Photo: Contiki
If you’re planning a trip to Japan and wondering what you should do, make sure to add a stay in Osaka to your list! Osaka is Japan’s second largest city, so naturally there is sooooo much to do – and navigating it alone could be a little overwhelming. To help you out, we’ve narrowed it down to the 17 best things to do in Osaka which will give you an authentic taste of the city and help you fall in love with it.
What is Osaka known for?
Osaka is often nicknamed ‘The Kitchen of Japan’ because of the incredible foodie scene all over the city. Some of Japan’s best dishes hail from Osaka, and the street food is out of the world – perfect to fuel all your walking around and sightseeing.
Other than the food, Osaka is also one of Japan’s major cities and a great way to get a little off the beaten track outside of Tokyo. There’s a great blend of history and tradition with the modern aspects of Japan we all know and love.
Image source:Contiki
Is 2 days in Osaka enough?
If you’re only after the main sights and you’re ready to spend long days walking around on your feet, then yes 2 days in Osaka is definitely enough! You can get the local and tourist favourite spots down in that time as the public transport is quick and easy, helping you get across the city in your 48 hour window.
That being said, if you want to really dive into Osaka’s local hidden gems, or hit some of the big attractions like Universal, you should plan an extra day or two.
1. Visit Osaka Castle
One of Japan’s most famous landmarks, Osaka Castle is undeniably gorgeous and hailed as a symbol of Osaka. Whether you’re bearing witness to it in winter, autumn, spring or summer (whatever your best time to visit Japan is!), the white and teal-trimmed structure always towers with grace. The castle grounds are surrounded by a massive moat, and the castle and gardens themselves sit on an elevated stone area creating that sense of grandeur. Osaka Castle Park is one of the best viewing points for sakura during cherry blossom season!
The gardens are free to enter, however if you’d like to get inside the castle you will need to pay a small entrance fee.
Image source:Ken Cheung / unsplash
2. Try takoyaki
One of the best things to do in Osaka is undoubtedly trying all the food! Takoyaki is a staple street food in Japan and it is divine. Batter is cooked into a ball shape and filled with minced octopus, green onion, and tempura bits inside (along with a lot more ooey gooey goodness). The street food comes from Osaka and was created in the 1900s, so if you’re going to try it anywhere, make it here.
3. Try okonomiyaki
The other street food you absolutely have is okonomiyaki. What is this? A Japanese pancake, basically, or a pizza, depending on how you want to look at it. It’s a pan-fried thing of goodness, made up of a batter mixed with seafood scraps and veg, and then topped with the most delicious mayonnaise and okonomiyaki sauce! Ugh. There are two variations of the dish, one which hails from Osaka as well – so this is a must do in Osaka.
Our recommendation? Head to Chibo in Dontonburi.
Image source:Thomas Boxma / unsplash
4. Head to Nipponbashi Denden Town
If you like Akihabara in Tokyo, you’ll like Osaka’s answer to it. For the anime and video game and pop culture lovers of the world, a visit to Nipponbashi Denden Town is a must! Colourful high rises draw you in with big and playful energy, gachapon machines, and the drifting sounds of your favourite anime theme songs. In the market for a figurine or a manga? This shopping street is the place for you.
5. Visit Dōtonbori
If you’ve ever looked up pictures of Osaka before, you’ve probably seen Dōtonbori. Neon signs and billboards glittering in the surface of a canal from the shops that line either side of the banks. Dōtonbori is vibrant and full of life, considered a major tourist attraction and the city’s main nightlife centre.
Walking up and down the canal is a great activity just to take it all in, but a picture of (or with) the Glico Man sign is a mandatory Osaka experience. While you’re here you most definitely pop into the giant Don Quijote store – with a ferris wheel at the top!
Image source:Kiko K / unsplash
6. Take a day trip to Nara
Not technically something to do in Osaka, but just outside of the city: a day trip to Nara is a must.
Nara, just south and in between Osaka and Kyoto, is a lovely city crawling with deer. Yes! Deer, with spotted fur and shiny wet noses, all over the park just waiting to bow and steal your crackers. It’s a gorgeous place to visit in Japan, definitely a fairytale location, giving the impression of being sucked into a Disney film. Just be wary of the particularly eager deer who do love a snack…
Hop on our Japan Unrivalled trip and we’ll plan this for you!
