After having spent a week in Tokyo, 3 days in Hakone, and 3 days in Kyoto, we finally arrived in Osaka, Japan. Osaka was once called Naniwa and was Japan’s first known capital city. Prior to the Nara Period, the capital cities used to move with the reign of every emperor so you can see that multiple cities in Japan were once a capital city at one point in history.
Today, Osaka is one of the three main cities in Japan and the second most visited after Tokyo with over 39 million visitors per year. It is also a large economic hub and financial center best known for its world-class street food, exciting nightlife, and modern living in Japan and has the traditional temples, shrines, and history you expect to see across this beautiful country. This multicultural city in Japan also offers a diverse art scene and great shopping choices at very good prices so it’s no surprise it’s such a popular destination to visit to take in the culture and indulge yourself at the same time.
As you start planning your itinerary for 3 days in Osaka, Japan, here are 46 Comprehensive Things To Know Before Visiting Japan so that you can have a smooth trip and the best time!
When To Visit Osaka, Japan
A great time to visit Japan is during cherry blossom season or in the fall. My How To Plan Your First Trip To Tokyo, Japan blog post explains a little more in detail about the seasonality and weather.
Generally, Osaka is just slightly hotter and more humid than Tokyo because it is in a more southern location. When I visited, it felt pretty much the same through Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka – which was very hot and humid during the summer!
How To Get To Osaka, Japan
If you’re coming from Tokyo, Osaka is just a short Shinkansen ride which takes about 2.5 hours.
If you’re coming from Kyoto like I did, it’s only about a 30-minute ride and you can take the Kyo-Train Garaku. Each car is themed by seasons of the year so you can feel free to walk through the train and enjoy all the decorations. I purchased the Hankyu Tourist Pass for 1 day on Klook which I picked up at the Hankyu Tourist Center in Kyoto and it cost about $14.30 CAD for two people. You can actually use this pass to go to different areas close by including Kobe so if you have time to go around, definitely take advantage of this pass!
I do want to mention that if you are only taking a day trip and you have luggage with you, it’s better to go to Daikoku Locker as prices start at JP¥50 to JP¥180 per day (depending on the size of your luggage) instead of JP¥800 at the train station lockers if you want to save some money. Just remember that there are opening and closing hours which range from 6 AM to 9:30 or 10 PM.
If you are flying into Osaka, you can land at the Kansai International Airport (KIX) and take the Nankai or JR line to Namba or Tennoji Station.
Where To Stay In Osaka, Japan
The best areas to stay when you’re visiting Osaka, Japan are in Minami (Namba) or Kita (Umeda). Especially if it’s your first time in Osaka, you’d want to be in the main areas so that you can freely roam on foot just steps outside of your hotel and not have to worry about taking public transportation to enjoy the nightlife here, as you know the Japanese transportation closes early! When you pick your hotel, it’s always a good idea to stay close to a train station, areas that have food around, or where you plan to frequent often during your stay.
The highlight of my stay in Osaka was being in the Shinsaibashi-Suji shopping area and my husband found us a hotel with an amazing location right in the heart of Namba with free breakfast at Cross Hotel Osaka. I highly recommend staying here as it is convenient and has one of the top 3 best breakfasts I’ve ever had in a hotel so far! We also chose to stay in Namba because it is Osaka’s most popular entertainment district full of street food, neon lights, and endless shopping and I could revisit this area over and over during the course of a couple of days’ stay here without getting bored.
How To Get Around In Osaka, Japan
For the most part, it’s easiest to get around Osaka by walking – especially if you’re in the more popular areas of Dotonbori. But to get around in Osaka, Japan, you can use your Suica card (which I talk more about in my 46 Comprehensive Things To Know Before Visiting Japan blog post under point 22) like you do in Tokyo and Kyoto.
If you plan to be traveling around a lot, the other option is to get the Osaka Amazing Pass, which is a one-day pass that costs JP¥2800 for unlimited rides on all routes in Osaka Metro and Osaka City bus, New Tram, Hankyu, Hanshin, Keihan, Kintetus, and Nankai trains.
