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Things to do in Osaka in January

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January is a good time to visit Osaka . The weather is usually cold with a gentle breeze, with temperatures ranging from 32—44°F (-0—7°C). There are plenty of events to check out and activities to try in Osaka during this time. Some of our top recommendations: attend a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at a local tea house, explore the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan to see the winter-themed exhibits, take a stroll through the Dotonbori district to see the illuminated billboards and neon signs, and more!

Osaka has plenty to offer for visitors of all ages and interests. In this article, we tell you the top things to see and do for your January trip to Osaka. Get inspired by the events, activities, attractions, and experiences unique to January. We’ll let you know where to explore events based on your interests, whether that’s food, culture, art, music, sport or others.

We’ll let you know everything you need to prepare for the weather in Osaka in January. Learn about what to wear and pack for your trip, the average temperatures throughout January, temperature changes from morning to evening and much more.

Table of contents

• Experiences
• Weather and what to wear
• Attractions

Best events and things to do in Osaka in January

Top experiences in january, attend a traditional japanese tea ceremony at a local tea house, explore the osaka aquarium kaiyukan to see the winter-themed exhibits, take a stroll through the dotonbori district to see the illuminated billboards and neon signs, visit the umeda sky building for a panoramic view of the city, visit the sumiyoshi taisha shrine for hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year), attend the toka ebisu festival at imamiya ebisu shrine, try fugu (blowfish) at a local restaurant, visit the tsutenkaku tower at night, visit the shitennoji temple for the daruma doll fair, holidays in osaka in january.

• New Year's Day ( January 1 )
• January 1 Bank Holiday ( January 1 )
• January 2 Bank Holiday ( January 2 )
• January 3 Bank Holiday ( January 3 )
• Coming of Age Day ( January 13 )

Other notable holidays

• Christmas ( December 25 )
• December 31 Bank Holiday ( December 31 )
• Setsubun ( February 3 )
• National Foundation Day ( February 11 )
• Emperor's Birthday ( February 23 — 24 )
• Dolls' Festival/Girls' Festival ( March 3 )
• Spring Equinox ( March 20 )
• Shōwa Day ( April 29 )
• Constitution Memorial Day ( May 3 )
• Greenery Day ( May 4 )
• Weather in Osaka in January

Temperatures on an average day in Osaka in January

The average temperature in Osaka in January for a typical day ranges from a high of 44°F (7°C) to a low of 32°F (-0°C). Some would describe it as cold with a gentle breeze.

For comparison, the hottest month in Osaka , August, has days with highs of 87°F (31°C) and lows of 73°F (23°C). The coldest month, January has days with highs of 44°F (7°C) and lows of 32°F (-0°C). This graph shows how an average day looks like in Osaka in January based on historical data.

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Historical temperature average in January

General weather summary, what to wear in january, best attractions for osaka in january.

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Osaka throughout the year

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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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What to Do in Osaka in January

Planning to go to Osaka in winter? January is the winter season in Japan and the beginning of the new year, many events and festivities can be experienced in Osaka in January.

In this article, I would like to share with you the best things to do in Osaka in January. Apart from the places to visit in Osaka in January, there are some events and annual celebrations during this month that you can go and enjoy.

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.

What is January in Osaka like?

At the beginning of the year, January in Osaka offers various events and celebrations of annual traditions such as visiting temples and shrines. Some fun events are held in many places around Osaka, especially at the popular tourist destinations in Osaka such as Osaka Castle , Dotonbori , Universal Studios , and many more. There are some seasonal foods available only during winter offers in many restaurants in Osaka as well. Aside from that, you can still enjoy the spirit of the holiday season because the winter illuminations are still ongoing.

January in Osaka is the coldest month and it snows and rains with an average temperature of 9° (high) and 2°C (low). However, the climate is still changing from time to time so it is better to check the weather before visiting. Here is the list of the things you can do in Osaka in January.

1. Enjoy Universal Studio Events (No Limit Countdown and Christmas)

Universal Studio Japan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Osaka that offers various attractions according to the season.

This January, you can enjoy annual events such as No Limits Countdown every New Year’s Eve and the No Limit Christmas that lasts until January 8, 2024. Apart from these, many attractions and rides provide different experiences and fun. Universal Studio operates from 9:00 am to 8:30 pm but may change without notice, especially during holidays, so check before visiting.

<< Book your Universal Studio tickets here! >>

For more travel tips about Universal Studio Japan, Check out the following articles.

