17 Best things to do in Osaka, Japan

Osaka City with clusters of sightseeing spots and local diners is divided into 5 areas. Keep their characteristics and major spots in mind, and tour around efficiently.

Osaka has an array of tourist spots and temperatures do not go extremely up or down. Relish your trip throughout the year - cherry blossoms in spring, summer festival. Pick your interested event and decide the season to visit.

Osaka has Kansai International Airport and a Shinkansen station, conveniently located domestically and internationally. Transportation is well-developed in Osaka. With trains and taxis, you can smoothly go to any tourist places. Osaka has many JR and subway lines and cabs can also be used to comfortably get to your desired destinations.

Universal Studios Japan, nicknamed “USJ”, is a large-scale theme park with entertainment for everyone, both children and adults alike. The park is separated into different areas, each with a different theme from popular titles across the world.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who unified the country during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600), began construction of the tower of Osaka Castle in 1583 and completed it in 1585.
The top floor is an observatory where you can see the entire city of Osaka. There is also a museum store on the first floor, where you can buy original items related to the warlords as souvenirs. The museum also offers a replica of a warrior's armor helmet and a women's kosode (short sleeves) for visitors to try on for 500 yen per person. (It is suspended due to the influence of covid-19. June 2021 information)

Crab, octopus, cow, crane….these are just a few of the oversized 3D signboards that make up the look and feel of the bustling Dotonbori Area. Its packed with a number of eateries along the northern Dotonbori River and main street along its southern side. The main street is blocked off for pedestrians, making it a perfect spot to find visitors grabbing a bit of Takoyaki and other street eats.

Opened in 2014, Abeno Harukas is a 300 meter tall skyscraper and the tallest building in all of Japan. From the two basement floors to the 14th level you’ll find Kintetsu Department Store (Main Store Abeno Harukas) and the Abeno Harukas Dining restaurant floors. The 16th floors and above are accessible from the Harukas Shuttle Elevator on floors B1 and 2.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2020, this aquarium is located in Osaka. The aquarium, which recreates the natural environment surrounding the Pacific Ocean, is home to a total of 620 species and 30,000 living things.
After passing through the "Aqua Gate," a tunnel-shaped aquarium where tropical fish swim, visitors can take an escalator up to the 8th floor and walk down a slope to see various creatures in a large aquarium. Each of the aquariums is a sight to behold, including the“Antarctica" with its penguins, the "Tasman Sea," where you will be welcomed by Pacific white-sided dolphin, The "Great Barrier Reef," where colorful fishes swim around, and the "Coast of Chile," where you will be amazed by the sight of sardines swimming in schools in one direction.

A steel tower which looks like the Eiffel Tower and 75 meters high was built In 1912, on top of a building which was the motif of the Arc de Triomphe, and named “Tsutenkaku” meaning “A building reaching the heaven'' by Nangaku Fujisawa, a Confucian in the early Meiji period. After being broken down due to a fire, citizens lobbied for rebuilding and the current 2nd Tsutenkaku was built in 1956. The 2nd building is 108 meters high, which is higher than the 1st building by 33 meters.
The TOWER SLIDER, now open in 2022, takes you around from the 22-meter high mid-level observation deck down around a full turn and half before suddenly sliding down one level beneath the earth. Slide the full 60-meter track in just 10 seconds! With views out of the transparent tunnel ceiling, this sought-after ride gives you the feeling of flight as you make your way down.

Tsutenkaku Tower, Jan Jan Yokocho Street, Spa World are in Ebisu-Higashi, Naniwa District. People started calling this area Shinsekai (New World) in 1912, when Tsutenkaku and Japan’s second amusement park, Luna Park, opened. It meant a new-born tourist spot in Osaka. Since then, this amusement street has grown, used as a location for movies and TV dramas, and became a famous site in Osaka.

Prince Shotoku, the father of Japan’s Buddhism, had this first Japanese Buddhism temple built in 593. In the 8th century, the respect for him has changed into a religion, which is still active to this day. Since the temple was built by Prince Shotoku, it was reestablished as Washu (Japanese religion) in 1949.
The building layout on the grounds is called Shitennoji Style Temple Building Layout, known as one of Japan’s oldest architectural styles.