Types Of Food To Try In Osaka, Japan
Osaka is nicknamed “Japan’s Kitchen” as this city center was thriving during the Edo era due to the large amounts of business dealings happening here and with that, of course the food culture here blossomed along with it and now provides a thriving food scene for everyone to enjoy. It’s no surprise the city’s motto is “eat ‘til you drop” or kuidadore in Japanese. You can find dozens upon dozens of food stalls and restaurants throughout the main streets of Osaka and you’ll love spending the time trying a little of everything! Plus, the food is slightly cheaper than Tokyo too in some cases.
And although you can find a lot of similar foods throughout Japan, it’s also good to try some of the foods where they originated from as well as those that can only be found in a particular region.
1 – Okonomiyaki
Although I mentioned this food in my Tokyo blog post, Osaka was where okonomiyaki was created (and before World War 2). Also dubbed the Japanese pizza, this savory pancake had quickly grown to be a popular dish all over the country.
Here are the best okonomiyaki you can find in Osaka.
2 – Takoyaki
This Osaka street snack has become a type of Japanese food that is also now known globally and some of the best-tasting ones can be found right here. They are basically small pieces of octopus made with other savory ingredients that are shaped into crispy balls that are somewhat gooey and creamy on the inside. There are also little bonito flakes (paper-thin fish shavings) on top that accompanies the takoyaki quite nicely as well as other savory and tangy sauces. Be careful though, they’re quite hot with the first bite!
Here are the best takoyaki you can find in Osaka.
3 – Taiko-Manju
This drum-shaped dessert is like a waffle or pancake texture on the outside but with steamed bean paste on the inside. These sweet cakes provide both protein and carbs so I guess not all desserts are bad! You can find these treats at many street stalls around Osaka and they’re a great snack to have.
4 – Kitsune Udon
You can find this standard style of udon in many places across Japan, but Osaka is where it actually originated from so it’s worth a try. It’s basically udon that has deep-fried tofu that’s simmered in sweet sauce. And although it wasn’t this particular dish, but my husband’s favorite udon that he tried during our trip was in Osaka.
5 – Fugu (Blowfish)
Fugu is a delicacy famous for being poisonous so although I really wanted to try it, I was a little apprehensive and thought I’d forgo the experience until we came upon it in the Kuromon Market and said, “why not?”. The chefs in Japan are specially trained for 3 years before even qualifying for a license to cook this kind of fish so I think for the most part it’s pretty safe to eat – but at the same time, you never know! Fugu is usually eaten raw and it’s served in very thin slices – you should be able to see the plate through its translucency. You can also have it in tempura, deep fried, shabu shabu style, or just “pan-fried” like we did. Shinsekai is the most famous area for eating fugu and the most popular fugu restaurant is Zuboraya which you can also find in Dotonbori.
With our fugu experience, we did think that the piece of fish we received was quite big but we kind of just trusted that it would be safe otherwise they wouldn’t be selling it. I took a few bites of the fish and it was good, but tasted similar to other fish so it wasn’t anything special to me and I had no side effects from eating it. However, my husband ate most of the fish and within 5 minutes he felt light-headed, dizzy, and was having a panic attack. He’s never one to ask for anything or to say he needs help but he needed to buy a drink right away to cool down and he told me that he was even ready to go to the hospital because the feeling was so intense and he could barely walk straight. It lasted for pretty much the rest of the day but thankfully he was okay. So, eat fugu at your own risk and be careful! At least we checked that off our bucket list.
6 – Kushikatsu
Kushikatsu is skewered meat, vegetables, or seafoods that’s breaded and then deep-fried to a nice crisp that is served with flavored salt or a range of different dipping sauces. The most popular are of course pork and beef, but you can also try sweet potato, quail egg, shiitake mushrooms, and more – anything can be deep-fried and skewered to pair with sauces! They also go great together with a nice Japanese drink.
Here are the best kushikatsu you can find in Osaka.