▶️ Best Things to Do at Universal Studios Japan

▶️ 10 Best Rides at Universal Studio Japan

2. Hatsumode at Shrines and Temples

The New Year’s Day visit or Hatsumode (初詣) in Japanese is a local Japanese tradition to visit shrines or temples to ask for good luck throughout the year.

Millions of people in Japan including foreigners practice this annual tradition. Many shrines and temples in Osaka hold rituals to welcome the New Year, and one of the many visitors of Hatsumode is the famous Sumiyoshi Taisha whose rituals start at 5:00 am.

For more information about Hatsumode in Japan, check out the following article!

▶︎Hatsumode in Japan

3. See Winter Illuminations

Even when the holiday season is over, the colorful illuminations continue to shine as part of winter.

Many winter illuminations are held in some well-known sights in Osaka such as Osaka Castle , Universal Studio , Hirakata Park, and many more. Some winter illuminations usually end in January and some last until April.

For more information about Winter Illumination in Osaka, check out the following article!

▶️ Best Winter Illumination Spots in Osaka

4. Soak in Onsen

Soaking in an onsen (hot spring) is a great way to relax and unwind during the winter and after a tiring day exploring Osaka.

For example, at Solaniwa Onsen at Osaka Bay Tower, you can enjoy both onsen and illumination as they offer winter illumination with the theme of “Garden of Light” held from December 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, which adds a relaxing experience to the guest.

For more information about Onsen in Osaka, check out the following article!

▶️ 5 Best Onsen in Osaka

5. Take a Skiing Trip

January corresponds to winter, and one of the more popular things to do during winter has to be ski and snowboarding! There are various ski locations where you can visit near Osaka.

For example, Rokkosan Ski Resort (六甲山スノーパーク), located in Kobe, is one of the most accessible ski resorts from Osaka. It only takes about an hour to get to Rokkosan Ski Resort from the center of Osaka by car or bus.

For more information about Ski Resort near Osaka, check out the following article!

▶️ 5 Best Ski Resorts near Osaka

6. Experience Afternoon Tea and Strawberry Buffets

Strawberries are known for being a delicious winter fruit in Japan. During this season, many strawberry fairs and buffets are offered in restaurants and hotels across Japan.

The New Otani Hotel in Osaka is one of them that offers strawberries and amaou sweets fairs from January 5 to March 31, 2024, different types of cakes, desserts, and drinks made from strawberries can be tasted.

7. Toka Ebisu Festival at Imamiya Ebisu Jinja-Shrine

Enjoy the famous and one of the three major festivals in Osaka, the Toka Ebisu Festival.

It is an annual festival every January to celebrate the patron deity of business prosperity which is believed to bring good luck to the devotees. On the 9th and 10th of January, 2024 the celebration will be held at the Imamiya Ebisu Jinja Shrine in Naniwa-Ku Osaka.

Information

8. NAKED CITY LIGHT FANTASIA at Harukas 300

Japan’s famous tallest skyscraper “Harukas 300” will host the Naked City Light Fantasia until March 31, 2024, offering a future tourism experience where you can enjoy the night view in Osaka, lights, and projection mapping.

<<Book e-tickets to Harukas 300 Observatory Now!>>

For more information about Naked Spot in Japan, check out the following article!

▶︎Best Naked Spot in Japan

9. Visit Osaka Castle Tower

Many cultural and historical events are held here. You can visit the museum which contains the history of Osaka, including famous paintings, and arts. Enjoy winter this January as Osaka Castle illuminage is held until February 25, 2024, at Osaka Castle Nishinomaru Garden.

<<Book online: Osaka Castle Ticket>>

Learn more about Osaka Castle from the following link!

▶️ Osaka Castle: the Symbol of Warring States Period

10. Kaiyukan Aquarium at Night/Illumination

Visit the largest Aquarium and one of the most famous aquariums in Osaka with the whole family and friends.

The Kaiyukan Aquarium offers a variety of events, exhibitions, and activities that visitors will surely enjoy. This winter enjoy the night illumination until January 31, 2024.

Prices of tickets change depending on your age the adults ages 16 and over are 2,700 yen, ages 7 to 15 is 1,400 yen, ages 3 to 6 is 700 yen, and 2 years old and under are free of charge.

<<Book online: Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan Ticket>>

Learn more about Kaiyukan Aquarium from the following link!

▶️ Kaiyukan Aquarium

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Thank you for reading! Hope this article helps and gives you some good ideas about things to do in Osaka in January.

Osaka is one of the most famous places in Japan with many popular tourist destinations. If you would like to know more travel information about Osaka you can check the following articles below.

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For more information about traveling in Osaka, check these articles below, too!

