From Kyoto, it is easy and quick to travel to Osaka. Osaka is located along the Yodo River and is famous for its castle, bustling Dontonburi street next to the canal, and culinary specialties including tako-yaki, okonomiyaki, ramen, and kushi-katsu. During the cherry blossom season in March or April, Osaka is a great place to enjoy the surroundings while cruising on the river. While we were there in April 2025, the World Expo was hosted by Osaka, but we didn’t get a chance to visit. It is a big city, so there is always a lot going on!
Highlights
- Osaka Castle
- Dotonbori street for restaurants and shops by the canal
- Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel in Don Quijote
- Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street
- Tsutenkaku observation deck
- Kuchu Teien Observatory
- Tennoji Zoo
- Osaka cherry blossom boat
- Osaka Science Museum
- Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
- Universal Studios Japan
- StreetKart Osaka
Before you go
- Osaka is a great place to see cherry blossoms in March or April
- Osaka station is different to Shin Osaka, which is where the Shinkansen arrives and departs
- Public transport is efficient and can be faster than taxis if there is traffic
- If possible, book restaurants in advance as they can be very busy
- Some places only take cash and others take only physical credit cards
- In the summer, watch out for mosquitos
Transport
- Osaka has two main airports: Kansai International Airport (KIX) for international and Osaka Itami Airport (ITM) for domestic flights
- Travel to Osaka is only 15 minutes on the Shinkansen, or 30 by local trains
- Within Osaka there is a metro and bus system which can be paid with Suica
- Taxis are available but can be expensive. Uber works but GO is the most popular app
Accommodation
- Although I have stayed in Osaka a long time ago, I can’t remember which hotel. This time we stayed nearby in Kyoto and took a day trip, so I don’t have any specific recommendations.
- As usual I recommend checking reviews on Google Reviews or using AirBnB
Food
While we were in Osaka on the last trip, we only had time to eat one dinner at Potto. It is a Japanese-Italian restaurant with pastas and delicious, creative sauces. The ramen pasta was an interesting fusion of Japanese and Italian food.
However, I definitely recommend trying some of the local specialties including tako-yaki, okonomiyaki, ramen, and kushi-katsu. You will find a lot of options along the very busy Dotonbori. Helpfully, the restaurants often have these words in the name if that is their specialty.
FAQs
Q: Do I need a tour guide?
A: No, it is easy to get to the places of interest around Osaka
Q: Do people speak English?
A: Some people speak English, but many do not. Luckily many signs now have Japanese and English. However, I recommend to have GoogleTranslate ready
Q: Is it a walkable city?
A: No, Osaka is a very large and sprawling city so you will need to use either public transport or taxis to get around. Within certain areas, it is safe and easy, though often very busy, to walk around.
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