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One-Day Osaka Tour | Itinerary
Osaka is a fantastic city to explore. If you love shopping, eating, and enjoying delicious food, Osaka is practically a paradise. This city is often the main base for travelers visiting the Kansai region, with its proximity to places like Nara, Kobe, Kyoto, and Himeji Castle. Many people choose to stay in Osaka and take day trips to these nearby destinations. But what must-see spots are there in Osaka itself? If you're not staying in the city for a long time, we recommend focusing on classic sites like Osaka Castle, the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, and the Tsutenkaku Tower for night views. You can spend the rest of your time exploring the areas around Umeda and Namba, which are packed with famous spots for shopping and strolling, like Shin-Umeda Shokudo-gai, Kuromon Market, Sennichimae, Dotonbori, and Tsutenkaku. Essentially, this route takes you through the heart of Osaka’s shopping district.
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Osaka | Must-See Attractions
Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle is the most important cultural heritage site in Osaka. Built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583, it was the center of the Toyotomi regime. Along with Nagoya Castle and Kumamoto Castle, it's one of Japan's three great castles. The main structure is the imposing central tower. Today, Osaka Castle Park includes not only the main tower and moat but also the Nishinomaru Garden, Osaka Castle Music Hall, and the Osaka Castle Performance Hall, which provide recreational spaces for locals. The castle complex spans 12 kilometers, and the surrounding walls are built from over 400,000 large stones. The moat is divided into inner and outer sections. After entering through the main gate, you first pass through the outer moat, and then the Sakuramon Gate to reach the castle keep. The moat next to Sakuramon Gate is dry, earning it the name "empty moat."
Sakuramon is a stunning spot for cherry blossom viewing, especially during bloom season, and it’s the most famous gate of the castle. The walls near Sakuramon are constructed with massive stones originally from Osaka Castle.
The heart of Osaka Castle is its majestic central tower, which reflects the city’s rich history from the Toyotomi to the Tokugawa eras. Admission to the tower is 540 yen. Throughout history, Osaka Castle has been damaged and rebuilt several times. The tower we see today was reconstructed during the Showa era after being destroyed by fire in the Meiji period.
The central tower has eight floors. Inside, it now functions as a museum, primarily featuring static displays about the political history of the Toyotomi period and the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Elevators are available up to the fifth floor, but you’ll need to climb the stairs to reach the eighth floor. Don’t miss the breathtaking view from the top, where you can gaze over Osaka from above.
After crossing Gokurakubashi Bridge, the central tower looks even more dignified from another perspective. If you have extra time, you can also join a boat tour along the castle moat.
Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
Osaka has been an important economic hub since ancient times. Starting from the Nara period and continuing through the Sengoku and Edo periods, Osaka has always been a key port city. The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living near the 6-chome Station is a unique museum showcasing the history of ordinary people's lives in Osaka. One of its most fascinating exhibits recreates an Edo-period Osaka street, where walking around gives you an immersive feeling of stepping back in time. If you want to enhance the experience, you can rent a kimono for just 200 yen. Nearly half the visitors here dress in kimonos, making it feel even more like a journey into the past.
The museum occupies the eighth to tenth floors of a building, and the entrance is on the eighth floor. Visitors start on the tenth floor and work their way down. On the tenth floor, you can overlook the Edo-period street recreated on the ninth floor. The eighth floor features static displays covering Osaka's history from the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras.
The ninth floor is the most intriguing part of the museum. When you enter, it feels like you've stepped into Edo-period Osaka, with buildings on both sides of the street open for exploration. Detailed explanations accompany each site, allowing visitors to experience the hustle and bustle of daily life and various trades in historic Osaka.
Every 30 minutes, the lighting dims to simulate dusk and nightfall, and at night, the Milky Way even appears in the simulated sky. This creative design gives visitors a sense of the passing of time in just a short visit. There’s also a festival reenactment as part of the exhibit, where the Tenjin-maru float from the Tenmangu Shrine parades through the display area during festival time.
The eighth floor features static exhibits detailing Osaka's historical transformations. The dioramas and models of city life, along with early machines like rice cookers and wind organs, provide a fascinating look at Osaka’s history.
Tsutenkaku Tower
Tsutenkaku Tower, known as the symbol of Osaka, was originally built in 1912 and was once the tallest building in Asia. Its design is said to blend the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. If you want to enjoy Osaka’s night views, the observation deck at the top of Tsutenkaku is the perfect spot. At the base of the tower is the lively Shinsekai shopping district, a great place to shop and eat, especially in the evening.
Umeda
Umeda is Osaka's transportation hub, surrounded by countless shops and eateries, making it a favorite area for tourists to spend time. You don’t need to plan much in Umeda—just wandering around the station area can easily fill up your day.
Shin-Umeda Shokudo-gai
If there’s one place you shouldn’t miss in Umeda, it’s the Shin-Umeda Shokudo-gai. Located in the center of Umeda, it opened in 1950 with just 18 stores. Originally established to help retired workers from Japan's old railway system, the area sold working-class street food like skewers, grilled dishes, and okonomiyaki. Today, it has grown to house over 100 eateries, but the local patrons are still mainly salarymen. The narrow streets and small counters still retain a nostalgic Showa-era atmosphere.
Namba
The Namba area is always packed with people, as it’s such a great place to shop. Famous spots like Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi, Sennichimae, and Kuromon Market are all nearby, allowing you to shop from morning to night.
Kuromon Market
Kuromon Market, known as "Osaka's Kitchen," is located near Nipponbashi Station. This traditional market is famous for its wide variety of fresh seafood. It’s popular with tourists for its reasonably priced street food. If you come in the afternoon, you can catch some great deals during the discount hours. If you're looking for a budget-friendly meal or some souvenirs, Kuromon Market is the perfect place.
Sennichimae
Sennichimae is known for its street lined with shops selling kitchenware and home goods, as well as plenty of food stalls. Sennichimae Street is right across from Kuromon Market, so you can easily visit both at the same time.
Dotonbori
Dotonbori is a gourmet haven where you can find everything from okonomiyaki to takoyaki and ramen. The crowds here tell you just how many food lovers flock to the area. If you’re looking to try street food, we recommend the famous original takoyaki or Michelin-starred giant takoyaki. Many people also come here to take photos of the quirky store signs. The giant crab sign outside Kani Doraku is practically a landmark of Dotonbori.
Dotonbori's neon-lit night scene is also one of its highlights, with colorful lights that make it hard to leave as you keep eating and exploring.
Hozenji Yokocho Alley
Tucked inside Dotonbori is Hozenji Yokocho, a unique gem amidst the bustling shopping streets. It’s not exactly tranquil, but finding it in such a lively district feels like a moment of peace. Hozenji Temple has a 380-year history, and its main hall was rebuilt after WWII. It’s believed that visiting the temple can bring healing and relief from troubles. Behind the temple is a narrow alley lined with red lanterns and traditional Japanese restaurants. This is a popular spot for salarymen coming for dinner after work.
Bonus Recommendation | Where to Stay in Osaka | Mitsui Garden Hotel
Mitsui Garden Hotel in Umeda is one of my favorite places to stay in Osaka. It opened in 2018 and offers excellent facilities and spacious rooms, including a public bath. It’s rare to find a room with a river view and a desk big enough for working in a major Japanese city. Overall, it's very comfortable. Though it’s not located right next to the train station, the hotel offers a free shuttle to Umeda, which takes about 10 minutes, making it convenient to get around.
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