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Clarita Kurita

Greetings to all mommies I am a supermom from Philippines. Previously, I worked and lived in Dubai for seven years, until 2015 the year I  moved in Japan. Currently, I am happily settled here with my Japanese husband and our 7 months old baby. I could only describe my almost 6 years of living here as a roller coaster ride more so, after I gave birth to my son. Japan had changed me in ways unimaginable. It has influence my lifestyle, my perceptions and beliefs. I was able to witness firsthand the pros and cons of living in the country. From their  language, culture and ethnicity, the people, place and in work. Those years were enough to give me quite personal and memorable experiences which I would be more than delighted to share with you.

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GUIDE Ultimate must-see guide to Osaka

Food, fun and nightlife meet history and culture in osaka.

Osaka is a vibrant and dynamic city with something to offer every traveller – from foodies and families to those who like to stroll traditional shrines and temples to art lovers and those who love to shop until they drop. No matter how many times you visit, you’ll discover something new and leave with fond memories that will keep you coming back for more.

Osaka is located in the Kansai region, the centre of the Honshu, the largest of the four main islands of Japan.

Takoyaki, a savoury snack sometimes referred to as ‘octopus balls’ in English. Image: fumi901/Shutterstock.com 

There’s nothing quite like the food in Osaka. Known as ‘the nation’s kitchen’, you’ll find everything from hearty street food and authentic family-owned restaurants to Michelin-star fine dining. Whatever your tastes, you are sure to leave Osaka with a full belly and delicious memories. 

As far as street food goes, you can’t go past the Dotonbori district. Along the river, you will find endless stalls serving takoyaki (spherical savoury dumplings filled with cooked octopus pieces and topped with savoury sauce, mayonnaise, dried seaweed and bonito flakes), ramen and okonomiyaki (savoury pancake made with chopped cabbage, flour and egg with toppings) to name a few. The streets and alleys also have plenty of options for dining in at izakaya (casual Japanese-style pubs), bars and restaurants. Try a crab restaurant which this district is famous for. Or perhaps the Osaka-style sushi called hakozushi (boxed sushi) where they are pressed in a square wooden mould! For a more traditional market experience head to Kuromon Market in the Namba district and wander some 170 stalls specialising in fish, meat and produce. Or if you’re wanting to dine where the locals do, a visit to Tenma is a must. 

Neon nightlife

Tsutenkaku Tower lit up at night* in the Shinsekai (new world) district at night. Image: Luciano Mortula - LGM/Shutterstock.com

Dotonbori is not only known for its amazing street food, but it is also the location of bright lights and buzzing nightlife. This restaurant and bar district certainly comes to life after dark. Stroll along the strip and take in the colourful lights and signs of the lining buildings. The evening is perfectly paired with a cold Japanese beer and a hot snack from a street vendor. Don’t forget to take a snap with the giant neon Glico man! 

Take a stroll and be wowed by bright lights and colours at Shinsekai, also known as the ‘New World’ district. Designed as an entertainment district in the early 20th century, the district is not your typical Japanese neighbourhood with Western cultural influences in its architecture and design. The northern half of Shinsekai was inspired by Paris while the southern portion is inspired by New York City’s, Coney Island.

It will also be hard to miss the famous Tsutenkaku Tower which is a popular attraction in Shinsekai. Built in 1912 and inspired by Paris’ Eiffel Tower, the tower stands at an incredible 103 metres high with the main observatory deck at 91 metres, so get ready for some amazing views of the vibrant Shinsekai district! 

*Note: The LED lights on Tsutenkaku Tower are under renovation until September 2023.

Seasonal festivals and events 

Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri. Image: StreetVJ/Shutterstock.com

Japan is well known for its vibrant festivals and events and Osaka is no exception. Shogatsu (New Year) is a fantastic time to visit if you’re looking to celebrate and discover matsuri (festival) traditions.

Many shrines hold New Year's events including Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine. On 1 st January, multitudes of people visit for hatsumode – the customary first shrine visit of the year. And if you think the celebrations are over at the conclusion of the first day of the year, think again. Toka Ebisu Festival is held one week after New Year from January 9 to January 11 at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine. Enjoy the festive parade, street food and lucky charms! For a summer parade with all the trimmings, the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival features hundreds of men and ornately decorated traditional wooden floats called danjiri. Other summer festivals include Tenjin Matsuri and Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival.

If you’re looking for something more modern, plan your visit around Summer Sonic or the Osaka Festival of Lights held in winter.

