reading time 23 minutesOsaka is the capital of western Japan and the second largest metropolitan area in Japan after Tokyo. And it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan, attracting travelers from all over the world. Osaka, along with Tokyo and Kyoto, is one of the three major cities in Japan that every traveler must visit. Osaka has many tourist attractions, including delicious local food, trendy shopping streets, neon-lit streets, modern skyscrapers, and the world’s largest amusement park. The unique culture and friendly locals are also two attractions that give this city a unique personality that cannot be found anywhere else. If you are visiting Osaka for the first time and are curious about places to visit, things to see, and things to experience in Osaka, check out our Osaka travel course! In this article, we’ll list 25 things to do in Osaka, from the city’s top tourist attractions to trendy spots, to help you plan the perfect trip to Osaka.
1. Universal Studios Japan
Visiting Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is one of the best things to do in Osaka with friends, couples, and families. Along with Tokyo Disney Resort (Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea), it is the most visited theme park in Japan. USJ has many fun and thrilling attractions themed after popular movies and characters, including Spider-Man, Jurassic Park, Jaws, Harry Potter, Minions, and Super Mario. Additionally, there have been many collaborations with popular animations and manga such as Demon Slayer, Pokémon, and Detective Conan recently. Universal Studios Japan is divided into 10 areas: Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Waterworld, Amity Village, Universal Wonderland, Minion Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Nintendo World. Seasonal events such as Halloween and Christmas as well as limited-time attractions can be enjoyed at the park all year round. In addition to the attractions, Universal Studios Japan’s merchandise collection is a huge hit with visitors. You can find limited-edition products of popular characters such as Minions and Hello Kitty. Additionally, cute character-themed food and drinks are sold inside the park. Universal Studios Japan tickets can be purchased at the box office, but it is recommended to purchase them online in advance to save waiting time.
2. Dotonbori
Dotonbori (道頓堀) is Osaka’s most popular neighborhood for sightseeing, located in the Minami area. This lively area is famous for its colorful streets decorated with neon signs such as the Glico Running Man and giant moving crabs. Dotonbori is a popular area for dining out, with numerous restaurants. As the entertainment center of Osaka, it is an area filled with so many things to see and do that you will never get bored, including sightseeing, shopping, food, and attractions.
3. Local cuisine
Local cuisine is definitely the best attraction in Osaka. Osaka’s specialties such as takoyaki (octopus balls), okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes), ikayaki (squid pancakes), and kushikatsu (fried meat and vegetables on skewers) are popular menu items loved nationwide. On the streets of Osaka, you can easily find shops and street stalls offering authentic tastes of local food at affordable prices. When you come to Osaka, you want to try all the delicious Osaka specialties. Osaka is best known for its delicious and affordable local cuisine, but if you’re visiting Japan and want to experience fine dining, Osaka is also one of the best cities to visit. Some of Japan’s best restaurants are located in Osaka, including high-end sushi restaurants and Michelin-starred restaurants. Another great way to explore Osaka’s colorful food culture is to take a cooking class led by a local teacher! Japanese cooking classes have become one of Japan’s top tourist attractions in recent years, offering a chance to not only have fun with locals but also experience authentic food culture. Plus, after class, you can take the recipe with you to cook for your friends and family back home.
4. Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle (大阪城) is the symbol of Osaka and one of the largest castles in Japan. Osaka Castle is an important historical monument representing the great history of the Azuchi-Momoyama period in the 16th century. This castle was built in 1583 by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the most famous shoguns in Japanese history. The castle is located within Osaka Castle Park, and is also a famous cherry blossom spot, with approximately 3,000 cherry trees in full bloom during the cherry blossom season. Covering approximately 61,000 square meters, the castle site consists of gates, turrets, fortifications and moats (internal and external), including 13 structures designated as ‘Important Cultural Properties’ by the Japanese government. Valuable documents and materials are stored within the castle, and the rich history of Osaka Castle and Toyotomi Hideyoshi can be explored in the museum inside. There is also an observation deck on the top floor of the castle (8th floor), from which you can enjoy a wonderful view of Osaka city. Looking for a different way to explore Osaka Castle? The ‘Osaka Castle Bicycle Tour’ is a half-day tour where you can feel the wind and avoid the crowds while riding a bicycle around the outskirts of Osaka! The tour also includes a delicious okonomiyaki lunch.
