osaka road trip winter

Osaka In Winter (Weather, Packing & Best Places To Visit)

If you have always thought about going to Japan in winter then you have probably considered visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka in winter. While both Tokyo and Kyoto are wonderful Japanese destinations worth of an experience, today we are going to take a deep look at visiting Osaka in winter.

Join me as we take a look at everything about Osaka in winter from the climate you’ll need to be prepared for to what to pack and the best places to see when you visit Osaka too.

Winter in Osaka runs from December through to the end of March and the weather isn’t as cold as you might expect, especially if you live in the northern US and Canada.

You will experience high temperatures of 12-14 °C or 53-57 °F and low average temperatures of 2-5 °C or 36-41 °F. So it’s not really that cold at all but visitors will need to layer up a little bit to be comfortable.

When it comes to rain, Osaka is actually pretty dry in winter, experiencing on average 4 to 8 days a month of rain. When the temperatures drop at night, the cold can create snow, sleet, and frost.

Osaka sees snow about 15 days per year on average but the snow doesn’t last long and usually melts during the day. But, seeing the Japanese countryside in the snow on a frosty morning is a stunning experience so pray for a light snowfall while you’re there.

What to Pack

When it comes to what to pack for visitors to Osaka in winter, you will need a balance of warm clothes, layers, and things to explore the countryside with. Here is what I’d suggest packing.

Waterproof jacket
Down jacket
Wool jumpers as base layers
Sweater dress
Footwear for exploring the cities and the countryside
General evening wear
Comfortable light shirts and t-shirts

It’s also important to consider that you might end up hiking around on a warm day with temperatures hitting 53-57 °F so being able to drop layers quickly would be very useful.

Best Places to Visit

Osaka castle park.

If there is one place Japanese people visit everywhere during winter in Osaka it’s Osaka Castle Park and it is something you must experience while you are there.

The castle itself is quite a sight to see having been built way back in 1597 and it also has a museum inside too that is worth spending some time in. But the main event everyone flocks to the Osaka Castle for is the winter illuminations exhibition.

The winter illuminations exhibition runs from November 22nd to March 1st every year and is the most popular illumination exhibition in Japan. It is held daily between 17:30 and 21:30 in the Nishinomaru Garden of the Castle and costs 1500 yen.

The experience is quite incredible as you will see 300 million LED lights coming together that take you through the history of Japan with a deep focus on the Taisho era. There are also lots of drinks and food stalls at the event where you sample some local delicacies.

If you happen to be in Osaka in February and March a stroll around the Osaka Castle gardens is a must. 1200 plumb trees of which there are 100 varieties come into full bloom and the entire park becomes an iconic Japanese image. It’s not quite cherry blossoms but it’s just as stunning as a cherry blossom too.

You can also go to the 8th floor of the castle and enjoy the amazing views of the city from the observation deck.

Nakanoshima Island

Nakanoshima Island is a scenic island in the center of Osaka and somewhere you should visit on your Osaka winter trip.

In the winter season, Nakanoshima Island has its own illuminations in the form of an annual festival of lights known as the Osaka Hikari Renaissance. Seeing the Osaka Hikari Renaissance is absolutely free to enter and the illuminations are very impressive especially since they are right on the water.

You can also stroll to the Osaka city hall which is within walking distance of the illuminations and it’s where you can see some amazing 3D projections.

The 3D projections run for 2 weeks in December and the Hikari Renaissance light installations run for the whole month of December and are removed on the 31st before New Year.

At the north end of the island, you will also find the Nakanoshima Park and Rose Garden which is a delight to walk around, especially since you will be beside the O River the whole time. You can also find some lovely restaurants on the island to enjoy when you need a bite to eat.

Grand Front Osaka

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

Another spot that you should explore while sightseeing around Osaka is the Grand Front Osaka. The Grand Front Osaka is a huge shopping mall that you can find next to Osaka Station and it hosts something called Grand Wish Christmas every year.

Grand Wish Christmas runs from mid-November through to Christmas Day and it features a new theme each. The shopping mall is lit up with stunning light installations that really bring the place to life. They start every day at 5 pm and the shops stay open until 9 pm and the restaurants until 11 pm.

It’s a fantastic place to go to at night when it’s a bit chilly and the lights look their best. You will also find an ice skating rink in front of the shopping mall and it’s a ton of fun to have a skate especially if you are traveling with children.

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine

Image courtesy of Flickr

One of the many places travelers to Osaka should be sure to stumble upon while having a pleasant adventure around the city is the Osaka Tenmangu Shrine. The shrine is a Shinto shrine that dates back to the 10th century and is one of the top shrines in Osaka to see.

Then Osaka Tenmangu shrine is home to some stunning plumb trees and it plays host to a magical exhibition of ume blossom bonsai trees throughout the month of February. This is quite a large part of Japanese culture and an experience that should not be missed.

The shrine also hosts a huge Japanese New Year festival where close to 30,000 people go to the shrine to celebrate the Japanese New Year by drinking, eating, and praying for good luck for the upcoming year.

You will find the shrine in the middle of Osaka and it’s a short walk from the Tenjinbashi Suji shopping arcade and the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living so you will have plenty to do around the popular place.

Getting to the shrine is easy and it is open every day between 9 am and 5 pm.

Umeda Sky Building

One of Osaka’s best things to see while you’re there in winter is the awesome German Christmas Markets located at the Umeda Sky Building. It’s a great place to spend an hour or two during the Christmas period as it is super festive and full of locals and tourists.

The atmosphere at the Christmas markets is unsurprisingly European and well, quite German overall. The markets are packed full of stalls selling everything from stunning ornaments to other Christmas trinkets.

There are some very festive drinks and food stalls at the markets too and all you can smell is gingerbread and mulled wine in the air. It really gets you into a festive mood. Other things on offer include German beer, Stollen, German sausages, Lebkuchen, and lots more.

You’ll also find a vintage carousel that kids love to ride on and there is a huge Christmas tree in the middle covered in decorations and thousands of LED lights too. You’ll even find a Nativity Scene set up in the middle too.

The price to enter the Christmas market is nothing, it’s completely free and it runs for 2 weeks every December before Christmas.

Universal Studios Japan

No matter what time of year you end up traveling to Osaka city, a visit to Universal Studios Japan is a must but at Christmas time, they add a little bit of extra magic to it.

Universal Studios Japan is located on the southern end of Osaka by Osaka Bay and it is one incredible movie amusement park where you can experience everything from Jurassic Park to Water World as well as be fully immersed in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or Super Nintendo land and lots more.

You will find amusement rides, fund experiences, and lots more. It’s a place you can spend the whole day with ease and if you have kids with you they will have their minds blown by the incredible activities on offer.

During Christmas, the Universal Studios Japan takes it up a notch and adds a touch of magic to the amusement park. The decorations around the park are quite incredible as are the illuminations and they have a few Christmas shows each day.

The event you should try not to miss is the “Universal Wonder Christmas” as it features a special show which includes things like “The Voice of an Angel” where an angel flies across the sky while actors dance and sing beautiful songs.

The light show that comes with it is stunning and at the end, they turn on the lights of the incredible Christmas tree with a magic trick that kids and adults love.

Midosuji Illumination

A great thing to see during the winter nights in Osaka is the Midosuji Illumination. Midosuji is one of the major shopping streets in Osaka and it’s lined with stunning ginkgo trees, and if you’re there in November the colors of the leaves will blow you away.

But, the main event is the illumination which happens between November 4 and runs until December 31. The illumination has every tree along this 4 km long street covered with lights which are lit up between 5 pm and 10 pm every day for all to see.

Each section of trees features different colors based on the area and as you walk down the street the lights will go from purple to yellow, blue, sakura, and there are even parts that are multicolored too.

The section near Shimbashi is home to trees with lights that change colors and give the appearance that the trees are dancing together. It’s pretty amazing to see and is a great place to take pictures.

The illumination runs down the whole street and it creates one of the longest streets with illuminations on the planet. You can walk the whole stretch or go on the Osaka Sky Vista vista tour which has you sitting on an open upper deck of a bus so you can experience the illumination as conveniently as possible.

Solaniwa Hot Spring

There is nothing better than heading to the Solaniwa Hot Spring after a long adventure of seeing all the sights that Osaka has to offer in winter. Just imagine sitting in a hot spring on a rooftop overlooking the city of Osaka? Pretty incredible right?!

You will find the Solaniwa Hot Spring on the roof of the Bay Tower in central Osaka and it is an extension of the prestigious Osaka Art Hotel. The hotel pumps natural hot spring water from 1000 meters below to the rooftop and you can experience it in a number of ways.

There are private hot springs, public ones, big and small plus you can choose to sit outside or inside and afterward even enjoy a sauna or steam. You’ll be dressed in a kimono-style yukata and feel very Japanese while you’re doing it.

You’ll also find an in-house restaurant to enjoy and a stunning garden to walk around too. I would highly recommend visiting this more than once as it is an awesome experience and it is right next to lots of the top tourist attractions of Osaka too, so you’ll never be too far away from it.

About the Author Roger Timbrook

Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!

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Winter in osaka – top 10 things to do.

Winter may not be the peak season to visit Osaka, but there’s no shortage of activities what to do here during this time of the year. Winters in Osaka are mild, with average temperatures between 5 to 10 degrees Celsius, and with clear skies, which makes wandering around the city quite pleasant. Another advantage is the visible decrease in crowds on most popular places. If you are looking for unique tips how to spend your winter holiday in Osaka, this article has got you covered.

Table of Contents

Winter Illuminations

Winter illuminations are by far the best experience you can have in Osaka during winter months. There are several spots around the city, where you can see beautiful installations or 3D projections on buildings.

Osaka Castle Park

Every year Osaka Castle Park hosts an event called Osaka Castle Illuminage . It is claimed to be one of the best winter illuminations in Japan, where you can embark on an adventure through Japanese history from Edo to Meiji period via spectacular lit up miniatures of Japanese treasures. The event includes food and drink vendors, as well as marked photo spots.

Price and dates

The Osaka Castle Illuminage usually starts at the beginning of December, however, due to the spread of Corona virus, the event will be cancelled in 2021.

In the previous years the tickets were sold for 1500 yen.

Namba Parks

Namba Parks is a shopping mall adjoined to the Namba station. On the roof, there is an actual urban park with views over city. Every winter, the park hosts Hikari Tabi Illumination that carries the theme of enchanted garden with large floral ornaments, fairies, and tunnel made of lights.

The admission to the Namba Parks illuminations is free and you can enjoy it from the beginning of December till the end of February.

Nakanoshima Island

The waterside of Nakanoshima Island hosts its own annual festival of lights called the Hikari Renaissance . In the Nakanoshima Park, you can find some impressive light installations, while the Osaka City Central Public Hall features 3D projections.

There are no fees applied to visit Hikari Renaissance. The 3D projections usually last for 2 weeks in December, finishing on the Christmas Day on the 25 th December. The larger installations are up for the whole month of December and are taken down on the 31 st . You can find the detailed info on the official website here .

Midosuji Illuminations

Midosuji is one of Osaka’s most trafficked streets. For most of its part it is lined with ginkgo trees that create a particularly beautiful autumn foliage in November. However, in winter the street is just as beautiful! In December, the city puts up hundreds of lights on every gingko that lines Midosuji. On the first day when the lights appear, the whole street is shut down for about 2 hours so people can walk around and admire the illuminations (usually from 5 pm to 7 pm). The streets remains lit up until February.

Kaiyukan Aquarium

Famous Kaiyukan Aquarium in the Osaka Bay has its own illuminations with projections on the building as well as large installations. It may not be worth the trip just to see the lights, but if you want to visit inside of the aquarium nevertheless, you should consider staying later to see the lights as well. Kaiyukan is one of the largest aquariums in Asia with incredible display of sea creatures and other animals.

Kaiyukan illuminations are running the longest from mid-November till the end of February and they are free of charge. For more detailed info, you can visit their official website here .

Grand Front Osaka

Grand Front Osaka is a large shopping mall and commercial complex located right next to the Osaka Station. Every year Grand Front hosts a Christmas event called Grand Wish Christmas from mid-November till the 25 th of December. As a part of Grand Wish Christmas, the shopping mall lights up with some majestic illuminations that carry a different theme every year. The illuminations start at 17:00. The shops are open until 21:00 and restaurants till 23:00 (can differ from each venue). There are no entrance fees.

German Christmas Markets at Umeda Sky Building

Although the winter illuminations around the city are stunning, no place brings more festive mood than German Christmas Markets at the Umeda Sky Building in the centre of Osaka. The ambiance is undoubtedly European, with the scent of mulled wine and gingerbread smelling in the air and Christmas carols playing from every stall. In the middle of the square there’s a giant Christmas tree decorated with thousands of LED lights, and a Nativity Scene. Kids can go on a ride on a vintage carousel.

The entrance to the markets is free. They usually last for about 2 weeks around Christmas time, but unfortunately, they have been cancelled in 2020 and 2021.

Amusement Parks

Amusement parks in Osaka don’t stay behind in winter festivities and every year they prepare their own special holiday program for their visitors. The two best parks to visit in Osaka are the Universal Studios , and a smaller lesser known Hirakata Park.

Universal Studios

USJ holds several annual events throughout the year, but the Christmas event is probably the most pompous. Besides their incredible decorations and illuminations, you can also experience here several Christmas shows per day. Everything you need to know about visiting Universal Studios Japan is summed up in our article here .

Hirakata Park

Hirataka Park is a popular amusement park in Osaka, and one of the oldest continuously operating amusement parks in Japan. It is located in Hirakata city on the north of Osaka. Every winter they organize their special Winter Carnival with winter illuminations carrying a different theme every year. The winter 2021/2022 is called “Time Travel Fantasy”.

The illuminations in Hirakata Park last the longest in all of Osaka, they usually start at the beginning of November and they are on until beginning of April. However, they are available only on weekends and public holidays from 17:00. You have to pay the park entry, which is 1500 yen for an adult.

Hirakata Park is walking distance from Hiraka-koen station, where you can get easily with Keihan line from Kyobashi station in Osaka.

Celebrate Japanese New Year

The Japanese New Year, Shogatsu 正月,is the most important holiday of the year. It lasts from 1 st to 3 rd January, however, the celebrations usually take up the whole week. Families gather together on the 31 st of December to celebrate the beginning of the new calendar year. Unlike in the West, welcoming the New Year is a family tradition, so you will not see many people heading out on the night of the 31 st December. Young people come back to their hometowns to engage in a set of traditional customs.

Japanese New Year Customs

Even though Japanese New Year is not about the party, you can still participate in the celebrations. At midnight on the 31 st December, people usually gather in the temples where the bells ring 108 times. This event is known as joya no kane . According to an ancient tradition, the bells shall ring 107 times in the old year and once more in the New Year, when you will be cleansed of all your problems and worries from last year.

Another tradition is eating soba noodles on the New Year’s Eve. Soba noodles are made of buckwheat flour and they are said to represent long and healthy life.

When strolling around the city, don’t forget to notice typical New Year decorations in front of houses and businesses. It is called kadomatsu and it is believed that during the period from Christmas till January 7 th , it provides a temporary home for a deity that ensures great harvest and blessings from family’s ancestors.

New Year in Osaka

If you are celebrating New Year in Osaka, there are several count-down places around the city where you can welcome the New Year. You can embark on a countdown sightseeing cruise in Osaka Port , join a party in Grand Front Osaka , or experience more spiritual start of the New Year in Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine.

Be aware that even though celebrating New Year in Japan is a unique experience, it brings certain challenges. Many tourist attractions, restaurants, shops, museums and even ATMs can be closed for multiple days, or operate in shortened hours. Please don’t forget to double-check the opening hours online before planning your trip.

Relax in an onsen

There is nothing more relaxing than soak in a natural hot spring after a long cold day of sightseeing. Onsen , or hot springs, are one of Japan’s oldest and most popular traditions with a very long history. Even though there are plenty of onsen towns across the country, Osaka has also several great onsens and public bath houses where you can unwind. Here are some of the best ones:

Nobeha No Yu Tsuruhashi
Tennen Onsen Naniwanoyu
Solaniwa Onsen Osaka Bay Tower

The onsen culture and rules

Before your visit of an onsen, you should be aware of certain rules that come with your visit. Even in the 21 st century, many places have zero tattoo policy and if you have visible tattoos, you won’t be able to enter the facilities.

You don’t wear any swimsuit in onsens and public bath houses, everyone is naked. The rooms are divided for women and men only, there are rarely mixed baths. In western culture it might seems a little bit strange, but Japanese people enjoy bathing with their family and friends. In Japanese, they have an expression hadaka no tsukiai which refers to a special relationship that friends can develop, when they don’t hide behind their clothes.

Before entering the public bath, you have to take a shower. People usually sit on a small stool and properly clean themselves. Shampoos and shower gels are provided for you.

Warm up with seasonal hot pot dishes

With Osaka being the Kitchen of Japan, every trip to this city should be accompanied by sampling some delicious Japanese cuisine. In winter, restaurants all around the city serve seasonal dishes that warm up your body and soul. The most popular ones are ‘one-pot’ dishes called nabe.

Nabe, or nabemono, is type of one pot dish popular especially in colder months. Most nabe are a type of soup or stew that is commonly cooked on the table in a large ceramic pot. The ingredients can vary, depending on the restaurant and the type of nabe, but the usual selection includes mushrooms, beef, root vegetables and seafood. Many izakayas and ryokans have nabe hot pot on their winter menu.

Oden is a type of Japanese nabemono . It consists of several ingredients that are boiled in dashi broth. The most common ones are daikon (white radish), egg, konnyaku, fish cakes and tofu, but you can also find shiitake mushrooms, sausages or seafood on the menu. Oden is a typical winter dish served in many restaurants all around Japan during this time of the year. It is so popular that you can find it in convenience stores as well. Even though the dish may not look as much at the first sight, it is really delicious and worth trying! You usually pick which ingredients you would like to have in your oden. My favourite is daikon, because it absorbs all the delicious umami flavours of the dashi broth.

Go ice-skating

Several ice skating rings pop up around Osaka during winter months, so if you love this activity, you can enjoy it right in the city. The most notable ice skating ring is Grand Front Ice Skating in front of Grand Front Osaka, next to the Osaka Station. You can combines ice skating with the viewing of winter illuminations in this area, or with your visit of German Christmas Markets at Umeda Sky Building.

Other notable ice skating rings are Naniwa Ice Skating rink and Mazuren Intec Osaka Pool but they are located bit further from the city.

Plum blossom viewing in late-February

If you are visiting Osaka in February, don’t miss out on blooming plum trees. Plums, ume in Japanese, have bright pink or white flowers, and unlike cherry blossoms, plums have pleasant sweet scent. There are two awesome places to do plum flower viewing in Osaka:

Plum Grove in Osaka Castle Park

Osaka Castle Park is known for its thousands of sakura trees that bloom in early April, but you can also find here a plum grove with around hundred trees. From the garden you can also get an amazing view on the Osaka Castle as well. The admission is free and the garden is open daily 24/7.

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine

Walking distance from Osaka Museum of Housing and Living and Tenjinbashi Suji shopping arcade, there’s a charming shrine from the 10 th century. Osaka Tenmangu shrine features several plum trees and hosts annual exhibition of ume blossom bonsai trees during the month of February.

The closest station to the shrine is Temma station. The shrine is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

Celebrate Setsubun in February

At the beginning of February, you will notice in convenience stores around the country a higher concentration of sushi rolls for sale, as well as packages with roasted soy beans and an oni mask (oni is a demon in Japanese folklore). This signals that a Japanese holiday Setsubun is approaching.

Setsubun is usually held on the 3 rd of February and it celebrates the beginning of spring, according to Japanese lunar calendar. The name setsubun translates at seasonal division in Japanese. For centuries, people on this day were performing rituals to drive away the evil spirits (oni), by throwing soy beans around their houses, temples and shrines. Another popular custom is eating Eho-maki sushi rolls. You need to eat your roll without talking, while facing the lucky direction of the year. The tradition of eating Eho-maki originated in Osaka.

Strawberry picking – from January till May

Yes, you read it right. You can go strawberry picking in winter in Osaka and earlier you go, the sweeter the strawberries are. Fruit in Japan is regarded as a special gift and it is often cultivated to perfection. Japanese strawberries are famous their special sweet taste and visiting greenhouses to sample and pick this delicious fruit is becoming more and more popular among domestic and international tourists.

Osaka has several great strawberry picking farms that are open for public from winter to spring. Here are some of our favourites:

Kawaura Farm
GrandBerry Osaka
Haru Strawberry Farm
Strawberry Farm No. 15

As you can see, there are plenty of fun and interesting activities to do in Osaka even in low-season. Winter time will also reward you with lower amounts of tourists and surprisingly pleasant weather!

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Osaka Winter Travel Guide: What to Do in Osaka in Winter

Many people travel to Japan in winter seeking good snow and winter sports like skiing and snowboarding. Though the northern part of Japan is popular among such people, there are many winter events everywhere in Japan such as Christmas illuminations, countdown events, and Hatsumode (the first visit of the year to a shrine or temple).

Have you been to Osaka in winter? The climate in Osaka in winter is not as cold as in other western parts of Japan like Kyoto and Shiga. The average temperature from December to February is around 5-10℃ but it rarely snows and it’s very dry. So don’t forget to prepare for moisturizing and keeping yourself warm.

As Osaka has good access to Kyoto and Hyogo, you can enjoy not only city events but quiet things like soaking in Onsen and a short skiing trip. In addition, there are many choices of temples and shrines you go to for the first visit of the year.

Let’s check out the 10 best things to do in Osaka in winter.

1. Spending a great time at Christmas and Countdown Events at Universal Studio Japan

Universal Studio Japan is one of the most popular tourist spots in Osaka. The special Christmas event, NO LIMIT! Christmas is held from Nov 11, 2022 to Jan 09, 2023. The NO LIMIT! Crystal Tree is back for the first time in 3 years. The tree has won the GUINNESS world record for the number of lights decorating it for 9 years. At the Glamacy Park in the New York area, there is a projection mapping show, Spectacle of Lights.

The countdown event, NO LIMIT! Countdown 2023 is held from Dec 31, 2022 at 19:00 to Jan 01, 2023 at 21:00. At the main event, Countdown Moment, dynamic 4,000 fireworks are displayed with music and lights. It must be a memorable moment welcoming the new year!!

Let’s spend a great time with people you love and make an unforgettable memory♡

2. Walking around and shopping at Christmas Markets

Speaking of Christmas, Christmas Markets are one of the main events you shouldn’t miss. Christmas markets originated in Germany and have many shops of traditional German toys and Christmas food.

Water and Light Wonder Night in Nakanoshima is held from Dec 14, 2022 to Dec 25, 2022. There is a Christmas Market that has German‐style shops selling toys, beer, and sausage. After shopping let’s watch a dynamic dance performance collaborating with water and LED light. The show is produced by MPLUSPLUS, which is one of the pioneers in the LED performance industry.

Christmas Market 2022 on the 9th floor of Hankyu Umeda is based on Alice in Wonderland. There are lots of stuff of characters in Alice in Wonderland from accessories to tea cups and letter sets.

3. Going for Hatsumode (The first visit of the year to the shrine) and wishing you luck

Hatsumode (the first visit of the year to a shrine or temple) is the biggest event on new year’s day in Japan. Hatsumode is a traditional Japanese custom to go to a shrine or temple and wish you luck for a whole year.

Sumiyoshi Taisha is one of the most popular spots for Hatsumode in Osaka. It’s also famous as the best spiritual spot in Osaka, where more than 2,000,000 people come for Hatsumode from the 1st to the 3rd of January every year. The main hall was built in 1810 and registered as a national treasure. Some Shinto rituals that pray for huge harvests, physical health, and a rush of business are held during the new year season.

Sumiyoshi Taisha: One of Japan's oldest Shinto Shrines

Shitennoji Temple , which was built in 593, remains the oldest architectural style in Japan. People visit the temple looking forward to hearing Joya-no-Kane, which is the temple bell rung 108 times on New Year’s Eve. If you want to hear the traditional Japanese bell sound, you should queue before 23:00 on New Year’s Eve. There are also 20 food stalls around the temple.

Shitennoji Temple: Oldest Buddhist Temple in Japan

4. Seeing Winter illuminations

In winter, towns are shiny and lit up with thousands of lights. It makes us feel romantic or sometimes nostalgic. Many people are somehow attracted to shiny and beautiful things.

Osaka Castle Illuminage is an illumination event at Osaka Castle Park. It presents Osaka’s history from the Edo period to the current times with 3,500,000 lights. The most attractive point is the huge illumination that reproduces the fight scene of Ultraman and Gomora, which is from the well-known Japanese animation, Ultraman.

Namba Light Journey at Namba Parks is a free illumination event. There is a fantastic world of 650,000 lights. The harmony of lights on the 8th floor is a hands-on illumination, in which light clips, music, and scenes change according to the people’s actions.

5. Enjoying Winter Events at Kaiyukan Aquarium

Kaiyukan Aquarium is one of the world-scale aquariums in Japan. There are about 30,000 creatures of 620 kinds. It has 8 floors and various exhibitions. From whale sharks and penguins to many tropical fishes, many marine creatures are welcoming you in different areas.

Kaiyukan Illumination is an annual winter event. A Christmas tree and penguin and dolphin objects are lit up at the entrance. A performance of light and music is available every 15 minutes from 17:00 to 21:15.

If you go there by Christmas day, you can find a Santa Diver in water tanks. In the Pacific Ocean tank and Tasman Ocean tank, a diver is costumed in Santa. Let’s take a photo of the whale shark and Santa Diver.

6. Admiring Night Views from Umeda Sky Building Observatory

Umeda Sky Building, located at the center of Osaka city, was selected as one of the 20 best architectures in the world. The most popular thing in Umeda Sky Building is viewing the whole town of Osaka from the top 360° observation deck. Thousands of town lights illuminate the city at night.

Moreover, a Christmas illumination is held in the outside park on the B1 floor. The forest area decorated with colorful lights lets us forget our busy lives in the city. The main Christmas tree using a natural fir tree is as high as 7 m and makes a coexisting of the city and nature. You can also write down your wish on an ornament and put it in a present box at the bottom of the tree.

7. Soaking in Onsen and healing your body from daily exhaustion

Osaka has various Onsen from natural Onsen and public baths to spa facilities.

Solaniwa Onsen Osaka Bay Tower is a huge Onsen Spa facility. At the top of the building, soaking in a footbath and viewing seasonal flowers in a Japanese garden make you relaxed. 9 different kinds of natural Onsen are drawn from 1,000 m underground. In a private open-air bath, you can enjoy your healing time and don’t need to care about other people.

If you extend your way to Hyogo, why don’t you visit Kinosaki Onsen ? Kinosaki Onsen is one of the most popular Onsen in Japan and won 2 stars in a tourism guide, Michelin Green Guide Japan in 2013. An old Japanese-style town view of Kunisaki Onsen is one of the attractive points. People enjoy Onsen hopping among 7 common bathes. Mandara-yu is thought of as the origin of Kinosaki Onsen so don’t miss trying it.