Natural wonders

Beautiful waterfall in autumn in Minoo Park, Osaka. Image: anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock.com 

Pack a picnic and take a stroll through the magical cherry blossoms (sakura) in spring. Some of the best places in Osaka to view sakura include Expo ’70 Commemorative Park , Kema Sakuranomiya Park , Osaka Castle Park and Kishiwada Castle .

But it’s not just spring that provides spectacular natural phenomena, autumn is an amazing time to see the trees ablaze with colours of crimson, orange and gold. You can experience koyo (autumn leaves) in a number of places around Osaka. Walk down Midosuji Street to see the yellow ginkgo trees or explore the grounds of Katsuoji Temple to admire the fiery red of the Japanese maples. If you’re up for a hike, take the main trail in Minoo Park and admire the autumn foliage before arriving at the majestic waterfall. Or head to Mt Inunaki and visit the hot spring resort located at the foot of the mountain, Shipporyuji Temple or its many hiking trails to marvel at the autumn colours.

Tradition and heritage 

Shishiden (Lion hall) of Namba Yasaka Jinja Shrine. Image: Jasonyan/Shutterstock.com

With over 1,400 years of history, Osaka has countless locations where the tradition and culture of Japan can be experienced. One of the main attractions is Osaka Castle . Set amongst the modern backdrop of the city and surrounded by parkland, it is an iconic sight to behold. Other significant sites include Shitennoji Temple, Namba Yasaka Shrine and Hozenji Temple . After your visit to Hozenji Temple, be sure to grab a bite to eat along the street of Hozenji Yokocho and step back in time to the Osaka of old.

Art and culture lovers 

The Tower of the Sun at the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park. Image: tbbstudio/Shutterstock.com

Osaka is a wonderful mixture of old and new, creating a vibrant and interesting culture. The expression of this can be seen in the many modalities of art displayed across the city. 

With over 8,000 pieces of contemporary art, The National Museum of Art, Osaka , is a good place to start. Or perhaps the newly opened Nakanoshima Museum of Art on the island of Nakanoshima . Then go back in history at the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living. Admire the re-created buildings and streets and feel what living in Osaka was once like.

Wander Midosuji Sculpture Street for your public art fix and for theatre lovers there is the National Bunraku Theatre*. For something completely different, visit the  Cupnoodles Museum and learn all about instant ramen noodles! Don’t forget to drop by My CUPNOODLES Factory on the first floor to create your one-of-a-kind cup noodles package where you get to design the cup and choose your favourite soup base and toppings. 

*English translations are available for some performances. It is recommended to contact the theatre directly to confirm.

Experiences

Umeda Sky Building at night. Image: GagliardiPhotography/Shutterstock.com

An architectural icon of Osaka has to be the Umeda Sky Building , which consists of 2 modern tower buildings connected by the circular Floating Garden Observatory (Kuchu Teien) at the top. Head up to the observatory to enjoy 360° views of Osaka’s cityscape, then make your way down to the basement floor and explore the retro restaurant alley encapsulating Showa Period (early 20th century). 

Neighbourhoods

Namba , Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi  

Think shopping, eateries and entertainment. The popular Dotonbori street and canal dissect the two neighbourhoods of Namba and Shinsaibashi. Shinsaibashi offers some great shopping opportunities such as the eight blocks of Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street , and the street fashion and vintage hub of Amerikamura . For budding and professional chefs, a visit to Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street in Namba will fill up your cooking cup. A 150-metre long street lined with stores selling every type of cooking utensil and kitchen item you could dream of.

Nipponbashi

Den Den Town in Nipponbashi is perfect for hobbyists who are interested in Japanese anime and manga. Pop culture stores sell collectible figurines and other interesting merchandise. It’s also a great place to shop for electronics and appliances. If you’re in the market for vintage video games and consoles, this could also be the perfect hunting ground. Once you’ve shopped up a storm, stop in at one of the restaurants or cafes, some of which are anime themed.

Horie (Minamihorie and Kitahorie)   

The Horie River runs between Kitahorie and Minamihorie. Horie is a fashionable neighbourhood and a visit here should include a walk down Orange Street . Featuring boutiques, craft ateliers, furniture stores, bars and trendy cafes.

Osaka Castle and around

A mixture of the historical and the modern, the main attraction of this neighbourhood is of course, Osaka Castle . Pack a picnic and wander the beautiful grounds of Osaka Castle Park and visit the nearby Osaka Museum of History . 