5. Kaiyukan Aquarium
Kaiyukan (海遊館) is one of the world’s largest aquariums, displaying over 600 different species of marine life, including turtles, dolphins, penguins, sea lions, stingrays, and jellyfish. It’s a great place to explore the underwater world for both children and adults. It is located in Tempozan Harbor Village in the Osaka Bay area, not far from Universal Studios Japan. Kaiyukan Aquarium has a total of 15 tanks, each of which recreates the Pacific Rim region, including the Japanese Forest, the Aleutian Islands, Antarctica, the Tasman Sea, and the Great Barrier Reef. At Aqua Gate, you can experience the underwater world by passing through a transparent underwater tunnel. The largest tank, ‘Pacific Ocean’, is 9m deep and 34m long, consists of 5,400 tons of water, and houses a variety of sea creatures, including two whale sharks, the world’s largest fish species.
6. Tempozan Ferris Wheel
Tempozan Ferris Wheel (天保山大観覧車) is a Ferris wheel located in Tempozan Harbor Village next to Kaiyukan Aquarium. It was unveiled to the world in 1997 as the world’s largest Ferris wheel at the time. The Ferris wheel is 112.5 m (369 ft) high and 100 m (100 m) in diameter. For 17 minutes, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Osaka Bay area and surrounding scenery, including Mt. Ikoma, Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Kansai Airport, and Mt. Rokko. On days with good visibility, you can overlook downtown Osaka. When the sun goes down, the Ferris wheel lights up with colorful LED lights and you can enjoy a romantic night view of the city, making it a popular spot even at night. A fun fact about the Ferris wheel is that the colors of the lights represent the weather forecast for the next day (orange for a sunny day, green for a cloudy day, and blue for a rainy day). Osaka has another iconic Ferris wheel in the city center. Hep Five, a popular shopping complex in the Umeda area, has about 170 shops, restaurants and attractions, including the iconic bright red Ferris wheel with a diameter of 75 meters. The highest point is 106 meters above the ground, offering breathtaking views of downtown Osaka along with the city’s iconic landmarks.
7. Shinsekai
Shinsekai (New World) is a unique and attractive area in Osaka where you can feel the atmosphere of old Osaka. Shinsekai, literally meaning ‘New World’, was developed as a new tourist attraction in 1912, but by 1930 it had experienced a major economic depression and was then severely damaged by war. After the war, Shinsekai had a reputation as one of the poorest and most dangerous areas in Osaka, but in the 90s, its bad reputation slowly disappeared and it became one of Osaka’s most popular tourist attractions. The nostalgic old town of Shinsekai attracts visitors with its unique post-war atmosphere. The streets of Shinsekai are filled with colorful, retro shop displays, making it one of the most popular photo spots in Osaka. Tsutenkaku Tower is a must-visit landmark in Shinsekai, built in 1912 to resemble the Eiffel Tower in Paris. There is an observation deck within the tower where you can enjoy views over the charming area and the city center. If you want to delve deeper into Shinsekai, visit Zanzan Yokocho, a 180-metre-long retro shopping alley filled with shops, restaurants and bars. Kushikatsu (fried skewers) is a particularly popular dish in the area, and there are several restaurants where you can enjoy crispy, delicious kushikatsu at very reasonable prices.
8. Shinsaibashi
Shinsaibashi (心斎橋) is the best area for shopping in Osaka. There are numerous shopping malls and boutiques ranging from luxury brands to fast fashion stores. Shinsaibashi Suji is a famous shopping arcade 600 meters long, made up of hundreds of stores ranging from small boutiques to large department stores. The covered arcade allows you to enjoy comfortable shopping regardless of the weather. This huge shopping arcade has a variety of shops, including clothing stores, drugstores, general stores, restaurants, and cafes. This is the place in Osaka where you can shop until you drop! One block west of the Shinsaibashi Suji shopping arcade is another shopping street called Midosuji. Midosuji, called the Champs Elysees of the East, is lined with luxury boutiques and department stores, and about 1,000 ginkgo trees are planted along the street. It is a popular spot for winter illumination, with ginkgo leaves turning yellow depending on the season and romantic lighting illuminating the road.
9. American Mura
Exploring America Mura, or American Village (アメリカ村), is one of the best things to do in Osaka. This vibrant area is known as the center of Osaka’s youth culture, drawing comparisons to Tokyo’s Harajuku district. There are over 2,000 stores here, including boutiques, vintage clothing stores, cafes, galleries, and record stores. This area has been the center of Osaka’s youth culture for over 40 years. If you like Japanese street culture, including trendy fashion, vintage clothing, and street food, this is a must-visit place in Osaka. America Mura’s landmark Sankaku Koen (Triangle Park) is located at the center of the district where people meet and socialize, and on weekends there are street performances, flea markets and fashion shows. Another symbol of America Mura is the ‘Peace on Earth’ mural painted by Japanese artist Seitaro Kuroda. You can find a lot of graffiti and street art in this area. America Mura is also known as a vibrant nightlife and entertainment district, with many bars and clubs bustling at night.