Kinosaki Onsen : the Charming Onsen Town near Osaka and Kyoto

8. Eating hot dishes like Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki, and hotpots

Osaka is also famous as a gourmet town. Let’s eat hot dishes and keep warm in winter.

Takoyaki Tamaya is one of the most popular Takoyaki shops in Osaka. The key to the taste is dashi made by boiling lobsters and more than 20 selected ingredients for 3 days. You will be captivated by the Takoyaki soaked in the special dashi.

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Fukutaro was established in 1997 and has been loved as one of the best Okonomiyaki restaurants. It uses high-quality pork from Kagoshima prefecture and fresh seafood from Osaka Chuo Market. The most popular item on the menu is Okonomiyaki eith green onions. There are 11 kinds and all of them are cooked with local green onions. The taste of good-quality ingredients and its original sauce mix and melt in your mouth.

Nikunabetei serves a special hot pot of collaboration with selected black Wagyu and domestic grated yam ( Tororo ). When you finish a hot pot, enjoying the last drop of tasty soup with rice or Udon is traditional Japanese style. In addition, there are Japanese Sake sets. You can compare the taste of different kinds of Japanese Sake.

9. Ice Skating at the center of Osaka

Compared to other winter sports, ice skating is easy to join because skate rinks are established even in the city.

Umeda Ice Rink-Tsurun Tsurun- is a temporary ice rink at the center of Umeda city. Even after shopping, you can enjoy ice skating empty-handed. The price is ￥1,900/ adult, ￥1,700 / Uni Students, ￥1,600 / Highschool Students, ￥1,500 / under 15. The rink will open till the end of February. On Wednesday and Thursday, a set price for 1 person under 15 and 1 adult is ￥3,000. On weeknights, the adult price is ￥1,500.

Maruzen Intec Osaka Pool is turned into a huge ice skate rink during the winter. This is a good rink as official competitions are held for figure skating, ice hockey, and speed skating. There is a skate lesson that both adults and children can join. The admission fee is ￥1,400 / adult and ￥800 / over 65th and under 16th.

10. Taking to day trips for Skiing and Snowboarding

Are you excited to go skiing and snowboarding? There are some famous skiing places in Hyogo, Osaka’s neighboring prefecture.

Rokkosan Snow Park is located in the southern part of Hyogo. There are various courses for skiing, snowboarding, and snow playing. The ski slope is gentle for beginners and middle-level players. There is enough rental stuff like snowboards and ski gear. It takes about 1 hour to get there by car from Kobe and Osaka.

Hachi Kita Kogen Ski Resort is located in the northern part of Hyogo. There are 2 areas, Hachi and Hachi Kita. The courses in the Hachi area are more for advanced-level players. In the Hachi Kita area, the course length from the top to the bottom of the mountain is the longest in western Japan. If you are confident about skiing and snowboarding, you should try these courses!! It takes about 3 hours to get from Osaka to Hachi Kita Kogen Ski Resort by train.

Did you find the best thing to do in Osaka in winter?

In winter, there are many events from traditional ones like Hatsumode to European-style ones like Christmas Market. It’s interesting to experience both events during your stay in Japan. Moreover, because there is good access to Kyoto or Hyogo from Osaka, you can head to your next destination as soon as possible.

If you’re from a warm country, don’t forget to prepare winter clothes, especially if you’re planning to go skiing!!

Also, check out things to do in Osaka in other seasons!

▶10 Best Things to Do in Osaka in Spring

▶10 Best Things to Do in Osaka in Summer

▶10 Best Things to Do in Osaka in Autumn

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For more information about traveling and living in Japan, check these articles below, too!

10 Best Places to Visit in Japan in Winter

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Hello, I'm Kanako. I have a passion for traveling and indulging in local cuisine from various regions. Some of my favorite places in Japan include the beautiful Kanazawa, vibrant Osaka, and lively Fukuoka. A true enthusiast of live music, I particularly enjoy watching rock bands perform and immerse myself in the electrifying atmosphere. As a keen shopper, I always stay on top of the latest fashion trends to keep my style fresh and exciting. I truly hope that my articles can inspire and assist you in your travels or daily life in Japan. Happy exploring!

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Nov 11, 2022

Winter in Osaka 2022: Top Things to Do in Osaka in Winter

Updated: Nov 18, 2022

Spending winter in Osaka? Osaka is one of the most vibrant places in Japan in winter. Illuminations, themed events, and the effort of local communities make Osaka a worthy place to visit are so inspiring that you don’t want to miss this grand opportunity to experience this time of year. If you are still on the fence about what to do or where to go, no worries. Here are the top things to do in Osaka in winter:

1. Umeda Sky Building Christmas

Umeda Sky Building in Kita is one of the must-visit places in Osaka . During the Christmas season, this 173-meter-tall skyscraper becomes even more worth visiting as they celebrate festivities. From November 23-December 25, Umeda Sky Building showcases a 7-meter-tall Christmas tree lit up, a fountain show, and trees fully lit and decorated. Admission is free.

2. Explore Dotonbori on foot

Dotonbori is the center of Osaka. So it’s not a complete trip without exploring Dotonbori where you can find a bunch of interesting things. There are so many things to do in Dotonbori , whether you’re looking to eat, drink, or shop.

If you want to explore Dotonbori with a local, sign up for our Osaka Free Walking Tour .

3. Osaka Castle Illuminage

Illuminage is a festival of extravagant light displays. It’s an annual event that happens across Japan and Osaka is one of them. The event takes place at the Osaka Castle grounds, turning it into an out-of-this-world attraction at night, shining and glimmering from the 3 million LED lights. Admission is 1,300 yen. Check out more winter illumination in Osaka !

If you are looking for a private tour for your friends and family, we have a Private Group Walking Tour where our local guides can give you a personalized tour in Osaka.

4. Food crawl at Hozenji Yokocho

Hozenji Yokocho is one of the top places in Osaka to find food . It’s a narrow cobblestone alley filled with quaint, hole-in-the-wall bars, cafes, food stalls, and restaurants that come alive at night. We highly recommend visiting the Hozenji Yokocho at night so you can surely visit the best restaurants here. If you’re looking for the best eats in Osaka, check out our Osaka Food Guide to know what to find!

5. See your fave characters at Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan is hosting its annual Christmas event from November until January 9. You’ll see your favorite childhood characters like Hello Kitty, Elmo, Snoopy, and so many others. They are also reprising the massive 30-meter-tall fully ornamented Christmas tree after 3 years. Check out their website for more information.

6. Go shopping

Of course, you’re not leaving Osaka without going shopping. Osaka is a shopping haven for buyers of all stripes, whether you like thrift shops or luxury houses. We highly recommend going around Umeda and Namba, the biggest shipping areas in Osaka. Check out our Osaka Shopping Guide to know where to shop in Osaka!

7. Namba Hikaritabi

The Namba district lights up starting November 11 and usually goes on until February 2023. Over 650,000 LED lights are mounted on trees, buildings, arcs, and parks across the district. At Namba Parks, a shopping and office complex, you will surely be in awe of the glowing amphitheater and the waterfall of light.

8. Ice skating in the Osaka Bay Area

Many ice skating rinks in Osaka are open in the Osaka Bay Area during the winter months. If you want a memorable winter in Osaka, we highly recommend ice skating, especially if you have kids. The Osaka Bay Area is home to a bunch of ice skating rinks, such as Kanku Ice Arena, Naniwa Ice Skating, and Osaka Rinkai Sports Center.

9. Midosuji Illumination

Midosuji Illumination is one of the most popular events during winter in Osaka. Midosuji is now breaking records as the street with the most illuminated trees, extending for 4 km between the intersections of Ooebashi-Kitazune and Hanshi-mae. The trees are lit up from 5 pm to 11 pm until December 31.

10. Harry Potter Christmas at Grand Front Osaka

Another family-friendly tourist attraction to spice up your winter in Osaka is the Harry Potter-themed event at Grand Front Osaka in Kita in partnership with Harry Potter Wizarding World. The illumination event showcases a 13-meter-tall Harry Potter-inspired Christmas tree along with over 330,000 LED lights starting from November 10 until December 25.

Want to discover more of Osaka with a local? Join our Osaka Free Walking Tour and experience Osaka’s rich food culture and history.

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Ultimate guide: Best things to do in Osaka in winter

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February 7, 2020

Hey, I'm Lucy! Let me take you on a whirlwind journey through Osaka's winter wonders. As a local who's experienced every shimmering snowflake and festive light in this dynamic city, I'm excited to guide you through the best Osaka tours during this magical season. Winter here is more than just a drop in temperature; it's a festival of senses, with bustling markets, exhilarating theme parks, and tranquil temples, all wrapped up in a frosty, festive atmosphere.

From the sizzling street food that warms your soul to the hidden alleys that tell ancient stories, every corner of Osaka offers something new and thrilling. Get ready to experience the city like never before, discovering hidden gems and famous spots through my eyes. Let's make your winter in Osaka unforgettable, one step at a time!

Is Osaka worth visiting in winter?

Weather expectations, packing and preparations, iconic winter attractions in osaka, unveiling osaka's hidden winter gems, festive celebrations and events, traditional winter dishes: exploring osaka's winter culinary landscape., wrapping up: 4 days in the winter city, parting words and resources.

Absolutely, yes! Trust me, Osaka becomes a captivating winter wonderland that's not to be missed. The city lights up with dazzling illuminations, lively markets, and a heartwarming ambiance.

While snow is rare, the blend of Japanese culture and festive spirit makes it an unforgettable destination. So, wonder no more – an Osaka winter trip is worth every moment, with a world of winter charm waiting to be discovered!

Snow in December: Will it snow in Osaka in December?

It's a city where it rarely snows, but that doesn't diminish the city's unique winter magic. Streets shimmer with the glow of winter illuminations, and there's an undeniable energy as everyone prepares for festive events. So, even without the snowy spectacle, there's a trove of winter treasures waiting to be discovered in Osaka in December.

Average Temperatures: How chilly does it get, and what's the winter vibe?

Osaka experiences average winter temperatures ranging from about 4°C (39°F) to 12°C (54°F). While the city doesn't plunge into freezing cold, it offers a comfortably cool atmosphere during the winter months.

Dressing to stay warm is key, especially if you plan a day out exploring.

With fewer tourists, it feels like Osaka's winter is its little secret, where you can experience the city's authentic, everyday life intertwined with a special winter charm.

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When in Osaka make sure to try “kushikatsu”!

Dressing for Osaka's winter: Wardrobe essentials for warmth and style.

In the heart of Osaka's winter, layering is your best friend. Remember, the streets are always bustling, and whether you're at the mesmerizing displays at Osaka Hikari Renaissance or the food stalls at the Christmas market, you'll want to feel comfy and look great.

And don’t get me started on footwear! Those stylish yet comfortable boots will be lifesavers when exploring hidden gems in the alleys of Osaka city.

So, while winter might be a season of huddling up, we do it with flair in Osaka!

Travel tips: Ensuring a smooth winter trip in Osaka

Visiting Osaka in winter? Here are some tips from my own cold-weather adventures. Always carry a spare battery or portable charger you don't want to miss out on the opportunity to capture mesmerizing moments, especially during events like the Hikari Renaissance.

Explore Indoor Attractions: Osaka offers fantastic indoor options like the Osaka Castle Museum, Kaiyukan Aquarium, and Umeda Sky Building Observatory.

Escape the cold while immersing yourself in the city's culture.

Weather Awareness: Stay updated on the weather forecast as winter can be unpredictable. Pack an umbrella and stay informed about potential travel disruptions.

Learn Basic Japanese Phrases: While English is common, knowing simple Japanese phrases like "hello," "thank you," and "excuse me" can enhance your experience, especially in local areas. Lastly, make use of Osaka Station—it's a central hub that provides easy access to various winter attractions and events.

Osaka Castle Park: History meets winter beauty

If there’s a spot in Osaka that feels like stepping into a postcard during winter, it’s Osaka Castle Park. A highlight of the park is the exquisite Ume Blossom Bonsai Trees artfully arranged in the castle's garden.

Although not in full bloom until early April, these delicate trees create a picturesque scene against the backdrop of the iconic Osaka Castle.

So, as winter blankets Osaka, the castle park captures the city's heart in a blend of history and holiday magic. Don't miss this attraction when visiting Osaka in winter for a memorable experience.

Universal Studios Japan: Special winter attractions

Universal Studios Japan embraces the winter season, with tailored light displays enhancing the familiar attractions. The festive atmosphere is infectious, from the themed decorations to special winter events. It's a unique Osaka winter experience, mixing fun, fantasy, and festivity. If you're in the city, it's a real winter highlight.

Umeda Sky Building & Observation Deck: Viewing Osaka's winter wonderland from above

Heading up to the Umeda Sky Building's observation deck is like stepping into a different realm. Gazing towards the bay, the town lights meld with the horizon, and the Grand Front Osaka stands as a beacon of activity. Amid this vast cityscape, the views offer both a moment of pause and a dose of inspiration, making it a key stop to grasp the essence of winter in Osaka truly.

Osaka Aquarium: An enchanting marine experience featuring the whale shark.

Explore Osaka Aquarium, a standout attraction where you'll witness the magnificent whale shark gliding gracefully through its vast tank, a truly mesmerizing sight. Winter illuminations add to the magic, casting a stunning backdrop over Osaka Bay as you head to the aquarium. Dive deep into the world of marine wonders amidst the vibrant beauty of Osaka in winter.

Nakanoshima Park & Island: Nature's touch amidst the city.

Nestled right in the heart of the bustling city is the serene oasis of the park and island, a green gem where nature and urbanity coalesce harmoniously. In winter, the park becomes an enchanting spectacle.

As the whole street alongside the park twinkles with its own illuminations, it’s not unusual to see families gathered around the giant Christmas tree or couples partaking in a fun round of ice skating.

So, after a day of reveling in the city's major tourist attractions, steal a moment of tranquility here.

Tenjinbashi Suji Shopping Arcade: Dive deep into local shopping experiences.

There's a certain charm about the shopping arcade, especially during winter. As Osaka's longest shopping street, it's like stepping into a vibrant mosaic of local life. It's not just a shopping spree, it's a journey!

If you time it right, the arcade comes alive with its own spectacles and spirited Christmas shows, adding that touch of winter magic.

Dive in, embrace the lively atmosphere, and immerse yourself in Osaka's pulse.

Osaka's hidden onsen (hot springs): Warm up in secret local hot spots.

Discover Osaka's hidden onsens, traditional Japanese hot springs that go beyond relaxation; they are essential to the city's cultural identity. Tucked discreetly within the urban landscape, these serene retreats offer a unique chance to experience the ancient Japanese tradition of onsen bathing.

Immerse yourself in mineral-rich waters with therapeutic benefits, rejuvenating your body and connecting you to Osaka's rich heritage.

These hidden gems bridge the past and present, making them a must on your Osaka trip.

Winter illuminations & light show: Osaka Castle illuminage and Hikari Renaissance.

Every December, Osaka transforms into a radiant spectacle. Wandering through Nakanoshima Island, with the reflection of LED light show dancing upon the river as the backdrop to the bustling Christmas markets, is a magical experience.

To warm up, local hot pot dishes at nearby stalls are an absolute must-try.

December in Osaka is also about embracing the holiday traditions, awaiting the Japanese New Year, and enjoying the collective festive vibe.

Traditional festivities: Grand Wish Christmas, Japanese New Year, and Tenmangu shrine.

When December rolls into Osaka, the Grand Wish Christmas event sweeps everyone into a whirlwind of festivity. Streets come alive with brilliant Christmas decor, the aromas of delicious local dishes wafting from stalls near shopping malls like Grand Front Osaka.

The city embraces this important holiday with fervor, and there's no place more heartwarming to welcome it than at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine.

Every corner resonates with the warmth of celebration, making Christmas time in Osaka an unmissable experience.

Christmas Market: Indulging in German beer, mulled wine, and festive shopping.

As December's chill settles over Osaka, the city's Christmas markets become a cozy haven for locals and tourists alike. Strolling through vibrant stalls under a canopy of twinkling LED lights, sipping on rich German beer, or warming your hands with a cup of aromatic wine is an experience! These markets capture the essence of December in Japan and set the stage for the grandeur of the upcoming New Year's Eve.

Exploring Osaka's winter culinary landscape.

Osaka's winter isn't just about the lights and festivities; it's a treat for your taste buds too. In December, the city transforms into a food lover's paradise with various seasonal dishes that complement its charm. Here are a few of my favorites:

Hot pot bliss: A steaming communal feast of thinly sliced meat, fresh vegetables, and savory broth, where friends and family huddle together to cook and share warm, flavorful bites.

Winter okonomiyaki: Imagine a sizzling, savory pancake loaded with tender pieces of meat and crisp vegetables, all bathed in a luscious, smoky sauce. Each bite is an explosion of flavor that warms your soul on a chilly winter's day in Osaka.

Kiritanpo: Picture crispy grilled rice sticks bathed in a fragrant miso soup, offering a delightful blend of textures and flavors.

Takoyaki delights: Warm and tasty octopus-filled balls, crispy on the outside and irresistibly tender inside, a perfect Osaka street snack to ward off the winter chill.

While enjoying Osaka's enchanting winter atmosphere, don't miss out on its traditional culinary treasures. Whether you're sharing a hot pot, or trying a winter twist on local favorites, Osaka's winter dishes promise to delight your taste buds and warm your heart.

Crafting an ideal 4-day itinerary for your winter escapade in Osaka is about balancing the city's major attractions, hidden gems, and seasonal events.

Begin your adventure at Osaka Castle Park, where the historic fortress transforms with captivating evening illuminations. Stroll through the landscaped gardens, and if you're fortunate, experience a dusting of snow, creating a winter wonderland.

Capture the castle's majestic facade aglow in the evening light—a picture-perfect start to your Osaka winter journey.

Dive headfirst into the excitement at Universal Studios Japan, where thrilling rides and festive shows await. As day turns into night, ascend the Umeda Sky Building for breathtaking views draped in winter lights.

Immerse yourself in local culture with a shopping spree at the Tenjinbashi Suji Shopping street, and then find serenity amidst the urban landscape at Nakanoshima Island & Park. You can also consider exploring some fantastic day tours Osaka has to offer. For a truly unique experience, discover hidden local hot springs and let the soothing warmth melt away any lingering chill.

Explore the mesmerizing marine world at the Osaka Aquarium and indulge in the flavors of the season at the Christmas Market, where beer and wine await. Don't forget to savor traditional winter dishes that encapsulate the essence of Osaka in the cold months.

As your winter adventure in Osaka winds down, I hope this guide has illuminated the city's unique charm during this enchanting season. From the dazzling lights of Osaka Castle Park to the warmth of the Japanese New Year celebrations, Osaka offers a winter experience like no other.

Osaka's fusion of tradition and modernity and its delectable culinary offerings make it an ideal destination for a memorable winter getaway.

Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple searching for a romantic escape, or a family yearning for festive fun, Osaka welcomes you with open arms and a heart full of holiday cheer.

Before you embark on your journey, here are some resources to make the most of your Osaka winter adventure:

Osaka Official Tourism Guide: https://osaka-info.jp/en/

Universal Studios Japan: https://www.usj.co.jp/e/

Umeda Sky Building: https://www.kuchu-teien.com/en/

Osaka Aquarium: https://www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng/

Grand Front Osaka: https://www.grandfront-osaka.jp/english/

Thank you for joining me on this winter journey through Osaka. May your days be filled with warmth, wonder, and unforgettable memories. Safe travels!

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The Best Things to Do in Osaka in the Winter

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Osaka may be one of the busiest and liveliest cities in Japan, but in the winter it can be hard to find the motivation to venture out into the cold. Yet, even in the freezing months, the city has a lot going on. Here are some exciting activities that will keep you warm during your winter visit.

Warm up in a hot bath.

Osaka may be an urban labyrinth of amusements, but there are plenty of onsen (hot spring) getaways both in and just outside of the city. Escape to one of them , or check out your local sento (bathhouse) to warm up in the soothing and healing waters. Most onsen and sento have, at the very least, multiple baths and a sauna, if not spa treatments and atmospheric outdoor baths as well.

The entrance to a Japanese bathhouse in Osaka.

Behold a blinding illumination

Bar hop to put on your beer jacket.

Osaka has many many bars , from classic favorites to niche alternatives . The best spot in the city for travelers to bar hop is by far Amemura , where local and visitor favorites like Nayuta , Space Station , and Moonshine can all be found within mere blocks of each other. Wander (or stumble) around this district for an adventure so fun, you’ll forget about the cold.

Alternatively, if looking for a more traditional Japanese experience, try walking down Hozenji Yokocho , a cobblestone back alley brimming with bars that looks straight out of the Showa Era .

Eat seasonal crab and blowfish

Winter may not always be pleasant, but one of the good things about this time of year is the seafood. In Osaka, “the nation’s kitchen,” the best to be found this season is the crab and blowfish. Despite its reputation, the latter is quite safe to eat , as all restaurants serving it need a special certification and prepare it to be edible. Try Zuboraya or Kani Doraku in Dotonbori .

The giant pufferfish outside of Zuboraya.

Immerse yourself in a magic show

Every Sunday night, in a small secluded basement on the outskirts of Amemura, something magical happens: two award-winning and internationally acclaimed magicians hold an intimate and hilarious show. Magic Lab , featuring Mr. Ben and Jonio, is a bilingual show that will make you laugh, amazed, and magically forget how miserable it is outside!

Sing with a fiery passion at karaoke

Karaoke is inarguably one of the best things to have come out of Japan, and what better place to experience it than in the country’s wildest city? There’s box karaoke, where guests rent a room to enjoy a private singing experience, all over Osaka. Then there’s the karaoke bar, which usually has no cover charge and lets guests sing publicly in front of strangers, a great way to make friends while traveling! Some of the best of these in Osaka are Kama Sutra , Moonshine , and Domus .

Break a sweat at the sports challenge

Try out Japan’s indoor amusement craze, “spocha.” Short for “sports challenge,” spocha is many things, and Round One has them all. In this multi-story building located near Namba , guests can enjoy a variety of sporty activities, like bubble soccer , roller skating, batting cages, basketball, and darts, as well as karaoke and arcade games. Round One is open 24-hours a day, and they serve alcohol in addition to food. It’s a lot safer than it sounds and incredibly fun!

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Your Trip to Osaka: The Complete Guide

Getty /Ekkachai Pholrojpanya

As Japan’s third-largest city , as well as its comedy and food center, there’s a lot to love about the city of Osaka. It has a markedly laidback atmosphere when compared to Tokyo, while still having everything you might expect of a big and bustling city. It’s also within easy traveling distance of Kyoto and Nara, making it a fantastic hub for exploring the country further. Find out everything you need to know before planning your trip to Osaka.

Planning Your Trip

Best Time to Visit : Summers are humid, hot and can be rainy during June and July, so anytime during spring or fall is ideal. Osaka comes to life with cherry blossoms during spring and yellow ginkgo trees in the fall, and the weather is temperate.
Language: Japanese. Osaka locals famously have their own strong dialect, which is known as Osaka-ben.
Getting Around: The subway or train is the best way to get around Osaka. You can pick up the ICOCA travel card or use the Suica or Pasmo travel card from Tokyo to make tapping in and out easier. Much of what you’ll want to see is on the Midosuji subway line, which runs north to south through the city. Taxis are also an option, and you’ll find them outside most stations, or you can flag them down, but they can be expensive.

Getty /fotoVoyager

Things to Do

Osaka is a city that really unravels, given enough time. With quirky neighborhoods and an abundance of food and cafe options, it’s a perfect blend of old city charm and modern skyscapes. Here are a selection of things you must do when visiting Osaka:

Visit Osaka Castle. Osaka Castle is one of the highlights to any visit to the city. The five-story castle features a museum displaying historical artifacts, armor, and weapons and also a fantastic view of the gardens and city from the top.
Spend a day at Universal Studios. The first Universal Studios to open in Asia and the only one to feature The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This is a perfect Osaka day trip within the city and fun for all ages.
Catch a view from the Umeda Sky Building. Two buildings linked at the tip with a giant observatory is the perfect spot for getting gorgeous photos of Osaka from above. The observatory is on the 39th floor and once you’re done at the top you can head to the basement where you’ll find an underground labyrinth of shops and restaurants.
Visit one of Osaka’s quirky museums. Osaka has plenty of fun and interesting museums which you won’t want to miss out on. One of the highlights is the Cup Noodles Museum where you can learn all about the international phenomenon of convenience ramen and make your own cup noodle! If you love art then make sure to visit the Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum where you can see rare wood prints and try out woodblock printing for yourself.
Visit Osaka’s shrines and temples. Like most places in Japan, there’s no shortage of historical spots to explore. In Osaka you’ll find stunning spots like Hozen-ji temple and Shitenno-ji temple which is Japan’s oldest temple.
Shop in Shinsaibashi. Osaka’s covered arcades are like taking a step into the past. Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade is the best place to indulge in all things shopping with 600-meter long covered area to stroll down featuring everything from stationery to kitchenware.

Plan more of your itinerary with our guides on the best things to do in the city and how to spend 48 hours in Osaka.

Getty/ Calvin Chan Wai Meng

What to Eat and Drink

Osaka is repeatedly named as one of the top food cities in the world, and you’ll notice the sheer amount of street food and restaurant options almost immediately. Osaka is proud of its food culture and with good reason. This is the city that has specializes in three of the most comforting Japanese dishes—okonomiyaki, kushikatsu, and takoyaki—all fried and all delicious.

Dotonburi and Shinsekai are two of the major food districts in the city. Still, you’ll also find gems such as Kuromon Market, which dates back to the Edo Period and Miyuki-Dori Shopping Street, a 300-meter shopping street where you can choose from over 150 Korean restaurants. Aside from the local specialties, Osaka is also a perfect place to tuck into other Japanese favorites such as sushi, ramen, katsu curry, and yakiniku.

Getty /simonlong

Where to Stay

Osaka is a wonderfully exciting city with 24 wards to explore and hotels available all over the city. Here are some of the most popular areas to stay to enjoy your trip to the full.

Minami (Namba): One of the most popular neighborhoods in the city, Namba is the entertainment hub of Osaka and where you'll find the famous Dotonburi canal and running man neon sign. It's one of the most exciting restaurants and street food areas and ideal if you want to experience Osaka's nightlife, whether that's terrific bars or bunraku and kabuki cultural performances at the theater.

Nipponbashi: This is a perfect place to stay if you're hoping to explore the nerd and electronics haven that is Denden Town, Osaka's version of Tokyo's Akihabara. Once a year, there's a big cosplay festival, and there are often small events happening in some of the local businesses. You'll also be close to Kuromon Market and Namba, so it's an easy way to be close to the action but have room to explore some of the smaller neighborhoods.

Osaka Bay Area: This is an ideal area to stay if you’re hoping to be close to some of the family-friendly attractions of Osaka like the giant Ferris wheel and the world’s largest aquarium ! There is also shopping, restaurants, and a ferry that will take you to Universal Studios. The gorgeous views of the harbor alone make it worth staying here.

