Osaka
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Osaka - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Dotonbori
Chuo-kuIf you only have one night in Osaka, the neighborhood of Dotonbori (named after the canal and adjacent street of the same name) is the place to go. Once Osaka's old theater district, Dotonbori is now a lively pedestrian zone centered around the Ebisu-bashi Bridge, which lies under the neon lights of the Glico 'Running Man' sign, one of Osaka's main landmarks and popular hangout spot. Nearby streets are filled with restaurants, shops, and the shouts of countless touts, each proclaiming (usually falsely) that their restaurant is the only one worth visiting. Sadly, many of the restaurants on the main street are being replaced by drugstores catering to overseas tourists, but the side streets in the area are a culinary treasure-trove. Stroll along the riverfront walkways to avoid the crowds, or slip into Hozenji Yokocho Alley, two blocks south of Dotonbori-dori, to splash water on the moss-covered statues at Hozenji Shrine or dine in any of the excellent restaurants hidden away on this quiet street.
Dotonbori-dori, Osaka, Osaka-fu, Japan -
2. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Minato-kuThis eye-catching red, gray, and blue building is Japan's best aquarium outside of Okinawa and one of the world's largest. More than 11,000 tons of water hold a multitude of sea creatures, including whale sharks, king penguins, giant spider crabs, jellyfish, and sea otters. You can stroll through 15 different environments, including the rivers and streams of Japanese and Ecuadoran forests, the icy waters around Antarctica, the dark depths of the Sea of Japan, and the volcanically active Pacific Ring of Fire. The surrounding Tempozan Harbor Village also contains a contemporary culture museum, a giant ferris wheel, cruises around Osaka Bay on a reproduction of the Santa María, and various shops and restaurants. There are often street performances outside on weekends. To get here, take the Chuo subway line to Osaka-ko Station; the aquarium is a five-minute walk northwest from the station.
1--1--10 Kaigan-dori, Osaka, Osaka-fu, 552-0022, Japan06-6576–5501Sight Details
Rate Includes: ¥2,400 -
3. Osaka Castle
Chuo-kuOsaka's most visible tourist attraction and symbol, Osaka Castle exemplifies the city's ability to change with the times. Originally built in the 1580s, what you see today is a five-story reconstruction completed in 1931. Instead of leaving a collection of steep wooden staircases and empty rooms, Osaka turned its castle into an elevator-equipped museum celebrating the history of its creator, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, the chief imperial minister to unite Japan. For those more interested in aesthetics than artifacts, the eighth-floor donjon (tower) offers a stunning view of the urban landscape. Watching the sun set behind the skyscrapers is reason enough for a visit. The surrounding park makes for a relaxing break from the energy of the city as well. From Osaka-jo Koen-mae Station, it's about a 10-minute uphill walk to the castle. You can also take the Tanimachi subway line from Higashi-Umeda Station (just southeast of Osaka Station) to Tanimachi 4-chome Station, from there it's a 15-minute walk.
View Tours and Activities1--1 Osaka-jo, Osaka, Osaka-fu, 540-0002, Japan06-6941–3044Sight Details
Rate Includes: ¥600 -
4. Osaka Museum of History
Informative as it is enjoyable, the Osaka Museum of History immerses you in the city's history from pre-feudal times to the early 20th century. Full of life-size displays and hands-on activities, the museum does an excellent job of offering attractions for both children and adults. There are two paths through the exhibits, a Highlight Course (to get a hint of Osaka's past in less than an hour) and the Complete Course (for a fuller experience). The museum makes an excellent stop on the way to Osaka Castle.
4--1--30 Otemae, Osaka, Osaka-fu, 540-0008, Japan06-6946–5728Sight Details
Rate Includes: ¥600, Closed Tues. -
5. Shin Sekai
Ebisu-HigashiStepping into Shin Sekai is a chance to see the Osaka of a generation ago. Built in 1912, the neighborhood was meant to emulate New York and Paris (complete with its own Eiffel Tower). After the war the area fell into neglect and became one of the few dangerous areas in Osaka. Over the past few decades, Shin Sekai has cleaned up its act while retaining its retro feel. On weekends everyone lines up to try kushi katsu, or batter-fried meat and vegetables on skewers. Near Tennoji Park and Shitennoji Temple, it's an excellent afternoon or early-evening stop. After dinner visit Tsutenkaku Tower for lovely night views of Osaka.
Osaka, Osaka-fu, 556-0002, JapanSight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
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6. Tenno-ji Park
Tenno-ji-kuThe best place to get away from the noise and concrete of the city, this park contains not only the Osaka Museum of Fine Art and the garden of Keitaku-en, but also Tenno-ji Zoo. At the northern end of the park is a prehistoric burial mound, Chausuyama Kofun, which was the site of Tokugawa Ieyasu's camp during the siege of Osaka-jo in 1614–15. Visit in the morning or evening when the park is at its quietest. Leading up to the park entrance is the newly renovated Tenshiba—an area of terrace cafés and shops looking out on a grassy lawn, popular with couples and families. On weekends it often hosts various events.
