After soaking up the energy of Tokyo and the elegance of Kyoto, our final stop on Japan’s famous Golden Route was the vibrant and oh-so-delicious city of Osaka. Known for its street food, wild signage, and laid-back vibe, Osaka was the perfect place to end our 2-month Japan digital nomad journey.
In total, we spent two full weeks exploring this amazing city, and let’s just say—we ate well, walked a lot, and found some cool hidden gems too! So, here are 15 of our favorite things to do in Osaka, Japan, including some unique and off-the-beaten-path spots. Let’s go!
You can check out our full Osaka video below!
Things You Should Know About Osaka
Before you go to Osaka, there are a few things that you need to know. Osaka is the 3rd largest city in Japan. With a population of 2.7 million people, you’re going to feel the crowds when you explore the most popular streets in Osaka, like Dotonbori Road. But the crowds are part of the excitement of this city, so try to embrace the bustling nature instead of getting frustrated by it.
Another thing you should know is that Osaka is not nearly as clean as Tokyo and Kyoto. We were surprised by how gritty and grimy the Dotonbori area was, especially after experiencing how clean everything is in Tokyo. It was a challenge going to the sparkle of Tokyo, to even seeing a little bit of trash and grit in Osaka. It’s something to be aware of, but it didn’t detract from our visit.
To get around Osaka, it’s best to use public transportation and Google Maps for navigation. You will need to get an Icoca transport card to pay for all of your metro rides, but once you have your card, the transport system is easy to navigate.
We were able to take the metro directly to the Osaka airport at the end of our stay. For convenience, however, we used a taxi to get from the Osaka train station to our accommodation. Public transport modes were available, but we were feeling lazy that day and opted for a cab. Just know that great taxi and public transport options are available in Osaka, so you shouldn’t need to rent a car.
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The Best Things to Do in Osaka, Japan
1. 🏯 Discover Osaka’s Historic Side at Osaka Castle
This iconic landmark is one of Japan’s most famous castles—and with good reason! Surrounded by a moat and beautiful parklands, it’s the perfect mix of history and photo ops. Go inside the castle to see an interesting museum that teaches you about the history of Osaka. On the very top floor, you will be rewarded with great views of Osaka.
It’s definitely worth the 600 yen ($4 USD) price tag and is a must for everyone traveling to Osaka, even if you only have one day.
2. 🚤 Relax on a Dotonbori River Cruise
See the city lights from the water with a river cruise! This relaxing boat ride takes you past neon signs, quirky buildings, and plenty of selfie-worthy spots. Although we loved the views from this cruise, we could not hear the commentary so unfortunately didn’t learn anything about Dotonbori. Still this cruise gets a light recommendation for us for the chill vibe and great views.
Klook.com3. 🚶♀️ Enjoy the Neon Lights on Your Dotonbori River Walk
Not into boats? No problem. Stroll along the Dotonbori River and take in the buzz of Osaka. We loved the views from all the bridges that cross the river. This is where you can take the best pictures of all the billboards and buildings.
Don’t forget to see the popular Glico Running Man sign, which is an ad that has been running in Osaka since 1935. Glico is the Japanese food company that created popular snacks like Pocky and Pretz. It’s crazy that their ad campaign has lasted 90 years, but if it’s not broke, don’t fix it! To this day, this ad draws big crowds because it’s so iconic.
4. 🍜 Eat (and Shop) Your Way Down Dotonbori Street
Dotonbori Road is a street with loads of restaurants and shopping. It’s particularly gorgeous at night when all the lights come on. Wander around here looking at the street food and the restaurant menus until you find some delicious food to try.
5. 🍓 Get a Delicious Treat at Strawberry Mania
One of our favorite street foods to try on Dotonbori Road is the Strawberry Tanghulu, which is skewered strawberries dipped in a delicious sugar coating. So, if you’ve got a sweet tooth, you need to check out Strawberry Mania, which is a tiny dessert shop with big flavor. When I bit into their strawberries, it was an explosion of flavor! The grapes were just okay, but the strawberries were spectacular!
6. 🛍️ Shop Til You Drop on Ebisu Bashi Suji Shopping Street
Covered shopping arcade = rainy day savior. Browse quirky Japanese fashion, cute souvenirs, and fun snacks in this lively shopping street right near Dotonbori. We picked up some luggage, some matcha tea, and some ramen from this shopping area, but you can really shop to you drop here.