The Most Popular Wards To Visit In Osaka, Japan And What To Do
There are 24 wards in Osaka, but as a first-time visitor with only 3 days available (you’ll want 3 full days or you can even extend your stay by an extra day), you’ll likely want to visit the most popular areas which are in the Minami, Kita, Chuo, Tennoji, and Konohana wards. Although I’ve added a location here and there outside of these wards in day 1 and 2 of this Osaka itinerary, I wanted to include them just in case it’s something you’re interested in since it really is unique and quite nice.
Of course, everything below depends on your personal taste so feel free to change up the itinerary as needed. Like many of my other travels, I like to have early mornings and pack as much as I can into a day since I want to see the most and not have to backtrack to somewhere I’ve already been. If you’re more of a slower-paced or leisurely traveler, you may want to give yourself an extra day in Osaka, Japan just because there is so much to explore here and you may want to revisit a few places.
First Day In Osaka, Japan
Tsurumi Ward
1 – Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park – Flower Expo Memorial Park
Time Spent – 1 hour
Interesting Facts – This park has over 120 hectares of land and is Japan’s largest greenhouse botanical garden with a pond, sports facilities, and a gorgeous tulip farm with a windmill that looks like you’re in Europe. It’s a great place to get away from the crowded city in Osaka and allows for some down time if that’s something you’re looking to incorporate into your trip. The best time to visit is during the spring and summer when the flowers are in bloom. There are also many events you can attend here so be sure to check their website!
Kita Ward
2 – Umeda Sky Building
Time Spent – 30 minutes
Interesting Facts – Also known as “New Umeda City”, the Umeda Sky Building offers views over Osaka with its open-air observatory that connects two towers on the 39th floor. However, instead of paying JP¥1500 in entrance fees per person for the observatory access, you can actually just go to the gift shop on the 36th floor for the same views. A good time to visit is during sunset so you can see the beautiful transition of colors over the city. Besides the views, you can also enjoy the Japanese gardens here or grab a bite to eat at the nearby restaurants.
3 – Osaka Station City
Time Spent – 3 hours or more
Interesting Facts – Opened in 2011, this shopping complex is the largest in western Japan and you can spend many hours shopping or dining here. Osaka Station City is divided by the North Gate and South Gate buildings which include a shopping center and large department store, a cinema complex, sports club, a hotel, recreational and green spaces to relax, and more.
Chuo Ward
4 – Osaka Castle
Time Spent – 30 to 90 minutes
Interesting Facts – Construction of the Osaka Castle, which was the largest castle at its time, started in 1583. It has been through attacks and fires and reconstruction finally happened in 1931. It survived World War 2 and in 1997, more repairs were done to update and modernize it as well as give a more dazzling appearance. The castle is surrounded by moats, stonewalls, and gates for protection as well as a beautiful garden with 600 cherry trees which makes it a great spot to visit during cherry blossom season, a tea house, and a guest house. It also has a sports facility, a multi-purpose arena and a shrine.
You can also visit Blue Birds Roof Terrace for a quick bite to eat or a drink since it is directly across from the castle and you can have better views of the castle here.
5 – Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street / Ebisubashi Bridge / Dotonbori
Time Spent – At a minimum, anywhere from 30 minutes to 5 hours or more
Interesting Facts – This is the best-known shopping area in Osaka with over 380 years of history. Shinsaibashi was already established as a shopping area during the Edo Period so it’s no surprise that it’s a shopaholic’s paradise today. In the early 20th century, there was already a lot of international trading happening here and it had become such a commercial hub that it paralleled Ginza in Tokyo.
During the weekday, there can be at least 60,000 people passing through and, on the weekends, you can expect to see double that amount so be prepared if you don’t like crowds! We loved walking through this area exploring all the traditional, modern, and luxury stores as well as the overwhelming number of restaurants to choose from.
This is the Shinsaibashi Map in case you want to prepare yourself on which stores you’d like to visit and to determine how much time you may need in this area.
And here is an Instagram Reel of the walkthrough of the Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori area which I sped up to just 8 seconds that I shot on my Insta360 so you can get a feel of what it’s like.
