Tokyo and Kyoto seem to be at the top of everyone’s Japan bucket list and for good reason; both of the cities are fantastic in their different ways. However, my favourite city is Osaka as it has the best vibe. It’s so much more relaxed than Tokyo and a lot smaller, which makes it easier to get around.
As much as Osaka is a great city to explore solo, one of my favourite things to do is to share my discoveries with my friends and eat our way across the city, while visiting places of interest in between. This guide includes both well-known and lesser-known spots included, although I couldn’t include everything! I’ve also linked to any previous posts we’ve done, so you can read about them in a little more detail. You can also check the Osaka Travel Guide on Japan Guide for directions, opening times etc.
Dotonbori
Dotonbori, its food street and the undercover shopping street (Ebisu Bashi-Suji / Shinsaibashi-suji) that crosses the canal is where EVERYONE in Osaka seems to end up, so it’s horribly busy, but seeing the Glico man sign from the canal side here is a rite of passage when you visit. Heading down to the wooden walkway along the canal is more pleasant and tends to have far less people and it’s where I’ll come down to enjoy my takoyaki in peace! Speaking of food, the area close by is home to some of my favourite okonomiyaki AND dessert spots.
Shinsaibashi & Americamura
I’m planning to do another shopping post separately in the future, so I won’t include many specific stores here, but Shinsaibashi just north of Dotonbori is full of shopping spots (much like Namba, Tennoji, and the Osaka Station area) and is home to a number of fandom stores like the Pokémon Centre & Cafe, Jump Shop and Studio Ghibli. I really love to visit B-Side Label in this area; an Osaka born sticker brand with designs from not only your favourite anime, but also unique designs from many different artists. Pablo is practically next door if you want the tastiest cheese tarts for a sweet pick-me-up after browsing. Americamura is also close by, which has a very casual, street-style vibe with graffiti art, murals and some fantastic second-hand and vintage stores.
Local Temples & Shrines
Another place worth visiting nearby Dotonbori, not far from the main food street, is Hozen-ji; a small temple where worshippers can splash water onto a moss covered statue for good luck. It’s a little hidden, so often nice and quiet. Hozen-ji yokocho is home to some great restaurants too. A short walk away from that central area is Namba Yasaka Shrine, which is unique in the fact that it has a huge lion’s head stage. It’s an amazing small local shrine, but if you want to get your omamori (luck charms) or omikuji (fortunes) with no line, it’s best to come early.
Tennoji
Tennoji is home to one of the oldest temples in Japan; Shitennō-ji. While it’s an amazing place to visit on its own, I recommend timing your visit when the flea market is held towards the end of the month, as the temple grounds are filled with stalls and food stands. I spent my time eating yakisoba, taiyaki, and warabi mochi and managed to pick up a second-hand yukata for about £10 including accessories. Between Shitennō-ji and Shinsekai, in Tennoji park, is the little garden of Keitakuen. It’s so peaceful sitting by the pond, so I definitely recommend spending some time in here, especially if the park is busy or if you need a breather from shopping in the nearby malls.
Shinsekai
Shinsekai, however, couldn’t be more different. It’s a neighbourhood full of bright lights, larger than life decorations, carnival games, bars and a plethora of kushikatsu places (my favourite branch of Ittoku serves HUGE lemon sours alongside). Tsutenkaku tower is the beacon in the centre of Shinsekai and has an observatory you can visit at the top…and a slide to come down on, if you dare to try it!
Osaka From Above
If you want a slightly higher observatory then you could head to Abeno Harukas 300 in Tennoji, which is 300m high, but also has a free viewing area lower down where you can sit and relax. The most popular spot is probably the Umeda Sky Building over by Osaka Station which gives insane views of the city, especially at sunset. However, if you want a free spot, there’s also a pretty great terrace high up on Osaka Station with some pretty lovely sunset views too. If you’re into trains, you can get a fantastic view of the station itself from the ferris wheel above HEP FIVE department store.