7. 🍜 Have a Delicious Feast at Hanamaruken Hozenji Ramen
Hands down, one of the best bowls of ramen we had in Japan was at Hanamaruken Hozenji Ramen. Here, we enjoyed the Happiness Set Menu, which includes gyoza potstickers, fried rice, and a delicious bowl of ramen. It’s an absolute feast and very affordable too! It’s located inside the Ebisu Bashi Suji arcade, and just a quick walk from the riverfront.
8. 🌆 Enjoy the incredible view at Abeno Harukas 300
Head up to the 60th floor of Japan’s tallest skyscraper for jaw-dropping views of Osaka. The Harukas 300 observatory is 300 meters high, and on a clear day, you can even spot Kyoto!
We loved the expansive city views here and the cafe that has affordable food with incredible views.
9. 🌺 Take a Night Time Scroll in TeamLab Botanical Garden
If you enjoyed the TeamLab experience in Tokyo, then check out the TeamLab Botanical Garden in Osaka. This outdoor museum of lights, blends the beauty of nature, the smells from eucalyptus, and sounds of relaxing music for an immersive art experience. The displays here will make you say wow, as you interact with hundreds of colorful eggs and orbs scattered throughout the garden.
10. 🎮 Nintendo World at Universal Studios
Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or just love Mario Kart, Universal Studios Japan is one theme park you won’t forget! Inside, they have a special Super Nintendo World, which takes you inside the Super Mario game with power-up bands, rides, and interactive games that make you feel like you’re inside the world of Super Mario Brothers.
This exhibit has to be the most delightful thing I’ve ever seen! From the spinning gold coins to the music, they got everything just right! I couldn’t stop smiling because all of the great memories I had playing Super Mario as a kid came flooding back in this theme park.
The best part is that theme park tickets in Japan are much more affordable than in the U.S. We snagged tickets for $60 USD per person and had a fun day out exploring not only Nintendo World, but Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Demon Slayer. It was well worth it and gets our highest recommendation when it comes to things to do in Osaka!
Klook.com11. 🎭 Watch a Traditional Puppet Show at Bunraku National Theater
For a deeper dive into Japanese culture, check out a traditional Bunraku puppet show at the Bunraku National Theater. Osaka is the birthplace of the Bunraku puppet art form, and it was so interesting see a performance, listen to the traditional music, and appreciate this unique Japanese art form.
We saw a performance that gave a good introduction to Bunraku. The performance was all in Japanese without any translation, nonetheless, we were able to follow the story and the finale at the end was spectacular! It was so much more dramatic than I was expecting. It’s an experience I can highly recommend as the puppet performances are beautiful, intricate, and totally different from anything else we saw in Japan.
12. 🍢 Wander Around the Lively Shinsekai
This retro neighborhood is filled with quirky eateries, vintage arcades, and the famous Tsutenkaku Tower. It’s fun, colorful, and filled with so much life. This is another spot that is best experienced at night when all the lights are on and all the people are out.
To experience this area fully, try one of the many restaurants and play one of the many carnival games.
13. 🌳 Hike Through Minoh Park
Escape the city with a peaceful hike through Minoh National Park. In the park, there’s an easy, paved trail that leads to a lovely waterfall. It’s only a 40-50 minute walk to the waterfall with beautiful views of a small gorge and of several temples and shrines along the way. It’s a charming and serene place and perfect if you need something different after all the neon lights in Osaka.
14. 🌇 Enjoy Sunset at Umeda Sky Building
The Umeda Sky Building is famous for their sunset views with good reason! Seeing the beautiful colors of sunset, by the water with the city as the backdrop is absolutely stunning. After sunset, wait around to see the night view as well with the city all lit up at night.
15. 🦌 Take a Day Trip to Nara
Less than an hour away by train, Nara is perfect for a day of deer selfies and temple hopping. Feed the friendly deer (they bow back!), then visit the giant Buddha at Todai-ji Temple. A peaceful break from Osaka’s high-energy pace.
Our Final Thoughts on Osaka
Osaka is a fun yet quirky place to visit on your tour of Japan. Whether you’re a foodie, a history lover, or just here for the lively vibes, there’s something for everyone in Osaka!
Now that you know 15 things to do in Osaka, check out these other Japan travel tips below!
- The Perfect 10-Day Japan Itinerary
- 24 Incredible Things to Do in Kyoto, Japan
- 22 Things to Know Before You Go to Japan
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Loved your Osaka tips — a great mix of classics and hidden gems! Can’t wait to explore it myself. Thanks for sharing!
Ugh this just made planning sooooo much easier! This guide is a life-saver, thanks so much!
I just came back from Japan in April and Osaka was my absolute favourite city. I loved the foodie scene, the energy, and the activities. Your post has me longing to go back.