With a height of 112.5 meters and a diameter of 100 meters, this is one of the world's largest Ferris wheels, lasting about 15 minutes per lap. On a clear day you can see as far as Mount Ikoma in Nara Prefecture to the east, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Hyogo Prefecture to the west, Kansai International Airport to the south, and Mount Rokko in Hyogo Prefecture to the north. While you are here in Osaka, you can feel as if you are taking a round trip around the Kansai area. While boarding, audio guides of the scenery in both English and Japanese are played in the cabins.

The "Santa Maria," which was used by Columbus when he discovered the American continent, was built on about twice the scale. The ship departs from Kaiyukan West Wharf in Tempozan Harbor Village, which houses Kaiyukan, one of the world's largest aquariums, a Ferris wheel, and Tempozan Marketplace, a large-scale commercial facility, and cruises leisurely around the Osaka Bay area for about 45 minutes.

Yoshimoto Kogyo’s theater is called the Laughter Palace, known as NGK by local fans. Since their opening in 1987, comedy talk shows and Yoshimoto New Comedy are performed all year round at this famous spot.

On weekdays, performance is at 11 am and 2:30 pm. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 10 am, 1:30 pm and 5 pm. During long vacation seasons such as mid summer, the end or beginning of the year, there are special programs. One show is about 2 hours. Yoshimoto New Comedy, familiar to residents in Osaka, veteran comedians nationally known, and generations of rookies come on stage everyday. You can say this is Japan’s funniest place to be.

The 40-story, twin super high-rise was completed in 1993. The two towers are connected on top. In England, it was selected into the “Top 20” list of world buildings as a thrilling skyscraper. The beauty of the building itself is part of its popularity. On the 3rd floor, there is a gate for the elevators to shoot you up to the 35th floor. From there, an escalator will carry you slowly to the 39 floors through a skeleton tunnel.

Hirakata Park, or “Hirapah” as its lovingly nicknamed, is said to be the oldest amusement park in Japan that’s still open today.

The park is home to a lineup of 40 different, fun attractions for kids and grownups to enjoy, including rides like the “ELF” wooden roller coaster, the super-sized “Sky Walker” ferris wheel, at a remarkable 80-meters high, the park’s largest rollercoaster “Red Falcon” and the “Monsters vs Heroes 3D Super Shooting Ride”, as well as others like the “Magical Volcano” explorer game.

Nationally designated special historical site, Osaka Castle Ruin, and the surrounding area were renovated into an urban park. 13 buildings of important cultural properties including Osaka Castle Main Tower, watchtowers and gates dot the vast 261-acre premises.
Osaka Castle Main Tower at the central location is a museum, which displays historical information and objects related to the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi who unified Japan. 50m above ground, the observatory deck on the 8th floor offers the view over the whole Osaka Castle Park and Osaka City.

Using the same site that once held the Japan World Exposition 1970, this sprawling public park is filled with green hills, trees and an open-armed welcome from the “Tower of the Sun” statue created by Taro Okamoto. You can make advanced reservations to secure your tour inside the tower, a steel “tree of life” that stretches as high as 41 meters tall.
The park grounds include a Natural and Cultural Gardens, with plenty of trees and flora in bloom across all four seasons, a Japanese Garden and other areas including a 82-meter high view tower that overlooks the city. At the tunnel of colors you can peer through orange screens to simulate a bug-eyed view.

Nakanoshima is a lush, green and iconic city area known for Aqua Metropolis Osaka that’s tucked between the Dojima and Tosabori Rivers. Home to one of Osaka’s known business districts, the area is lined with a mixture of skyscrapers, modern architecture and office buildings.
Nakanoshima is also a historic district that hails back to the Edo period. In these days, Osaka was nicknamed “the nation’s kitchen” as its hub of local daimyo store houses and easy water access created a boom in the local business economy. After the Meiji Restoration, many of the storehouse districts were rebuilt into the modern metropolis that exists today, with new buildings like the Osaka Ward Office, the Osaka City Central Public Hall, the Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library and Nakanoshima Park.