10. Umeda Sky Building
Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル) is a skyscraper located in the Kita district near Osaka and Umeda Station. The 173-meter-tall building was designed by Japanese architect Hiroshi Hara and is known as one of the most famous buildings in the world for its unique shape and structure, with two 40-story towers in the center connected by bridges and escalators. It is a modern landmark in Osaka with an observation deck called Kuchuteien (meaning floating garden in the sky) on the 39th, 40th and rooftop floors. One of Osaka’s best attractions, you can enjoy panoramic city views from the 360-degree outdoor deck. The observatory has the newly renovated ‘Lumi Skywalk’, which is filled with luminous stones that glow even in the dark, allowing you to enjoy a dreamy walk as if you were traveling through the galaxy. There are cafes, restaurants, and bars on the 39th and 40th floors, where you can enjoy delicious food and drinks while taking in the spectacular views of the city. Umeda Sky Building sells heart-shaped locks at the souvenir shop on the observatory floor. You can engrave your name on them and hang them on the observatory or take them as souvenirs, making it a popular date spot for couples.
11. Sennan Long Park
Sennan Long Park (泉南ロングパーク), also known as Sennan Rinku Park, is a modern natural attraction in Osaka that opened in 2020 in the Sennan City beach area, opposite Kansai International Airport. It is a large recreational park that offers a variety of facilities and activities, including a palm tree-lined promenade, beach, playground, sports facilities, café, hot springs, and glamping site. The park also hosts various events, including food festivals, live concerts, and fireworks. The tropical beach park is divided into four areas: an activity area where you can enjoy sports, a community area with barbecues and restaurants, a Marche area where you can taste fresh seafood from Okadaura fishing port, and a glamping area where you can stay in luxury villas. The park borders Sennan Marble Beach and Tarui Southern Beach, both ranked among Japan’s top 100 sunset spots.
12. Namba Yasaka Shrine
One of Japan’s most unique and photogenic shrines, Namba Yasaka Shrine (難波八阪神社) is located in the Namba district. It is also called ‘Lion Shrine’ because of the Emaden, a building shaped like a huge lion’s head with its mouth wide open. The 12m high and 11m wide Lion’s Head has become a popular photo spot in Osaka over the past few years. Inside the Lion’s Moon is a stage where several shrine events are held throughout the year. This shrine has been revered as the guardian deity of the Namba region, but no records of its original establishment remain. It is believed that the lion’s wide-open mouth devours the evil spirits of worshipers and prays for victory and success. Namba Yasaka Shrine is accessible from downtown Osaka (a 15-minute walk from the popular Dotonbori area).
13. Traditional Japanese tea
Green tea is one of the most fascinating things about Japanese culture and is a top tourist attraction today. The taste and health benefits of Japanese green tea are well known and highly regarded around the world, and it is one of the things you should not miss while traveling to Japan. There are many ways to experience Japanese green tea, including tea plantations, tea ceremonies, green tea cafes, and matcha desserts, and you can enjoy them in Osaka as well. An interesting fact is that tea was grown in Osaka in an area called Chayamada in Sakai City. Sakai City is the birthplace of Japan’s legendary tea ceremony master Senno Rikyu, and there is the Senno Rikyu Chanoyu (Tea Ceremony) Museum, where you can learn about its history and experience the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Although tea is no longer grown commercially in Osaka, tea-related facilities remain in the city, including tea trees in Osaka Castle Park and tea gardens in Osaka Expo Park. Green tea lovers should take part in the traditional tea ceremony, a favorite pastime in ancient Japan dating back hundreds of years. Air Kitchen introduces a variety of tea ceremony classes in Osaka where you can learn how to make matcha, and some classes also offer experiences in making wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) to go with tea. Classes are usually taught in English and are a great opportunity to learn about Japanese culture through your experience with a local host!
14. Osaka nightlife
Osaka is one of Japan’s best cities when it comes to nightlife. If you want to enjoy Osaka to the fullest, you need to try something really fun at night! Osaka has several cool bars and izakaya alleyways where you can experience authentic and cool nightlife. One of the best ways to explore Osaka’s rich food culture is to join a local food tour. Nowadays, there are many different types of food tours, and bar hopping is highly recommended to experience Japanese nightlife. There are many hidden bars in Osaka that aren’t featured in guidebooks, but with a local expert, you can visit lesser-known places! The Osaka Bar Hopping Night Life Tour is a recommended bar hopping tour that explores Osaka’s nightlife with a friendly local guide. The tour will take you to several izakaya bars in popular areas such as Hozenji Yokocho Alley (法善寺横丁), an old bar alley near Dotonbori, and sample a variety of delicious izakaya food and drinks.
