Studios Japan: This popular amusement park offers an array of rides and diversions inspired by beloved films and television programs. Visitors may find themselves soaring through the skies with Harry Potter, racing through colorful landscapes with the Super Mario Brothers, or embarking on mischievous adventures with the Minions.
- Take a cooking class: Osaka is a city renowned for its culinary delights. Why not learn to recreate these cherished dishes in your own kitchen? Here are a few highly rated options:
Getting to Osaka
Fly: Kansai International Airport (KIX) is a 50km southwest of town. It carries all international and some domestic flights to Osaka.
Fly: Itami Airport / Osaka International Airport (ITM) is 12km northwest of Osaka and offers domestic flights.
Train: Shin-Osaka Station is on the Tokaido Sanyo shinkansen line that runs between Tokyo and Hakata. There is also a shinkansen line that runs between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima. Using these lines you can travel to Osaka from Tokyo, Hiroshima, Hakata, and Kagoshima as fast as a speeding locomotive. There are also a number of train connections to nearby Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, and pretty much anywhere else one would want to go. Use Google Maps to check the best routes, schedules, and prices for your trip.
Getting Around Osaka
From the Kansai International Airport:
- Use Google Maps transit directions to check the best routes, schedules, and prices for your trip. You can adjust your setting to choose “prefer fastest route” or “prefer simplest route” etc. Regardless of what you choose, you’ll want to pick up an IC Card at the airport if you don’t already have one. Most public transit options from Kansai Airport will cost less than ¥2000.
- Trains depart from Terminal 1 and Airport Limousines depart more frequently from Terminal 1, so if you find yourself in Terminal 2, you’ll most likely need to take a shuttle to Terminal 1.
- There are taxis available, but expect to pay at least ¥14,000.
From Itami Airport:
- Use Google Maps transit directions to check the best routes, schedules, and prices for your trip. You can adjust your setting to choose “prefer fastest route” or “prefer simplest route” etc. Regardless of what you choose, you’ll want to pick up an IC Card at the airport if you don’t already have one. Most public transit options from Itami Airport will cost less than ¥1000.
- The Osaka Monorail connects the airport to train lines that will take you wherever you’re going. This can be paid for using your IC Card.
- There’s also an Osaka Airport Limousine. Buy your tickets from the machine outside the arrivals hall.
Trains and subways will get you pretty much anywhere you want to go but count on quite a bit of walking too. Use Google Maps to check the best routes, schedules, and prices for your trip.
Public transportation shuts down after midnight at which point one would want to take an Uber, DiDi, or taxi. Taxis can be hailed in the street and a red indicator means the taxi is available. These are not a particularly cheap options so avoid them if you can.
You can also choose to use Docomo or HUBchari bike shares. We did not do this so I cannot attest to their ease of use.
Where to Stay in Osaka
When it comes to accommodations in Osaka, you’ll most likely want to stay near Namba Station/Minami/Dotonbori for easy access to tons of restaurants and bars. Or stay near Osaka-Umeda Station/Kita for easy access to short and long distance transit options. Find a hotel that’s in your price range, with the amenities you want. Here are a few options:
- We stayed at the Citadines Namba Osaka which was amazing with extremely spacious and clean rooms, conveniently located near Kuromon Market and Namba Station.
- InterContinental Osaka is a luxury hotel with an onsen and multiple Michelin Star restaurants onsite and it’s just an 8-minute walk from Osaka-Umeda Station..
- Centara Grand Hotel Osaka is moderately priced hotel featuring spacious rooms with stunning city views, a luxurious spa, and free tuk-tuk transportation. Perfectly situated near Namba Station, Kuromon Market, and Dotonbori.
- Super Hotel Namba Nipponbashi is a budget friendly hotel located extremely close to Kuromon Market and Dotonbori, and easily walkable to Namba Station.