7. Visit Namba Yasaka Jinja Shrine
One of the best things to do in Osaka is to visit this incredibly unique shrine. The city streets of Japan are teeming with temples and shrines, and while they’re all gorgeous and hold so much culture, it’s easy to get a little temple fatigue… But not here. Namba Yasaka Jinja shrine is tucked away on a quiet street and stands out because of the gaping green maw of the lion’s head which doubles as a performance stage.
Image source:Olegs Jonins / unsplash
8. Gawk at teamLab Botanical Garden
teamLab is a collection of immersive art museums and installations throughout Japan (there are 2 in Tokyo and 1 in Kyoto as well!) and each offers a unique experience. When in Osaka you should definitely take the time to check out teamLab Botanical Garden located inside Nagai Park. Going at night is the best option because the artistry comes alive with colourful lights, casting shadows around the trees and plants, lending nature a new ethereal quality.
9. Universal Studios Japan
One of the best things to do in Japan and possibly the best thing to do in Osaka, is Universal Studios Japan. The amusement park offers a whole day’s worth of fun with rides themed around your favourite franchises. The incredibly popular Super Nintendo World recently opened up a little before the release of the Super Mario Bros. movie and is sure to delight with the whimsical mushroom and pipe-laden landscapes straight from the movie and games.
Image source:Roméo A. / unsplash
10. Submerge yourself in Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Searching for a moment of awe and tranquility? Osaka’s aquarium is the world’s largest aquarium and is lauded for offering a wide variety of marine life and experiences. From spindly snow crabs to polka dotted whale sharks, have a relaxed walk in the deep blue to digest your trip so far with the wonders of the deep.
11. Get your kitchenware at Sennichimae Doguyasuji Street
Your list of Japanese souvenirs MUST include some form of kitchenware, right? Whether it’s chopsticks and adorable chopstick rests, a full handcrafted ceramic tea set, or a sharp and shiny expert knife, it’s pretty much a requirement. In Osaka, Sennichimae Doguyasuji Street is the perfect place for that.
A covered street – kind of like a market – lines with heaps and heaps of kitchenware shops ranging from local businesses to larger chains. Even if you’re not in the market for a new matcha bowl and whisk, it doesn’t hurt to browse…
12. Food tour in Shinsekai
We touched on the takoyaki and okonomiyaki earlier, but honestly, the best thing to do in Osaka is just to book yourself on some kind of food tour and enjoy as many izakaya dinners as possible (like the one we do on our Japan in a Week trip…). Shinsekai is an electric district busy with countless restaurants and souvenir shops.
13. Tsutenkaku
While you’re in Shinsekai, you need to see Tsutenkaku Tower. It’s fairly hard to miss given that the tower is 108m tall, the neon top of it always poking up over the skyline. You can simply gaze at it from below and watch the lights, or you can head to the top to experience panoramic views of Osaka. Much like Tokyo Tower, Tsutenkaku was inspired by France’s Eiffel Tower, and it’s one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
Image source:Abe Na / unsplash
14. See the city from Umeda Sky Building
Speaking of panoramic views of the city, if you really want your jaw to drop, you should carve some time out for the top of Umeda Sky Building. The skyscraper is made up of two buildings which actually connect in the middle, and the windows wrapped around it create a borderless illusion between the building and the sky itself. At the top of the 40-storey high rise you get unobstructed 360 views of Osaka and a walk along a dream-like starry sky floor.
15. Get cultural at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art
This museum opened in 2022 and hosts over 6,000 works of art and design from Japanese and international artists. Its permanent collection features many recognisable artists and makes for a lovely escape from Japan’s summer heat, but the temporary exhibitions are always worth paying the fee. The museum itself stands out in the cityscape: a giant black box sat atop a grassy hill – it could be considered art in and of itself!
16. Visit Shitennoji Temple
Sitting in red and white glory with a serenity-inspiring five-storey pagoda, Shitennō-ji is a Buddhist temple in the heart of Osaka, and actually one of Japan’s oldest! So, if you were looking for a reason to visit, the temple’s history and legacy should be enough. The main temple building and pagoda stand out beautifully in Osaka, with the gardens and bright blue skies working to highlight it that much more. Take a breath and a moment, and then on to more eating and shopping!
17. Have a matcha
Need some refreshment? Matcha is the drink to have in Japan, obviously, but especially when you’re in the Osaka area. Matcha actually comes from Uji, a small town just outside of Kyoto which is only a 40 minute train ride away from Osaka Station! So, you could head there directly if you wanted a little day trip, or trust that the good stuff has been delivered that short distance!
Plenty of local coffee shops and restaurants serve matcha in all its forms. You just have to take your pick, sip, and ahhhhh…