15. Osaka teamLab Botanical Garden
teamLab’s digital art museums have been taking the world by storm in recent years, and following the huge success of two museums in Tokyo (teamLab Borderless and teamLab Planets), a new ‘permanent’ museum recently opened in Osaka. teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka is an open-air museum located in the botanical garden within Nagai Park, one of the largest parks in Osaka, boasting an area of 240,000 square meters. The botanical garden is open during the day and transforms into a digital art museum after dark. teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka consists of six zones with a variety of digital art pieces that interactively change according to the movements of nature and the presence of people. It has become very popular since opening in 2022, so we recommend purchasing tickets in advance!
16. Abeno Harukas
Abeno Harukas (あべのハルカス) is a 300m high multi-purpose commercial building that opened in 2014 and consists of shops, restaurants, museums, hotels, offices, etc. on the 62nd floor. It is the tallest building in Osaka and one of the most popular landmarks in Osaka. It is a 300m high skyscraper and has an observation deck called ‘Harukas 300’ on the 58th to 60th floors, where you can enjoy the panoramic view of Osaka city from the floor-to-ceiling glass and outdoor space. It is especially good to visit at night. Abeno Harukas, the main branch of Kintetsu Department Store, one of the largest department stores in Japan, has a total operating area of approximately 100,000 m2 from the 2nd basement level to the 14th floor and offers shops, restaurants, and services with a variety of products such as luxury brands, beauty items, souvenirs, and groceries. It consists of facilities. The Foreign Customer Salon is located on the 3.5th floor of the wing building and provides a variety of services useful to foreign tourists, including English guidance, luggage storage, courier service, and free Wi-Fi. Abeno Harukas is directly accessible from Osaka’s Abenobashi Station and Tennoji Station, making it highly accessible. There are many tourist attractions nearby, including Shitennoji, Tennoji Zoo, and the Osaka City Museum of Art, and the Shinsekai district is also nearby.
17. Kuromon Market
Kuromon Market or Kuromon Ichiba (黒門市場) is one of the largest markets in western Japan, located in the Minami district of central Osaka. This market, which boasts over 190 years of history, is loved by locals as ‘Osaka’s kitchen’. The approximately 580m long market consists of approximately 150 stalls selling a variety of foods, including fresh seafood, meat, vegetables, fruits, pickles, dried fish, snacks, street food, and souvenirs. We also sell rare items such as puffer fish and conches. Kuromon Market is always crowded with locals and tourists, and many professional chefs also come here to purchase high-quality ingredients. It’s also the best place to enjoy Osaka’s authentic street food. If you want to experience Osaka’s food culture more deeply, visit Kuromon Market.
18. Shitennoji
Shitennoji (Four Heavenly Kings Temple) is one of the oldest Buddhist temples currently in existence in Japan. It is also known as Arahakaji, Nanbaji or Mitsuji. Founded by Prince Shotoku in 593, this temple is said to be the first and oldest officially managed Buddhist temple in Japan. This temple complex was destroyed by disasters and wars and rebuilt over the centuries, the last being in 1963. The massive temple complex consists of gates, halls, a five-story pagoda, a mausoleum and a museum. It also owns the beautiful Japanese garden ‘Kokuraku Jodo Garden’, which houses numerous national treasures and important cultural properties. Shitennoji is located in the Tennoji area, close to popular tourist attractions such as Abeno Harukas, Shinsekai District, and Tennoji Zoo.
19. Tennoji Zoo
Tennoji is a town in Osaka famous for the Osaka Tennoji Zoo, a large zoo with a long history. It is the third-oldest zoo in Japan, after Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo and Kyoto’s Kyoto City Zoo, and has been loved by locals and tourists alike since it opened in 1915. The zoo is home to about 1,000 animals of about 200 species, and their natural habitats are recreated as much as possible. You can meet hippos and lions in the African savannah area, deer and chimpanzees in the Asian rainforest area, and polar bears and black swans in the bird garden area. Tennoji Zoo is located within Tennoji Park, which consists of several facilities and facilities, including a greenhouse, Osaka City Museum of Art, Japanese landscape garden Keitakuen, Chausuyama Tomb, shops, cafes, futsal court and Tenshibaina, a new lawn area with various activities. there is. There are several famous tourist attractions nearby, including the Shinsekai district, Shitennoji, and Abeno Harukas.
