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Osaka Day Trip | Itinerary
Osaka is a great city to visit, and if you love shopping and eating, Osaka is probably a paradise. Osaka is usually the main base for people visiting the Kansai region, and it is close toNara, an old capital of Japan,KobeKyoto,Himeji CastleMany people arrange their accommodation mainly in Osaka to go to these places for day trips. But if you are in Osaka itself, what are the must-see attractions? If you're not spending a lot of time in Osaka itself, our suggestion is to focus on the classic Osaka Castle, Osaka Museum of Modern and Modern Life, and the night view of Dotenkaku, while the rest of the time can be spent in the Umeda-Namba neighborhood. There are several famous spots around Umeda and Namba that are suitable for a good shopping trip, such as Shin-Umeda Food Court, Kuromon Market, Senshichimae, Dotonbori, Dotenkaku, which is basically a shopping route that runs through the center of Osaka.
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Osaka | Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in early 1583, is the most important cultural heritage in Osaka and was the center of the Toyotomi family's administration. It is one of the three most famous castles in Japan, along with Nagoya Castle and Kumamoto Castle, and is dominated by Tenshukaku (Heavenly Guardian's Tower), which is a magnificent sight to behold. In addition to Tenshokaku and the moat, the current Osaka Castle Park includes Nishinomaru Garden, Osaka Castle Concert Hall, Osaka Castle Auditorium, and other facilities for recreational use by the public. Osaka Castle is 12 kilometers long and has a deep moat around the castle wall, which is made of more than 400,000 boulders. The moat is divided into two parts: the outer and inner moats. When you enter through the Otemon Gate, you will first pass through the outer moat and then through the Sakura Gate to the Tenshogakko (Heavenly Guardian's Corner). The moat next to Sakuramon Gate has no water in it and is called an empty moat.
Sakuramon Gate is a beautiful place to enjoy cherry blossoms when they are in bloom, and it is the most famous gate in Osaka Castle. The wall next to Sakuramon is built with huge stones, which are the original stones used in Osaka Castle.
At the center of Osaka Castle is the Osaka Castle Museum of History from Toyotomi to the Tokugawa period.TenshoukakuThe Tenshoukaku is a magnificent sight. The entrance ticket to Tenshokaku is 540 yen. Osaka Castle has been damaged and rebuilt several times in its history, and Tenshoukaku was also destroyed by fire in the Meiji era, but the one we see now was rebuilt in the Showa era.
There are eight floors when you enter Tenshokaku. Tenshukaku is now a history museum, and it is generally a static exhibition of the political history of the Toyotomi era and the deeds of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The elevator only goes up to the fifth floor, and you have to climb the stairs to get to the eighth floor, but don't miss the view from the top floor, where you can see the entire Osaka Castle.
When you look back at the other side of the castle through the Juraku Bridge, you can see the solemnity of the castle. If you have enough time, you can also join the moat tour.
Osaka Attractions | Osaka Museum of Modern and Modern Life
Osaka has been an economically important city since ancient times, and has been a major port in Japan since the Nara period, through the Sengoku and Shogunate periods.Osaka Living MuseumNext to Rokuchome Station is a unique museum that introduces the history of Osaka's common people, and one of the most interesting exhibits is a recreation of Osaka's streets in the Edo period, which gives you a sense of history as you walk through it. You can also rent a kimono if you want to feel even more immersed in Osaka's history. The price for a kimono experience is very cheap, only 200 yen. About half of the visitors are wearing kimono, which makes you feel like you've stepped back in time.
The Museum of the Present and the Past is located on the 8th to 10th floors of a building with three floors. The entrance is on the 8th floor, and you can take the escalator from the 10th floor down. From the 10th floor, you can see the streets of Osaka during the Edo period from the 9th floor, while the 8th floor is a static display of Osaka during the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods.
The ninth floor is the most interesting part of the Museum of the Past and Present. Visitors to the ninth floor will feel as if they have entered Osaka during the Edo period. Most of the buildings on both sides of the street are accessible, allowing visitors to experience the bustle and details of life in Osaka at that time when all kinds of businesses were centered on the streets of the city.
The lights are dimmed every half hour to simulate the townscape at different times of the day, such as dusk and night, and even the Milky Way appears in the sky at night, so visitors can experience a day in Osaka Castle in a short period of time. In addition, nighttime festivals are also part of the exhibition, and the Tenjinmaru, which used to belong to the Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, comes out during the festival hours.