Where to Eat in Osaka
Osaka is a city notorious for its culinary temptations and you would be remiss to neglect the opportunity to sample the dubious delights offered by its street vendors. Takoyaki (octopus balls), okonomiyaki (savory pancakes), and kushikatsu (deep-fried skewered meats and vegetables) are but a few of the foods that await. However, it is strongly advised that you exercise restraint in your consumption, as consuming every culinary curiosity is likely to induce a state of profound regret.
Breakfast and coffee
- Brooklyn Roasting Company Namba – There is plenty of space to spread out in this warm warehouse that also has a bakery.
- LiLo Coffee Roasters – Tiny spot with a few counter seats in
America-mura. - Mel Coffee Roasters – Super tiny spot with long lines even in the pouring rain. They serve single-origin coffee which you can get black or as a latte, and they have no seating.
Lunch
- Yaekatsu – Immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of Shinsekai’s retro alley at a renowned local kushikatsu restaurant. Enjoy the interactive dining experience as your skewers are freshly fried right before your eyes. Be prepared to wait in line.
- Kitatake Udon – Indulge in a bowl of Michelin Bib Gourmand udon at this incredibly popular restaurant. Don’t miss out – arrive early as they often sell out of noodles for the day. So good!
- Yoshino Sushi – Enjoy a hako zushi set lunch at the restaurant or purchase a hako zushi box for takeout.
Snacks
- Daigen – Daigen serves up classic takoyaki piled high with green onions, as well as the unique takosen (takoyaki sandwiched by two thin, crisp, shrimp rice crackers).
- 555 Horai Ebisubashi Honten – This chain is known for its butaman (pork steamed buns) but everything on the menu is delicious.
Dinner
- Okonomiyaki Mizuno – Mizuno’s signature dish is the yamaimo-yaki, a delectable okonomiyaki featuring your choice of two toppings from pork sirloin, pork belly, scallop, squid, shrimp, or oyster. Be prepared to wait in line regardless of the time of day.
- Houzenji Sanpei – Their okonomiyaki are a standout, with creative combinations like beef tendon, konjac, and green onion, or shimeji mushrooms, scallops, and cheese – definitely order that.
- La Pizza Napoletana Regalo – This one-man Neapolitan style pizzeria has become a local sensation with its signature limone and margherita pizzas. Go a little before opening time to get in line.
Dessert
- Rikuro Ojisan – Indulge in a famous jiggly cheesecake at this popular Osaka restaurant chain. Grab a whole cake to enjoy later at your hotel, or savor a slice at their upstairs cafe. If the line is long, you can go inside to grab a 2-hour old cheesecake. It will have slightly collapsed, but reinflates well if microwaved.
- Mon Cher – Mon Cher has garnered considerable acclaim for its rendition of Osaka’s famous roll cake.
Late night
- Sobadokoro Toki – This Michelin soba restaurant stays open late, drawing soba enthusiasts from near and far. Look for seasonal specialties like chilled curry and yuba with mushrooms, complemented by an extensive appetizer menu.
If you’re looking for more, here’s my full list of places to eat and drink in Osaka.
What Else to Do Near Osaka
Nara
In the ancient city of Nara, amidst towering temples and crumbling shrines, one finds a herd of deer. These cute creatures, believed to be messengers of the gods, roam freely, but beware, for these deer are known to approach with a certain audacity, demanding treats and attention.
Himeji
If you have a penchant for peculiar places, dear reader, then you must pay a visit to Himeji Castle, also known as the White Heron Castle. This enchanting white edifice is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. And it’s a mere 30-90 minute train ride from Osaka, depending on exactly where you’re starting from and which train you choose. Here’s my complete guide to visiting Himeji.
Kobe
The nearby city of Kobe offers unparalleled culinary experiences, from world-renowned Kobe beef to the artistry of omakase. It’s an enchanting city full of hiking, festivals, and interesting architecture and promises a delightful fusion of tradition and modernity.
Don’t miss out on this! This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Osaka.
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