Shinsekai: This is a traditional area that’s ideal for foodies and people looking to experience traditional aesthetics and neon side streets. Shinsekai is where you’ll find the iconic Osaka Tower and local hole-in-the-wall restaurants that specialize in kushikatsu, sushi, and yakiniku barbecue joints. You can also pay a visit to Spa World, perfect for relaxing in after hard day sightseeing and the Osaka Museum of Fine Arts

Shinsabashi: This dynamic area near Namba puts fantastic tax-free shopping opportunities on your doorstep. You have the Shisabashi shopping arcade and plenty of boutique shopping options as well as nearby America-mura (also known as Amemura), where you’ll find trendy and vintage shopping plus eclectic cafes and bars.

Getting There

To access Osaka by plane , you’ll arrive at either Osaka International Airport or Kansai Airport, which serves both domestic and international flights. From Osaka Airport, you can reach downtown in around half an hour, and you’ll find several options such as taxis (around $50), a bus ($60 and a combination of train and subway ($6). You can also hire a car from the airport to drive downtown, which will take you around 25 minutes.

If you’re traveling from Kansai Airport, the easiest way to get downtown is via train ($11), which takes around 70 minutes. You can also catch a taxi which will take 45 minutes, but it is a more expensive option at $165. Finally, if you are arriving on the shinkansen from Tokyo or another Japanese city, then you’ll arrive at Osaka Station, which is a prime location to simply hop on the subway to your next destination or get a taxi to your hotel.

Culture and Customs

There's no need to tip in Osaka. In some cases, it can even be considered offensive.
If you're shopping, whether at a convenience store, department store, or boutique, make sure to place your money in the dish on the counter. Your change will also be placed there. On that note, remember to carry cash as some places don't take cards. You'll find plenty of ATMs around the city if you're stuck.
The bow is the standard form of greeting in Japan, but a head nod will usually suffice. Politeness goes a long way!
When on the subway, make sure not to use the seats reserved for the elderly, even if there are no elderly on the train car who might want to sit down. Even when the car is packed, and those seats are empty, don't ever sit in them.

Money-Saving Tips

If you’re using a JR pass then you will also be able to use this on the JR subway and train lines within Osaka. If you can avoid buying another pass and just use the JR lines you can save money.
Get the ICOCA & Haruka card at Kansai airport for discounted travel into the city center on the train. You’ll also be able to use the ICOCA as a travel card going forward.
Make sure to try some convenience store food and coffee to save money. Stores like 7/11, Lawson, and Family Mart have excellent quality bento boxes and hot snacks—perfect for picking up breakfast, a quick meal or gathering a picnic.
Take advantage of tax refunds while you’re shopping. Purchases more than 5,000 yen (around $46) are exempt from the 10 percent consumption tax . Wherever you see the tax refund sign just show your passport and that store and they’ll seal your items and give you a receipt to show at the airport before you leave.
Look out for Osaka’s free attractions like walking in Minoo Park, exploring the grounds of Osaka Castle, and visiting the Tomb of Emperor Nintoku, the third-largest tomb in the world.

Statista. " Population of Osaka Prefecture in Japan from 1920 to 2018 ." November 2019.

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan .

Japan Tax-Free Shop. " Japan's Tax Exemption ."

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The Best Things to Do in Osaka in Winter

As the icy tendrils of winter descend upon the lively city of Osaka, a new world of delightful experiences unfurls, waiting to be discovered. Unlike other cities that may succumb to the sleepy lull of winter, Osaka bursts into a spectacle of lights, tantalizing, seasonal flavors, and a bouquet of outdoor and indoor activities to suit every traveler.

1. Where to stay in Osaka

Before we unwrap Osaka's winter wonders, it's imperative to find that perfect cozy nook to retreat to, a place that resonates with the comforting warmth of home amidst the chill of winter. As every traveler embarks on a journey with unique desires and budgetary considerations, Osaka generously offers a diverse spectrum of lodging options. Be it the modest yet comfortable dwellings for those on a budget, the balanced blend of luxury and affordability for the mid-range seeker, or the epitome of opulence for those wishing to indulge in a lavish sojourn, the city has something for everyone.

Hotel Elcient Osaka (Budget)

Situated comfortably near the city center of Osaka, Hotel Elcient Osaka emerges as an upscale hotel, but without the hefty price tag. Guests will find no shortage of excellent modern amenities during their stay. The hotel houses a gym for those looking to maintain their workout routine and a large indoor bath and sauna for a relaxing end to a busy day of exploration. The interiors are well-maintained, providing a comfortable environment to retreat to after soaking in the sights and sounds of Osaka.

Within the hotel premises, there’s an on-site restaurant, Restaurant & Bar ENT, which offers a selection of meals to satisfy guest’s culinary preferences. Beyond the hotel's confines, the lively Dotonbori district and the historic Osaka Castle are just a short transit away. Both destinations provide a taste of Osaka's rich cultural and historical tapestry. The hotel's convenient location makes it an easy base for guests to return to,providing a straightforward and comfortable lodging option for those looking to explore the city without stretching out their budget.

Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka (Midrange)

Those looking for a mid range option should consider the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka . This hotel is directly connected to Osaka-Uehommachi Station, making the commute to various city attractions a breeze. Guests will find a range of facilities including a pool for a refreshing dip, a spa for relaxation, and a fitness center to stay active. The hotel’s environment strikes a balance between modern comfort and accessibility, making it as convenient as it is comfortable.

With four on-site dining venues, guests won’t need to travel far for a variety of culinary experiences. The hotel’s restaurants serve a range of meals, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Particularly, the elegant restaurant and lounge ‘eu’ offers a fusion of French cuisine with Japanese ingredients, providing a unique dining experience. Additionally, the hotel is a short transit from the bustling and iconic district of Dotonbori, placing guests close to the vibrant culture and entertainment the city offers. The great location and range of on-site amenities make the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka a comfortable and practical choice for those looking to experience the city without excessive splurging.

W Osaka (Luxury)

W Osaka , situated near the lively area of Shinsaibashi on the vibrant Midosuji Street, stands as a hallmark of next-gen luxury in the city. This hotel encapsulated a modern and chic ambiance, catering to guests seeking a high-end lodging experience. The facilities are top-notch, with a spa for unwinding, a fitness center for those keen on keeping up with their fitness, and a neon-lit indoor pool for a leisurely and somewhat surreal swim. The trendy design and state-of-the-art amenities ensure your stay is not only luxurious but fun, too.

Within the hotel, guests can access various dining options, ensuring a gastronomic journey without needing to step outside. The location is an added advantage; nestled close to the electric nightlife of Dotonbori and various other city attractions, the hotel provides easy access to explore the city’s day and nightlife. If you’re looking for a place to stay where luxury meets quirk, W Osaka has you covered.

2. Pick strawberries at Winter Farms

Osaka’s winter season presents a delightful opportunity to connect with the region’s agrarian roots by visiting local farms.

Haru Strawberry Farm offers a joyous strawberry-picking experience. With baskets in hand, visitors can meander through the well-maintained rows of strawberry plants, picking the ripest and reddest strawberries to their heart's content.

The farms provide a delightful excursion into Japanese farming, offering a unique perspective on local agriculture and a chance to enjoy the simple pleasures of picking fresh produce. The experience is a tasty adventure and a way to appreciate the slower pace of strawberry picking amidst the fast-paced urban experience generally in Osaka.

3. Skate on ice

As winter graces Osaka with its chilly touch, the city reciprocates by opening the doors to numerous ice-skating rinks. This seasonal activity transforms the city into a winter wonderland, providing locals and visitors an opportunity to glide across the ice amidst the cool winter air.

The skating rinks are welcoming to both novices and seasoned skaters. Whether you are lacing up your skates for the first time or are a seasoned enthusiast, the rinks provide a fun and safe environment to enjoy this winter sport. With well-maintained facilities, including rental skates and protective gear, individuals can easily step onto the ice and start gliding.

4. Get into the Christmas spirit

As the Christmas season descends upon Osaka, the Umeda Sky Building in Kita transforms into a beacon of cheer. With its towering structure adorned with twinkling lights and holiday decorations, it becomes a focal point for Christmas celebrations in the city. The highlight of the festive display is the tall, magnificent Christmas tree, casting a warm glow that resonates with the joyful spirit of the season.

As you approach the Umeda Sky Building, the festive ambiance is palpable, with the sweet melodies of Christmas carols filling the air. The decorative lights shimmering against the night sky create a magical setting that captures the essence of holiday merriment. It's a place where the heart-warming traditions of Christmas come alive, enveloping visitors in a joyful atmosphere that celebrates the season's magic.

Moreover, the panoramic views from the building offer a unique perspective of Osaka, illuminated by festive lights. It's a breathtaking touch that adds a touch of magic to the Christmas celebrations, making visiting the Umeda Sky Building a cherished holiday tradition for both locals and tourists.

You can also check out the illuminations in the city, such as the Festival of the Lights in Osaka, which has two main programs and takes place in Midosuji and Nakanoshima areas.

5. Enjoy seasonal seafood

Osaka, often heralded as the nation’s kitchen due to its rich culinary heritage, unveils a treasure trove of seafood delicacies as winter descends. Among them, crab and blowfish emerge as the stars of the culinary scene, enticing seafood aficionados and casual diners alike. The cold winter waters provide the perfect conditions for these sea creatures to thrive, ensuring a fresh and flavorful bounty for those exploring Osaka’s seafood landscape.

Crab, with its tender and succulent meat, is a winter favorite. Various eateries across Osaka offer a range of crab dishes, from simple yet delicious crab soups and salads to more elaborate meals like grilled crab and crab hot pot.

Blowfish, or fugu, is another winter delicacy that commands a unique place within Osaka’s culinary tradition. Despite its notorious reputation as a potentially lethal poison when not prepared correctly, blowfish is a sought-after delicacy, with specialized restaurants serving it safely under strict regulatory supervision. Adventurous diners can enjoy a variety of blowfish dishes, including sashimi or grilled, all crafted by skilled chefs who have been trained in handling this unique seafood.

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6 Spots to Visit This Winter & Saving Cash with the Osaka E-pass［PR］

Illumination Kita (Umeda / Tenma) Photo spot Bay area (USJ, Kaiyukan) Minami (Dotonbori, Namba, Shinsaibashi, Nipponbashi) Osaka Castle Osaka Castle Area Tennoji, Abeno, Shinsekai Observatory Useful Info Cultural experience City walk

And just like that, it’s wintertime in Osaka. How do you like to spend your time in the cold season? I know plenty of people don’t like to go out in the cold, but Osaka has beautiful illuminations (light displays) all over the prefecture and plenty of indoor places where you can avoid the cold.   Here are 6 of Osaka’s best winter spots. Don’t let the cold keep you from enjoying your time in Osaka!

Champagne Gold Illumination at Grand Front Osaka
Osaka History in Lights at the Osaka-jo Castle Illuminage
Climate Controlled Cruise—Osaka Suijo Bus, Aqua-Liner
Osaka Vibes in Shinsekai
Experience life in the past at the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
Family friendly Fun! Legoland® Discovery Center Osaka
Save Money with the Osaka E-pass!

■Champagne Gold Illumination at Grand Front Osaka

Let’s start with the light displays. This is the Champagne Gold Illumination that’s on at Grand Front Osaka, in the Osaka Station/Umeda area.

Champagne Gold Illumination lights at Grand Front Osaka

This light display is made up of over 330,000 LED lights in a gorgeous champagne gold color scheme that brightens the Grand Front Osaka area. Umekita Plaza is just north of JR Osaka Station and nice for walking around, especially when it is lit at night.

Ted Hyber green bear statue in Grand Front Osaka fountain

And just look at Ted Hyber. This big teddy bear sculpture is just chilling in the water in his Harry Potter robes. I hope that scarf is keeping him warm!

Grand Front Osaka with winter illumination light display

It’s so pretty, a lot of people get their cameras out, especially with this shot of Umeda Sky Building in the background.

Champagne Gold Illumination

Event period : Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022–Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023 Lights on : 5pm–12am

▶ Facility Information

■Osaka History in Lights at the Osaka-jo Castle Illuminage

This one can’t go without mentioning!

After 2 years, the Osaka-jo Castle Illuminage is back! Walk through the bright neon labyrinth and you’ll find yourself in a display focussed on Osaka history. Motifs include Osaka history from the Edo period (1603–1867) through modern times. It’s actually quite impressive how many displays there are!

Osaka Castle Illuminage light display 2022

From prominent historical figures like Toyotomi Hideyoshi, to the Osaka Castle’s Main Tower, to the original Tsutenkaku, and Tennoji Zoo, there are so many amazing displays.

Osaka Castle light display Ultraman and Gomora

Ultraman! The 27th episode “The Monster Prince, Pt. 2” which was broadcast in 1967 and includes a famous fight scene at Osaka Castle. Here’s the neon recreation of the battle between Ultraman and Gomora.

Osaka-jo Castle Illuminage

Event period : Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022–Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 Closed days : none Lights on : 5:30pm–9:30pm (Open: 5pm–10pm) Admission : Adults (junior high age & older) ¥1,500 /Children (elementary age & younger) ¥800 *Express tickets are available for an additional ¥500 ▶ Facility Information

Osaka Suijo Bus Aqua-Liner

Boarding location : Osaka Castle Pier (near the Osaka Castle Hall fountain) Lights on : 10:15am–4:15pm *Please check the official website ( https://suijo-bus.osaka/intro/aqualinerschedule/ )for the most current information. Price : Adults ¥1,600 / Children (elementary students) ¥800 / Small children are free when accompanied by an adult and seated on adult’s lap (1 child/adult) ▶ Facility Information

■Osaka Vibes in Shinsekai

Tsutenkaku stands tall in one of Osaka’s most iconic neighborhoods.

I’m sure a lot of people are familiar with this scenery. This is one of Osaka’s most beloved neighborhoods—Shinsekai—known for delicious kushikatsu (fried skewers) and that famous Tsutenkaku Tower. It was originally designed to look like the Eiffel Tower, so some people call it Osaka’s Eiffel Tower, although the resemblance has faded with this second incarnation. Take the elevator up to the 5th floor to view the surrounding neighborhood from the 87.5 meter observation deck.

The view is pretty good! And you can get a close look at Japan’s tallest building—Abeno Harukas—which is so close by. The resident deity Billiken statue is supposed to bring good luck if you rub the soles of his feet.

Actually, now because of Covid, you’re supposed to social-distance touch his feet. But you still get the same good luck!

The observation deck has more to offer too! There is a section with artwork from the Osaka artist duo Yudetamago, creators of the hit manga Kinnikuman. Plus there’s a diorama showcasing the Shisekai neighborhood with the original version of Tsutenkaku Tower. There’s also a modern Japanese-style garden, Tsutenkaku Teien, on the 3rd floor if you’d like a breath of fresh air.

Kinnikuman character corner inside Tsutenkaku Tower

And there’s something else to see and do at Tsutenkaku!

Take a trip down the outside of the tower on the 22 meters tall TOWER SLIDER. Travel the 60 meter slide in 10 seconds! When you consider all the things you can do at this one observation deck, it starts to look pretty impressive, doesn’t it?

Tsutenkaku Tower

Closed days : none Business hours : 10:00am–8pm (Last admission at 7:30pm) Admission : Adults ¥900 / Children (5 yrs thru Junior High age) ¥400

Tsutenkaku TOWER SLIDER

Closed days : none Business hours : 10:00am–7:30pm Admission : Adults ¥1,000 / Children (Elementary age thru Junior High age) ¥500 *Riders must slide inside slide sack and meet height, weight, and age requirements. (Height: 120 cm & above / Weight: 100kg or less / Age: 7–65 yrs.) ▶ Facility Information

■Experience life in the past at the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

This model city will take you back in time to the late Edo period (1603–1867), an exciting time in the history of Japan.

Osaka-cho town inside Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

These recreated streets are named Osaka-machi 3-chome, and are modeled after the shops and houses of the 1830s. The imaginary town was designed to be historically accurate with attention to detail from the museum curator and expert supervision.

Everything about it feels so real. You can stroll about freely and take whatever phots you want. This is the closest you can get to time-traveling to the Edo period (1603–1867). There are also floors dedicated to life in Osaka during the Meiji era (1868–1912), Taisho era (1912–1926), and Showa period (1926–1989) as well. Plus there are models of buildings and scenes from the Contemporary Period in Osaka. They’re so detailed, you’ll be impressed to see how Osaka looked in recent history.

The funny thing is that even though most visitors to the museum didn’t actually live in Osaka during this time period, most people say they experienced some sort of nostalgia when looking at the exhibits. The museum is located right above Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome Station on the Osaka Metro. It’s all indoors, so it’s a great place to visit when the weather is bad. You can get into the museum without needing an umbrella on a rainy day and you won’t need to face the cold either.

Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

Closed days : Tuesdays (Open on Tuesday public holidays), New Year holidays (Dec. 29–Jan. 2) Business hours : 10:00am–5pm (Last admission at 4:30pm) Admission : Adults ¥600 / High School & University students ¥300 (with student ID) *Special exhibits cost ¥300 (Set tickets to the permanent exhibition and special exhibits are available (Adults ¥800 / High School & University students ¥500)) ▶ Facility Information

■Family friendly Fun! Legoland® Discovery Center Osaka

Legoland® Discovery Center Osaka is popular with kids and adults because its got lots of attractions indoors. There is a lot to play with and a lot of creativity packed into one place. The soft blocks and Duplo® Farm® play zones are great for young kids.

And you can learn about how Lego® bricks are produced in the factory.

There’s also a Lego® Studio 4D cinema with a huge screen. Try to scream too loud with excitement!

The huge slide in the Lego® City play zone is great for kids and you can learn how to build your own masterpiece at the Master Builder Academy. If you like Lego®, you’ll love this collection of play zones and attractions.  Don’t miss the model of Osaka made of over 1 million bricks!

Legoland® Discovery Center Osaka

［ Closed days : According to Tempozan Marketplace holidays Business hours : 10:00am–6pm (Last admission at 4:30pm) Admission : Same-day tickets ¥2,800 (Age 3 & over) *Discounted tickets are available online. *Admission to the facility requires an adult (16 & over) and a child (15 & under). ▶ Facility information

■Save Money with the Osaka E-pass!

What did you think about the 6 spots I introduced above? In case you’re ready to visit Osaka, here are some deals to keep in mind. The Osaka E-pass will get you into over 20 establishments for free and it’s an E-ticket. It utilizes cashless payment options and it’s easy to use. Just show your QR code at the entrance and the admission process is so smooth.

▼Info on how to use the pass in this article

I tried the pass and visited lots of popular places in Osaka! Read more here.（ https://maido-bob.osaka/2021/11/17/osaka-e-pass-popular/ ）

The places I mentioned above, Osaka Suijo Bus Aqua-Liner, Tsutenkaku Tower, Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, Legoland® Discovery Center Osaka are all included in the pass. If you went to all these places and paid out of pocket, admission would total ¥5,900. But with the E-pass, you can get in for only ¥2,000. Isn’t that a great deal! Get your pass now on one of the following websites:

Tour Osaka’s Sightseeing Spots with the Osaka e-Pass 1-Day Pass

DeepExperience（ https://www.deep-exp.com/ja/osaka ）
Klook（ https://www.klook.com/ja/ ）
KKday（ https://www.kkday.com/ja ）

And with that, I’ll leave you to enjoy your wintertime in Osaka. Have a great time out there!

The contents of this page were current at the time it was posted, but may differ from the present.

Text visible in this map is based on information from Map Tiler and may differ from actual geographical names.

Places mentioned in this post

Kita (Umeda / Tenma) Shopping Complex commercial facility

Osaka Castle Park Nishinomaru Garden

Event Illumination Photo spot Winter Night view Osaka Castle Area

大阪城周辺、中之島など

Cruise Nakanoshima / Honmachi Osaka Castle Area

Osaka souvenir Tennoji, Abeno, Shinsekai Observatory

Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Arcade

Kita (Umeda / Tenma) Museum Culture ＆ History

Indoor Game Bay area (USJ, Kaiyukan)

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Travel Tips

Winter Travel in Osaka: What It’s Really Like

Winter Travel in Osaka

December through February marks winter travel in Japan. Osaka’s climate is typically not as cold nor as extreme compared to other winter destinations like Hokkaido. In fact, it rarely snows in Osaka whereas the chances of snow just 30 minutes away by train in Kyoto are far more likely.

What Winter Really Feels Like in Osaka

In Osaka, winter is refreshingly cold (ranging between the high 30s and 50s) and not too biting cold. There may be a few days of rain each month, but for the most part, you can expect clear, sunny days.

It is in the evenings that can bring in temperatures below freezing with a biting wind chill. So long as you pack the proper winter apparel, you will find travel during Osaka’s winter season to be rather enjoyable.

For further reading for your winter travel enjoyment, find out this season’s ingredients and food specialties in Japan as well as where to pick strawberries this winter: Best Season Foods & Ingredients in Japan Japan Fruit Picking Guide

What to Wear

Winter temperatures in Osaka compared to northern and eastern Japan are not as extreme which makes a winter coat, scarf, and gloves are sufficient enough to pack.

If you plan to stay outdoors most of the day and evening, layer your clothing with thermals. Uniqlo has an excellent line of Heattech inner and outerwear that really warms up your entire body.

If you do not plan to stay outdoors as much, you may want to lessen the layers of clothing. You will find that as soon as you enter department stores and restaurants, you will warm up almost instantly and regret having so many layers of clothing and a thick jacket.

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Girl Eat World

A girl's adventure in food and travel around the world, osaka itinerary: how to plan your trip to the kansai region.

Osaka is one of the largest metropolitan cities in Japan, second only to Tokyo . It’s a popular tourist destination due to its strategic location, which allows you to make multiple-day trips to interesting cities, like Kyoto , Nara , and Kobe.

I’ve visited this area three times now, and if you need help planning your itinerary to these cities, then I’ve got the perfect blog post for you! Read on 😉

How many days should I spend in Osaka?

When is the best time to visit Osaka?
Which rail pass should I get?

How do I get to Osaka?

Where to stay in osaka, osaka itinerary for first-timers.

Tips for traveling around in Kansai

Getting into Osaka from the Kansai Airport

What to do in the kansai region, fast track your arrival in japan.

You can make your arrival in Japan easier by completing your immigration and customs procedures before your arrival via Visit Japan Web. Read how to do that here

I recommend at least 5 days to see the must-see of the Kansai region, namely Osaka and Kyoto. But it would be better if you could stay for at least 8 days, which will allow you to visit all the best highlights of Kansai: Osaka , Kyoto , Nara , Kobe, Himeji, and Hiroshima.

When is the best time to visit Osaka / Kansai region?

Much like the rest of Japan, you can aim to visit during the Sakura season or during the Autumn foliage season . Click on the respective blog posts for predicted times as they change every year. Keep in mind these seasons would be peak tourism time, so it will be very crowded, but beautiful!

Try to avoid the hurricane or typhoon season from August – September. Also avoid Golden Week in the first week of May, which is Japan’s biggest holiday and will drive a lot of domestic tourism.

Yellow Ginko Trees along Osaka Shinsaibashi station

There are two popular ways to get to Osaka:

1. By Shinkansen (Bullet Train)

If you’re coming from Tokyo , most people get to Osaka by train from Tokyo via Shinkansen, Japan’s famous ultra-fast bullet train. You can then get off at Osaka Station, where you will have plenty of convenient local trains to switch to.

If you haven’t bought an Unlimited JR Pass , then I would recommend it since the Tokyo – Osaka train is included with the JR Pass. Buying the Shinkansen ticket separately would already cost almost as much as the JR pass, so it’s definitely worth it.

The price of Unlimited JR Pass has increased by 70% since 1 Oct 2023 . Even though you’ll see many recommendations for buying a JR Pass to save some costs, it could be outdated. Since the price hike, it has become harder to justify the cost of the JR Pass, however regional passes like the JR West Kansai Pass might still be worth it. I am working on updating my blog post to reflect this change.

2. By Airplane + Haruka line

The closest international airport to Osaka is the Kansai International Airport (KIX). If you are flying and landing in KIX and will be staying in Osaka, I recommend taking Haruka line by Japan Rail to get to the city.

This line takes you straight from KIX to the city, stopping at major stations Tennoji and Shin-Osaka before going on to Kyoto. But if you have the unlimited JR Pass, this journey is already included so you do not need to purchase it separately. From there, you can resume with local trains using an IC card .

If you are staying at a hotel in Osaka, you might be interested in the luggage delivery services from Kansai International airport . Luggage delivery is common in Japan and reliable. It lets you travel without having to carry your heavy luggages!

Which rail pass should I get for visiting Osaka?

The best way to get around Osaka and the rest of the Kansai area is to use the extensive Japanese train system! The cost of train tickets could add up if you’re planning on visiting multiple cities in Osaka. Thankfully, there are a few rail passes you can consider to help with the costs!

1. JR Pass for Bullet Train

JR Pass is a train pass that basically gives you unlimited rides on JR trains for the duration of the pass validity. This includes the Shinkansen bullet trains, which make it easy to travel through different cities in Japan. However, it doesn’t mean that you always need a JR Pass every time you go to Japan.

If you are flying straight to Osaka and only planning to visit Kyoto and Nara , you won’t need a JR pass since you can easily visit these places via the local trains – consider getting the Kintetsu Rail Pass instead.

For going to Kyoto from Osaka, taking local trains is cheaper than taking the Shinkansen with JR Pass, it just takes slightly longer. However, the difference isn’t that much – it’s only 15 mins by JR train vs. 30 mins by local train.

But if you are going to more cities than just Kyoto and Osaka, you should consider getting a JR Pass. The JR pass you need to get depends on the cities you want to visit and how long you are planning to travel around. So I recommend setting your itinerary first and seeing which JR Pass suits your itinerary.

Here are your JR Pass options for exploring Osaka and Kansai

JR West Kansai Pass (available as 1, 2, 3, or 4-day pass)
5 Day JR Kansai Wide Pass (if 4 days are not enough for you)
JR Kansai – Hiroshima Area Pass (5-day validity)
Unlimited JR Pass – If you are planning on visiting other areas in Japan that are outside of Kansai prefecture. For example, if you’re flying to Tokyo and want to go to Osaka by bullet train.

Normally, you need to buy JR Pass from outside of Japan and have them mailed to your address, but with Klook you can pick them up at the airport!

What is Klook? Klook is the leading travel and experiences booking website in Asia. And yes, they are legit! I personally always book my activities through them whenever I am traveling. See my review of Klook here .

2. Kintetsu Rail Pass

If you’re mainly interested in going to Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara, then the Kintetsu Rail Pass is perfect for you. They have 1, 2, and 5-day Kintetsu Rail Pass which will save you some money.

Please note that Kintetsu Rail Pass does not include limited express trains. If you ask me though, the limited express train is not worth the price for just a few minutes faster, so just use the Kintetsu Rail Pass and board the regular express trains.

