Namba
2.8 miles from city centre
Hit your funny bone at Namba Grand Kagetsu, where famous comedians take centre stage. Osaka’s show biz is the country’s largest and it tends toward the comedic. Subverting Japanese stereotypes, these locals are far from shy. Head to the red lantern-lined streets and eat your way through this district to find out why Osaka’s called “Japan’s stomach.”
Places to stay from £8 per night
Dotonbori
2.4 miles from city centre
Larger than life crustaceans and illuminated ads– sound appealing? Then you’ll love Osaka’s nightlife–surreal, chaotic and too trendy for its own good. Festive lights reflect in the Dotonbori-gawa canal to create a neon ambiance. Don’t leave without eating a hot octopus ball (takoyaki) from Kukuru Takoyaki, they’re kind of a big deal.
Places to stay from £12 per night
Shin Osaka
2 miles from city centre
Osaka’s gateway, Shin Osaka whisks travellers to Kyoto and beyond via the Shinkansen (bullet train). Entertainment and shopping options are sparse, but the sleepy town’s a favourite among locals seeking to be near the hubbub of Kita, but far enough for some privacy.
Places to stay from £13 per night
Umeda
0.2 miles from city centre
Trendsetters tip your hat to Umeda’s funky fashion. There’s enough in this urban maze to delight all stripes, no matter what colour your collar. Photograph your way through the Floating Garden Observatory or get even higher by tempting a turn on the HEP Five Ferris Wheel that’s perched atop a building. Hello, stunning Ikoma Mountain view.
Places to stay from £14 per night
Kita
In the city centre
Punch the clock alongside Osaka’s busiest. This transport hub buzzes with worker bees. But the 9-5ers know how to let loose after hours. Eat or imbibe at Dojima Center and satiate your retail cravings away from the sun in one of Kita’s underground malls. For luck in future travels, as well as love, head to Tsuyunoten Shrine.
Places to stay from £14 per night
Shinsaibashi
2.2 miles from city centre
Shinsaibashi is synonymous with shopping. High-fashion brands like Prada predominate on Midosuji Street, while Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Center has a peppering of boutiques between its box shops. Pinch a penny by purchasing a bento box in the basement of Daimaru Department Store and eat al fresco on the roof.
Places to stay from £9 per night
Minami
2.8 miles from city centre
Hang with the thespians. From kabuki (dance-drama) to bunraku (Japanese puppet theatre) to comedy plays, this area scratches the entertainment itch. Once better known for its seedy charm and colourful nature, cultural shifts show this as a new hipster hangout. Peruse Kuromon Ichiba market for some fresh sashimi and strawberry mochi.
Places to stay from £4 per night
A city celebrated for its lively nightlife, top restaurants and delicious street food, Osaka combines dynamic development and longstanding traditions.
When cherry blossom season starts in spring, the city blooms with vivid pink. Take a walk along the Okawa River or through the extensive grounds of Osaka Castle for the best views. This 16th-century citadel overlooks scenic surroundings, and features an ancient collection of art, armour and everyday objects inside. Its eighth-floor observation deck boasts wonderful 360-degree views.
For more sweeping vistas amid lush scenery, head to the top of the 173-metre-tall Umeda Sky Building, whose two towers are linked at their summits by a beautiful ‘floating garden’.
Filling, tasty and affordable – street food is another of Osaka’s biggest attractions. Try Okonomiyaki, a local favourite that’s like a cross between a pancake and a pizza, or Takoyaki – grilled balls of batter with octopus chunks inside.
Osaka and Umeda train stations are linked by underground shopping centres, while the edgier enterprises of Shinsaibashi’s America Village appeal to a younger crowd. Down by the river, Dotonbori’s neon lights promote more shops and eateries considered to be among the best in the city.
Those wanting to travel from Osaka to Tokyo can do so by taking the bullet train from Shin-Osaka station, which also has a direct line from Osaka to Kyoto. The city airport serves only as a domestic terminal, although international flights depart from the regional Kansai Airport.
Tonight
From £81 per night
Next weekend
From £82 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | ¥1,000 = £5.44 |
| Language | Japanese |
| Average weekend price | £88 per night |
| Average weekday price | £85 per night |
| Typical stay | 1 night |
Kyocera Dome Osaka
2.6 miles from city centre
Osaka-jō Hall
2.4 miles from city centre
Tsutenkaku
3.6 miles from city centre
Osaka Castle
2.2 miles from city centre
Yanmar Stadium Nagai
6.4 miles from city centre
Shinsekai
3.7 miles from city centre
Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
6.2 miles from city centre
Umeda Sky Building
0.2 miles from city centre
Nice city, very dynamic with crowded areas all around.
7 August 2023
Nice city, very dynamic with crowded areas all around. Disappointed by the castle (better from outside, inside has no real interest except the view from top) and desparate that we could not experience green Labs Team (show in the evening in south western gardens) We enjoyed the Universal Studios within Osaka during our stay. Fantastic day out there
Osaka was a great starting point for our first trip to Japan.
7 August 2023
Osaka was a great starting point for our first trip to Japan. It’s really quite big so there is ton to see and do but no where near as big as Tokyo. The food scene is amazing and the shopping is to die for. 4 days was just right before moving on to Kyoto. We enjoyed seeing Osaka Castle, Himeji Castle, Akiba Kart racing and the Backstreet Food Tour. Avoid in August unless sweating is your favorite pastime! Get the Osaka Amazing pass to save on entry fees to the most popular tourist spots and get the subway pass to save on transportation!
Tokyo is cool and Kyoto is gorgeous.
31 July 2023
Tokyo is cool and Kyoto is gorgeous. Then there is Osaka, which is just incredibly fun. The lively streets, incredible shopping centers, quirky and less-conservative culture, incredible day trip destinations and of course, all the incredible food just make for a really great time. If I went back to Japan, I think Osaka would be the place I'd want to live. P.S. While USJ was a lot of fun, Osaka is so incredible that I may have actually skipped the theme park if I went back and just spent an extra day in the city. The good news is, you can't lose either way.
Japan is japan and Osaka just has too much to offer.
30 July 2023
Japan is japan and Osaka just has too much to offer. Just give time your self, as you can't jump from one place to another without hurting your feet.. Visit the famous places you see online. Theres a reason for it. I enjoyed ramen, eating in random restaurant, the food is just good.
Shopping in osaka is different, cloths you find in their...
24 July 2023
Shopping in osaka is different, cloths you find in their local market might not found anywhere else, people are friendly and would easily have a chit chat with them. from osaka you can reach many destinations for day-trip plans, many Halal restaurants for muslims,
Experience is Marvelous!
20 July 2023
Experience is Marvelous!. Food was phenomenon. Sights were amazing and people were simple the best. Osaka is also a great base to explore other Kansai prefectures...We love Japan and can't wait to visit again next year.
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