Ebisubashi Bridge and the Dotonbori area is where the entertainment district of Osaka is and it connects smoothly from Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street. Here you can see the Dotonbori Canal that was constructed in 1612, the neon lights and larger-than-life signages like the famous Glico Man, the never-ending amount of food stalls and restaurants, and more amazing shopping opportunities.
In my Instagram reel, you can see Dotonbori in the morning versus during the night to see the difference.
Second Day In Osaka, Japan
On your second day in Osaka, Japan, along with revisiting the Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street as you’ll want to explore more and enjoy the nightlife, here are some additional areas you may want to venture out and see during the daytime:
Chuo Ward
1 – Amerikamura (American Village)
Time Spent – 30 to 45 minutes
Interesting Facts – Amerika-mura translates to America Village and is referred to as Ame-mura by the locals. This area of Osaka has been part of the Japanese youth culture since the 1970s and you can find over 2,000 stores that sell both local and imported fashion – particularly western fashion and surfer fashion from Hawaii. Of course, you can also come across many restaurants, bars, clubs, and cafés here too.
This popular local hangout is where you’ll discover the Western trends the locals love and the younger Japanese people showing off their unique fashion styles and their pop culture. We just did a walkthrough of this area and this is definitely where we saw all the trendy Japanese fashion we expected to see with a good mix of hip-hop music and the Western style that we’re quite familiar with so if you like people-watching, this is a great place to be.
2 – Hozenji Yokocho
Time Spent – 15 minutes
Interesting Facts – This is one of the most beautiful alleys in Osaka – not quite like the Omoide Yokocho in Tokyo, but compared to the rest of what you’ll be seeing in Osaka a majority of the time, it provides that historical atmosphere you may expect to see in Japan. There’s also the Hozen-ji Temple here that you can visit when you’re here if you’d like to.
3 – Kuromon Market
Time Spent – 2 hours
Interesting Facts – Dating back to the Edo Period, Kuromon Market is the ultimate street food heaven in Osaka, Japan. This is a large market that is full of vendors and stores selling street food, seafood, fresh produce, alcohol, traditional sweets, and Japanese souvenirs. There are about 150 shops where you can indulge yourself with delicious fresh food on the spot, or take home in larger quantities. This is actually where we got the fugu and I also had a delicious fried mochi that I hadn’t come across anywhere else in Japan so far. If you’re a food lover, this is an awesome place to have breakfast, lunch, or an early dinner.
Third Day In Osaka, Japan
On your third day in Osaka, Japan, I’ve provided two options as you may either want to explore some more or spend an entire day at amusement parks. Or, technically, your third option could be to extend your stay by one more day if you want to cross off every destination in this itinerary for Osaka, Japan. You can see on the map above on the right hand side would be your option 1 and the left hand side would be option 2 as they are quite far from each other but I wanted to put both options on the same map so you can have a visualization of where you may be going.
Option 1
Naniwa Ward
1 – Namba Yasaka Jinja
Time Spent – 10 to 15 minutes
Interesting Facts – This place of worship is famous for its ginormous lion head building which is 12 meters tall by 11 meters wide. The open mouth of the lion symbolizes swallowing evil spirits that are against you so that you will only be left with good luck for business. There are also many cherry blossom trees around this property which makes it great for cherry blossom season. Also, every third Sunday in January, there is a giant Tug-of-War ritual to celebrate one of their gods who freed the Japanese people from life difficulties by killing a serpent god. A lot of the buildings here were also destroyed by the World War 2 devastations so a lot of the shrines are reconstructions.
Tennoji Ward
2 – Shitennoji Temple
Time Spent – 1 to 2 hours
Interesting Facts – One of the oldest temples in Japan, Shitennoji Temple was founded in 593 by Prince Shotoku, who backed the early introduction of Buddhism into Japan. This temple is famous for its symmetrical design and like many buildings in Japan that have burned down a few times over the years, this one has been meticulously rebuilt to recreate the original 6th-century design. There is a 5-story pagoda which you can actually visit and you can also find Prince Shotoku’s station in the Main Hall. This temple actually reminds me of the famous temple in Asakusa, Tokyo called Senso-ji Temple with the Asakusa Shrine beside it.