Buy Kintetsu Rail pass online which can be redeemed at the train station

In Osaka, it’s best to stay close to a major train station – anywhere near Shin-Osaka, Namba, Tennoji and Osaka-Umeda stations is a great option.

Here are some recommendations:

Zentis Osaka in Umeda ($$) – Located within a few minutes walk to Osaka Station. They have studio apartments as well as family rooms for those who want bigger accommodations.
InterContinental Osaka ($$$) – Also located within a few minutes walk from Osaka station, this hotel is very convenient with many amenities nearby
Hotel Noum Osaka ($$) – A cute modern hotel located one station away from Osaka-Umeda station.
Umedaholic ($$) – Small hotel near Osaka-Umeda station and close to the city center.
Guesthouse Ten-roku ($) – Female-only dorm, perfect for solo travelers who are looking to save on accommodations.

Below I have provided two types of itineraries depending on what type of traveler you are. Some people prefer to squeeze in as much as they can, while others prefer to travel a bit slower.

Itinerary 1: For fast travelers who want to do everything and visit multiple cities (7-9 days)

Day 1: Arrive in Osaka and explore the city (stay overnight in Osaka)
Day 2: Take the train to Kyoto (stay overnight in Kyoto / Osaka)
Day 3: Explore Kyoto (stay overnight in Osaka)
Day 4: Day trip to Nara (stay overnight in Osaka)
Day 5: Kobe
Day 6: Himeji
Day 7: Hiroshima
Day 8: Take the train back to Osaka and fly out

The itinerary above assumes you have at least 8 days in Kansai. But if you have fewer days, you can easily tailor this itinerary by omitting some cities. Out of all the cities I listed above, Osaka and Kyoto are definitely the two must-visit places. For other cities, you can choose whether you want to visit them on the same trip or leave it for later, so you have an excuse to come back 🙂

The advantage of this itinerary is of course you get to see a lot more than just the usual Osaka / Kyoto / Nara. On the other hand, the disadvantage is that you’ll need to get a JR Pass, which will cost more. On top of that, you need to be strategic about how to use the JR pass since they are only valid for 5 days maximum. See the “ Do I need a JR Pass ” section for more information. You’ll also need to move around quite a bit with this itinerary, which might be tiring for some people.

Itinerary 2: Slower and shorter itinerary, but still visit all the must-sees in Kansai (at least 5 days)

Another option is to stay put in Osaka, which makes for a more chilled-out itinerary, but you can still get out of Osaka on these day trips:

Day 1: Arrive in Osaka , explore the city
Day 2: Go to Kyoto
Day 3: Go back to Kyoto again
Day 4: Visit Nara or Kobe , or day trip to Akame 48
Day 5: Explore Osaka and fly out

The advantage of this itinerary is likely you don’t need to get a JR Pass. All of the destinations above are reachable by local train. You also don’t need to move around much in terms of accommodation – you can choose to stay in Osaka for the entirety of this itinerary. Osaka is a big city so you won’t run out of things to do – I’ve written extensively about Osaka here if you need inspiration!

Below I have outlined each city and what you can expect to see, so you can decide for yourself whether it’s worth visiting or not.

Tips for traveling in Kansai

If you are visiting Kyoto , Nara , and Kobe, I recommend making Osaka your base instead of staying overnight in those cities. Accommodation options are better (cheaper) in Osaka, there is more to do at night, and the train back takes only 15-30 minutes.
But if you really want to stay in Kyoto, you can do so for one night. Choose to stay at a Ryokan for that authentic Japanese experience. Please read my Kyoto guide for places to stay.
If you are getting a rail pass , make sure it will be valid for all of the days that you are traveling between cities , and make sure you also account for the day when you are going back to Osaka.
Flying out late but having to check out early from your accommodation? You can leave your luggage in a coin locker! Coin lockers are available everywhere in major stations. They are quite spacious and cheap to rent. I was able to fit my 45L backpack into a tiny 300 yen one at the bottom. There is English instruction on the machine. Be sure to come early if you are going from a popular station though. I tried to do this in Kyoto station around noon but could not find any unoccupied locker. In the end, I gave up and had to lug my backpack around all day.

If you don’t have a JR pass, or if you want to delay the validity of your JR pass, you can consider getting the Haruka Airport Express train ticket . This gives you the best price for the express train to town.

Make sure to check ahead if your accommodation is closer to Tennoji or Shin-Osaka as there is a slight fare difference. Tennoji is closer to the airport and it’s a little cheaper.

As I’ve said before, Osaka is one of the largest Japanese metropolitan cities, not just in Kansai but in the entire of Japan. I believe they are the second largest city after Tokyo. As with other big cities, you’ll find it very accessible and well-connected, which is why it’s a good idea to base yourself in Osaka while visiting nearby cities like Kyoto, Nara, or even Kobe.

I’ve written extensively about Osaka here , so please check out that blog post if you want to get an idea of what you can do, see and eat in Osaka. I’ve also included general tips on exploring the city and where to stay in Osaka.

2. Kyoto (2 days)

Kyoto needs no introduction – it is definitely a must-visit when you’re in Osaka. The city is an easy 30 minutes on the rapid local train or 15 minutes on the Shinkansen from Osaka. When visiting Kyoto, I would still recommend staying in Osaka because accommodations are cheaper.

Further Reading: I’ve written a dedicated blog post for Kyoto here: Kyoto Travel Guide , so please check that post on all my recommendations for Kyoto.

Yasaka Pagoda in Higashiyama District in Kyoto

3. Nara (1 day / Day trip)

Nara is another popular trip to take from Osaka due to its proximity – only 30-45 minutes by local train. The city is quite small, but they have many temples and shrines to visit. They also have a huge park where you can walk and interact with the free-roaming wild Sika deer population in Nara.

Further Reading: I’ve written a dedicated blog post for Nara here: Nara Travel Guide , so please check that post for everything I know about visiting Nara!

4. Akame 48 Waterfalls (1 day / Day trip)

Akame 48 Waterfall is about an hour out of Osaka by train. It’s a short, easy trail following the main river which forms many small waterfalls. Though it’s probably good to visit all year round, I highly recommend visiting during the Momijigari season, which tends to be mid to end of November.

Further Reading: You can read my post about visiting Akame 48 !

5. Kobe (1 day)

Kobe is yet another city that you can easily visit from Osaka. It’s only 30 minutes away from Osaka by train. Kobe is well-known for… well, the delicious Kobe beef. Aside from the beef, Kobe is known for the Chinatown area, the Kobe ropeway, and the Nunobiki waterfall. I think one day will be enough for Kobe.

6. Himeji (1 day)

Himeji is mostly known for the Himeji castle, which is famous for its brilliant white color. Most Japanese castles have white walls and dark roofs, but the Himeji castle’s roofs are light gray, which helps to give it that clean minimalistic all-white look.

This castle is on the way to Hiroshima, so it’s a good stop if you’re heading that way!

7. Hiroshima (1-2 days)

Hiroshima should be a name familiar to those who studied world history in school… which should be all of us. Yes, it is one of the sites of the infamous atomic bomb. At Hiroshima, you can learn about the history of what happened during the world war and how badly it affected the residents. I have to warn you that it could get pretty bleak – not for the faint of heart especially if you’re American, regardless of what your political stance is.

However, aside from its grim past, Hiroshima is also famous for quite a few interesting things: don’t miss out on Miyajima , a shrine that is half submerged in water during high tide. You can visit the shrine during sunset for optimal views. Hiroshima is also famous for Okonomiyaki , so make sure to have some while you’re in the city.

That’s all I have on the Osaka itinerary! If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below . I usually answer pretty fast and to the best of my knowledge.

Until next time folks!

51 Comments

January 11, 2024

Dear Melissa,

I am happy to find your travel blog. I will be on a 13 days itinerary from Osaka to Kyoto to Nara to Kobe to Himeji to Hiroshima, being Osaka as my base. Which rail pass should I get?

Thanks, Zen

December 29, 2023

I will be going to Kansai area for the first time and flying domestic from Haneda. I couldn’t exactly find baggage allowance info for domestic flights though I’ve booked them together with my international flight from SG. If you have experience on this could you share if you have any idea if the international flight baggage allowance would apply to the domestic leg too? I’ve tried calling JAL domestic airport but couldn’t get through for some reason. I might have to opt for luggage delivery from TYO to OSA couple of days in advance prior to reaching OSA as I will usually bring 2 big luggage along.

January 16, 2024

Hey Jen, i just flew JAL domestically and they only allow 23kg per luggage. I am not sure what would happen if the flights are booked under one booking though. Hope you are able to get through to JAL.

December 27, 2023

Hi Melissa,

Thanks for this great write up! I will be flying into Osaka, but departing from NRT/Tokyo. I think I would probably be following the 7-9 day sample itinerary you provided. Would it make the most sense then to just get the JR unlimited pass since none of the local passes would cover the shinkansen to Tokyo?

Hey Jeremy, to get the shinkansen covered for Tokyo, you would need unlimited JR pass. Unfortunately they have raised the price for that and it is no longer worth while to get the pass. I can only recommend getting the JR west pass to cover your travels within Kansai.

you can try using this calculator to see if it’s worth it https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/

December 26, 2023

My family (wife + 2 teenagers + myself) visited Osaka / Kyoto / Nara / Mie from 10 – 19 December 2023. And it was was a very pleasant experience. Yes, some of the entrance fees have since gone up (from the last time you were there) but that is to be expected. Transport was a breeze as the trains / buses were easy to navigate.

We want to thank you for sharing your experience.

PS: And I will leave a note at Kaitlin’s site to thank her for the heads up re: Akame 48 Waterfalls Shuttle Bus. LOL

I am glad to hear you had a good time! Thanks for taking the time to come back and write this comment.

December 4, 2023

Wow your blog is so informative. It will be our 1st trip to Japan, and we are planning 6D 5N trip around Osaka-Kyoto-Nara/Hiroshima/Himeji (can’t decide which of these 3). However, would like advice from you on the following: 1. Which is the best airport we should land at where we can travel to Osaka city center easier – would it be KIX? 2. Should we stay entire 5 nights in Osaka and travel to/from Kyoto and Nara/Hiroshima/Himeji on day trips? 3. Which should we choose – Nara or Hiroshima or Himeji? Looking at more attractions to visit, with lesser travelling time. 4. What’s the difference between Haruka line by JR with JR West Kansai Pass and JR Kansai Wide Pass and which should we get for our entire trip? Especially from airport to Osaka and to other places and back to airport? Should we also get IC? 5. Would you know roughly how much we would be spending on food in a day? Looks like quite a lot of questions. Thank you in advance.

December 3, 2023

Hi, it will be my first time in Japan next month. So far the only thing I have planned out is “insert blank here” and so I am now looking while trying to study for my finals hahahaha…. I will by landing on Jan 6 in osaka but need to fly out of tokyo. So I guess the only thing I have book is my flight ticket. Your 8 days in the Kansai region, are you saying to book the hotel in Osaka and just take the train to those other locations? If that is the case, what is a good time to be heading out and heading back? Also the rest of the time after those 8 days will be in Tokyo (any recommendations there?) Basically only thing I have planned out is Jan 6 I will be in Osaka for 8 days (Oct 13/14) then take a train to tokyo until Jan 19 (so about 5 days). Do you have any places I should stop by on my way to tokyo? I will be travelling solo.

November 30, 2023

Hi Melissa, Thank you for your blog. It has great information. I am planing a 24 day trip to Japan sept next year and I would like to have time to spend in a place instead of rushing around. Also I am a senior and I know Japan needs a lot of walking. Hope you can advise on my itinery and should I just get the kansai pass for the kansai area and which other pass should I get pls. Arrive Osaka and spend 4 nights with day trips to. Kobe and hemeji and spending the rest in Osaka. Then train to Nara for will I spend one or two nights pls. If I spend one night then I hope to go to akame 48 and spend one night there. Nextis 4 nights in kyoto. Kanazawa 3 nights will go to shirawago on way to takayama

Takayama 3 nights. Hakone 3 nights Lake kawaguichi 3 nights Tokyo 3 nights Fly out of Tokyo.

I know I can see a lot more places like Hiroshima but I want to leave that out for the next trip as there is a lot to do in Hiroshima and surrounding area. Hope you can help Thank you

Hello, your itinerary looks great! My only advise would be 4 nights in Kyoto might be too long. But its really up to you and what you like to see, so maybe it is okay.

November 29, 2023

Hi Mel, I am really glad to have found your blog, it’s really very informative. I’m traveling to Kansai this coming Sunday. However, I am really confuse about the many passes available. If my itinerary is as follow, what would you advise 1. Day 1: Arriving Kansai in late afternoon, and intend to travel to Kyoto straight. I guess it would be night time by then. 2. Day 2: Exploring Kyoto, staying overnight 3. Day 3: Day trip to Nara, from Kyoto 4. Day 4: Exploring Kyoto in the morning, before going off to Osaka 5. Day 4: arriving Osaka late afternoon 6. Day 5: Day trip to Kobe, from Osaka 7. Day 6: explore Osaka 8. Day 7: morning check out and proceed to airport Base on the above itinerary, what kind of pass I should be getting, it’s really confusing. Many thanks.

Regards, Mel

Hey fellow Mel, I think the only pass that covers Kyoto, Nara and Kobe is the JR West Kansai pass. However, if I were you, I would just take the local train to travel between Kyoto and Osaka. It sounds like you only need to activate the pass from Day 3 to go to Nara, so the 4 day pass would work well for you.

November 17, 2023

Hi Melissa. Your blog is tremendously great and helpful. I have never been to Osaka or even any part of Japan and intend to go in 2024 during peak fall which I hv no idea the dates for peak fall. I was thinking of flying straight to Kansai airport and take a train to Kyoto. Spend 2/3 days in Kyoto. Then travel back to Osaka to spend 3/4 days there and hv a day trip to Nara from Osaka. Does this sound ok or I’m being ridiculous. Thanks in advancr

August 16, 2023

Thank you for the detail sharing on Osaka & Kyoto. I will be travelling to Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Nara and may be to Akame 48 as well from 11-22 Sep 23. As this is my 1st time to Japan, appreciate if you could advise me on the following –

1) Do you have any detail sharing on Kobe & Nara? 2) In your opinion, it is a good time to spend a day to Akame 48 in Sept? Is it worth the time to include in my itinerary since is not during Momijigan ? 3) Which Kansai pass (JR West Kansai Pass or 5 days JR Kansai Wide Pass) will you recommend for the places I intend to go? 4) Can a tourist allow to have multiple Kansai pass be it JR West Kansai Pass or JR Kansai Wide Pass in the same period while in Japan, in my case from 11-22 Sep 2023 but I will only activate either of the pass from different day? For example, can I have 2 sets of 5 days JR Kansai Wide Pass, will activate 1st pass on 11 Sep and 2nd pass on 16 Sep? Or have 1 set of 4 days JR West Kansai Pass and 1 set of 5 days JR Kansai Wide Pass?

Really appreciate your time and if you could advise on my 1st ever Japan trip.

Hi Shirley 1) I have visited but haven’t written a blog post about it. I think both are good as day trips from Osaka, but I would not stay over night 2) I think Akame 48 is still great if you’re looking for an easy nature walk. It probably won’t be as beautiful as during Momijigari, but still a nice relaxing walk 3) These passes both work for your intended places, but I think for Akame 48 it’s better to take the express train which is not covered by JR. So just get the cheapest one and try to group your Nara and Kobe visit together so that they fall within the pass validity (go to Kobe and Nara on consecutive days) 4) I have not done this, but I think it should not be an issue as there is no limit to how many JR pass you can buy

Thank you, Melissa

Any recommendations places of interest (must go) in Kobe and Nara?

Nara is a pretty small area – Todaiji temple and feeding the Shika deer is a must. For Kobe, I really enjoyed the Cable Car and Mount Rokko area!

Thank you so much.

July 8, 2023

Hi Melissa, Thanks for the excellent information. I will be travelling to Osaka in late August. There are two flight options for me. Option 1 is fly to Narita purchase the 14 days JR pass and travel to Osaka. Option 2 is to fly to Osaka directly. Option 1 with the JR pass is $100 more than option 2. I will base in Osaka for my 10 days since I have free accommodation. I intent to visit Nara(1 day) Kobe (2 days) and Kyoto (4 days) I intend to spend 3 days in Osaka. Would you recommend option 1 or 2 for my flight. I was thinking that with the JR pass I can use it to travel between the cities. Then I can buy the local past for the city commute. Or I should fly to Osaka and buy the Kansai pass for regional travel. Is 4 days in Kyoto too long? What is your suggestion for the itinerary for 10 days. I am not visiting Tokyo , since I did visit Tokyo prior. Is the Osaka amazing pass worth buying?

Hey Colin, I definitely would just fly straight to Osaka and use the regional JR passes, it is usually cheaper overall and saves a lot of travel time. Unless of course, you intend to visit Tokyo during your stay.

May 25, 2023

Hi Ms. Melissa,

Thanks for the information that you provide, very useful.

We will travel this August, 6 adult and 4 minor. We are looking for a cheap transient house. Is it advisable to hire a van for our 8-day stay there? Do you recommend hiring the services of a tour guide? Where can we have a better foreign money exchange?

Thanks and God bless.

March 3, 2023

Hey! Lots of love from Germany! Im planning on going to Japan for around 3 Weeks in July. I’ve been therw many years ago in 2006 with my mom and brother and this year i will go with my boyfriend. Its really difficult to decide how long to stay. We have lots of free time, due to university breaks. But staying too long will be too expensive. Its really great that u recommended the amount of times spend in each place! I’ll definitely recommend your blog to my friends and read a lot more here myself.

March 4, 2023

i’m glad to hear that Lisa!

January 3, 2023

Very valuable information you shared here Melissa! My wife and I visited Tokyo in Autumn and planning to visit Kansai during cherry blossoms!

December 20, 2022

I’m going to Osaka, Kyoto & Nara for 10 days in spring, I’ve read up a lot about the commute in Kansai but I’m still very lost… I’m just going around these three places but I’m not sure if I should get the ICOCA, JR pass, or the Kansai Travel Pass?

December 19, 2022

Hi Melissa, we are planning to visit Kansai around mid April 2023. Am thinking of the following: Day 1 – Arrive at night at Kansai airport. Overnight in Osaka Day 2 – Osaka Day 3 – Osaka Day 4 – Osaka to Kyoto (overnight in Kyoto) Day 5 – Kyoto Day 6 – Kyoto to Nara deer park & Todaij temple, then Nara back to Osaka Day 7 – Osaka to Kobe Mt Rokko, waterfall, herb garden, then Kobe back to Osaka Day 8 – depart Kansai airport

Kindly advise: 1. Should we get the 2days Osaka Amazing Pass? (Is it consecutive days basis?) 2. Which type/s of train pass should we get? 3. Which is the best train option for day 4, 6 & 7? 4. Is half a day sufficient in Kobe if we only visit Mt Rokko area?

December 16, 2022

Like to ask for your advice on the train pass. I will be staying in Osaka for 7days, if i only plan to go Kyoto, Nara, Kobe Which is the most economical train pass to get Thank you in advance

December 9, 2022

Hi Melissa!

We’re planning to visit Osaka and Kyoto this spring of 2023. Probably a 2 nights and 3 days itinerary. Plan to go to universal studio the first day and 2nd day is a day trip to kyoto. Would you recommend a hotel in osaka that also makes us easier to go to USJ and the nearest stations? Also, what place in Kyoto would you recommend for a day trip? To see Sakura. Your reply is much appreciated! Thank you!

December 1, 2022

Hi, I’ve booked a 12 days trip to Japan – both days fly in and out all full days. I’m wondering whether to do both Osaka and Tokyo or just Osaka alone. What do you suggest?

November 18, 2022

Hi Melissa, Thanks for sharing the information. I will be arriving Kansai Airport and spending my 10days in Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Akame and maybe Himeji. Which JR pass should I get. JR west pass or JR wide area pass? A bit confusing on the Japan trains route. Or should I just go by the day pass?

The main difference between the JR Kansai Wide pass and the JR west kansai pass is that the west pass does not include shinkansen (bullet train) aside of the airport express.

JR west kansai pass could be enough for you if you dont mind the slightly longer travel time (For example Himeji is 30 mins from Osaka on bullet train vs 1.5 hours on local train).

Another thing to consider for whether you want to take the day pass or not depends on your plan. If you’re planning to move around in consecutive days, it might be cheaper to get the 4 day pass.

I personally think it’s only worth it for the Himeji portion of your itinerary, since the local trains to Kyoto/Nara/Kobe is pretty cheap on its own.

Thanks for asking this question! you have inspired me to add more details on which JR pass to get on my post 🙂

November 7, 2022

Hi, really useful thanks. We want to visit the Hokudanshinsai Memorial Park in Awaji. Will I be able to do this on public transport from Kobe? Thanks

November 8, 2022

It’s possible to take the local train from Kobe to Maiko station, and then you’ll have to resume via a bus from Maiko station to Hokudanshinsai Memorial Park

October 19, 2022

Hi Melissa, I was going through your itinerary and found it to be quite useful for planning a trip. I wanted your suggestion if I am planning to incorporate Mt. Koya into this trip. Should I keep 2 days for Mt. Koya? Can I club any other site during my visit to Mt Koya?

October 9, 2022

Melissa Any adv on how I can spend 16 nights in Japan, arriving abd departing from Kansai airport? In the Kansai region, which city do I make my base for 6-8 day, of which one night in Hiroshima and two nights in Kyoto? We also plan to visit and stay in Tokyo for 6-7 days, what places to visits? Late night in Osaka before departing from Kansai. Question, do we complete our Tokyo trip 1st for 6-7 day and than spend the 8 days in Kansai region? Also adv, which are the most suitable different train passes ( for 3 adults) to get for our16 days stay and which train pass to buy and when to start using to safe cost? I understand the JR train pass will be good for us for 7days when going and coming back from Tokyo

October 11, 2022

Hey Gill, I would base myself in Osaka for Kansai. Hiroshima might be a bit far (1.5 hours by train) but Kyoto will be very close especially if you have a JR pass.

Whether you want to do Tokyo first or not, it’s up to you but definitely group the Tokyo trips together as it takes 3 hours by train to go from Osaka to Tokyo. You could explore Kansai first upon landing, then go to Tokyo, or you could go to Tokyo straight.

Since you’re going to Tokyo, the only suitable JR Pass option is the unlimited JR pass as it covers the regions you want to go to. You can use JR pass for some local trains too as long as they are run by JR rail. You don’t really need JR pass during your time in Tokyo, but you would need it for the train going from Osaka to Tokyo, so I would see the difference of the cost of Single ticket vs JR pass.

October 3, 2022

What area of Osaka should I stay, planning day trips to Kyoto, Nara, etc.

October 5, 2022

Hi Liz, I have an Osaka recommendation post here: https://girleatworld.net/things-to-do-in-osaka/ You can find where to stay in that blog post

September 29, 2022

Where do you recommend to stay in Osaka with young children? Easily accessible to their train station and food. Thank you!

Hi Hazel, I have written about Osaka on a separate blog post here: https://girleatworld.net/things-to-do-in-osaka/

July 24, 2021

Thansk for sharing tips, After this pandemic I’m planning to go on vacation to Japan

February 23, 2020

Hi, great blog. It helps so much. I will be traveling to : hadena to Shibuya to hakone to osaka to kyoto.

I know I need the IC card ( suisa) Do i need the jr pass too? I don’t mind if it takes longer by trains than the JR. Thank u for your input

February 24, 2020

Hey marilyn, SUICA card is only good for local trains. I would still take the JR Pass for the trains from Tokyo to Odawara (you need to go to this station to reach Hakone, then take odakyu line) and Odawara to Osaka / Kyoto. The cost of trains from these destinations would already cover the cost of JR Pass.

February 25, 2020

Thank u . That helps a lot. Can u tell me if i shoukd take the local train or the jr rail from the airport to shibuya? Are they both heading that way? Thank u

December 18, 2019

Make sure not to miss the Toei Kyoto Studio Park. Here in the Philippines, super sentai shows, animés and several other Japanese shows like Takeshi’s Castle are very popular here. Two of my favorite movies related to Japan are the Seven Samurai and The Last Samurai. You can enjoy a wonderful exhibit of those in Toei Kyoto Studio Park.

I also remember how we almost missed our tour to the Golden Pavillion because it closes at 5PM. Among all the countries that we visited, our tour in Japan is our favorite. It’s followed by our tour in India. 🙂

November 17, 2019

Loved this so much, Thanks for sharing such an useful Information

February 25, 2023

Hi Melissa you’re blog is so useful for 1sttimers going around Japan specifically in. Osaka. Tho we we’re there last mid 2019 we depend our itinerary to our daughter who is techi enough to use her fone looking for our daily DIY tour. Now my problem is my husband who’s going back this coming June together with his 2 siblngs who are in their prime age(.meaning all the 3 are seniors).Iam worried that it will hard for them to get around without help from tour guide.They will be staying there for a week. Maybe can you(with your kind permission) help us design their tour in these beautiful place. I tried checking their local tour guides but their rates are too much expensive hahaha BTW you might think of my daughter who accompanied us before we can no longer bring her since she got married and have a kid and work to get busied with. I hope I get a useful tip from you before these people get to touch down Osaka. Godspeed and TIA ❤️

October 28, 2019

Great information. Interesting and valuable read. Any information on Okinawa or other parts of Japan that you had been.

September 24, 2023

Happend to read your blog and is of great information. I am planning for a trip to Osaka with my son (only 2 of us) and is also my first visit to Japan. Has been looking for info but is like bits and pieces everywhere which made me more confused, yr blog is quite informative.

Can I seek your advise if I have 9D8N in osaka, is it better for me to stay in osaka throughout or stay a few days in Kyoto and explore other cities.

And which is a must to visit? We will go USJ so 1 day gone. Trying to plan my itinerary so that I can book hotel as soon as possible.

September 26, 2023

Hi Doreen, Most things to do in Kansai is easily reachable from Osaka, so staying in Osaka is not a bad thing. I think for 9 days you can explore to stay at other cities, since you have a lot of time, but it is not a requirement. I would recommend staying maybe 1-2 nights in Kyoto for a change of scenery. My must visit for first timers are definitely Kyoto and Nara. You can also visit Himeji for the white castle.

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Home » Asia » Japan » Osaka

Insider Osaka Itinerary for 2024

Osaka is known as the friendliest city in all of Japan, the people are the true gem of the ancient capital of Japan. But besides making new friends, Osaka is full of strange and quirky things to do, a fascinating history, and best of all, home to the tastiest food in all of Japan.

This is the palace where conveyor belt sushi and Takoyaki were invented. So, get ready to ditch that tight waistband, my friends, ’cause you’re gonna feast like there’s no tomorrow.

I spent two weeks in Osaka scoping out the BEST things to do in Japan’s foodie capital and I am here to help you plan th e ultimate trip to this wonderful city, whether its a day or a week, you’ll never forget your time in Osaka.

A girl stands amongst cardboard cutouts of anime characters in Kyoto, Japan.

