Osaka Japan Travel Guide [2023]

Osaka is the second-largest metropolitan area in Japan (the first one is Tokyo), and previously, it went with the name, Naniwa. It is a large port city and commercial center on Honshu island. The people here are polite and disciplined, the streets are spotless, and the infrastructures are modern and impressive. Most especially, it’s the ultimate foodie destination. Are you planning to go to Osaka? Here comes an easy Osaka Japan guide to help you explore this marvelous city.

Where is Osaka?

Osaka is the capital city of Osaka Prefecture in the Kansai region of Honshu, the main island of Japan. It’s the third most populous city in Japan, following Tokyo and Yokohama. Osaka is renowned for its rich history, amazing attractions, and distinctive regional cuisine.

How to travel to Osaka?

There are two airports that serve as the entryway to Osaka, Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Itami Airport (ITM). ITM is located in the north of central Osaka and handles domestic flights to more than 30 destinations in Japan. If you’re coming from another country though, your point of entry is KIX, which is on a man-made island, about 40 kilometers south of central Osaka.

Where to stay in Osaka?

High-end Osaka hotels

Rihga Royal Hotel

Our group stayed at Rihga Royal Hotel (click here for my full review) an ideal place to stay as it is in close proximity to some of the best tourist spots in Osaka.

Book Rihga Royal Hotel here

📍Address: 5-3-68 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Umeda, Osaka, Japan, 530-0005
💰 Rates start at: US$ 294

There are many other options in Osaka and here are some of the hotels where you can stay:

InterContinental Hotel Osaka

📍Address: 3-60, Ofuka-Cho Kita-Ku, Umeda, Osaka, Japan, 530-0011
💰 Rates start at: US$ 566

Osaka Marriot Miyako

📍Address: 1-1-43 Abenosuji, Abeno-ku, Tennoji, Osaka, Japan, 545-0052
💰 Rates start at: US$ 373

The St. Regis Osaka

📍Address: 3-6-12 Honmachi, Chuo-ku, Umeda, Osaka, Japan, 541-0053
💰 Rates start at: US$ 416

The Royal Park Hotel

📍Address: 4-2-3 Hiranomachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, Umeda, Osaka, Japan, 541-0046
💰 Rates start at: US$ 279

Mid-range Osaka Hotels

Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier

📍Address: 3-4-15 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Umeda, Osaka, Japan, 530-0005
💰 Rates start at: US$ 122

Premier Hotel Cabin President Osaka

📍Address: 1-3-19 Minami Morimachi, Kitaku, Umeda, Osaka, Japan, 530-0054
💰 Rates start at: US$ 85

Liber Hotel at Universal Studios Japan

📍Address: 1-1-35 Sakurajima, Konohana-ku, Osaka-shi, Bay Area, Osaka, Japan, 554-0031
💰 Rates start at: US$ 164

Cross Hotel

📍Address: 5-15, 2 Chome, Shinsaibashi-Suji, Chuo-Ku, Shinsaibashi, Osaka, Japan, 542-0085
💰 Rates start at: US$ 206

Holiday Inn Osaka

📍Address: 5-15, SOEMON-CHO, CHUO-KU , Shinsaibashi, Osaka, Japan, 542-0084
💰 Rates start at: US$ 146

Budget Osaka Hotels

Sotetsu Grand Fresa

📍Address: 1-1-13, Nippombashi, Chuo-ku, Namba, Osaka, Japan
💰 Rates start at: US$ 68

Hotel Osaka Castle

📍Address: 1-1 Temmabashi-Kyomachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka Castle & Kyobashi, Osaka, Japan, 540-0032
💰 Rates start at: US$ 33

Hotel U-nus Osaka Miyakojima-hondori

📍Address: 1, 3-chome-27-10 Miyakojimahondori, Osaka, Osaka city East, Osaka, Japan, 5340021
💰 Rates start at: US$ 34

The Retro Chic Apartments 308

📍Address: Namba, Osaka, Japan
💰 Rates start at: US$ 38

APA Hotel Namba-Shinsaibashi

📍Address: 2-7-12,Nishi-Shinsaibashi,Chuo-ku, Shinsaibashi, Osaka, Japan, 542-0086
💰 Rates start at: US$ 62

How to get around Osaka

There are two major modes of public transportation in Osaka: trains and taxis. The vintage-looking taxis are driven by senior drivers who are impeccably dressed, which makes you feel like you have a personal chauffeur. Taxi fare starts from JPY 600-700 (US$ 5-6). The majority of Japanese do not speak English, including cab drivers, so communication might be a little challenging.

Tip: Keep a list of basic Japanese phrases, complete with one written in Japanese characters. This proves to be helpful when communicating with non-English-speaking locals. Here are some basic phrases to use with the taxi drivers:

• Hello – Konichiwa
• Excuse me/Sorry – Sumimasen
• Thank you – Arigatou
• I don’t speak Japanese – Nihongo ga wakarimasen
• Do you understand English? – Eigo wa wakarimasu ka?
• Where is the train station? – Eki wa doko desu ka
• Take me to the airport please – Kuukou kudasai
• To the ____ Hotel, please – ____ Hoteru kudasai
• How much? – Ikura
• Please give me a receipt – Ryoshusho kudasai

The cheaper alternative is to ride the train, especially if you are planning to visit nearby cities like Kyoto.