6--74 Chausuyama-cho, Osaka, Osaka-fu, 543-0063, JapanSight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
7. Amerika-mura
Chuo-kuThough it takes its name from the original shops that sold cheap American fashions and accessories, Amerika-mura (meaning "America Village"), or Ame-mura (pronounced “ah-meh moo-ra”) as it's more often called, is now a bustling district full of trendy clothing stores, record stores, bars, cafés, and clubs that cater to teenagers and young adults. Shops are densely packed, and it's virtually impossible to walk these streets on weekends. To see the variety of styles and fashions prevalent among urban youth, Ame-Mura is the place to go in Osaka.
View Tours and ActivitiesWest side of Mido-suji, Osaka, Osaka-fu, 542-0086, Japan -
8. Hattori Ryokuchi Park
Come for the park's open-air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses (Nihon Minka Shuraku Hakubutsukan), and wander about full-size traditional rural buildings such as the giant gassho-zukuri (thatched-roof) farmhouse from Gifu Prefecture. The park also has horseback-riding facilities, tennis courts, and an open-air stage that hosts concerts and other events in summer. There's even an outdoor Kabuki theater. An English-language pamphlet is available. Take the Mido-suji subway line from Umeda to Ryokuchi Koen Station; the park is a 10-minute walk away.
1--1 Hattori Ryokuchi, Toyonaka, Osaka-fu, 561-0873, Japan06-6862–3137-museumSight Details
Rate Includes: Park free, museum ¥500, Museum closed Mon. -
9. Isshin-ji Temple
Tenno-ji-kuThe ultramodern gate and fierce guardian statues of Isshin-ji Temple are a stark contrast to the nearby Shitenno-ji Temple. Dating back to 1185, the temple is now known for its Okotsubutsu—a Buddha statue made of the cremated remains of more than 200,000 people laid to rest at Isshin-ji. Far from morbid, the statue is meant to reaffirm one's respect for the deceased and to turn them into an object of everyday worship. An Okutsubutsu is made every 10 years, the first in 1887. Though 12 Okutsubutsu have been made, due to a direct hit to the temple during World War II, only the six crafted after the war remain.
2--8--69 Osaka, Osaka, Osaka-fu, 543-0062, Japan06-6771–0444Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
10. Japan Folk Crafts Museum Osaka
The exhibits of "beauty from day-to-day life" at this museum in Senri Expo Park explore the diversity and intricacy of Japanese handicrafts from Hokkaido to Okinawa. The cloth, wood, and bamboo items in simple displays evoke Japan's traditional past and make quite a contrast to Osaka's modernity.
10--5 Bampaku Koen, Suita, Osaka-fu, 565-0826, Japan06-6877–1971Sight Details
Rate Includes: ¥710, Closed Wed. -
11. Keitaku-en Garden
Tenno-ji-kuJihei Ogawa, master gardener of the late Meiji period, spent 10 years working the late Lord Sumitomo's circular garden into a masterpiece. The woods surrounding the pond are a riot of color in spring, when the cherry blossoms and azaleas bloom. Keitaku-en is adjacent to Shiritsu Bijutsukan in Tenno-ji Koen.
108 Chausuyama-cho, Osaka, Osaka-fu, 543-0063, Japan06-6761--1770Sight Details
Rate Includes: ¥150, Closed Mon. -
12. Mido-suji Boulevard
Chuo-kuOsaka's Champs Élysées, this ginko-tree-lined boulevard is Osaka's most elegant thoroughfare and home to its greatest concentration of department stores. To the east of Mido-suji is the Shin-sai-bashi-suji arcade, one of Osaka's best shopping and entertainment streets. If you're in town on the second Sunday in October, catch the annual Mido-suji Parade, with its colorful procession of floats and musicians.
Osaka, Osaka-fu, Japan -
13. National Museum of Ethnology
The National Museum of Ethnology has informative displays about the Ainu (the original inhabitants of Hokkaido) and other cultures from around the world. Information sheets explaining the sections of the museum are available and supplement the English-language brochure included with admission. The museum is on the east side of the main road that runs north–south through Senri Expo Park.
Senri Expo Park, Suita, Osaka-fu, 565-0826, Japan06-6876–2151Sight Details
Rate Includes: ¥580, Closed Wed. -
14. Nipponbashi Den Den Town
Naniwa-kuAll the latest video games, computers, cameras, phones, build-your-own-robot kits, and other gadgets are on display here. Even if you are not in the market for electronics, a stroll through Den Den Town provides an interesting look at Japan's anime, video game, and computer subcultures. "Den Den" is derived from the word denki, which means “electricity.”
2 blocks east of Namba Station, Osaka, Osaka-fu, 556-0005, Japan -
15. Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts
Tenno-ji-kuThe building isn't too impressive, but the exceptional collection of 12th- to 14th-century classical Japanese art on the second floor is. Other collections include the works of Edo-period artist Korin Ogata, more than 3,000 examples of modern lacquerware, and a collection of Chinese paintings and artifacts. Temporary exhibitions often feature famous international works and artists. Take the Loop Line or the Mido-suji subway line to Tenno-ji Station, or the Tani-machi subway to Shitenno-ji-mae.