Osaka Castle & The River
Osaka Castle is an absolute must visit, but mainly the park area around it. The castle is interesting on the inside, with a museum and some lovely views, but if you DO want to visit you should buy your tickets in advance to avoid the enormous queues. The area immediately around the castle gets super busy, but there’s a small Japanese garden on the edge that has some beautiful unobstructed views of the castle.
However, my favourite spot in the whole place is Nishinomaru garden within the castle park. It’s filled with cherry blossom trees in the spring, so it’s a beautiful spot for hanami, but it’s great for a picnic anytime. It’s so much quieter than the surrounding park, especially in sakura season, and has stunning views of the castle. North of the castle is the area of Sakuranomiya, which is a stretch of parkland that runs along the river and is full of sakura in the spring season. It’s also perfect for a walk, cycle, picnic and there are sports here too.
teamLab
Just south of the main city, is Nagai Botanical Garden, which in the evening is home to an outdoor teamLab exhibition. It’s different to the ones in Tokyo, Kyoto and Fukuoka as it’s entirely outdoors, but it’s also on a smaller scale and feels less busy. The colour changing ovoids in one of the gardens make you feel like you’re on another planet!
Universal Studios Japan
Theme parks aren’t for everyone, but a must visit for me is always Universal Studios Japan. On top of all the fun rides and themed food you can expect from Universal’s parks, they have seasonal special events that don’t require extra tickets, featured anime on rides and snacks that change seasonally or annually, and the snacks are just that bit better than other parks I’ve been to. Jurassic Park and Super Nintendo World are probably my top areas, but just make sure you get your timed entry for the latter!
Japan’s Kitchen
Osaka is known as Japan’s kitchen and for very good reason; there are so many fantastic places to eat. From street food stalls to fine dining and from themed cafes and bars to dessert spots, Osaka has you covered. Make sure you try the three dishes they’re famous for; okonomiyaki, takoyaki and kushikatsu. I wish I could talk about all of my favourites right now, but I’ll do a separate food post in the future.
Themed Bars & Cafes
Having said that, I would just like to highlight some of the great themed bars and cafes that Osaka and the nearby area have to offer on a permanent basis. The Pokémon Cafe is probably the most popular, and is such a fun experience; every fan of the games or anime should visit if they can. While there’s a branch of Flower Miffy in Osaka, you’ll actually have to head out to Arashiyama in Kyoto for the bakery, but you’ll also find the Rilakkuma cafe and Snoopy store there too. Now, I’m a huge Star Wars fan, so my absolute favourite themed place to visit is Pachimon Wars; a Star Wars themed bar, filled with bootleg merchandise and in-house created props. This is obviously the biggest draw for me, but it actually has fantastic themed drinks, delicious bar snacks and the most welcoming and lovely staff.
Outside the City
Osaka prefecture has a lot to offer, but my top location has to be Minoh. The walk to Minoh falls is lined with maple trees and dotted with shops, riverside restaurants and food stands. There’s also a viewpoint hike and an insectarium along the way too. Nearby, is the temple Katsuō-ji, home to hundreds of Daruma. The grounds are stunning, there’s a stamp rally, and you can even pick up a little daruma-style omikuji at the top. A little closer to the city is Expo ’70 Commemorative Park, perfect for a sunny day out amongst the flowers, or the Cup Noodle museum where you can create your own customised pot.
Osaka as a Base
One of the reasons I love Osaka so much is its proximity to so many other places. You can catch a train and visit half the country on a day trip! Kyoto is close by, but Uji (now home to the Nintendo Museum), Nara and Kobe are too, with so much more to see than what they’re famous for. If you’re planning to visit quite a few locations between Osaka and Nagoya, definitely look into a regional Kintetsu rail pass, especially when travelling to places like Mt Yoshino in Nara or Akame 48 Waterfalls in Mie. There are some great value West Japan rail passes too, and some even include the Hello Kitty shinkansen that runs between Osaka and Fukuoka.
There are so many places that I couldn’t fit into this post and even more that are on my list to visit for next time. Look out for further Osaka posts in the future and leave a comment if you have any questions or requests.
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