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A Little Bit about this 3-Day Osaka Itinerary

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A vibrant street food stall in Osaka, Japan.

Osaka’s history, culture, foodie scene, and entertainment district make Osaka a truly memorable city! It has something for every traveler, from world-class theme parks to incredible museums and street food stalls, you’ll never run out of things to do in Osaka!

Whether you’re spending one day in Osaka or 3 days in Osaka, there are some phenomenal options jostling for a spot on your list! I’d personally suggest taking at least two-three full days to explore the city. If you want to see all of the important landmarks you might be able to fit everything into 24 hours, but you’ll miss out on some of the cool and quirky sites that make Osaka so famous. If you can, do set more time aside.

In this 3 day Osaka itinerary, you’ll find each day is packed with action, culture, history, and adventure. You won’t have to rush from A to B though because I’ve sorted everything by proximity. Of course, you can change it up as much as you want. Add stops, swap things around, or even skip some places. Use this itinerary as inspiration to get the most out of your trip!

3 Day Osaka Itinerary Overview

Day One – Museum of Art | Bunraku Theatre | Namba Parks | Tempozan Ferris Wheel | Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Day Two – Osaka Castle Park | Mint Museum | Umeda Sky Building | Museum of History | Dotonbori
Day Three – Expo ‘70 | Universal Studios | Momofuku Ando | Hattori Ryokuchi | Osaka Food Tour

A cool art display on a building in Osaka, Japan.

As Japan’s third-largest city, Osaka is filled to the brim with places to see. It’s quite a widespread city with excellent transport options so there is also a wide variety of great places to stay in Osaka. Consider experiencing Osaka Capsule Hotels – a novel and compact stay option that perfectly complements the city’s futuristic and dynamic atmosphere.

The Osaka Castle area is also an ideal place to stay as it is jam-packed with Osaka landmarks and great hotels! There are also some lovely Airbnbs in Osaka .

There are so many exciting things to do in Osaka that it’s pretty hard to go wrong. As long as you’re near a train station and a great place to eat, Osaka is a goldmine of things to do!

Stay at one of these awesome hostels in Osaka to really make your time in this city memorable!

Best Hostel in Osaka – Hostel Mitsuwaya Osaka

With its epic location inside a retired toy store, the Hostel Mitsuwaya Osaka makes the perfect budget accommodation. Nestled in the beating heart of Osaka, but with an atmosphere of tranquillity, this safe and fun hostel will make your trip to Osaka even better. Rent one of their bicycles and head out to explore the city from this centrally located spot!

Best Airbnb in Osaka – Cozy House Namba

This private three-bedroom apartment in central Osaka can accommodate up to 12 people! One bedroom has a double bed and a single bed, another has a sofa bed, and the other has Japanese-style tatami mats.

It has a modern and well-equipped kitchen with a dining table and chairs, separate toilet and bathroom, a washing machine, a living area, outdoor space, Wi-Fi, and four free bicycles for you to use to explore.

Best Budget Hotel in Osaka – Ayana House

Enjoy this immaculate and well-maintained apartment as your home-away-from-home while you’re in Osaka. Just a stone’s throw away from exciting Dotonbori and Shin-Imamiya Station, for easy access to the best of Osaka’s attractions, Ayana House is the ideal place to stay on your holiday!

Best Luxury Hotel in Osaka – Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier

To experience true Japanese hospitality and an unbeatable view of Osaka’s skyline, check in at one of Osaka’s finest luxury hotels. Why pass up the chance of an in-room massage and impeccable facilities when you can have it all, and an amazing view to boot! Make the Mitsui Garden Hotel your accommodation of choice, and with its central location, all you need to do is step out the front door to discover the sights of Osaka!

A smiling statue on the streets of Osaka, Japan.

Osaka is an energetic city full of fun places to visit and with an amazing landscape, all the way from Osaka Bay to the lush outskirts of the city. No matter what you’re looking for, from nearby spots to explore to the more outlandish features, finding your ideal Osaka trip itinerary is beyond easy.

There are so many things to do in Osaka that you will feel spoiled for choice. Let’s dive into our 3 days in Osaka itinerary. Starting with day one…

9AM – National Museum of Art, Osaka (NMAO)

Take a walk through the hallowed halls of Osaka’s art world beneath the terra firma on the fantastical Nakanoshima Island!

Begin your unique artistic experience at the stunning silver gates, which welcome you into the museum. The gates are shaped like bamboo, and were inspired by the vitality of bamboo, which paints a picture of the growth of contemporary art in Japan!

The National Museum of Art has a fantastic collection of significant international and Japanese works, which have been carefully selected over 30 years. Enjoy a meander through the 3 stories of art from across the years including works by prominent artists Cezanne, Picasso and Ernst. You can also enjoy the stunning post-war pieces by Foujita, Ikemura, Ishiuchi, and Kuniyoshi.

Begin your Osaka travels with this eclectic museum experience that literally takes you deeper!

Cost – 430 yen ($4) per adult, 130 yen ($2) for university students, free for high school students and over-65-year-olds.
Getting there: Take the nearest subway station to Higobashi Station via the Yotsubashi Subway Line. From here it’s a 5-10 minute walk.
How long should I spend there: Around 1-2 hours should be enough, depending on how much you love art.

10.30AM – Namba Parks

Namba Parks - shopping stop for an Osaka itinerary

Namba Parks is a shopping complex with the ultimate difference. The mall itself is packed to the rafters with fun stores and hidden basement eateries, but it is the stunning range of rooftop parks that make it an oasis in the middle of bustling Osaka!

The building has a unique location in the footprint of Osaka’s old baseball stadium and with its 8 levels of tree groves, rock formations, and waterfalls, Namba Parks is 100% worth a visit. Take in views of the cityscape as you traverse the unbelievable rooftop environment!

As you climb over canyons and enjoy the trickling sound of a stream, the parks make for a surreal experience. There are terraces to sit on and enjoy the view, and you can even search for a vegetable garden or two.

As a lush patch of green in Osaka’s neon-infused streets, the parks are connected directly to the street so commuters and tourists can pass through easily and enjoy a taste of nature!

Cost – Entrance is free!
G etting there: Take the subway to Nankai Station, and from there you can enter the parks by the Central and South exits.
How long should I spend there: 1-2 hours should suffice.

11.30AM – Tempozan Ferris Wheel

Tempozan Ferris Wheel - a must-do in Osaka

For a gondola with a view, head for a ride on the Tempozan Ferris Wheel in Osaka’s Harbour Village. Gaze out over Osaka Bay as you take a 360 degree trip round Tempozan’s giant Ferris wheel!

The brightly colored attraction makes quite a feature on Osaka’s landscape, with its unique role as the local weather vane. The Ferris wheel shines different colors to represent the day’s weather, including a bright orange for sunshine, green for cloudy weather, and blue means it’ll rain.

The giant bay-side attraction used to hold the title for the tallest Ferris wheel in the world when it opened in 1997, and you can see why at an impressive height of 112.5 meters! You can use your view from the top to scope out other amazing Osaka features for the day with Mount Ikoma, Universal Studios Japan, the Mount Rokko and the Akashi Kaiky Bridge visible from your pod in the sky.

For the brave among you, there’s also the opportunity to pick one of the Ferris wheel’s transparent gondolas!

Insider Tip: While you’re in the area, head over to Mt Tempo, Japan’s smallest mountain, which sits at 4.5 meters high.

Cost – 800 yen ($8).
Getting there: Take the subway to Osakako Station via the Chuo Line.
How long should I spend there: No more than an hour.

1:00PM – The Original Pancake House

For today’s lunch spot, we’re heading to The Original Pancake House . In a mall full of delicious options, this is by far the best place to eat! From the uber-popular Dutch Baby to the simple and sweet coconut pancake, the Namba Parks OG pancakes are a great way to refuel for the day!

2.00PM – Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

Jellyfish swimming in a tank in aquarium in Osaka, Japan.

If you’re looking to experience one of the most incredible aquariums in the world, Japan has your answer!

The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is designed to take visitors on a journey through the Pacific Ocean, with amazing exhibits which give you an informative and unbelievable look into this aquatic world.

Take a journey around the Pacific Rim as you enjoy the exhibits and features, each designed with a classic creative Japanese style. Begin your travels into this labyrinth of blue as you enter through the Fish Underpass – Aqua Gate , a walk-through tunnel with sea life on every side!

Then, experience every creature from river fish of the Japanese Forest to the adorable tufted puffin of the Aleutian Islands. The aquarium’s main attraction is the Pacific Ocean exhibit, with 14 surrounding aquatic exhibits arranged to match their position on the Pacific Rim!

One of the aquarium’s most spectacular features is the jellyfish exhibit, which gives you the feeling of staring into an aquatic galaxy, amongst the mystical sway of the jellyfish. There are even Japanese spider crabs!

Finish off your first day in Osaka with this trip through the waters of the Pacific, then as night falls, stay for more fun as the Night Aquarium comes to life!

Cost – 2300 yen ($21) for over-16s, 2000 yen ($18) for over-60s, 1200 yen ($11) for children between 7 and 15 years old, 600 yen ($6) for 4 to 5-year-olds, children under 3 enter for free.
Getting there: Take the subway to Osakako Station and walk for 5 minutes from there.
How long should I spend there: 2-3 hours should be enough time to see it all.

7:00PM – National Bunraku Theatre

National Bunraku Theatre - awesoe place to visit in Osaka

Enjoy the fantastical stylings of Osaka’s National Bunraku Theatre as you take in a show or explore the memorable theatre itself.

The theatre was opened to protect and further the precious traditional art form of Bunraku . Performers tell emotive stories through the intricate movements of the giant wooden-headed puppets they operate. Bunraku began as a rare form of entertainment for the general public, and the theatre is carrying on that tradition!

The theatre is a jack of all trades in its efforts to preserve the art form as it houses a training institution and a fascinating archive of historical materials. The building is a work of art and history itself as it forms a mix of tradition and modernity while characterizing key elements of Edo era of Japanese architecture.

Enjoy a memorable experience of one of Japan’s classic performance forms, the perfect addition to your Osaka trip!

Cost – Varies per performance but the exhibition hall is free.
Getting there: Take the subway to Nippombashi Station and walk from there.
How long should I spend there: depending on the show.

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For our second day in Osaka, I will be including the more historic and cultural attractions in the city, such as Osaka Castle and the Dotonbori, the nightlife district in Osaka.

9.00AM – Osaka Castle Park

Will standing proudly next to the Osaka Castle in Japan.

Make the perfect start to your second day in Osaka on a visit to the Osaka Castle Park , a lush landscape full of history and stunning natural beauty!

The park’s defining feature is the stunning Osaka Castle, which sits regally amongst the trees and surrounded by an impressive moat! You can explore the castle corridors and discover ancient weaponry as well as unmissable artwork along the walls. The castle is also home to a museum with an array of historical artifacts and fascinating digital exhibits recounting the castle’s history, including a virtual reality diorama depicting the Summer War of Osaka .

The castle’s architecture is also a fascinating piece of Edo history with 13 remarkable features, including the Otemon Gates and Sengan Turret, which are treasured cultural landmarks in Osaka. Then, head up to the 8th-floor observation deck with a spectacular panoramic view of the park, Osaka Bay, and all the way to Mount Ikoma. Don’t forget to view the incredible stone wall remnants, which are said to be made up of 1 million stones!

You can take a boat ride around the moat-like a royal of old, or explore the endless fields that surround it. If you’re visiting in springtime, enjoy the pale beauty of 600 cherry trees, and discover the many alcoves dotted around the park including Nishinomaru Garden or the Grove of Remembrance!

Cost – 600 yen ($6), under-15s enter for free.
Getting there: Take the JR Loop Line to Tanimachi Yonchome Station and walk from there.
How long should you stay : around 1.5 hours should be enough.

11.30AM – Mint Museum

Mint Museum - a cool thing to do in Osaka

Experience the life inside a money box at Osaka’s Mint Museum, a great addition to your 3-day itinerary for Osaka. Inside an old power plant, sits the fascinating world of mint (or coin making), which is dedicated to introducing the work of the Japan Mint to the world!

Explore the museum’s 3 floors which give a history of the Osaka Mint Bureau, offer a look inside the coin minting process, and tell the history of coinage from its origins in ancient China to modern-day Japan.

Visit the memorable Experience Corner where you can test your abilities by lifting various coin bags and a hefty senryo-bako chest! Pay a visit to the Mint Shop (not to buy herbs) but to pick up some fun souvenir medallions, paperweights, or commemorative coin collections.

The 3rd floor houses a spectacular coin collection ranging from true antiques to more contemporary collections, including some niche Star Wars designs!

The museum’s 300 cherry trees are also open for viewing for one week each spring when the trees are formed into a glorious tunnel, and beautifully illuminated at night!

Cost – It’s free!
Getting there: From Osaka Station, take the JR Osaka Loop Line to Sakuranomiya Station and walk from there.
How long should you stay : Tours usually last around 90 minutes.

1:00PM – Lunch at the Garden Oriental

For a tasty lunch with great ambiance, head for the Garden Oriental Osaka . Choose from well-priced set menus with tasty options such as the marinated seafood platter or a lighter fare from their cafe, and enjoy your meal in a tranquil Japanese garden.

2.00PM – Umeda Sky Building, An AMAZING Floating Garden Observatory

Umeda sky building from below in Osaka, Japan.

At the top of Osaka’s spectacular Umeda Sky Building, you will find Kuchu Teien . The incredible Floating Garden Observatory offers some of the best views in Osaka from its spot on the 39th floor!

The viewing platform sits on the bridge connecting the 2 glass towers of the building, with a roof that is perfectly shaped to give visitors an unobstructed 360-degree view of the city, and you can even spot Awaji Island in the distance!

The Umeda Sky Building’s atrium-like attic is pretty spectacular, but their basement is also worth a visit! The building sits over an underground market of traditional Japanese restaurants, which is a nod to Osaka in the early 20th century.

Whether you’re heading to new heights or enjoying the hidden street market, the Umeda Sky Building hits the spot!

Cost – 1500 yen ($14) per adult, 700 yen ($7) for children between 4 and 12 years old.
Getting there: Take the nearest subway station to Osaka Station City or and Umeda Station and walk for 10 minutes through an underground passage in Osaka Station.
How long should I spend there: 1-2 hours should be enough time to take some photos and enjoy to views.

3.00PM – Osaka Museum of History

Osaka Museum of History - a historical place to visit

If you’re looking to discover Osaka’s truly ancient history, the Osaka Museum of History is where you want to be!

Begin your journey through time on the museum’s 10th floor, which houses a full-size recreation of the inside of the Naniwanomiya Palace. Then, take a stroll through exhibits portraying different eras in Osaka’s history, which become more and more contemporary as you reach ground level.

You will arrive when Osaka served as Japan’s first capital and complete your journey during the early Showa Period, with each moment in time captured through amazing visually-intricate exhibits!

With a design that offers visitors an incredible multi-layered experience of the city’s 1350-year history, the museum is any history buff’s dream! Engage with life-size models and scale replicas, as well as storied photographs and films, which dive deeply into Osaka’s past.

Cost – 600 yen ($6) per adult, 400 yen ($4) for high school and university students, younger students and over-65s enter for free.
Getting there: Take the subway to Tanimachi Yonchome Station on the Tanimachi or Chuo subway lines and then walk for 5 minutes.
How long should I spend there: around 2 hours should be enough.

7.00PM – Dotonbori

Experience one of Osaka’s prime nightlife hubs, which is ablaze with activity, neon lights and good food to eat!

Take a stroll across Ebisubashi Bridge and snap a pic of the iconic Glico running man from his spot on one of Dotonbori’s many shimmering facades. Meandering along the river walk is one of the best ways to see the sights and get a taste of the area.

While Osaka is the ‘nation’s kitchen’, Dotonbori is Osaka’s own foodie paradise, with endless eateries that stay open well after midnight! You can also take in a show at the Osaka Shochikuza, a traditional kabuki theater, with amazing performances full of comedic flair and stunning physicality.

The canal is a stunning feature in downtown Osaka, and sailing down the waterways of Dotonbori makes an amazing end to your 2 days in Osaka!

Cost – Canal boat ride is 900 yen ($9) for 12 years old and up, 400 yen ($4) for children between 6 and 12 years old.
Getting there: Take the subway to JR Namba Station using your japan rail pass on the Yamatoji line, then walk for 5 minutes.
How long should I spend there: You could spend all night here if that’s what you are after! If you just want to see the sites, 1-2 hours should be enough.

Hostel Mitsuwaya Osaka

Nestled in the beating heart of Osaka, but with an atmosphere of tranquility, this safe and fun hostel will make your trip to Osaka even better.

24H Reception

If you’ve found yourself in the amazing position of filling up 3 days in Osaka (or more), we’ve compiled the very best of Osaka attractions and tours for you to enjoy. This is the perfect 3-day itinerary for a short trip to Osaka!

Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park

A huge statue on display in the Expo 70 park in Osaka, Japan.

The former site of the National Museum of Art, Osaka.
Features a 300-meter long wooden canopy walkway.
Home of the National Museum of Ethnology.

Enjoy a day at the site of the 1970 World Fair (or Expo ‘70), which has become a lush landscape filled with gardens, museums and a ton of entertainment options!

One of the most famous sculptures seated on the lawn is the Tower of the Sun, a majestic piece of art, which has become a major feature in the park. The tower has 3 faces, the Golden Mask which stares skyward represents the future, the front Face of the Sun represents the present, and the Black Sun face represents the past. The tower is an original piece from the Expo ‘70 and sits regally in the Natural and Cultural Gardens, which are sprinkled with artworks, seasonal flower displays and beautiful woods to explore!

The park is also the home of 5000 cherry trees, which make for a spectacular sight when they’re in full bloom! If you happen to be visiting Japan in spring and cherry blossom season, it’s a deliciously romantic Osaka honeymoon itinerary spot.

You can also enjoy the shimmering ponds at Expo ‘70 including the ‘Dream Pond’ boating spot and Shinji-ike pond, named after its Kanji heart character. Or, if you’re looking for an extra taste of Japanese culture, walk around the Japanese Folk Crafts Museum, which displays fine ceramics, textiles, and crafts from across Japan.

Expo ‘70 is an amazing way to spend the day in a space filled with history, natural beauty, and endless photo opportunities!

Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios - a must-visit Osaka itinerary attracion

Home to the backward roller coaster: Hollywood Dream – The Ride (Backdrop).
The JR Yumesaki Line trains, which takes you to the park, are all painted with Universal themes so there’s no chance of missing them.
You can visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

On the edge of Osaka Bay awaits Universal Studios Japan , one of 4 action-packed Universal theme parks across the world. The fun park is like an island of its own with an amazing selection of attractions and rides!

The 9 zones across the park include the animated world of Hollywood where you can pay a visit to Shrek in 4D as well as the Universal Wonderland where you can fly with Snoopy or whizz round in a giant cupcake. Head for Amity Village for a thrilling experience on the iconic Jaws ride, then journey on to another classic location – Jurassic Park, home to the Flying Dinosaur, a roller coaster that takes you upside down!

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to turn into a minion (and who hasn’t), you’ll enjoy the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride at Minion Park!

Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum

A Noodle Museum where you can make your own noodles!
Discover more about one of the world’s most underrated food industries.
Enjoy quizzes and hands-on exhibits.

One of the most unique places to visit in Osaka is hands down, the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum . For everyone from noodle enthusiasts to the curious traveler, this museum is full of fascinating exhibits and interactive features. It’s got everything you never knew you needed in a museum (and it just happens to be very interesting too)!

If you are backpacking, then subsisting on a diet of Ramen noodles is one way to reduce your costs in Japan . So it only makes sense to come here for a better understanding!

The exhibits take you all the way from his experiments in a shed, to the interactive theater in a giant cup of noodles, where you can see anecdotes from his journey to success play out like a film. Discover the fascinating development of instant noodles in post-war Japan and how it has grown today, including the company’s creation of NASA noodles which can be eaten easily in space. Enjoy a stroll through the instant noodle tunnel, with approximately 800 product packages lining the walls.

For 300 yen ($3), you can also make your own noodle flavor and packaging at the My CUPNOODLES Factory .

Enjoy this unique Osaka attraction as you discover a piece of Japan’s past not often mentioned in the history books!

Hattori Ryokuchi Park

Has an outdoor concert hall.
Has a collection of ponds and pools formed by the meeting of 2 rivers.
During the summer, there’s an outdoor kabuki theater.

The Hattori Ryokuchi Park more than lives up to its name meaning ‘green ground’. Explore the interwoven landscape of bamboo gardens, flower gardens, and fields on a trip to one of Osaka’s stunning parks.

There is also an unbelievable arboretum which grows approximately 120 species of herbs, which fill your senses, and 700 species of camellia, a beautiful Japanese flower that represents the arrival of spring.

Explore the giant forested park, there is a labyrinth of waterways including more than 10 ponds, a swimming pools, and a fishing pond. You can also go for an exhilarating horse ride through the park!

One of the park’s defining features is the surreal Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses with examples of rural architecture from across Japan including Gassho-zukuri, Magari-ya, and Takakura.

Osaka Food Tour

Eating Okonomiyaki in Osaka Japan on a street food tour.

Find your new go-to Japanese dish.
Get tips on the best way to order your meals in Osaka.
Get to know Osaka’s streets from a local perspective.

Being the food haven that it is, you can’t visit Osaka without tasting just about every dish on offer. The best way to do that? Go on an Osaka food tour !

Get an in-depth look at the cuisine and history of Dotonbori while you go beyond the main street and find the hidden gems of Osaka’s food world!

Get a taste of kushikatsu, a classic Japanese dish of deep-fried meat and vegetables on a skewer. Discover the Michelin-rated street food of Osaka, including takoyaki, which are delicious dough balls usually filled with octopus, tempura pieces, pickled ginger, and green onion.

Then finish your night with an electric vibe and tasty offerings at Izakaya, a popular local pub. Enjoy traditional local cuisine like sukiyaki (thinly sliced beef simmered in vegetables, soy sauce, sugar, and mirin), accompanied by a drink of craft beer or Nihonshu (rice wine).

Experience the atmosphere and flavors of downtown Osaka while you spend a night out on the town!

The best time to visit Osaka is anytime! The temperature in the city is often pleasant and much less prone to extreme weather patterns, like typhoons and epic rainstorms. Winters are chilly but not freezing and snow only falls on rare occasions.

If anything, Osaka is only frustrating to visit during certain times of the year when Japanese people are on holiday. For example, during Golden Week and when the Cherry Blossoms are blooming the streets will be much more crowded and prices will be noticeably higher.

Otherwise, visiting Osaka is great whenever. If you can plan a trip around the shoulder months (March, October), you’ll get to enjoy the best weather and the best prices for that matter. It’s a win-win for an awesome Osaka itinerary!

It’s no surprise that Osaka City is pretty big with loads of interesting sites to see. Luckily, you can find a super well-developed public transport network spread throughout all parts of the city. The public transport here also makes taking one of the many day trips from Osaka super easy too.

The subway lines and bullet trains are the lifeblood of traveling through Osaka. Some of the best places to stay are the main stops on the Midosuji subway line , which runs from north to south across the city. These include:

Shin Osaka Station
Kita , Minami
Central Osaka
Tennoji Station .

Osaka is divided into 24 wards, with 2 major hubs: Kita (in the north) and Minami (in the south). Kita, which is also known as Umeda, is a bustling area with a ton of attractions and restaurants to visit! If you’re traveling from another popular Japanese destination, Kyoto, you will arrive in Kita.

In the south of Osaka, you’ll find Minami (Namba), which is a vibrant cityscape full of fantastic eateries and eclectic Japanese attractions, including the Don Quixote superstore which has a 77-meter-high Ferris wheel perched on top!

Girl stands in front of train in Tokyo, Japan with her backpack on.

The subway network in Osaka is also super easy to navigate. Like Tokyo, it runs on a color and number system, which makes it easy to work out where to go. The JR Loop line, otherwise known as the Osaka loop line, connects Osaka Station to all the main attractions in the city center such as Osaka Castle, JR Osaka Namba Station, Ohatsu Tenjin Shrine and Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street. On this line, you can use your japan rail pass, but on other metro lines you will need to buy a ticket.

You will find subway stations in almost all areas in Osaka. You can get a prepaid Icoca card, which can be used on any form of transport in Osaka. However, I would not recommend buses as they are slower and don’t reach the tourist areas as easily as the subway.

Taxis are also reasonably affordable in Osaka. The average price of a taxi is about Y660 for the first 2km, and then Y80 per 296 meters after that. Taxi drivers in Osaka are also kind and safe. Uber and Lyft are also operational in Osaka and but are rarely used as the taxis are so cheap.

As the third-largest city in Japan and with the population to prove, Osaka’s bustling streets are usually filled with everyone from locals to travelers from all around the globe.

Despite the busy city streets, Japan is one of the safest countries in the world, and the overall crime risk is low. However, traveling anywhere, and specifically internationally means taking useful safety precautions. Pickpocketing can be a possibility, particularly in the Shinsekai area, so it’s best to keep an eye on your belongings.

In certain areas such as Shinsekai Tobita Shinchi , drink-spiking can be a problem in bars and nightclubs. Remember to watch your own drink being poured, keep your thumb over any open bottles, and don’t leave your drink unattended.

There are also certain areas such as Kamagasaki , where crime is more prevalent. It is best to avoid these areas when you are alone or at night. So, make sure to follow these tips before visiting:

Be particularly vigilant in touristy areas like the Shinsekai area.
Public transport is also a hotspot for petty crime, so hold tight to your belongings for any journeys you take.
It is generally quite safe to walk around popular areas at night, but keep an eye out for dodgy characters.

Keeping safe while you’re traveling is always a top priority so make sure you keep an eye on your belongings as you move from place to place, and be vigilant as you cross the roads in busy traffic. It’s also a good idea to know emergency numbers (119 in Osaka) for the city you’re visiting. Have a safe trip to Osaka!

Get Insurance Before Smashing Out Your Osaka Itinerary!

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.

It looks exactly like a normal belt except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)

Find out what people want to know when planning their Osaka itinerary.

How many days do you need in Osaka?

With so much to see and do, we recommend spending 3-5 full days in Osaka.

What should you include on a 3 day Osaka itinerary?

Don’t skip these awesome Osaka highlights! – Namba Parks – Osaka Castle Park – Umeda Sky Building – Dotonbori

Where is the best place to stay in Osaka?

Umeda (Kita) and Osaka Bay are best if you want to be close to attractions. Honmachi is ideal for budget backpackers, while the best nightlife can be found in Namba.

What are the best day trips from Osaka?

There are some epic day trips from Osaka. Marvel at Amanohashidate, enjoy a snow day at Shiga Kogen, or relax in nature at Minoo Park. For something truly unique, make your way to Japan’s Goldfish Capital!

Have yourself the trip of a lifetime in Osaka, a place of epic dining, rooftop nature parks, and enough historical landmarks to make any history buff swoon! Whether you’re spending a weekend in Osaka or planning an epic Osaka itinerary (one week and counting), you’ll find something for everyone!

