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Top things to do in Osaka

Attractions, tours, and activities in Osaka

Osaka: the city's best neighborhoods

Find a great area to stay in Osaka

About Osaka

Including tips for the best time to visit Osaka

Osaka combines innovative developments and timeless traditions, all culminating in its top restaurants, tasty street food, and vibrant nightlife.

When cherry blossom season starts in spring, a cotton-candy pink blooms across the entire city. Walk along the Okawa River or through the grounds of Osaka Castle for the best views. This 16th-century citadel overlooks beautiful surroundings and features an ancient collection of art, armor, and artifacts. Its 8th-floor observation deck offers great 360º views.

For more panoramic views and lush scenery, head to the top of the 570-foot-tall Umeda Sky Building, whose two towers are connected at the top by a beautiful floating garden.

Delicious yet affordable street food is another of Osaka’s biggest attractions. Try local favorites like Okonomiyaki—a cross between a pancake and a pizza—or Takoyaki, a grilled ball of batter with octopus chunks inside.

Osaka and Umeda train stations are linked by underground shopping centers, and the Shinsaibashi’s America Village draws in a younger, edgier crowd. Down by the river, Dotonbori’s neon lights signal all the shops and eateries considered to be some of the best in the city.

If you want to visit Tokyo, you can hop the bullet train from Shin-Osaka station, which also has a direct line from Osaka to Kyoto. The city airport is only a domestic terminal, but international flights depart from the regional Kansai Airport.

Tonight

From $103 per night

Next weekend

From $66 per night

Most popular time to visit October-December
Cheapest time to visit January-March
Local currency ¥1,000 = $6.93
Language Japanese
Average weekend price $112 per night
Average weekday price $109 per night
Average stay 1 night

Points of interest in Osaka

Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Osaka

Osaka reviews

What other travelers say about Osaka

10

Nice city, very dynamic with crowded areas all around.

August 7, 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

Philippe
Philippe France
10

Osaka was a great starting point for our first trip to Japan.

August 7, 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!

Reed
Reed United States of America
10

Tokyo is cool and Kyoto is gorgeous.

July 31, 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.

Shima
Shima Australia
10

Japan is japan and Osaka just has too much to offer.

July 30, 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.

Joe Ando
Joe Ando United States of America
10

Shopping in osaka is different, cloths you find in their...

July 24, 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,

Laila
Laila United Arab Emirates
10

Experience is Marvelous!

July 20, 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.

Rachelle
Rachelle Philippines

Popular places to stay in Osaka

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