This bathhouse is at the top of a commercial building in the middle of a city. The 100% natural source spring water is pumped up from 659m underground, and it is called “Beauty Water” for its softening effect of the skin's keratin layer.
The outdoor area has the flowing source spring, the pot bath, sitting bath, rock bath, etc. Watch airplanes or starry sky, while soaking in the hot spring. The indoor area has artificially-carbonated baths believed to promote health and beauty as well as a jet bath. In the women’s section, there is a sauna with the collagen light which encourages collagen production. Give it a try.

The big red octopus sign is the landmark. It is a museum full of Takoyaki (octopus dumplings) under the theme of "Making, Knowing, and Eating," focusing on "KONAMON"(Flour-based foods), a familiar Osaka gourmet food. At Takoyaki Dojo Kukuru Takumi, located on the B1 floor, you can make your own Takoyaki. You can choose your favorite ingredients to put inside and use professional tools for cooking them. The staff will support you, so even beginners can try their hand at it.

This okonomiyaki speciality shop sits in the bustling downtown area of Dotonbori in Osaka. Since its founding in 1945, this veteran shop has been featured in MICHELIN guide: Bib Gourmand for 6 consecutive years and beloved by its patrons for many years. Keeping with its concept of “evolved vintage”, the restaurant is well kept by its 3rd generation owner with a menu of delicious new spins and unchanged traditions.

Founded in 1929, just off Tsutenkaku Tower, Osaka's landmark. The main store of "Kushikatsu Daruma", which operates mainly in Osaka city.
Kushikatsu is fried in Daruma's special original cooking oil making it light and easy to eat and does not cause stomach upsets like many heavy deep fried dishes can. The breadcrumbs used for the batter are very fine, thin and crispy. There are approximately 40 types of Kushikatsu available including beef, pork, shrimp, tomatoes, onions, and Shiitake mushrooms. The freshly fried Kushikatsu can be dipped in Daruma’s famous special sauce, which has taken many years to develop and perfect.

Ippoh is one of Osaka's best-established restaurants, located in Edobori, Nishi-ku, and has its roots in a tempura restaurant founded in 1850 (Kaei 3 ) by the first generation of an oil shop owner as a sideline.It has a history of more than 180 years spanning five generations. Throughout its long history, the restaurant has entertained VIPs from around the world as well as dignitaries from home and abroad.

Founded in 1945, this Chinese restaurant is so famous in Osaka that there is no one who does not know about it. It is located in the Ebisubashi-suji shopping street of Namba in the middle of Minami, Osaka.
The specialty of the store is the BUTAMAN (Pork buns), which is hand-wrapped one at a time, with a focus on "same-day production and same-day sales”.

"Let's have an after-school party at a secret base! is the concept behind this unique bar. When you enter the bar, you will hear J-POP and anime hit songs from the 1990s to 2000s. A blackboard covered with graffiti is hung on the wall, giving the impression of a corner of a classroom. The area is filled with toys, character goods and manga that you may have read when you were a kid, making you feel instantly nostalgic.
The basic menu is all-you-can-eat for a hundred kinds of sweets and ice creams for 500yen per hour (you must order a drink for 550 yen). The lineup includes snacks such as “Umaibo” , “Baby Star” as well as “Cocoa cigarettes” and Ramune sweets such as “Mini Cola”, which will make you feel nostalgic and mention repeatedly "the good old days". If you once wished you could eat as many sweets as you want when you were a child, this is the place where your dreams come true.

Sandwich shop located in Kitashinchi, a busy downtown area in Kita, Osaka. The shop offers a variety of handmade sandwiches using luxury ingredients such as "Special Japanese Beef Fillet sandwich” with carefully selected A3-class beef, a rare "Eel Cutlet" sandwich and also "Pork Cutlet" sandwich with 16 layers of Japanese pork loin and the "Prawn Cutlet" sandwich with six whole prawns.
Particularly popular is the "Tamago Katsu Sandwich"(egg cutlet sandwich) which was devised by Kitashinchi Sand and was featured in the media. The fluffy egg inside and the crispy batter on the outside creates a perfect balance of deliciousness.