Continuin on and travelling in Japan? Check out our backpacking Japan travel guide for more insider tips. And make sure you pack right for Japan!

Get lost in the unique and vibrant atmosphere of Osaka, the ‘big apple’ of Japan – a city that never sleeps (because there’s just too much to see)!

A vendor selling bracelets on the streets of Osaka to fund his travels.

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

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Story What you Need to Know When Driving in Japan during Winter By JNTO On 22 June 2022

Learn the essentials to have a pleasant, safe drive in Japan's wintry times

Many people seem to prefer visiting Japan in winter, especially for those in the tropical climates who rarely experience snow. While the beautiful snowscape is a sight to be admired at, many dangers may occur during this particular season, so it is necessary to know the essential precautions. The most obvious example is driving on snowy roads. Driving on snow-covered roads is extremely dangerous due to slipping, possibility of tires or even the vehicle itself getting stuck, and whiteouts caused by snowstorms, so we highly recommend that you as much as possible avoid driving in snow and use trains, buses, or cabs instead.

Taking into account that driving in winter can be quite dangerous, one should always be aware of the surroundings, especially when the roads are filled with snow or appear to be icy and slippery. As ice forms on the roads more easily at low-temperate areas, it is most common of icy roads to occur in the early mornings and evenings, and mountain roads can stay frozen even during the day when the conditions are especially flavourable. Drivers must be extremely cautious when driving in areas prone to freezing, such as bridges, overpasses, shadowy mountain roads, and tunnel entrances/exits.

Below are some important and useful tips to help you ensure that you have a pleasant and safe drive during the snowy season if such a drive would be needed.

Matters and items that you need to check during rental car bookings

When renting a car in Japan in winter, make sure that the vehicle is suitable for icy or snowy roads. Confirm with the rental car company in advance that the tires are not regular tires but the studless ones. Studless tires are required when driving in wintry areas as it helps make the vehicle less prone to slipping. Do also ensure that the car comes equipped with a jack stand and snow chains, regardless of having studless snow tires. Other items you may need to verify are jumper cables and blankets for emergencies.

Plan ahead and well

One of the rules of thumb is to avoid driving on icy or snow-covered roads as much as possible. When planning and before you head out for your drive, remember to check the weather forecast of your intended destinations. If it will likely be rainy or snowy on the day itself or a day before your journey, it is recommended to take public transportation instead. Depending on the weather conditions, you may have to take detours which may lengthen your travel. It is important to note that car navigation systems may not always be up to date with latest information on the road conditions especially for secondary roads. If you have to drive under the relatively harsher conditions, do keep in mind that you need to cater more time for delays and stick to major highways to avoid narrow lanes that may be closed due to severe snowfall.

Always drive carefully

When driving in the wintry months, always proceed with caution, maintain a reasonable distance between you and the vehicle in front, and avoid abrupt driving manoeuvres during lane changes, braking, and acceleration. While in traffic, step on the brake earlier than usual since roads are slippery. When making turns, it is safer to slow down carefully. Lastly, when starting the car, do not accelerate abruptly. Remember that slower is safer during the winter season while on the road.

Safety in a Snowstorm

If you get caught in a snowstorm, get off the road to find the nearest sheltered rest area like a convenience store or bus station, and stay there until it is safe to return to the road. In the event that you are unable to do so, cautiously pull over to the side of the road, turn on your hazard lights, and call for help (#110 for police or #9910 for roadside assistance). In order to enable the rescuers to find you more easily, provide them with the information you can find from the location markers posted at every kilometre on the highway. While you are waiting for help in a winter storm, remember to unblock and remove the snow near the exhaust pipe to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in the car.

While a road trip in snow-covered landscape can be exhilarating, knowing the essentials and planning ahead are some of the vital ways for you to have a pleasant and safe drive in the wintry times in Japan. Check out Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) to learn even more ways to do so.

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The Ultimate Japan Winter Itinerary (2 Weeks, 4 Cities)

02/27/2023 by Kristin Addis 2 Comments

When I think of the Japanese winter, I picture that feeling of being in a snow globe, or sitting in a steaming onsen (hot springs), or beautiful views of Mt. Fuji. It’s a tall order, to be sure, but like always, Japan delivered.

We recently spent two delicious weeks there, getting a taste of big cities, tiny villages, some of the most famous sights, and of course, delicious food. Honestly? I think we did a great job.

This is the ultimate two-week Japanese winter itinerary:

Table of Contents

Our journey began in Kyoto and finished in Tokyo. If you can book one-way flights, this eliminates a transit day. You can also consider taking the two-hour bullet train from Tokyo over to Kyoto for the start of your trip.

Though it’s never a guarantee that you will get snow in Kyoto — in fact, it’s a rarity — seeing some of the most famous sites with the white stuff was magical.

Day 1: Bamboo grove

Head to Arashiyama as early as you can to walk through the bamboo forest and check out some of the shrines. The earlier you go, the smaller the crowds should be — however, the bamboo is thick and it can be dark super early in the morning. Though the shrines often have entrance fees that are usually around ¥500, the bamboo is free to walk through and enjoy.

You’ll see busy stands selling snacks close to the entrance, but honestly, they were a bit on the pricey side, and we found better ones elsewhere.

Jet lag took up more of the early part of our journey than intended, but if you are able, try to see the Kinkaku-ji temple, a golden pagoda surrounded by tranquil gardens and a pond. Finish the day with sunset on the famous street leading up to Hokan-ji temple.

Day 2: Kaiseki and torii

Our second day began with an early journey to Fushimi Inari Taisha, a Shinto shrine dating from 711 CE, with its famous walkways straddled by thousands of torii gates, and is free to enjoy. This and the bamboo forest were the sites I most hoped to see in Kyoto, and it was just as magical in person as I’d dreamed it would be.

It’s open 24 hours, as is the bamboo forest, so heading there early is a great idea. We happened to get there around 8am on one of the coldest, snowiest days of the year in the lowest season, and therefore had it almost to ourselves for a few minutes, but by 9am, busloads of people were showing up.

From there, check out the Kojingamine outlook for an overview of the city, followed by a visit to the Tō-ji temple, the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan dating back to the year 796.

Finish the evening with a stroll through the historic Gion district, or better yet, take a food tour. Ours involved a few hours of walking around, learning about the local culinary history, tasting traditional snacks and spices unique to Kyoto, and finishing with a kaiseki dinner, a ritual meal consisting of several courses created by a team of chefs. Each one features a different cooking style, though you can usually count on a rice dish, miso, sushi, and some kind of dessert. This is the highest level of dining in Japan and should not be missed! (The exact tour we took is no longer available, but you can book something similar .)

Day 3: Tea ceremony and shrines

Have you ever wanted to don a kimono? Participating in a tea ceremony is one of the best ways to get your chance. You’ll have the opportunity to learn the ritual around drinking green tea while wearing this traditional garment, plus get a photo doing so.

Finish the evening with sunset at Kiyomizu-dera, a Buddhist temple that is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site.

Where to stay : Since we have a little one and arrived late at night into Kyoto, I booked a nice, affordable Airbnb near Kyoto Station. We loved our little spot!

(Due to our desire to catch an event that I’ll discuss later on in the post, we could only spend three nights in Kyoto, but it deserved so much more! I’d recommend staying at least three, if not more.)

This adorable town full of friendly people is the gateway to the Japanese Northern Alps, as they’re called. We picked this town for its historic feel and famous food, and the likelihood of it being a winter wonderland (it was!).

Day 4: Journey to Takayama, known for delicious Hida beef

You’ll spend a good chunk of the day getting to Takayama, which is best accessed on Japan Rail (JR) via Nagoya. The ride there is beautiful, most of it alongside a deeply blue river. (Sometimes there’s also a direct bus, though, so be sure to check! We tended to use Google Maps for our planning, which I suggest doing when weighing your options.)

Spend the afternoon and evening sampling some local Hida beef, which is incredibly flavorful and tender, at Kyoya restaurant, where you cook your meal over a charcoal grill at your table! It was a delicious experience at a place we didn’t even realize was famous — we just stopped by, since it was near our Airbnb. Apparently a reservation is normally essential, so be sure to call ahead.

Day 5: Sanmachi and Hida no Sato folk village

Check out the historical houses (pictured below the subheading above) in Sanmachi, a neighborhood with traditional Edo-era architecture dating back to the 1600s through the 1800s. You’ll find small eateries, shops, and houses all along the way.

There’s a morning market along the river as well, where you can find food vendors. It’s perfect for an early stroll.

jalan itinerary Hida no Sato folk village

Spend the afternoon checking out the Hida no Sato folk village, an open-air museum featuring more Edo-era farmhouses. In the summer months, you’ll see grass growing on the thatched roofs, and in the winter, the village is famous for having feet of snow packed to the tops of the houses. It was magical to see them that way! Entrance is ¥700.

(The village also a great primer for the next stop, Shirakawa-go, a larger UNESCO World Heritage village from the same era.)

– Read More –

Traveling in Japan with a Baby

Day 6: Shinotaka ropeway or Gero onsen

Head out of town to the Shinotaka Ropeway (¥3,300 per adult), about a 1.5-hour bus ride each way, or consider heading to the town of Gero, south of Takayama, for a night. It’s one of the most famous onsen towns in Japan, known for its particularly smooth water.

(Due to my tattoos I can’t use most onsen , which I’ll discuss later, but for this reason, we opted to skip Gero.)

Where to eat: In Takayama, we loved the Tori Coffee and Sabou Usagi cafés, as well as Uemura for dinner. The latter is a truly tiny restaurant serving organic food the chef grows himself. I cannot recommend it enough! I messaged him via Instagram to book. Sakurajaya is also a fun experience, sitting at the bar and watching the chef make the food in izakaya fashion (informal, small dishes).

Where to stay : I loved our Airbnb here! It was the cheapest of the trip, at around $90/night, and had its own outdoor bathtub, which was magical with the snow!

Shirakawa-go

Day 7: UNESCO site Shirakawa-go

Light Up Shirakawa-go was the event I mentioned that caused us to leave Kyoto a bit earlier than I normally would have. Each winter, for six Sundays over January and February, Shirakawa-go lights up all of its buildings in the evening. If you are planning way ahead and can snag a reservation to stay overnight, do it, but if not, you can take a bus tour to the event from Takayama.

Tickets for this may sell out, as the number of visitors is capped. I logged on right when they went on sale in November and had to refresh the page for a couple of hours before finally getting through, but I’m happy to say that it was worth it. It truly felt like we were in a snow globe.

If you can’t get tickets for the light-up event, be sure to head there during the day. It is easy to access from Takayama via a bus that runs hourly (the bus costs ¥700, village admission is free). The village and buildings are quaint, there are a few museums you can enter for a couple hundred yen, and there’s an observation deck as well. The village would be delightful in every season, though I loved seeing it so snowy!

Stay: it’s possible to overnight in Shrakawa-go in the traditional houses . They book up well in advance for the light up event, though other times of year or other evenings would be easier. You’re only allowed to stay for one night in each house and they ask that you don’t bring large suitcases as there isn’t room for storage.

Day 8: Journey to Mt. Fuji

This was our longest travel day, making our way down to Yamanashi prefecture. It was so worth the journey, though, as staying on a lake with a view of Mt. Fuji was a highlight for us.

There were dozens of ways we could have chosen to get there, though we opted for the JR back through Nagoya, followed by a bus. (In 2023, the bus that runs between Takayama and Kawaguchiko was not running, but it would be by far the best and cheapest way in the future.)

Kawaguchiko

Wintertime is generally the clearest time of year and offers the best chance to see Mt. Fuji, one of the most famous sights in Japan.

When we were deciding between Kawaguchiko and Hakone, another popular spot an hour south, one of my Instagram followers suggested Kawaguchiko (and Takayama!), and I’m so glad we took her advice. We had gorgeous mountain views over the lake day after day.

Day 9: Chureito Pagoda

You can’t visit Kawaguchiko without seeing the Chureito Pagoda, which as one of the most iconic views in Japan.

That said, it was also my biggest heartbreak of the trip, having wanted to see this view of Mt. Fuji for years. The clouds rolled in just as we were getting off the train. C’est la vie!

The pagoda is free to visit. You’ll have to climb quite a few stairs to get there, though, but it’s worth it.

Consider also stopping by Oishi Park, which is easy to access from the sightseeing-loop bus, for another iconic Fuji view.

Day 10: Soak and stare at Fuji

We spent a good chunk of our tenth day hanging out at our hotel, to be honest. I recommend booking a place to stay on the opposite side of the lake from Mt. Fuji (the northern side), so that you can take a day or so to just relax and enjoy the view.

We booked Ubuya , a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn that typically features tatami-matted rooms) that had private hot springs on the balconies. Since I have tattoos, this was the only way that I was going to get to enjoy onsen that are so iconic in Japan in the winter.

Due to tattoos’ association with gang culture, almost all onsen and even hotel spas in Japan ban those with tattoos, unless it’s very small and can easily be covered with a Band-Aid. You can’t cover them up with a swimsuit, either, as one is fully nude in onsen .

This ryokan was definitely a splurge for our trip, but it was worth it! We also ate breakfast and dinner in the hotel, the latter a kaiseki meal in a private room set up for us and the baby.

Day 11: Fuji ropeway and Asama shrine

Are you down for an Insta-famous photo opportunity? There are two big ones in the area, including the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway. It’s a short journey, so I normally would not feel the ¥1,800 per person round-trip is worth it, since you can get a great view of the mountain from the lakeside. But you can get some pretty cool pictures swinging with Mt. Fuji at a swingset at the top. You’ll have to queue up and pay an additional ¥500 for the photo op, which we didn’t do, but part of me wishes we had.

Next, take the bus bound for the Asama shrine and either walk from there, which is a 30-ish-minute uphill climb, or take a taxi to Tenku no torii. They’ll ask for ¥100 per person at the entrance and there will be another queue, but I loved the photos we got! (pictured at the beginning of the Kawaguchiko section).

Note: The “suicide forest” is also in the Kawaguchiko area, but it’s generally regarded as disrespectful to visit. Please pick other activities instead. There are many other beautiful forests in Japan!

Stay : As mentioned above, we booked Ubuya and loved the experience. If it’s out of your price range, I re commend staying on the same side of the lake and booking another hotel nearby so that you can still get the Fuji view from your room.

Welcome to the largest city in the world! I am usually not a big-city person, but Tokyo is a different animal. It’s one of the most unique places I’ve ever been, and there’s almost a limitless supply of things to do. Though you can only ever scratch the surface, these are some of my favorites:

Day 12: TeamLab and Harajuku

Harajuku is one of the most famous areas of Tokyo — and for good reason. There’s awesome shopping, creative cafés, and some famous local culture to check out. If you’re looking for something more traditional, in the same area, you can walk around the Meiji Jingu Shinto shrine.

From there, pop by the Hie shrine for another opportunity to walk through a smaller version of the Kyoto torii gates, as well as view one of the lovelier shrines in Tokyo, featuring white walls and a green roof.

Finally, do not miss a TeamLab exhibit! This art collective’s immersive art experiences get me every time. They tend to only remain open for a few years; TeamLab Planets should be open for another year or so, and it’s a must-see. I highly recommend going in the hours before closing so as to have fewer people in your photos. Book your ticket ahead of time too: this one somehow let us skip the whole line! Entrance is ¥3200.

Day 13: Nakano, Shibuya crossing, and ramen

On our second-to-last day, I knew I wanted to do another food experience. There are a couple that I was looking at, including a walking tour in the famous Tsukiji fish market and a six-bowl ramen tasting . The latter just happened to fit better with our schedule, and it was delicious! We visited three ramen shops, all of which featured several unique flavors and styles. Garrett and I also shared each of our bowls, so that we could sample all of the flavors, so we ended up having 12 ramen samplings. Our favorite was the inventive pesto ramen, though I always love the curry version and was surprised by how much I enjoyed the squid ink as well.

Give yourself some extra time to check out Shibuya crossing, where the tour begins, which is the famous all-direction crosswalk that as many as 3,000 people use at a time! It’s quite a sight. If you want to see it from above, the Starbucks is a popular place to check it out.

We followed our ramen tour with a giant ice cream at Daily Chico at the Nakano broadway, pausing to take the photo featured above on one of the adjacent streets, which you can find by glancing to your right as you walk up the broadway.

Day 14: Imperial Palace, Disney, and unique kaiseki in Ginza

On your last day, you’ll have to make a difficult choice about what to see. I have a complete Tokyo itinerary here with a bunch of options. If our son were a bit older, we would have loved to go to Tokyo Disney or Disney Sea. Better believe it’s on the docket for the future!

Since our hotel was near the Imperial Palace, we opted to take a walk around the grounds. Keep in mind that you actually have to take a tour in order to get closer. The gardens are lovely, though, and the trees lining the streets near Tokyo Station are a great winter photo op.

I’d finish your trip with one of the most unique kaiseki experiences, in the high-end Ginza district of Tokyo: Tsurutokame , the only all-female kaiseki restaurant in Japan, featuring not only delicious food but incredible presentation. I was vegan when I visited a few years ago, and they even created a completely vegan menu for me! It was a highlight of all of my trips to Japan. It’s also popular, so book well in advance!

Where to stay : I splurged a bit on this part of the trip as well, booking us at the Prince Gallery Kioicho Hotel . The view from the room made it so worth it! The breakfast was delicious, and the location was central, but the best part about it was definitely the service, which was top-notch.

Although many of you won’t need to worry about this, it was also the only place we stayed in Japan that had a crib!

Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost major island, is important to mention. Many people choose to ski its famous powder (known in the ski world as Ja-pow), during all or at least part of their winter trip.

From Tokyo, you can take the bullet train and be in Hokkaido in about four hours. Although it was under consideration for us, since we are not really ski people (who live in a ski town — it’s weird, I know) and had a baby with us, we passed.

But there’s good reason to visit. Sapporo, the largest city, has a snow festival each year that features massive ice and snow sculptures. It usually only lasts for a week, so plan your trip accordingly if you’d like to see it.

Getting Around

Getting around Japan was pretty straightforward using Google Maps. I would sometimes cross-reference with blog posts that specifically discussed the journey between certain destinations, just to be sure, but Google Maps was almost always correct. I also appreciated that it would usually give me the exact platform and even car to use in order to make a quick exit.

That said, both Kyoto Station and Tokyo’s larger metros can be confusing, although there were information desks scattered throughout, and they were super helpful — I would just show them where I was trying to go, and the staff person would point in the right direction.

To Rail Pass or not to Rail Pass?

Should you get the Japan Rail Pass ? Only foreigners are allowed to get this pass, which for a one-time fee gives you unlimited rides on the Shinkansen (bullet train) and Japan Rail lines. If you are going to be taking long-distance trains between Kyoto and Tokyo or Hokkaido, for example, it could make a lot of sense.

We opted not to do it, however, since two of the towns we visited — Takayama and Kawaguchiko — involved bus travel. It didn’t work out to be financially advantageous for us, just barely. We did, however, get the Tokyo metro pass , and I recommend the Hakone pass if you opt to go there.

If you do plan to take trains during the high season, it will probably make sense to get the JR pass and book your seats ahead of time. There are only a few cars on each train that are unreserved, which only worked out for us because we were there during low season. Book highway buses ahead of time as well, either in person at the station or online. I hadn’t realized this was important — we were lucky to grab the last seats on our bus to Kawaguchiko, which would’ve been such a pain to have missed!

Also, be sure to have cash on hand. There are ATMs in most convenience stores and train stations. We found that the ticket machine did not take our foreign credit cards, but if we waited in line for in-person service, we could buy a train or bus ticket with a card. Many restaurants also prefer cash.

Language and other notes

Although I can read a bit of Japanese, thanks to my years studying Mandarin and the similarities between the two, I don’t speak it beyond hello ( konnichiwa ) and thank you ( arigato ). Thanks to Felix, I learned that the word for “cute” is kawaii .

I found that people were always willing to try to communicate, though, since Japanese people are friendly and wonderful hosts. So I highly recommend downloading Japanese on Google Translate before you go. That way you can access it offline if you need to show somebody something or ask a question.

Also keep in mind that people bow as a sign of respect, a greeting, or thank you. Be sure to bow back, fully facing the person.

Japan is easily one of my favorite countries to explore because it’s just so different from anywhere else on earth. You get the opportunity to travel back in time, to feel blasted to the future in the big cities, and the friendliness is incredible.

Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links to the hotels and activities that we participated in. Purchasing through these links supports us at no extra cost to you

About Kristin Addis

Kristin Addis is the founder and CEO of Be My Travel Muse, a resource for female travelers all around the world since 2012. She's traveled solo to over 65 countries and has brought over 150 women on her all-female adventure tours from Botswana to the Alaskan tundra.

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06/21/2023 at 11:50 am

Hello! I enjoyed reading about your trip, the photos are amazing. I am starting to come around to the idea of going to Japan during winter. What dates/month did you travel?

Kristin says

07/01/2023 at 10:40 am

This was end of January into February 🙂

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Japan Winter 12-day Itinerary

Asia , Destinations , Japan

Our Japan winter trip was all about enjoying the fun things to do in Japan during winter. On this 12-day trip, we were able to do certain things that we could only experience during a Japan winter season, such as marvelling at the biggest winter illuminations in Nagoya, watching a winter show at the Osaka castle, visiting snow monkeys in their natural habitat, enjoying the Hakone hot springs and playing with snow at a ski resort.

Below is our 12-day itinerary.

Day 1: Tokyo

We arrived in Tokyo and spent our first evening exploring Shibuya and watching people criss-crossing at the Shibuya crossing. The nice part about visiting Tokyo in winter was the light decorations all around the city. Read more about our Tokyo trip.

Day 2: Hakone

We travelled to Hakone known for its hot springs and amazing views of Mt Fuji . We took a cable car, a ropeway across steaming volcanoes and stayed overnight in a traditional Japanese ryokan with a hot spring bath. Read more about our Hakone trip.

Day 3: Hakone – Osaka

We explored the volcanic valley, and then took a sightseeing pirate ship across Lake Ashi. In the afternoon, we took the bullet train to Osaka and enjoyed an evening in the lively Namba area. Read more about our Osaka trip.

Day 4: Osaka Aquarium and Castle

We visited the Osaka Aquarium, had some fun at the Tempozan marketplace, and then visited Osaka Castle in the evening for an outdoor show. Read more about Osaka .

Day 5: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Day 6: Kyoto

We went on a day trip to Kyoto from Osaka as we didn’t get to see the famous red Torii gates at Fushimi Inari and the geisha district in Gion the last time we visited Kyoto. Read more about Kyoto .

Day 7: Winter Illuminations

One of the best things to do in Japan during winter is to enjoy its winter illuminations and one of the best was at Nabana No Sato near Nagoya. Read more about Winter Illuminations in Nabana No Sato .

Day 8: Hakuba Ski Resort

A winter holiday is not complete without a chance to play with snow. We headed north to Nagano and spent the afternoon at the Hakuba ski resort. We spent the night at Hakuba Sun Valley with the Goryu snow park right at its doorstep.

Day 9: Jigokudani Snow Monkeys

We took a bus to see the Jigokudani snow monkeys who only make an appearance during the colder months to soak in the warm bath prepared by the locals. In the late afternoon, we took the bullet train to Tokyo.

Day 10: Tokyo

We visited the famous Tsukiji fish market, Pokemon centre, and spent the evening in Shinjuku, with a hearty ramen dinner at Menya Gaijin. Read more about Tokyo .

Day 11: Tokyo

We took a stroll down Harajuku street, famous for trendsetting fashion; Akihabara, a haven for electronic goods and Asakusa for sightseeing, shopping as well as sushi at Sushi-ken. Read more about our Tokyo trip.

Day 12: Narita Airport

Planning for this trip.

As this trip was our second trip to Japan, planning was comparatively easier this time round. I hope that you find the tips below useful for your planning.

Accommodation

For our trip, we stayed at different types of budget-friendly and family-friendly accommodations:

Hotel Empire in Shinjuku – We stayed overnight in this budget-friendly family accommodation that is a 3-min walk from JR Okuba station, 1 stop away from Shinjuku.
Hakone Gora Kanon – We stayed overnight at this traditional family ryokan up the Hakone mountain resort with private hot spring baths. They were also able to order for us dinner (tempura prawn udon) from a nearby restaurant.
Wafu Ryokan Uehonmachi – We stayed in this budget-friendly Japanese-style accommodation in Osaka for 4 nights. It is within walking distance to Uehonmachi station, just 1 stop away from the lively Namba area.
Hotel Mystays Nagoya – We stayed overnight here after visiting the illuminations. We chose this because it was only 3 stops from Nagoya station, from where we were to depart for Hakuba the next . near a restaurant with halal food ( Taxim ). We couldn’t find a family room in Nagoya, so we booked 2 rooms.
Hakuba Sun Valley – We chose this accommodation because it had an option for a muslim-friendly menu, was close to Hakuba Goryu Ski resort and there was snow right outside the accommodation.
Haru Hotel – We stayed 3 nights at this budget-friendly accommodation that is within walking distance from JR Okuba station and 1 stop away from Shinjuku

Tickets and Tours

You can get attraction tickets, tours and even restaurant bookings for Japan through Voyagin.com .

Getting around with Luggage

Transportation

Express train from Airport to Shinjuku
JR Yamanote from Shinjuku to our hotel in Shin-Okubo
RomanceCar from Shinjuku at 09:27am and arriving at Hakone-Yumoto at 11:04am.
Hakone Free Pass – Tozan railway to Gora (39 min), cable car to Sounzan (10min), ropeway to Togendai and bus to Gora (see bus schedule ) and cable car to accommodation at Naka-Gora.
Hakone Free Pass – cable car, ropeway to Owakudani, ropeway to Togendai, pirate ship cruise across Lake Ashi (40 min) and a bus back to Odawara.
We activated our Japan rail pass and took the bullet train from Odawara at 14:08, arrived at Shin-Osaka at 16:26 and changed to the Osaka Loop Line and a local Kintentsu line to our accommodation at Osaka-Uehonmachi . Refer to the Osaka Train Map .
Train to Kintetsu-Nipponbashi to have dinner at the Dotonbori area.
Train to Osakako to visit the Aquarium using the Osaka Kaiyu Ticket which included entry to the Aquarium and unlimited rides within Osaka city for the day.
Train to Osaka station, then to Osakajokoen to see the castle
Train on JR Yumesaki line to Universal City
Universal Studios Japan tickets
Train to Shin-Osaka, Shinkansen train from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto (15 min), then took the JR Nara Line to Inari (1 stop)
Travelled by bus around Kyoto , and took Shinkansen back to Osaka.
Shinkansen to Nagoya (about 1 hr)
Two-way shuttle bus from Meitetsu Bus Centre (near Nagoya station) to Nabana No Sato (each way about 1 hr) (1,780 Yen) or train from Nagoya to Kuwana via JR Kansai Line (24 min) and shuttle bus from Kuwana station to Nabana No Sato
Nagoya City Subway from Nagoya to Sakae(Aichi) f or dinner and hotel
Nagoya City Subway from Sakae(Aichi) to Nagoya
Limited Express (Wide View) Shinano from Nagoya at 08:00, change at Shiojiri at 10:15 and Limited Express Azusa train to Hakuba, arriving at 11:28
Bus from Hakuba to Nagano (1hr 5 min)
Nagano Dentetsu Bus to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park and return, by purchasing 1-day Snow Monkey Pass from Nagano station (2,900 Yen per adult)
Shinkansen from Nagano at 17:55 to Tokyo (79 min)
1-day Metro line pass (paid at station). See Tokyo Metro map . – Note that there are 3 types of day pass (1) Metro line only (2) Metro + Toei Line (3) Metro + Toei + JR. Decide your route before buying the pass.
Train to Airport (fastest at 36 min), Private shuttle van to Airport or Shuttle bus (cheapest).
You must purchase the JR pass and receive the Exchange Order before entering Japan. You can purchase it online at klook.com . At the airport, there is a JR pass exchange office where you can turn in the Exchange Order and show your passport to get the JR pass.
You can make seat reservations for free at the JR stations.
You can check train schedules on hyperdia.com .