3 – Isshin-ji Temple
Time Spent – 45 minutes to 1 hour
Interesting Facts – Mostly visited by local worshippers, this traditional temple dates back to the 12th century. This temple is popular because of their Okutsu Butsu, or Bone Buddha, which is actually made from the ashes of about 150,000 ancestors of the Japanese people. Today, there are more than a million ancestors that make up these statues at Isshin-ji Temple. They started doing this in the late 19th century since they ran out of space to keep all the urns of the cremated remains brought to be stored here. Now every year on April 21, the locals attend a burial ceremony here which draws large crowds.
The gates leading to the temple look much more modern than the traditional temple hidden behind these walls as it was designed by an architect who also serves as the Head Priest here.
Minami Ward
4 – Shinsekai
Time Spent – 3 to 4 hours
Interesting Facts – Shinsekai is one of the older and more retro neighborhoods in Osaka and you can really feel the old-school vibes here. Although tourism is increasing in this area, it is still less touristic than other parts of Osaka since it is considered a dangerous neighborhood by Japanese standards (still much safer than what we’d consider dangerous in North America). After the destruction in World War 2, there was very little redevelopment here and there was an increase in criminal activity before the 1990’s.
Today, you can find many cheap places to eat here, dive bars, and a mix of Japanese and Western influences. Shinsekai’s creation was actually inspired by Paris, France in the northern half and New York City, USA in the southern half. This area is also popular for the Tsutenkaku Tower, vintage arcades, and neon signs that light up during the night time.
Abeno Ward
5 – Bar Call Me Tell Me
Time Spent – 1 hour
Interesting Facts – This covert speakeasy is worth it if you can find it! Its hidden entrance is actually a red phone booth. There is no menu, but you can tell your bartender the ingredients or flavors you like and they’ll craft something beautifully for you. It’s a small space with about 7-8 seats in a cozy and intimate setting so visit during the weekday if you want to avoid a line.
Higashisumiyoshi Ward
6 – teamLab Botanical Garden
Time Spent – 2 hours
Interesting Facts – Like the teamLab that I visited in Tokyo, there is also a different version in Osaka featuring the Nagai Botanical Garden. This garden was actually opened in 1974 and has over 240,000 square meters of space along with a lake that helps sustain the ecosystem that’s built within this park. teamLab uses digital technology to turn nature into art and there are 14 exhibitions where you can have an immersive and interactive experience. They want to emphasize that if the wildlife disappears, the artwork will disappear as well which stresses the importance of a sustainable environment.
Option 2
Minato Ward
1 – Universal Studios Japan
Time Spent – All day (also to make it worth it)
Interesting Facts – Universal Studios Japan was opened in March 2001 and is one of the six Universal Studios theme parks in the world. It was also the second one to open outside of the USA. At this Universal Studios, there are 10 themed areas you can visit: Amity Village, Hollywood, Jurassic Park, Minion Park, New York, Super Nintendo World, Waterworld, and The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter. For Super Ninentdo World, you’ll need a Universal Express Pass with an Area Timed Entry Ticket to ensure you get in, otherwise if you visit the day of, you’ll be entered into a lottery system and they’re usually out by 10 AM.
Tickets go on sale 2 months in advance and it’s a good idea to avoid the weekends as well as Mondays and Tuesdays as many school organizes field trips to visit during these days. Your best bet to not have to wait in long lines is going Wednesday through Friday. You’ll want to come early, logistically-prepared, or even have Express Passes to increase your chances of crossing everything off your Universal Studios Japan bucket list.
2 – Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Time Spent – 2.5 hours
Interesting Facts – Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan was the largest public aquarium in the world when it opened. This aquarium showcases the aquatic animals of the Pacific Rim with 15 large tanks that each represent a specific region. The aquarium’s main attraction is the whale shark, which you can find in the central tank. You’ll start your tour on the 8th floor and slowly descend around this tank.
All in all, Japan was such an amazing experience and each area we visited had its own uniqueness, but we definitely enjoyed Osaka the most and can’t wait to come back and explore other areas of this beautiful country.
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