This ramen shop, with its main branch in Kizugawa City, Kyoto, was originally founded in the city of Nara in 1998. The famous Muteppou brand keeps shops in only 3 locations (Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo), drawing fans from across Japan.
The biggest draw of this ramen is its rich, pork-bone based broth, whose lip-smacking, flavorful taste is sure to blow even first-time patrons away. The broth is made with nothing but high-quality, select pork bones and water, simmered from a 300-kg batch of bones into a painstakingly made, delicious soup with a flavor like none other.

Kuromon Market in Minami, the heart of Osaka, is said to have started around 1822 and was approved as an official market by Osaka Prefecture in 1902. The market got the name “Kuromon Market (Black gate market)” because the gate to Enmyoji Temple near the market was black. Since then, it has been loved as Osaka’s favorite kitchen, and it has become a popular tourist attraction these days.

Osaka's representative shopping arcade. It is said to be "the longest shopping arcade in Japan" with a total length of about 2.6 km from Tenjinbashi 1-chome to 7-chome. It takes about 40 minutes to walk from one end of the arcade to the other. The arcade began to flourish when it became the main approach to Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, which is located in 2-chome and is dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, the god of learning. The shopping arcade has a long history, having developed into what it is today during the Meiji era.

It is one of the largest complexes in Japan, located adjacent to Expo '70 Commemorative Park, and includes "LaLaport EXPOCITY" with about 300 stores for fashion, lifestyle goods, interior shops , restaurants, cafes, etc., "NIFREL, a living museum" exhibiting living things based on the theme of diversity, "OSAKA WHEEL," Japan's tallest Ferris wheel at 123 meters, and "ANIPO," with the theme of "a traveling amusement park created by animals," You can enjoy with these entertainment facilities all day long.

Grand Front Osaka, named as “a city at the forefront open to the world,” is a commercial complex that established in April 2013 in the 7-hectare area on the east side of the "Umekita" district north of Osaka Station.
It consists of four tower buildings, centering on the North Building and the South Building, which houses about 260 stores and restaurants, including popular select stores from Japan and overseas as well as the first flagship store in western Japan. The Knowledge Capital serves as a place for creativity and intellectual exchange to build new value by connecting the knowledge of diverse people. The approximately 10,000 square meter Umekita Plaza has been hosting festivals and events.

Located in Hirakata City, halfway between Osaka and Kyoto, this eight-story, one-basement shopping complex opened in 2016 with the theme of "A lifestyle department store that accompanies and adds colors to your daily life". Centered on the Tsutaya Bookstore, which sells books, there are stores such as knick-knacks, apparel, cosmetics, cafes, restaurants, and more.
The building looks like a stack of glass boxes that has quite a lot of impact and has a very photogenic appearance. Inside the store, there is also a great photogenic spot to take pictures. It is a bookshelf set up in the event space on the fourth floor of the Tsutaya Bookstore.

Shinsaibashi is part of Osaka Minami’s downtown along with ” Dotonbori.” It covers Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street, West Shinsaibashi and East Shinsaibashi. Osaka Metro Midosuji Line / Nagahori　Tusrumi　Ryokuchi Line’s Shinsaibashi Station and Yotsubashi Line’s Yotsubashi Station are the gates to Shinsaibashi. It is a walking distance to Namba and can be a convenient base for touring around Osaka. There are many lodgings also.

This outlet mall is in the Rinku Town across the bay from Kansai International Airport and many tourists from other countries visit here. In August of 2020, in commemoration of its 20th anniversary, the mall was expanded for the 5th time into the largest outlet in western Japan.
Popular domestic and international brands flock here, offering luxury goods at reasonable prices. The 5th Sea Side Area expansion now allows almost 250 stores in business. The 3rd floor of Sea Side Area has a food hall in the image of a ship, RINKU DINING, and Sea Side Plaza in the courtyard now hosts a take-out specialty with a triangle roof, Pavilion. So many gourmet foods to choose from.