Other Useful Tips

There are many great bakeries and Japanese snacks around Japan that are reasonably priced. You can find some of them at the basement level of shopping malls or at train stations.
There are many souvenir shops at Narita Airport selling Japanese snacks in nicely-wrapped boxes. You can save on taxes when buying them from the airport.
You may wish to consider getting a sim card to be used during your Japan trip, but you need to use it on a handset that supports 3G.
Rental of Wifi devices are also available at the airport. You can book it online at Voyagin.com .
It is useful to install an English-Japanese language translator on your mobile phone for communication with a local who might not be well-versed in English.
If you have to bring electronic products like kettles or irons, get the travel ones that can be adjusted to 100V. Those that are fixed at 230V will not work properly in Japan.
Last but not least, muslim travellers can find a number of halal food or muslim-friendly restaurants around Japan. Read more about Must-try Halal food in Tokyo , Must-try Halal food in Kyoto and Must-try Halal food in Osaka .
In Nagoya, Taxim restaurant, near where we stayed (Hotel MyStays Nagoya), serves halal Turkish and Italian cuisine.
Our accommodation in Hakuba, Hakuba Sun Valley , also serves muslim-friendly breakfast and dinner with advance request.
At Jigokudani Snow Monkey, the ramen at Enza Cafe uses halal chicken. Other halal food around Nagano area are listed in the Nagano Muslim Guide .

You might also like:

About The Author

Rosie is a mummy to 3 kids. She enjoys going on travel adventures with her family. Her trips are free-and-easy, family-oriented and mostly budget-friendly.

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Nabana No Sato Winter Illumination in Japan

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Malacca – Exploring a World Heritage City

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13 Comments

I loved my visit to Japan in 2013. I went to Tokyo, Hakone, Yokohama and Yokoska! I need to blog about it!

Ah! I want to go to Japan so badly! It definitely at the top of my list, to eat sushi in Japan one day. I am pinning this so I can refer back to it when I finally make the trip.

What an action packed schedule! This is for sure an intense guide and so necessary for people who are researching the locations you mentioned. Thank you for doing the work to put something this amazing together. Will keep this for later trips to Japan.

What a nice winter itinerary! We’ve toured Japan only in the summertime, and I certainly feel that those magical onsens should be enjoyed also during winter. Would love to ski in Nagano and see the snow monkeys! I’m so glad that you had great views of Mt Fuji, we didn’t see the peak at all. We saved massively with the JR pass, but then again, we traveled all the way from Beppu to Tokyo making several 2-4 day detours on the way. Great insight and tips for anyone planning a trip to Japan!

Well written with lot of info! Your post made me miss my trip to japan.. I can’t wait to go back soon. I also liked your images. Super!

Hi, mommy rosie! I need to ask a lot of questions. Am planning for a trip to japan and ill be using your itinerary. would you mind if we do chatting? thanks

Hi, I love Japan a lot and if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Can I have a overall budget you spent on this trip it would give me some sort of idea on how much I need for my family?

Hi there Lina, I spent about SGD 10-11K for the 12 day trip for 5 people, including flights from Singapore.

Thank you for sharing. Great info and tips!! I am so gonna use this to help plan our trip. Thank you so much.

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences in Japan. It will be my family of 3’s first time going Japan in Dec 2019. May I know is it a good time to go to Hakuba Ski? Will there be snow from 20 to 24 Dec? Thanks

Hi, there is no guarantee that there is snow, but I think your chances should be quite good. The area that we stayed had little snow at the time we came, but another area nearby had a lot of snow.

travelling to japan in the winter is memorizing always love to visit Japan in Winter, Travelling is passion of most of people.

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16 Best Day Trips from Osaka

Home » Blog » Japan » 16 Best Day Trips from Osaka

With lots of accommodation and transportation options, Osaka makes a perfect home base for exploring this part of Japan. These day trips from Osaka are packed with history, culture, nature, and culinary adventures, all within a couple hours of the city.

As Japan’s third largest city , Osaka earns a top spot on many traveler’s itineraries. And with its vibrant nightlife, abundant street food, and laid-back locals, there are so many exciting things to do in Osaka that you could easily spend your whole trip here.

But if you’re visiting Osaka, we highly recommend taking advantage of Japan’s world-class transportation infrastructure to explore further. Ancient cities, woodland temples, floating castles, and therapeutic hot springs are just a hop, skip, and jump away.

For each of these day trips from Osaka, we’re listing the top sights and activities to base your itinerary on. We’re also giving directions, whether you’re using public transportation or you have your own set of wheels.

Day trips from Osaka Guide

For more tips and advice for traveling around Osaka, jump to the following sections (or just keep scrolling to see it all!).

Top day trips from Osaka
Getting around Japan by train
Renting a car in Osaka
Round up of day trips from Osaka

Top recommended day trips from Osaka

If you’re looking for the absolute best day trips from Osaka, here are our top recommendations:

Himeji Castle

Keep reading for more detailed information on each of these destinations and more ideas for fun day trips from Osaka.

If you’re planning a trip to Japan, we have the ultimate resource for you!

This FREE PDF download includes everything you’re going to want to pack for your Japan trip, including what NOT to bring, plus tons of insider tips!

Before we get to the good stuff, we have a few helpful resources we want to share with you…

Traveling around Japan by train

Riding the trains in Japan with the Japan Rail Pass

Japan’s railway system is known around the world for being clean, fast, and efficient. Between the famous Shinkansen bullet trains, regional rails, and local metros, most of the major tourist destinations in Japan are accessible by train.

The only major downfall about the trains in Japan is that a single ride can be expensive. Depending on where you’re going, it can be very expensive.

But you know us; we love finding sneaky ways to travel (even notoriously expensive countries) on a budget. And we love sharing our secrets with you, so here it is: our VERY detailed guide to train travel in Japan .

Want more tips on traveling Japan on a budget? We have a few practical money-saving tricks up our sleeves that you’ll definitely want to save!

Getting a rental car in Osaka

Nikko National Park rental car driving in Japan

Having your own vehicle when visiting Japan will give you a lot more freedom to explore the best day trips from Osaka.

We personally like using Booking.com (formerly RentalCars.com) when we rent vehicles around the world, as they gather options from all sorts of rental companies in one place. It makes it really easy to compare prices and vehicles so you can determine which is the best option for you.

Search & Compare Rental Car Prices

Discover Cars : We personally use this aggregate site to compare rental car prices from all the big name companies and get the best price possible.
Booking.com : We’ve had good experiences finding rental cars with this site (formerly RentalCars.com) in the past.

Before you book, be sure to read our guide to renting a car in Japan . It’s packed with things you need to know before you get behind the wheel, as well as insider tips to help you feel confident on the road.

Now let’s get to it, shall we…

1. Minoo Park

At a glance: Lush park with walking path to a stunning waterfall
Distance from Osaka: 20.7 km / 12.9 miles
Time: 45 minute train ride / 27 minutes driving

After a couple days of weaving through crowded city streets in Osaka, we were craving some time in nature. We did a little research and found that just 45 minutes north of the city center sits a nature lover’s oasis.

With a paved walking path that leads through forested mountains to a waterfall, this park is a popular spot for local couples and families to escape city life for part of a day.

We visited Minoo on a holiday weekend, and while it was busy with locals, it wasn’t too crowded. Plus, we only spotted a handful of other foreigners, so it felt more like a hidden gem and less like a tourist trap.

Good to know: It’s free to enter the park, but the train to get to Minoo Park is not covered in the JRail Pass . A return trip from Osaka Station costs 540 yen per person. You’ll also want to budget a bit of money for lunch or snacks along the way.

Top things to do in Minoh Park

Momiji tempura Minoo Minoh Park Osaka Japan

We have a complete Minoo Park day trip guide , but here are few top highlights:

Follow the path to Minoo Waterfall. The paved walking path is mostly flat(ish), making it a great option for families with small children and strollers. It takes around 45 minutes to get to the waterfall, which marks the end of the path. You’ll find snack vendors as well as a few restrooms along the way.
We’d recommend finding a stand where they are making them fresh instead of just buying a bag on display.
Explore Ryuan-ji Temple , a peaceful Buddhist site known as the birthplace of the lottery in Japan.
Choose a more challenging hiking trail that takes you off the paved walking path and deeper into the forest.
Discover the insectarium , a small museum showcasing a diverse collection of both biological specimens and living insects, including a butterfly garden.

How to get there

By train: From the Osaka-Umeda Station (near Osaka Station), take the Hankyu-Takarazuka Line (best if it is the Express Train because it makes fewer stops). Change trains at Ishibashi Handai-mae Station and get on the Hankyu-Mino Line heading to Minoo. The whole trip takes about 45 minutes.

By car: It’s a very straightforward drive from Osaka to Minoh Park via Route 423. Take the left exit at Hakushima 2-chōme intersection and follow signs for Route 43 toward Katsuoji Temple/Mino Park.

At a glance: Cultural capital of Japan with tons of famous sights
Distance from Osaka: 55.6 km / 34.5 miles
Time: 13 minute train ride / 54 minutes driving

Kyoto is one of the most popular cities to visit in Japan, and for good reason.

With historic districts like Gion and Higashiyama, famously beautiful streets like Pontocho Alley, and iconic landmarks like Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and the Fushimi Inari gates, a day trip to Kyoto deserves a spot on your itinerary.

Top things to do in Kyoto

We have a whole guide to the best things to do in Kyoto , but here are a few highlights that can easily be done on a day trip:

See the orange gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine , one of the most iconic sights in Japan. Following the pathway through thousands of orange torii gates as sunlight streams through the spaces between them is a truly magical experience that we can’t quite describe.
Explore the historic districts of Gion and Higashiyama. Gion is famously known as the “Geisha District” and one of the best places to spot the renowned Japanese performance artists. Higashiyama is perhaps the best preserved part of Kyoto, full of traditional wood shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Insider Tip: This bamboo grove nearby is smaller but way less crowded, and we actually liked it better!
Walk the Philosopher’s Path , a trail of stone steps laid by Japan’s famed philosopher, Nishida Kitaro, which connects the temples of Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion), Eikan-do/Zenrin-ji, and Nanzen-ji.
Photograph the famous Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) , a dazzling Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf and set in a beautiful lakeside garden.

Adashino Nenbutsu-ji bamboo forest Kyoto Japan

By train: The quickest way to get from Osaka to Kyoto is on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen–Nozomi 200 Nozomi Tokyo, which departs from Shin-Osaka Station every 9 minutes and takes only 13 minutes to arrive at Kyoto Station. Individual fare is ¥3,280 (~$22 USD), or free with your JR Pass. Alternatively, the regular Tokaido-Sanyo Line takes 42 minutes and costs ¥580 (~$4 USD).

By car: There are a couple of different routes you can take from Osaka to Kyoto and they both take roughly 50-55 minutes.

Take Route 13 out of Osaka and get on the Dainikeihan Expressway, following signs for Hirakata/Kyoto City.
Take Route 11 out of Osaka and follow the Meishin Expressway to Kyoto City.

By guided tour: This highly-rated tour is packed with Kyoto’s top highlights, including Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Golden Pavilion, and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Enjoy a traditional Kyoto tofu dish for lunch included in your tour.

3. Hiroshima

At a glance: Vibrant city with tragic historical significance
Distance from Osaka: 336 km / 209 miles
Time: 1 hour 25 minute train ride / 4.5 hours driving

The name Hiroshima is known around the globe for one terrible reason: ground zero for the world’s first nuclear attack.

On August 6, 1945, the United States detonated the first atomic bomb over Hiroshima , instantly killing 80,000 people and flattening 90% of the city. Tens of thousands more died of radiation exposure and cancer in the years following the blast.

If you have limited time in Hiroshima, we recommend visiting the Peace Park and touring the Peace Memorial Museum. This can take about half a day and is totally doable on your own since there are lots of English signs.

As you can imagine, this is heavy stuff. But it’s incredibly important for people to see places like this in order to better understand our world history, to pay respects to lives lost, and to move forward without repeating the mistakes of our past.

If you have extra time, we highly recommend exploring more of the city. Hiroshima has a palpable energy and a spirit of resilience that is deeply moving, and there are lots of fun things to do.

Top things to do in Hiroshima

We have a detailed guide for the perfect Hiroshima day trip from Osaka , but here are a few top recommendations:

Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and learn all about the devastation caused by the atomic bomb.
Tour Hiroshima Peace Park. This open-air park is dedicated to all victims of the atomic bomb and contains a number of monuments, art installations, and memorials.
Pay your respects at the Children’s Peace Monument , filled with paper cranes and dedicated to all the children who lost their lives to the attack.
See the Atomic Bomb Dome , one of the only structures left standing after the blast.
Insider Tip: Nagataya makes the best okonomiyaki and is conveniently located just steps away from the Peace Park.
Explore Hiroshima Castle , a replica of the 1590s original (which was destroyed by the atomic bomb). You can wander the grounds for free, or pay ¥370 (~$2.50 USD) to enter the keep, which contains museum exhibits and an observation deck.
Take the ferry to Miyajima Island. Known for its picturesque “floating” torii gate, wild deer, and views from Mount Misen, this small island is worth a visit. Bonus: the ferry to Miyajima Island is covered by the JR pass!

By train: The quickest way to get from Osaka to Hiroshima is on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen–Mizuho 601 Mizuho Kagoshimachuo, which takes about 1 hour 25 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station to Hiroshima Station. Individual fare is ¥11,150 (~$74 USD), or free with your JR Pass.

By car: If you have a rental car in Japan, you’ll have a straightforward journey from Osaka to Hiroshima via major highways and expressways. The drive is about 4 hours and 40-45 minutes one-way.

By guided tour: Travel by bullet train to Hiroshima and tour the city by bus on this guided day trip . Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and other important historical sites before enjoying specialty okonomiyaki for lunch. Afterwards, explore the island of Miyajima before returning to Osaka.

At a glance: Ancient capital famous for its wild deer population
Distance from Osaka: 32 km / 20 miles
Time: 50 minute train ride / 31 minutes driving

Nara is a region full of cultural treasures. The city was the first capital of Japan from the years 710 to 794 and there are plenty of stunning temples and shrines to explore.

But the main reason tourists flock to Nara is for the adorable, friendly deer that populate the city. Believed to be messengers of the gods in the traditional Shinto religion, the Sika deer are considered sacred and are allowed to roam freely among the city streets, parks, and temples.

All around Nara Park, you’ll see vendors selling crackers for tourists to feed to the deer. This has been going on so long that the deer have actually learned to bow to humans in exchange for food. So if you want to channel your inner Snow White and get friendly with some deer, a day trip to Nara is a must.

Note: On our first trip to Nara, we decided not to feed the deer, but we did buy a few crackers when we returned with our daughter in 2023. As with any animal encounter, we recommend doing a little research and making your own observations before deciding whether or not to partake. Our Nara deer park guide is a great place to start!

Top things to do in Nara

We’ve curated the perfect Nara day trip itinerary , including these highlights:

Meet the famous “bowing deer” at Nara Park. The 1,000-plus small, spotted Sika deer that live within the Nara city limits are not shy of humans, and you’ll feel like a real-life Disney princess with them following you around.
Get off the main walking street and explore deeper into Nara’s parks and temples, where you’ll find fewer crowds and deer that aren’t surrounded by selfie sticks.
Crawl through “Buddha’s Nostril” at Tōdai-ji Temple. The hole carved through the pillar is supposedly the same size as Buddha’s nostrils on the bronze statue for which this temple is famous. Crawling through is said to bring enlightenment in the next life.
Try freshly-made mochi at the famous Nakatanidou .
Visit a Japanese garden. We recommend Yoshikien Garden, as it is free for all foreign visitors. It’s located next to the larger and more famous Isuien Garden, which is particularly beautiful in autumn.
Explore Naramachi , an area in town where streets retain their historic charm.

By train: The most direct route from Osaka to Nara is via the Osaka Loop Line–Yamatoji-Rapid Nara, which departs Osaka Station every 15 minutes. Stay on the same train until you reach Nara Station (about 50 minutes / 12 stops). The fare is ¥820 (~$5 USD).

By car: Osaka to Nara is an easy 30-minute drive via Routes 13 and 163.

By guided tour: This sightseeing tour from Osaka makes stops in both Kyoto and Nara. In Nara Park, you’ll have a chance to meet the famous wild deer and explore Todai-ji Temple. This tour also includes a buffet or beef shabu shabu lunch.

5. Himeji Castle

At a glance: Hilltop complex widely recognized as Japan’s most spectacular castle
Distance from Osaka: 94.4 km / 58.7 miles
Time: 47 minute train ride / 1 hour 18 minutes driving

Known as one of Japan’s 12 original castles as it was never destroyed by earthquake, war, or fire, Himeji Castle is both a National Treasure and World Heritage Site.

It’s nicknamed the “White Heron Castle” due to its elegant white exterior and how it takes on the appearance of a bird taking flight.

The grounds consist of 83 buildings and more than a thousand cherry trees, making it a renowned location for hanami (flower-viewing) in the early spring.

If you come for the cherry blossoms, be prepared for crowds. If your main goal is to explore the castle, we’d recommend visiting outside of sakura season to avoid wait times.

Good to know: A thorough visit through the castle takes 3-4 hours. Admission is ¥1,000 (~$6.75 USD) for the castle or ¥1,050 for both the castle and Kokoen Garden.

Top things to do in Himeji Castle

Explore the castle keep. The 600-year-old seven-story castle offers spectacular views over Himeji from the top floor. Take a tour or make sure you have a map on hand – the labyrinth of passages connecting the castle buildings was specifically designed to confuse enemy intruders.
Wander through Kokoen Garden. This series of 9 separate, walled gardens display different styles of the Edo period. The reflecting ponds, cascading waterfalls, swaying bamboo, and colorful flowers create a serene atmosphere that beautifully illustrates the changing of Japan’s seasons.
Glide around the castle’s inner moat in a traditional Japanese boat. Boat tours are seasonal and operate only on weekends.

By train: You can either take the Tokaido-Sanyo Line Special Rapid Himeji or the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Himeji Station. The regular train costs ¥1,520 (~$10 USD) and takes 1 hour 8 minutes, while the bullet train takes 28 minutes and costs ¥4,130 (~$28 USD).

From Himeji Station to the castle is about a 20 minute walk, or you can take a local bus.

By car: The drive from Osaka to Himeji Castle is about 1 hour and 18 minutes via major highways and expressways.

By guided tour: Entry to Himeji Castle is included in this tour , which combines 3 of the top day trips from Osaka for a jam-packed day of sightseeing.

At a glance: Cosmopolitan port city home to world-famous beef
Distance from Osaka: 33.6 km / 21 miles
Time: 12 minute train ride / 33 minutes driving

Situated between the mountains and the bay, the port city of Kobe is one of the most convenient day trips from Osaka.

Kobe is best known, of course, for its namesake beef, infamous for its high price tag. Strictly regulated by the Japanese government, fewer than 4,000 cattle meet the requirements to earn the name “Kobe beef” each year. A steak at a premium restaurant can cost as much as ¥30,000 – a whopping $200 USD. That’s a lot of moo-la (see what I did there?)!

Though often overshadowed by the bougie beef, Kobe also produces a quarter of the country’s sake. Japan’s famous rice alcohol can be served hot or cold and can cost anywhere from ¥1,500 to ¥10,000 ($10-70 USD).

Top things to do in Kobe

Insider Tip: Look for restaurants with lunch menus, as they’re often cheaper than dinner.
Glimpse the iconic Kobe Port Tower. Though currently closed for renovations with plans to reopen in 2025, you can still enjoy the sight of the tower that defines Kobe’s skyline.
Cruise Kobe Bay. There are several cruise operators around the port that offer boat tours around Kobe Bay.
Ride the ropeway to Nunobiki Herb Gardens. This hillside oasis has 12 gardens showcasing about 200 varieties of herbs and flowers, totaling more than 75,000 blooms. Enjoy experiences like making your own fragrance or herb sachet, or soaking in a herbal footbath.
Hike to Nunobiki Falls. About halfway up to the herb gardens, the Nunobiki Ropeway passes over a series of cascading waterfalls. There’s a hiking trail you can take back down past the falls to Shin-Kobe Station (as long as you’re not carrying too many herb souvenirs). The trail is about 1.7 km one-way and takes about 30 minutes.
Taste sake in Nada-Gogo , one of the best-known sake regions in Japan that has been in the game for almost 7 centuries. Lots of the sake breweries offer tastings and tours, sometimes with English options.
Wander the historic Kitano district , an area with well-preserved Western-style residences and stylish cafes and restaurants. This area highlights the city’s international influence.
Score some deals at Sanda Outlets , a collection of factory stores from popular brands and high-end designers.

By train: The quickest way to get from Osaka to Kobe is on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen going toward Mizuho 601 Mizuho Kagoshimachuo. It takes only 12 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station to Shin-Kobe Station and the fare is ¥3.470 (~$23 USD), or free with your JR Pass. Alternatively, the Tokaido-Sanyo Line–Local Nishi-Akashi train from Osaka Station to Sannomiya Station is 35 minutes for ¥420 (~$3 USD).

By car: Take Route 3 heading north out of Osaka. Stay on Route 3 all the way to Kobe.

By guided tour: Experience the highlights of Kobe on this full-day tour . Wander the seaside promenade at Kobe Port and take in the historical architecture of Kitano Ijinkan Street. This robust tour also includes visits to Arima Onsen and Mount Rokko (#7 and #14 on this list of day trips from Osaka).

7. Koyasan / Kumano Kodo

Kumano+Kodo+Trail+Nachi+Falls+Three-tiered+Pagoda

At a glance: Sacred mountain and starting point of Japan’s ancient pilgrimage trail
Distance from Osaka: 89.4 km / 55.6 miles
Time: 2 hour train ride / 1 hour 33 minutes driving

Koyasan (or Mount Koya) is a secluded temple town nestled in the mountains of the Kii Peninsula. Dotted with ancient Buddhist relics, vegetarian eateries, and temple stays, a day trip to Koyasan offers a peaceful escape from bustling Osaka.

Koyasan serves as a gateway to the Kumano Kodo, an ancient pilgrimage trail that brings hikers to small villages, past picturesque farmsteads and historic shrines, and through giant cedar forests.

The Kumano Kodo is utterly enchanting and one of our absolute favorite things we’ve done in Japan (and we’ve been here 3 times!). You won’t be able to do the whole hike on a day trip, but if you’re intrigued and want to know more, check out our full Kumano Kodo guide .

Top things to do in Koyasan / Kumano Kodo

Hike Kumano Kodo , an ancient pilgrimage trail that weaves through remote mountains and tiny villages where you can stay at traditional guesthouses. (Again, not day trip material, but soooo worth an extra few days in your itinerary!)
Extend your visit to include a temple stay. FYI, a “temple stay” doesn’t exactly mean staying with monks; it’s more or less a stay at a ryokan with Buddhist vegetarian meals and a chance to observe monks in their morning ritual. Still a memorable experience!
Explore Okunoin Cemetery , the largest cemetery in Japan and the holiest site in Koyasan. Hundred year old cyprus trees and more than 200,000 tombstones line the path to where Kobo Daishi (the founder of Shingon Buddhism) rests in eternal meditation.
Visit Kongobu-ji , the head temple of Shingon Buddhism and location of Banryutei, Japan’s most expansive rock garden.
Participate in Buddhist ceremonies and practices , such as meditation, forest therapy, flower arrangement, or shakyo (hand-copying scripts called sutras ).
Savor the unique culinary experience of shojin ryori , the vegetarian cuisine of Buddhist monks.

By train: To get to Koyasan by train from Osaka, you’ll need to take the Nankai-Koya Line Express Gokurakubashi from Shin-Imamiya Station to Gokurakubashi Station.

From Gokurakubashi Station, take the Nankai Koyasan Cable to Koyasan Station, where you’ll then catch the 21 Koyasannai Line bus Okunoin-mae via Ichinohashi-guchi.

The entire trip from Osaka to Koyasan takes about 2 hours. Note that the Nankai trains are not covered by the JR Pass , but the fares are affordable. The whole journey sums ¥1,790, about $12 USD.

By car: Head east on Route 13 out of Osaka. At the interchange Higashiosaka JCT, follow signs for Kinki Expressway toward Matsubara/Wakayama. After about 34 km, take exit Kishiwada-Izumi IC toward Kishiwada/Izumi, then turn left onto 230. Turn right at the next set of traffic lights.

Drive for 3 km, then turn left onto 170, following signs for Kawachinagano. After 2.1 km, turn right onto 480, following signs for Chichioni. Stay on 480 for 13 km, then turn left onto 125, following signs for Hashimoto/Route 24.

Continue onto National Route 480, making a right at Kasada Higashi intersection to stay on Route 480 (follow signs for Ryujin/Koya/The World Heritage/Niutsuhimejinja Shrine). Turn right again at Yatate intersection, staying on Route 480 with signs for Ryujin/Town Central Koya.

After 7.2 km, make a left on 53 into Koyasan.

By guided tour: This private day trip offers an intimate experience for you and your group. Your knowledgeable guide will lead you on a cable car ride and walking tour of Mt. Koya, sharing stories and history not found in any guidebooks.

8. Arima Onsen

At a glance: One of Japan’s oldest and most famous hot spring towns
Distance from Osaka: 38.7 km / 24 miles
Time: 58 minute train ride / 34 minutes driving

Nestled in the mountains near Kobe, Arima Onsen is a charming resort town famous for its historic hot springs. Its proximity to Kobe and Osaka make it a popular day trip or weekend getaway for locals and tourists alike.

The therapeutic waters of Arima Onsen can be found in two types of natural hot springs—gold and silver—each boasting unique mineral properties believed to have healing powers.

Kinsen (“gold water”) is high in iron, giving it its distinct golden-brown color. These springs are supposed to help with skin conditions and sore muscles. Ginsen (“silver water”) is said to treat muscle and joint pain with deposits of radium and carbonate.