View Tours and Activities1--82 Chausuyama-cho, Osaka, Osaka-fu, 543-0063, Japan06-6771–4874Sight Details
Rate Includes: ¥300, Closed Mon. -
16. Osaka Expo Park
Originally the site of Expo '70, the garden-filled Senri Expo Park still draws visitors thanks to the presence of the National Museum of Ethnology, the Japan Folk Art Museum, and the enormous statue by Taro Okamoto called Tower of the Sun. Located outside the city center, the park offers an interesting look at how Osaka has blossomed in the postwar years in the Expo '70 Pavilion.
Senri Expo Park, Suita, Osaka-fu, 565-0826, Japan06-6877–7387Sight Details
Rate Includes: Gardens ¥260 each; Expo \'70 Pavilion ¥210, Closed Wed. -
17. Shitennoji Temple
Tenno-ji-kuTenno-ji, as this temple is popularly known, is one of the most important historic sights in Osaka and the oldest temple in Japan. Founded in 593, it's been destroyed by fire many times. The last reconstruction of this Five-Storied Pagoda in 1965 has maintained the original design and adhered to the traditional mathematical alignment. What has managed to survive from earlier times is the 1294 stone torii (gate) that stands at the main entrance. (Interestingly enough, these are rarely used at Buddhist temples.) The founder, Umayado no Mikoto (573–621), posthumously known as Prince Shotoku (Shotoku Taishi), is considered one of early Japan's most enlightened rulers. He was made regent over his aunt, Suiko, and set about instituting reforms and establishing Buddhism as the state religion. Buddhism had been introduced to Japan from China and Korea in the early 500s, but it was seen as a threat to the aristocracy, who claimed prestige and power based up their godlike ancestry. On the 21st of every month, the temple hosts a flea market that sells antiques and baubles; go in the morning for a feeling of Old Japan.
1--11--18 Shitenno-ji, Osaka, Osaka-fu, 543-0051, Japan06-6771–0066Sight Details
Rate Includes: Temple ¥300; Garden ¥300; Treasure Hall ¥500 -
18. Sumiyoshi Taisha Grand Shrine
Sumiyoshi-kuIn a city of mariners it's no surprise that locals revere Sumiyoshi Taisha, dedicated to the guardian deity of sailors. According to legend, the shrine was founded by Empress Jingu in 211 to express her gratitude for her safe return from a voyage to Korea. Sumiyoshi Taisha is one of three shrines built prior to the arrival of Buddhism in Japan (the other two are Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture and Izumo Taisha in Tottori Prefecture). According to Shinto custom, shrines were torn down and rebuilt at set intervals to the exact specifications of the original. Sumiyoshi was last replaced in 1810. Sumiyoshi is also famous for its taiko-bashi (arched bridge), given by Yodo-gimi, the consort of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who bore him a son. Every June 14 starting at 1 pm, a colorful rice-planting festival takes place here with traditional folk performances and processions. Sumiyoshi Matsuri, a large and lively festival, is held from July 30 to August 1. A crowd of rowdy young men carries a 2-ton portable shrine from Sumiyoshi Taisha to Yamato-gawa and back; this is followed by an all-night street bazaar. To reach the shrine, take the 20-minute ride south on the Nankai Main Line from Nankai Namba Station to Sumiyoshi Koen Station.
2--9--89 Sumiyoshi, Osaka, Osaka-fu, 558-0045, Japan06-6672–0753Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
19. Tenman-gu Shrine
Kita-kuThis 10th-century shrine is the main site of the annual Tenjin Matsuri, held July 24 and 25, one of the largest and most enthusiastically celebrated festivals in Japan. Dozens of floats are paraded through the streets, and more than 100 vessels, lighted by lanterns, sail along the canals amid fireworks. The shrine is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the Japanese patron of scholars. Sugawara was out of favor at court when he died in 903. Two years later plague and drought swept Japan—Sugawara was exacting revenge from the grave. To appease Sugawara's spirit he was deified as Tenjin-sama. He is enshrined at Tenman-gu. On the 5th, 15th, and 25th of each month students throughout Japan visit Tenman-gu shrines to pray for academic success.
2--1--8 Tenshinbashi, Osaka, Osaka-fu, 530-0041, Japan06-6353–0025Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
20. Tomb of Emperor Nintoku
The 4th-century mausoleum of Emperor Nintoku is the largest of the Mozu Kofun, 49 burial mounds located in the city of Sakai, southeast of Osaka. This is the largest tomb in Japan, and covers an even bigger area than that of the pyramids of Egypt—archaeologists calculate that the central mound of this site occupies 1.3 million square feet. Construction took more than 20 years and required a total workforce of about 800,000 laborers. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2019. Surrounding the emperor's keyhole-shaped burial place are three moats and pine, cedar, and cypress trees. You can walk around the outer moat in about an hour to get an idea of the size of the mausoleum and the grounds. The free 21st-floor observatory in the Sakai City Hall complex offers an aerial view of the tomb.
7--1 Daisen-cho, Sakai-shi, Osaka-fu, 590-0035, Japan072-955–1115Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free
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