Book Japan Rail Pass here

Things to do in Osaka

Now that you’re settled, it’s time to explore Osaka. Here is a list of tourist spots that you shouldn’t miss during your visit.

Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan or USJ, can be found in Konohana-ku, Osaka. It’s a theme park filled with exciting attractions, the most popular of which is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Read this article to know which rides or attractions you should check out at USJ.

📍Address: 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, 554-0031, Japan
💰 Ticket prices:

	1-Day Pass	2-Day Pass	1.5-Day Pass
Adults	US$ 57.78	US$ 109.52	US$ 88.02
Children*	US$ 37.63	US$ 71.22	US$ 57.78
Seniors**	US$ 5.17

Author's note: * Children - 4-11 years old, ** Seniors - 65 years and above

Book your Universal Studios Japan pass here

Umeda Sky

Umeda Sky is a building that stands at about 173 meters tall. It has two towers linked together by a floating garden observatory.

Book Umeda Sky here

Going up here has been a little challenging for me, given my fear of heights. The elevator ride alone, which, by the way, is made of glass, almost gave me a heart attack. I almost book it when I found out that we still had to take an escalator, but my fellow bloggers wouldn’t let me go off easily. With the help of Gael, I took the paralyzing escalator ride. For some reason, though, once I reached the top, the fear was gone. So I was able to go all the way to Sky Walk, where I enjoyed the fantastic 360-degree view of Osaka. Yes, I made it!

📍Address: 1 Chome-1-88 Oyodonaka, Kita Ward, Osaka, 531-6023, Japan
💰 Ticket price: US$ 10

Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade

I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite activities whenever I travel aside from eating is shopping. And in Osaka, shopping is synonymous to two places: Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori.

Shinsaibashi is a 600-meter stretch of shopping area where you can find chain retail stores and fashion boutiques. It reminded me a little bit of Divisoria albeit a much cleaner and expensive version. Famous retail-clothing companies, such as H&M, Uniqlo, and Forever 21 have their outlets here.

In my case, I was able to buy a cute brown sweater from a Japanese brand, GU. I was completely stumped when it was time to make the purchase because they use machines instead of humans to accept payments. The instructions on the machine itself was also in Japanese so I couldn’t proceed without asking for some assistance from one of the staff. Honestly though, you pay through a machine? How awesome is that?! Japan is indeed full of surprises.

Note though that some of the stores have tax-free items while some are not. If you are not sure, ask the staff.

📍Address: 2 Chome-2-22 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0085, Japan

Dotonbori

I honestly didn’t notice that I’d been to Dotonbori until I look at the photos that I’d taken on my phone. Dotonbori is adjacent to a canal and the street is lined with food, shopping, and entertainment establishments. Its most famous landmark is the Glico Man.

When you go to Dotonbori, drop by at Don Quijote if you want to shop for inexpensive souvenir items. It’s a tall building that is a popular discount store in Japan. In the Philippines it can be likened to a department store. You can buy anything here, from matcha-infused food, toiletries, beauty products, gadgets, groceries, even home appliances. This is where I got the souvenir (pasalubong) stuff that I took home for my family and friends.

📍Address: Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071 Japan

Osaka Museum of History

Osaka Museum of History holds exhibitions of nearly 1,400 year-old history and culture of Osaka. It opened in 2001 in Chuo-ku and is located across from the southwest corner of Osaka Castle Park and is adjoined by an atrium to the NHK Osaka Broadcasting Center.

📍Address: 4 Chome-1-32 Otemae, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0008, Japan
💰 Ticket price: US$ 4.03

Book your Osaka Museum of History ticket here

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Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle is a Japanese castle built in 1583 on the former site of the Ishiyama Honganji Temple. There are auxiliary citadels, gates, turrets, huge stone walls, and moats all around the castle tower. 13 buildings in the castle’s grounds, which are considered important cultural assets of Japan, are spread across an area of around 60,000 square meters (15 acres).

📍Address: 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0002, Japan
💰 Ticket price: US$ 4.03

Book Osaka Castle ticket here

Sumiyoshi Taisha

Sumiyoshi Taisha is a Shinto shrine located in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka. It is the most well-known of the more than 2,000 Sumiyoshi shrines spread throughout Japan and serves as the center of all Sumiyoshi shrines.

Book a tour to Sumiyoshi Taisha here

📍Address: 2 Chome-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka, 558-0045, Japan
💰 Ticket price: Free entrance

Where to eat in Osaka

Osaka was the center of the rice trade during the Edo period, gaining for itself the title of the Nation’s Kitchen (tenka no daidokoro). Today, Osaka is one of the best spots in Japan for some serious gastronomic exploration.

If it’s a buffet that you are looking for, head on to the Righa Royal Hotel where you can find one of the best buffet restaurants in Osaka. For good ramen, go to Yatai Marutoku Ramen.

When you go shopping along Shinsaibashi area, try the famous cheese tart of Pablo.

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And when you go to Universal Studios Japan (and I highly recommend that you do not miss it), try the food that our group enjoyed inside. Read my article here to see my food recommendation at USJ.

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Have you been to Osaka, Japan? What are your favorite place is Osaka? Let us know in the comments below