The town of Arima Onsen is developed but compact, and most attractions are within walking distance of one another. We recommend seeing any sights you want to see before hitting the hot springs to relax your tired muscles.

That or, you know, just onsen-hopping the whole day…

Top things to do in Arima Onsen

Footbath Arashiyama train station Kyoto Japan

Soak in a traditional hot spring at one of the public bath houses, or find a ryokan with an onsen that is open to day-trippers.
Hit the trails and enjoy alpine scenery, mountaintop temples, and observation decks with sweeping views.
Treat your feet at Taiko no Ashiyu. This foot bath is free to use and is said to help with bruises as well as muscle and joint pain – especially nice after a hike!
Enjoy the serenity of Atagoyama Park , with plum trees blooming in early spring, magnolias in early April, and a viewpoint overlooking the steamy hot spring town.
Find the waterfall in Tsuzumigataki Park , named for the sound’s resemblance to the beating of a small drum.
Stroll along Taiko-dori , the town’s main street lined with cute shops.

By train: From Shin-Osaka Station, take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Hikari 591 Hikari Hakata to Shin-Kobe Station. Next, take the Hokushin Line to Tanigami Station. From there, take the Kobe-Dentetsu Arima Line to Arimaonsen Station.

Note: the last leg of this journey from Tanigami to Arimaonsen Station is not covered by the JR pass and costs about ¥410 (~$2.75 USD).

By car: The drive from Osaka to Arima Onsen takes a little over half an hour and is pretty straightforward. Take Route 11 northbound out of Osaka and exit Ikeda toward Chugoku Expressway. Continue onto National Route 176.

At the interchange Nishinomiya-Yamaguchi JCT, follow signs for Hanshin Expressway No.7 Kitakobe Route toward Central Kobe. Continue onto Route 7, then take exit Nishinomiyayamaguchi-Minami toward Arima Onsen. Continue straight on 98 to your destination.

By guided tour: On this full-day tour , a visit to Arima Onsen is bookended with the iconic Himeji Castle and Mount Rokko (#4 and #14 on this list of day trips from Osaka). Note that entry to the hot spring is not included in the booking fee.

9. Takeda Castle ruins

At a glance: Mountaintop archaeological site that appears to float amongst the clouds
Distance from Osaka: 126 km / 78.3 miles
Time: 2 hour 31 minute train ride / 1 hour 46 minutes driving

When the fog rolls in on Takeda Castle on early autumn mornings, the mountaintop ruins appear to float amongst the clouds, giving it the nickname of “Castle in the Sky”.

Also known as “Japan’s Machu Picchu”, Takeda Castle was originally built in 1411 and abandoned in the early 1600s. No buildings are left standing, but the foundations were restored in the 1970s-80s and opened for tourism.

Walking around the stone foundations gives you a good idea of the castle’s layout while treating you to panoramic mountain vistas.

To see the famous illusion of the floating castle, your best bet is a sunrise visit in October or November. The most popular view is from Ritsuunkyo, about a 10-minute drive from Asago town center. From the parking lot, hike 10-40 minutes up the trail to observation decks 1 and 2 for the best views.

Top things to do in Takeda Castle ruins

View the famous “floating castle in the sky” from the Ritsuunkyo viewpoints on the mountain slopes opposite the ruins. The sea of clouds appears about once every 3 days on early autumn mornings. Visitors are asked to pay a ¥300 environmental fee (~$2 USD).
Hike the scenic trails from Takeda Station to the mountaintop castle.
Explore the castle ruins and enjoy majestic mountain views. Note that the ruins are closed to the public in January and February.

By train: Take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Himeji Station, then transfer to Hamakaze 1 Limited Express Tottori to Takeda Station. From there you can take a bus to the castle ruins, but it’s quicker to take a taxi. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can hike up to the ruins on one of two trails behind Takeda Station.

By car: Take Route 11 northbound out of Osaka and get on the Chugoku Expressway. At the interchange Yokawa JCT, follow signs for Maizuru Wakasa Expressway toward Sanda-Nishi/Maizuru.

Stay on Expressway 27 until Kasuga Interchange, then continue onto Kitakinki Toyooka Expressway. Take exit Wadayama IC for Bantan Road toward Asago/Himeji. Follow signs for Route 312 and continue to your destination.

10. Lake Biwa

At a glance: Largest lake in Japan with diverse ecosystem and unique lake culture
Distance from Osaka: 63.8 km / 39.6 miles
Time: 52 minute train ride / 53 minutes driving

Note: There are multiple towns around Lake Biwa you can visit, and time and distance from Osaka depend on which city you’re visiting. The above info is for Otsu, the closest Lake Biwa town to Osaka.

As Japan’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Biwa has 235 km (146 miles) of coastline with multiple towns and islands to explore.

Trying to narrow down what to do on a day trip can be overwhelming, but if you choose your activities carefully, it’s possible to combine a few in a day trip. It’s also easy to navigate from town to town, with JR rails encircling the entire lake.

Top things to do in Lake Biwa

Get out on the water in Otsu. At the BSC Watersports Center, you can rent canoes, kayaks, or SUPs, or learn to sail or windsurf. Or, for something more relaxing, try a leisurely lake cruise.
Have a beach day at Omi-Maiko. This 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) stretch of white sand is a popular spot in the summer for swimming, windsurfing, or lounging in the shade of the whispering pine trees.
Spot the famous “floating” torii gate at Shirahige Shrine.
Take a ferry to Chikubu Island. This sacred island with both a Buddhist temple and a Shinto shrine is known as “the Island of the Gods”. Each spiritual site has a different ritual that is said to bring good luck.
Get your adrenaline pumping at Biwako Valley , a popular ski resort with breathtaking lake views. If you’re visiting in the summer, go for the views and ziplining, or try their “Skywalker” rope course.
Explore the old town of Omihachiman , a former merchant hub on the ancient Nakasendo road connecting Tokyo and Kyoto. The well-preserved town features a picturesque canal and offers a glimpse into Japan’s feudal history.
Visit Hikone Castle. The hilltop keep overlooking the lake has survived since 1622 and is one of only 5 castles in Japan listed as National Treasures.
Wander the Mizunomori Water Botanical Garden. With a name meaning “water forest”, Mizu-no-mori displays aquatic plants in a tranquil setting. The Lotus Pavilion is the star of the show, where you can even try lotus-flavored ice cream or udon.
Discover the Lake Biwa Museum and learn about the area’s history and wildlife through a series of interactive exhibits. Bilingual tours are available.

For a day trip from Osaka, we recommend focusing on one region of Lake Biwa and choosing 2-3 things to do in that area. So let’s break this down by region.

South Lake Biwa

Otsu, Moriyama

Situated in the southwest corner of Lake Biwa and just a 20-minute train ride from Kyoto Station, Otsu is the capital and largest city of Shiga Prefecture. Otsu is home to Mt. Hiei Enryakuji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a famous “floating” hall built over the water. Otsu is also the location of the Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival and a hub for water sports and lake cruises.

Moriyama is home to the Lake Biwa Museum and Mizunomori Water Botanical Garden. You can get from Otsu to Moriyama by the Ishiyama Sakamoto Line and the Tokaido-Sanyo Line.

West Lake Biwa

Shirahige Shrine, Omimaiko Beach, Biwako Valley

Some of the top sights on Lake Biwa are found on the west side between Otsu and Takashima. The JR Kosei Line runs right up the western shore from Otsukyo Station, granting easy access to all points of interest.

Get off at Omi-Maiko Station (30 minutes from Otsukyo Station) for the popular Omimaiko Beach or Omi-Takashima Station to get to Shirahige Shrine.

For Biwako Valley, take the Kosei Line to Shiga Station and make your way to the Biwako Valley Ropeway.

North Lake Biwa

Takashima, Nagahama, Chikubu Island

The Kosei Line from Otsu stops in Takashima and continues to Omi-Shiotsu Station, where you can transfer to the Hokuriku Line to Nagahama. Ferries run from Nagahama to Chikubu Island.

Alternatively, you can go the more adventurous route of crossing the lake by cruise from Takashima to Nagahama by way of Chibuku Island.

East Lake Biwa

Hikone, Omihachiman

From Otsu, transfer from the Ishiyama Sakamoto Line to the Tokaido-Sanyo Line, which makes stops in both Omihachiman and Hikone.

By train: Take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto Station. Transfer to the Kosei Line to Otsukyo Station.

By car: Follow the Meishin Expressway to Kyoto-higashi Interchange. At the interchange, you can take Route 161 up the western side of Lake Biwa, where you’ll find Omimaiko Beach and Shirahige Shrine.

Alternatively, take Route 1 to head toward Otsu. Off Route 1, Route 559 hugs the eastern shore of the lake and Mizunomori Water Botanical Garden, Fujigasakiryu Shrine, and Hikone Harbor.

By guided tour: New to Get Your Guide, this tour offers round-trip transportation from Osaka or Kyoto to the Miho Museum, Kyu-Chikurin-in, and Lake Biwa. Explore the Shirahige Shrine and its iconic torii gate that stands in the lake.

At a glance: Historic city with green space and quirky attractions off the typical tourist path
Distance from Osaka: 21.1 km / 13.1 miles
Time: 29 minute train ride / 22 minutes driving

Often overlooked by visitors to Osaka, Ikeda makes for a fun and easy day trip with less tourist traffic.

A day trip to Ikeda offers cultural experiences with Edo-period entertainment arts, such as rakugo (comedic storytelling) and kabuki. You can see performances at the Rakugo Museum and Gofukuza Theater, respectively (but know that they’ll be performed in Japanese).

One of the coolest things to do in Ikeda is a visit to the Cupnoodles Museum, where you’ll learn all about the history and science of the globally-beloved convenience food. The museum features a tasting room with vending machines selling limited and rare flavors, as well as two “factories” where you can get creative and craft your own personalized cup of instant noodles or chicken ramen.

There are also opportunities for nature escapes in Ikeda, with parks, gardens, and hiking trails. Spring and autumn are especially beautiful times to visit to see cherry blossoms and fall foliage.

Top things to do in Ikeda

Hours: opens at 9:30 a.m. with last admission at 3:30 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays and holidays.
Admission: entrance to the museum is free. To make your own noodles costs ¥500 per cup, while the Chicken Ramen Factory is ¥1,000 per person. Reservations are required only for the Chicken Ramen Factory.
Stroll Satsukiyama Park. Stretching halfway up Mt. Satsuki, the symbol of Ikeda, this park boasts hiking trails and an observation tower that offers sweeping views of Osaka. The park is also a popular spot for hanami (flower-viewing) with sakura in the spring and azaleas, (the official flower of Ikeda, in May.
Visit Ikeda Shiroato Park, where you can see the remaining ruins of the original Ikeda Castle, as well as the reconstructed main keep.
See a traditional Japanese performance of kabuki or rakugo at Gofukuza Theater or the Rakugo Museum.
Catch a show by the Takarazuka Revue , an all-female theater troupe that performs Broadway-style productions at the Takarazuka Grand Theater, just a 30-minute train ride from downtown Ikeda.

By train: Take the Takarazuka Main Line from Osaka-Umeda to Ikeda Station.

By car: Stay on Route 11 heading north, then take Kawanishi-Obana toward Gofukubashi/National Route 176/Prefectural Route 13 and continue on Route 176 to Ikeda.

At a glance: Picturesque riverside town known for its green tea
Distance from Osaka: 45.1 km / 28 miles
Time: 1 hour train ride / 47 minutes driving

Nestled between the more popular tourist destinations of Kyoto and Nara (#1 and #3 on this list), Uji makes a great choice for a day trip if you want a break from the big city crowds.

Uji is renowned for producing premium green tea of unmatched quality. You can take your pick of restaurants, traditional tea houses, and shops to taste the coveted drink, as well as a variety of matcha-flavored snacks and sweets, such as soba and ice cream. One place to try is Tseun, Japan’s oldest tea shop since 1160, which serves green tea parfaits and rice dumplings.

Aside from tea, Uji is most famous for its iconic Byodoin Temple. Built in 998, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a stunning display of Buddhist Pure Land architecture surrounded by serene reflective ponds. The highlight is Phoenix Hall, which you might recognize if you have a ¥10 coin in your pocket.

The tranquil Uji River gently bisects the town. Lined with weeping willows, lush foliage, and cute shops, the riverfront is a lovely place for stroll. Be sure to stop at Uji Bridge, one of Japan’s oldest (though it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times). The bridge is famously connected to one of Japan’s most important literary works, the 11th-century novel The Tale of Genji .

Top things to do in Uji

Join a traditional tea ceremony at Taihoan tea house. The experience only costs ¥1,000 (about $7 USD) and includes a bowl of matcha and a Japanese sweet.
Grind your own matcha at Fukujuen Ujicha Kobo workshop.
Tour the famous Phoenix Hall at Byodoin Temple. Having never been destroyed by fire or other disasters, Phoenix Hall is one of few surviving Heian-period wooden structures. You can tour Byodoin Temple for ¥600 (~$4 USD) and Phoenix Hall for an additional ¥300.
Cruise or stroll the Uji River.
Visit Ujigami Shrine , thought to be Japan’s oldest standing shrine.
Explore Mimurotoji , known as the “flower temple” due to its beautiful gardens.

By train: Take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto Station. Transfer to the Nara Line to Uji Station.

By car: Follow Route 12 northeast out of Osaka. At Moriguchi JCT, follow signs for Kinki Expressway toward Daini Keihan Road. Stay on Kinki Expressway to Kadoma JCT and follow signs for Dainikeihan Expy/Hirakata/Kyoto City. Continue on Route 1. At Kumiyama JCT, follow signs for Keiji Bypass toward Meishin Expressway/Nagoya/Uji, then take exit Uji-nishi IC. Get on 241 and continue to Uji.

By guided tour: Visit Uji on this World Heritage Sites day tour . After experiencing the highlights of Kyoto (#1 on this list of day trips from Osaka), your guide will take you to Uji to explore the famous Byodoin Temple.

13. Wakayama

At a glance: Sacred sites, beautiful beaches, and a unique local ramen style
Distance from Osaka: 78.6 km / 48.8 miles
Time: 1 hour 16 minute train ride / 1 hour 10 minutes driving

Enveloping the end of the Kii Peninsula, Wakayama Prefecture is known as the “Kingdom of Fruit” for the number of farms and orchards within its borders. With around 600 km (~373 miles) of coastline, the area is also famous for seafood and beaches, while the presence of Koyasan and Kumano-Kodo (#6 on this list) make it an important spiritual destination as well.

The prefecture’s capital is Wakayama City, strategically built on Wakaura Bay to protect western Japan against attacks from the east. A day trip to Wakayama City offers a mix of culture, history, modern attractions, and culinary adventures.

Top things to do in Wakayama

Visit the iconic Wakayama Castle. Originally built in 1585, this strategic fortress still retains its original moat and stone wall, the rest having been destroyed in WWII and reconstructed. The hilltop tower offers panoramic views over the city, and 600 or so cherry trees display breathtaking blossoms in the spring.
Wander Momijidani Teien Garden . Next to Wakayama Castle, this Edo-period garden is named for its maple leaves that turn bright red in autumn. There’s also a teahouse within the garden, where visitors can enjoy traditional Kishu tea and sweets.
Take the ferry to the nearby islands of Tomogashima . The overgrown ruins of an abandoned military fort create a hauntingly beautiful scene, famous for its resemblance to the floating island in Studio Ghibli’s Castle in the Sky .
See the unique Awashima-jinja Shrine . Dolls dedicated from all over Japan fill the front hall of this colorful seaside shrine where women come to pray in the March 3rd Hina Nagashi ritual.
Explore Marina City , a man-made resort island in Wakaura Bay featuring a European theme park along with waterfront shopping and dining. Visit Kuroshio Market for just-caught seafood, or Kinokuni Fruit Village for fresh produce from local Wakayama farmers.
Get a view from Tosho-gu Shrine and Kimii-dera Temple.
Pick fresh fruit at one of Wakayama’s orchards.
Have a beach day.
Bonus: sample soy sauce where it originated. A 40-minute train ride on the Kisei Main Line will bring you to the picturesque town of Yuasa, the birthplace of the beloved salty condiment. Tour a factory and, if you’re feeling adventurous, try the soy sauce ice cream.

By train: From Osaka Station, take the JR Kuroshio line #7 Limited Express Shirahama to Wakayama Station. From there, it’s about a half hour walk to the city center, or you can take a local bus for only ¥230 – less than $2 USD.

By car: Follow Route 16 onto Route 4 heading southwest along Osaka Bay. At Rinko JCT, follow signs for Hanwa Expressway and get on Kansai Airport Expressway. At Izumisano JCT, follow signs for Hanwa Expressway toward Sennan/Wakayama, then take exit Wakayama IC.

At a glance: Urban center and transportation hub that combines history and industry
Distance from Osaka: 173 km / 107.5 miles
Time: 50 minute train ride / 2 hours 15 minutes driving

Located in the heart of Japan, Nagoya is the country’s 4th most populous city, an industrial center, and one of Japan’s most important transportation hubs.

The city developed around Nagoya Castle, originally built in 1610. Sadly, along with most of the city’s historic buildings, the castle was destroyed during the 1945 air raids. A reconstruction now stands in its place.

Nagoya’s culture of industry and manufacturing can be seen at the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology and the SCMAGLEV & Railway Park, a museum that showcases rail history from steam to levitating maglev trains where you can see retired trains and try your hand at a simulator.

Top things to do in Nagoya

Important Note: The castle is scheduled to be torn down in 2024 and rebuilt with wood for greater historical accuracy. Visitors cannot currently enter the castle keep because it isn’t up to earthquake safety standards.
Try Hitsumabushi , a Nagoya specialty where unagi (freshwater eel) is eaten in a specific four-step process with certain sides and condiments.
General admission: ¥500 (~$3 USD)
Space out at the Nagoya City Science Museum , home to one of the world’s largest planetariums.
Touch the sky at Midland Square , Nagoya’s tallest building. The Sky Promenade on the top three floors is one of the highest open-air rooftop observation facilities in Japan and offers uninterrupted views of the city. The rest of the building houses offices, restaurants, high-end shopping, special events, and a cinema.
Take the fam to Legoland or Nagashima Resort . The colorful themed attractions at Legoland are perfect for families with young kids, while there’s something for everyone at Nagashima Resort, an amusement park with rides, a water park, onsens, shopping, and a flower park.

By train: Easy-peasy – take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station all the way to Nagoya Station.

By car: Take Route 11 onto Meishin Expressway, following signs for Kyoto. At Kusatsu JCT, continue onto Shin-Meishin Expressway toward Kusatsu-Tanakami IC/Higashi Meihan Expressway/Shigaraki/Kameyama/Ise Expressway. Then at Kameyama-nishi JCT, take the right fork onto Kinki Expressway. At Yokkaichi JCT, follow signs for Higashi-Meihan Expressway toward Nagoya. After about 24 km, this road becomes Route 5 and continues to Nagoya.

15. Mt. Rokko

At a glance: Accessible mountain peak known for its natural beauty and stunning views
Distance from Osaka: 34.6 km / 21.5 miles
Time: 1 hour 20-45 minute train ride / 44 minutes driving

Just north of Kobe, Mt. Rokko is the highest peak in the mountain range of the same name. From 931.3 meters (3,055 feet), the peak offers panoramic vistas over Kobe and Osaka. Seeing Kobe lit up below at night is known as the “$10 million view”.

A day trip to Mt. Rokko provides an escape from the city with opportunities for active, outdoor, and relaxing activities.

The mountain is accessible by ropeway (gondola) or an old-school open-air cable car. Both the ropeway and cable car stations, as well as all major tourist attractions on the mountain, are connected by a bus that runs on a loop.

Top things to do in Mt. Rokko

Ride the scenic ropeway or cable car up to Mt. Rokko.
Take in views from the Rokko Garden Terrace or the observation deck next to the cable car platform.
Wander the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden . The garden is open March – November with cherry blossoms in the spring, summer wildflowers, and colorful fall foliage. Adult admission is ¥900, about $6 USD.
Play a round at Japan’s first golf course . The Kobe Golf Club was established in 1903 by a British expat and is now a full 18-hole course.
Discover the Rokko Morione Museum . This quirky museum displays a collection of music boxes and other mechanical instruments and offers unique experiences, such as “concerts without performers”, a “sound walkway” through a tranquil garden, and a make-your-own music box workshop. General admission is ¥1,500 (~$10 USD), some experiences may cost extra.
General admission: ¥2,500 (~$16 USD)
Lift pass: ¥1,600 weekday pass (~$11 USD), ¥3,300 weekend day pass (~$22 USD), ¥250 single-lift ticket (~$1.70 USD)
Rental fees extra

By train: There’s no direct train line from Osaka to Mt. Rokko, but getting there is an experience in itself. Choose one route for the trip there and the other for return to experience both the cable car and ropeway.

Cable car: Take the Tokaido-Sanyo Line Rapid Himeji from Osaka Station to Rokkomichi Station. Walk 1 minute to the JR Rokkomichi bus station and catch the #16 bus to Rokko Cable Shita. Walk 1 minute to Rokko Cable Shita Station and take the cable car to Rokko Sanjo Station.
Ropeway: Take the Kobe Line Limited Express Shinkaichi from Osaka-Umeda Station to Shukugawa Station. Walk to the adjacent bus station, Hankyu Shukugawa, and take Arima Route (A23) Narai to Arima Onsen Hot Springs. Walk 20 minutes (or take a taxi) to the Rokkoarima Ropeway station (also called Arima Onsen Station – confusing). A scenic gondola will take you up to Mt. Rokko.

Once you arrive at either the cable car or ropeway station on Mt. Rokko, you can use the local Rokko Sanjo Bus to get to all the major attractions.

By car: Take the Hanshin Expressway toward Kobe. Exit onto Route 43 at the Ashiya toll gate. After about 1.7 km, turn right, then turn left on Route 2. Turn right at Narihira Bashi Hashizume intersection onto 344, following signs for Arima/Royu Rd. Continue onto Royu Driveway. Turn right at Hoden Toll Gate (before the tunnel). Keep left after the toll to head south on 16 and continue to Mt. Rokko.

By guided tour: This full-day sightseeing tour includes stops at Himeji Castle and Arima Onsen (#4 and #7 on this list of day trips from Osaka) before enjoying panoramic views from the enchanting Mount Rokko.

16. Awaji Island

At a glance: Island escape known for hot springs and gourmet cuisine
Distance from Osaka: 102 km / 63.4 miles
Time: 1 hour 52 minute train ride / 1 hour 19 minutes driving

Situated between the islands of Honshu and Shikoku in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, Awaji-shima is a relatively small island with a long, eclectic list of claims to fame. From history to mythology, whirlpools to hot springs, puppets to onions, travelers of all kinds can surely find something to interest them on Awaji Island.

Legend says that Awaji was the first island in Japan to be created by the Shinto gods, and you can see the creation myth reflected around the island. One example is in Awaji’s longstanding history of puppetry, which is said to have begun as entertainment for the gods’ children.

Awaji Island is also known as “the region of food” and has historically produced gourmet foods for the Imperial Court. Fresh seafood and marbled beef are among the island’s proudest delicacies.

Then there are the onions. Awaji’s mineral-rich soil provides the perfect environment for growing some of the sweetest onions on the market. It’s a whole thing; besides tasting the famed bulbs, tourists can snap a photo of a giant onion statue, or snatch up a fresh one in an onion UFO game (the arcade game with the claw, y’know?).

Top things to do in Awaji Island

Relax in the island’s hot springs . The most famous are the Minamiawaji Hotspring District and Sumoto Hotspring. Check first to make sure your chosen hotspring accommodates day trips, as some are reserved for overnight guests.
Sample the local cuisine , such as Awaji beef, fresh seafood, or—you guessed it—onions.
See the famous Naruto Vortex , a huge natural whirlpool between Awaji and Shikoku Island.
Visit Hokudan Earthquake Memorial Park , the epicenter of the 1995 Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake. The park features a museum and an earthquake simulator, as well as a preserved section of the fault line that was displaced by the 1995 quake.
Stop at Izanagi Jingu Shrine , believed to be the oldest Shinto shrine in Japan.
Enjoy a traditional Ningyo Joruri performance at the historic Awaji Puppet Theater.
Cross the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge that connects Awaji and Kobe. From its completion in 1998 until 2022, this feat of engineering held the title of the world’s longest suspension bridge.

By train: Take the Tokaido-Sanyo Line Special Rapid Himeji from Osaka Station to Sannomiya Station. Walk 3 minutes to Shinki Bus Kobe Sannomiya Bus Terminal. Then take the Kobe – Fukuri bus [Minami Awajishi] to Midori PA on Awaji Island.

By car: Take the Hanshin Expressway No. 3 toward Kobe. At Myodani JCT, follow signs for Akashi Brg/Kitasen Rd/Myodani/Tarumi/Myodani IC/Tokushima/Sanyo Expressway.

At Tarumi JCT, follow signs onto Kobe Awaji Naruto Expressway toward Tokushima and continue to Awaji Island.

By guided tour: On this new tour from Get Your Guide, you’ll have a chance to explore the natural beauty and landmarks of Awaji Island, as well as the Naruto Whirlpools and the city of Kobe (#5 on this list of day trips from Osaka).

Round up of the best day trips from Osaka

Here’s a recap of all the best day trips from Osaka so you can see everything in one place.

Koyasan/Kumano Kodo
Arima Onsen
Takeda Castle ruins
Awaji Island

Are you planning a trip to Japan?

We have TONS of resources on travel in Japan and destinations throughout the country. Check out our Ultimate Japan Travel Guide for all the answers to your most burning questions, or read some of our favorite articles below.

One Week in Japan: Best Itinerary for your First Visit
Most Beautiful Places in Japan You Need to See for Yourself
Cherry Blossoms in Japan: When & Where to See Them
Autumn in Japan: Where & When to see Fall Foliage

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5. Go Ice Skating. Ice skating is a fun winter activity. Ice skating can be enjoyed only in winter, and many ice skating rinks open around the Osaka Bay Area during the colder months, making it easy to try ice skating during your stay in the city. Bring your friends or family along for a fun day on the ice in Osaka! 6.
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About the Author Roger Timbrook

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10 Best Things to Do in Osaka in Winter

1. Spending a great time at Christmas and Countdown Events at Universal Studio Japan

2. Walking around and shopping at Christmas Markets

3. Going for Hatsumode (The first visit of the year to the shrine) and wishing you luck

4. Seeing Winter illuminations

5. Enjoying Winter Events at Kaiyukan Aquarium

6. Admiring Night Views from Umeda Sky Building Observatory

7. Soaking in Onsen and healing your body from daily exhaustion

8. Eating hot dishes like Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki, and hotpots

Information

9. Ice Skating at the center of Osaka

10. Taking to day trips for Skiing and Snowboarding

Winter in Osaka 2022: Top Things to Do in Osaka in Winter

1. Umeda Sky Building Christmas

2. Explore Dotonbori on foot

3. Osaka Castle Illuminage

4. Food crawl at Hozenji Yokocho