A guesthouse in Osaka’s bay area. The place’s name, “Rice”, nods at the hope for it to be loved as widely as the Japanese people keep a widespread love of rice, while serving as a way to connect different peoples from in and out of Japan.
The guesthouse’s exterior is decorated with a lattice design while the inside keeps with modern Japanese touches like a door with the look of a traditional sliding door, or glass door that is seemingly decorated with washi paper. The design creates a cozy space and concept that embodies the idea of “visiting your relatives in Osaka”.

RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka is the flagship hotel of RIHGA Royal Hotel Group. It is located on the riverside of Nakanoshima, the heart of downtown Osaka, and is proud of its long history and tradition. It has been 86 years since its predecessor, the Shin-Osaka Hotel, opened in 1935.
It is one of Japan's most prestigious hotels, known as the "Guest House of Osaka" for its elegant atmosphere, state-of-the-art facilities, and superb hospitality. The hotel has a total of 1,041 guest rooms with five different concepts creating a relaxing atmosphere.

onrad Osaka is a luxury hotel on the highest floors (33-40) of Nakanoshima Festival Tower West, directly connected to the Osaka Metro. The location is convenient for both business and leisure, with easy access to "Kita" (Osaka Station) and "Minami" (Namba Station).
Per the hotel’s concept of "Your Address in the Sky - Through the Clouds," the panoramic view overlooking the city of Osaka from 200 meters above the ground is breathtaking. You can enjoy the spectacular view from anywhere in the hotel, including the guest rooms, restaurants, spa, and conference rooms.

The character "Kuidaore Taro" first appeared in 1950 as the signature doll of "Osaka Meibutsu Kuidaore," a restaurant that used to be located in Dotonbori, Osaka's busiest shopping district. After the restaurant closed, he is still charming in front of the amusement building "Nakaza Cui-daore Bldg." in Dotonbori.
Kuidaore Taro, an icon of Osaka, also sells many character goods. Kuidaore Taro pudding is one of them.
The pudding is smooth but has a firm texture. The pudding is delicious as it is, but if you sprinkle the included caramel sauce and crushed sugar, it tastes like creme brulee. Enjoy it in your favorite flavor.

Calbee, the famous potato chip brand launched sales of a special line in collaboration with Hankyu Umeda Main Store in 2014. Perfect as an easy gift, each crisp delivers the high end-taste of 100% Hokkaido-grown potatoes, with a one-of-a-kind thick-cut texture.
The line includes two different varieties that are made differently so you can pick your favorite texture or deep, natural flavor.

The newest, must-try Osaka souvenir is produced by Yoshimoto Kogyo and packed with a humorous spin on the Hokkaido staple cookie that’s sure to make you chuckle.
This Kansai-made gaufrette cookie is reborn as a dessert cookie with Kansai-made mitarashi cream. The gaufrette cookie has a crispy bite, blended perfectly with the rich, aromatic mitarashi cream in a deeply satisfying flavor.

Tenjin Festival is said to be one of Japan’s Three Major Festivals, held in the city of water, Osaka, in summer. It is the tradition of Osaka Tenmangu Shrine where the god of education, Sugawara no Michizane, is enshrined. A variety of rituals take place from late June for a month. Yoimiya Festival on July 24 and Hongu Shinji ritual on the 25th are the climax, viewed by 3 million domestic and foreign visitors each year.

The “Festival of the Lights in OSAKA” beautifully illuminates Osaka at night with fantastical glittering lights. One of the main programs of this festival is the “Osaka Hikari-Renaissance,” held in the Nakanoshima area.
Nakanoshima is an area sandwiched between the riverbanks of Dojima River and Tosahori River. The area is home to buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan, including the Osaka Central Public Hall and Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library, which help to spread Osaka’s art and culture.

The “Festival of the Lights in OSAKA” beautifully illuminates Osaka at night with fantastical glittering lights. One of the main programs of this festival is the “Midosuji Illumination,” held at Midosuji, Osaka’s symbol street.
In January of 2015, the Midosuji Illumination was certified as holding the world record for “most roadside trees illuminated.” This year’s illumination, which will cover a total length of about 4 kilometers from Umeda to Nanba in colorful lights, was based on the design concept of a “symbolic street illumination that gently wraps the people of Osaka in light.”