On the eighth floor is a static exhibition on the history of Osaka. In addition to the man-made streetscapes, the static exhibition presents a more detailed view of Osaka's history from the past to the modern era. The exhibits here are actually quite interesting, featuring elaborate models of the lives of Osaka citizens, as well as some of the machines used in the early days of the city, such as electric pots, cooking utensils, and an organ.
Osaka Attractions | Totenkaku
heavenly chamber (esp. in Hong Kong)It is said to be the spiritual symbol of Osaka, and was first built in 1912 as the tallest building in Asia. Its shape is said to be a combination of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. If you want to see the night view of Osaka, the observatory on top of Tontenkaku is the best place to go. Below is the New World Shopping Center, which is also a good place to shop and eat, and is a good place to visit at night.
Osaka Attractions | Umeda
Umeda is the center of Osaka's transportation system, and is a popular destination for tourists, as it is surrounded by many stores and restaurants and is a great place to shop. When you arrive at Umeda, you don't need to plan too much, and you can easily spend a lot of time strolling around the station.
San Mei Tin Food Street
If there's one place in Umeda that's a must-see, it's this.San Mei Tin Food StreetThe New Umeda Food Street is located in the center of Umeda. Located in the center of Umeda, New Umeda Food Street was opened in 1950, with only 18 stores at the beginning. Originally, it was opened after the war to provide relief for the retired workers of the old national railroad era, so the stores sold common people's snacks, such as yakiniku (barbecue), kebabs, and okonomiyaki (grilled food), and it was a very convenient place to taste various Kansai delicacies. Nowadays, there are more than a hundred stores in the area, but most of the local customers are still common people who work here, and the Showa-era features such as narrow roads and pocket bars are still maintained in the food court.
Osaka Attractions | Namba
The Namba area has always been crowded, because it's just too nice to walk around, and many people are familiar with Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi, Senshimae, and Kuromon Market, which are all in the neighborhood, so you can walk around from morning to night.
Kuromon Market
Kuromon MarketThis traditional market, known as "Osaka's Kitchen," is located near Nihonbashi Station. This traditional market is popular with tourists because it offers a wide variety of fresh seafood and snacks at reasonable prices. If you come here in the afternoon or later, you will be able to pick up bargains at special prices. If you want to spend less money to fill up your stomach, Kuromon Market is definitely a good place to have dinner and buy souvenirs.
a thousand days ago
Chizenjimae is known as a street of props, with many stores selling kitchenware, housewares, and of course, snacks. Chizen Hinjisuji is right across the street from Kuromon Market, so you can come at the same time.
Dotonbori
Dotonbori is a food hub where you should be able to find anything from okonomiyaki to takoyaki to ramen, and just look at the crowds of people who come here to get a taste of what's on offer. If you're looking for a snack in Dotonbori, we recommend Genjo's takoyaki and the Michelin-starred takoyaki. Of course, there are also a lot of people taking pictures of the interesting signboards outside the restaurant, and the big crab in front of the Crabtree restaurant should be considered a landmark of Dotonbori.
Dotonbori's signature night view is also a masterpiece, and you can't help but keep eating and strolling around without wanting to leave.
Hoshinji Yokocho
Hozenji Yokocho is located in Dotonbori and is a special place in the downtown area. After passing through the bustling shopping street of Dotonbori, Hozenji Temple is right behind you. I wouldn't call it quiet, but it's always a relief to see it in the downtown area. The temple has a history of 380 years, and the current main hall was rebuilt after World War II. Worshipping here is a symbol of healing from illnesses and eliminating worries. The alley behind the temple, lined with red lanterns, is Hozenji Yokocho, and is lined with Japanese restaurants and stores. There are a lot of good food here, and in the evening, most of the visitors are office workers who come here after work to get some food.
Recommended Accommodations in Osaka | Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka
Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka near Umeda is my favorite ryokan after many visits to Osaka, opened in 2018, the facilities are great the room is also large and offers a large bath. It's rare to find a room with a river view in a big city in Japan, and the desk is big enough for an office, so overall it's very comfortable. Although Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka is not next to a train station, the hotel provides a free shuttle bus to Umeda, which takes about 10 minutes, so you can get to and from the center of Umeda by shuttle.
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