20. Sumiyoshi Shrine
Sumiyoshi Taishi Shrine (住吉大社), or Sumiyoshi Taishi Shrine, is one of Japan’s oldest shrines, located south of central Osaka. According to old Japanese chronicles, this ancient shrine was built in the 3rd century, before Buddhism was introduced from China. It is the most important of the many Sumiyoshi shrines throughout Japan. The unique style of Shinto shrine architecture is known as Sumiyoshi-zukuri. Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine is a popular shrine visited by residents of western Japan for Hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year. With over 2 million visitors in the first three days of each year, it is one of the most visited shrines in all of Japan. At Hatsumode, people wait in long lines before tossing coins and offering the first prayer for good luck in the new year.
21. Osaka Expo
Osaka Expo Park (万博記念公園) is a large park located approximately 20 kilometers from central Osaka. This park was created in 1970 as the venue for Osaka Expo 70 and has now become a popular tourist attraction. It is best known for the iconic Tower of the Sun (太陽の塔) created by famous Japanese artist Taro Okamoto. The park has approximately 264ha of space with lawns, woodland and educational and recreational facilities. The Natural and Cultural Center, where the pavilion was installed during the Expo, has now been transformed into a space filled with nature with a large lawn, over 470,000 trees, and various seasonal flowers. There is also a large Japanese garden spanning 26 hectares with landscaped gardens, ponds, waterfalls, rock garden teahouses and historic buildings. The garden expresses the passage of time through four eras: ancient times, medieval times, early modern times, and modern times. Osaka Expo Park is a great place to visit, especially during the spring and fall foliage seasons when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. You can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy relaxation and tranquility in the rich nature.
22. Baseball game
Baseball is one of the most popular sports in Japan, and the Japanese Professional Baseball League runs from March to September every year, offering exciting matches at each stadium. There are two professional baseball teams popular among Osaka citizens: the Hanshin Tigers of the Central League and the Orix Buffaloes of the Pacific League. The Hanshin Tigers are based in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, but also have a large fan base in Osaka. The home stadium is Koshien Stadium, which is used for high school baseball tournaments. The team uses Kyocera Dome Osaka as its home stadium during high school baseball tournaments. The Orix Buffaloes, known as the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes, are based in Osaka City and use the Kyocera Dome Osaka as their home stadium. Since both teams play in the city of Osaka, I highly recommend watching a game at a stadium surrounded by lively local fans, especially if you are a baseball fan.
23. Hirakata Park
Although Universal Studios Japan has been gaining attention in recent years, Osaka has another fun and beloved amusement park called Hirakata Park (ひらかたパーク), located in Hirakata City, northeast of Osaka. Established in 1910, it is the oldest amusement park in Osaka. This park is easily accessible from both central Osaka and Kyoto. In a space of 160,000 square meters, it has 45 attractions and rides that visitors of all ages can enjoy, including thrilling roller coasters, Ferris wheels, children’s rides, swimming pools in the summer, and colorful illuminations and skating rinks in the winter. Spending a day at Hirakata Park is one of the best things to do in Osaka for kids and adults alike.
24. Go-kart experience
The go-kart experience is one of the most popular and trendy tourist activities in Japan today, available in many cities including Osaka. Dress up as your favorite character and drive a go-kart with your friends in the most unique and special way to explore the city!
Art Osaka! Another popular attraction in Osaka is the Amazing Kart ISK Osaka Maishima Branch, a go-kart circuit with four courses for adults and children. The circuit has not only regular karts, but also kids karts, junior karts, and two-seater karts that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, and can be enjoyed by families, couples, and friends. There is also a cafe, children’s area and nursing room.
25. Pokemon Center
Pokémon Center Osaka is the second Pokémon cafe to open in Japan after Tokyo and the first Pokémon cafe in western Japan! The cafe sells a variety of Pokemon-themed food, desserts, and drinks, including seasonal and limited-time menus. In addition to the special menu, we also sell limited-edition original goods, such as tableware used in the cafe and Pikachu plush toys dressed as chefs, waiters, and pastry chefs. Pokémon Center DX Osaka, which opened along with the cafe, also sells a variety of Pokémon products. Life-size statues of legendary Pokémon characters Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres greet visitors at the store entrance. Both the Pokémon Café and Pokémon Center are located on the 9th floor of the Daimaru Shinsaibashi branch, a large department store located in the heart of Shinsaibashi, Osaka’s vibrant shopping district. This is a new must-visit attraction for all Pokemon fans in Japan!