Conveniently located near JR Osaka Station, Umeda is a popular commercial neighbourhood full of tourists, business people and shoppers. One of the most iconic attractions is the Umeda Sky building . From here you can enjoy panoramic views of the city. Head to Grand Front Osaka for shopping, Tsuyuten Shrine for a traditional experience or the SUPER DRY Umeda beer hall for food and drink.

Tennoji and Shinsekai are urban centres full of alleyways that reflect an Osaka of the past. While in Tennoji, visit Tennoji Park , Shitennoji Temple and the current tallest skyscraper in Japan, Abeno Harukas. You’ll know you're in Shinsekai when you glimpse the iconic Tsutenkaku Tower . Tachinomi (standing bars) are also a common feature of the Tennoji and Shinsekai areas. A great place to stop and enjoy a beverage with the locals.

Nakanoshima

Nakanoshima is a fantastic neighbourhood for contemporary art and culture lovers. It is actually an island and the centre for commerce and government in Osaka. It is also home to many great hotels, museums and restaurants.

The Osaka Bay Area offers attractions that are family-friendly or for those big kids at heart. It is here that you’ll find Universal Studios Japan and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan . Visit the Tempozan promenade for shopping, ride the giant Ferris wheel and dine at the restaurants. And of course, one of the best ways to see the bay is to hop on a cruise.

Sakai and Kishiwada  

Accommodation in Osaka is available to suit all budgets and comfort levels, offering everything from western-style to traditional Japanese stays for you to enjoy. 

Experience a shukubo (traditional temple stay) and get a glimpse of daily temple life including vegetarian meals, prayers and meditation - expect nothing less than a peaceful and tranquil visit. Or you can witness first-hand Japan’s famed omotenashi (hospitality) at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inns). Dating back to the 8th century, you can expect to see traditional tatami flooring, futon beddings, private baths and delicious in-house kaiseki  (multi-course meal). 

For a modern stay, Osaka offers plenty of western style hotels with settings and amenities familiar to travellers from Australia and New Zealand. Generally, you will find western-style beds, a small writing desk, a refrigerator, a kettle and an ensuite bathroom. 

Other factors to consider when choosing accommodation are access to transport and distance to shops, restaurants and attractions. Popular locations include Namba, Umeda, Honmachi (Central Osaka) and Shin-Osaka areas. 

How to get around

Osaka is a 2.5-hour shinkansen ride from Tokyo, or you can also fly to Kansai International Airport (KIX). Travel around the city via the subway, the JR Osaka Loop Line (circling the central districts) and private railway lines. There are also a number of economical train passes and tickets available for exploring Osaka and the Kansai region.

You can also explore Osaka via water bus or a cruise. Sightseeing taxis are available as well. Osaka is bicycle friendly with English-speaking bike rental services available.

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EPIC Osaka 2-day itinerary: Perfect for first-timers (2024 edition)

By: Author Sylvia

Posted on Last updated: May 28, 2024

Here is a 2-day Osaka itinerary to explore this lively metropolis. With 19 million inhabitants, Osaka is Japan’s second-largest city.

We recommend staying in Osaka for 2 days because two days are enough to see the main sights of the city without being too rushed.

In addition to the Osaka 2-day sample itinerary, we also share the best time to visit Osaka, how to get to Osaka, tips for two days in Osaka, and the best place to stay in Osaka. 

We also suggest some day trips in case you will be staying longer than 2 days.

Keep on reading and have fun exploring Osaka. 

There is a really good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission (for which we are deeply grateful) at no extra cost to you.

Table of Contents

Japan Essentials 

• We almost always find the best flights to Tokyo and Osaka on Momondo .  It may be worthwhile to compare these with Skyscanner and a new but promising flight aggregator, WayAway .
• Don’t lose time upon arrival at the airport and order your  Japan travel SIM  or  portable WiFi device  in advance so that it’s ready and waiting for you at the airport when you arrive.

Osaka Essentials 

• If you are planning on visiting many tourist sites,  the Osaka amazing pass  might be something for you. If you will be visiting both Osaka and Kyoto, take a look at  the Kyoto-Osaka sightseeing pass. 
• One of the best ways to start your visit to Osaka is  by making a private walking tour.  
• Check out this award-winning backstreet tour if you want to learn more about Osaka’s off-the-beaten-path destinations ( red light district, former ghetto, …). Note that this tour is less suited for children.
• Osaka is also famous for its nightlife. Find out why by  joining this cheap nightlife tour.
• Foodies should check out this amazing Osaka Food Tour. For an overview of more amazing food tours in Osaka, click here.
• Osaka has a  lot of hotels.  Here is a list of the  coolest Osaka hotels.  If this is a family trip, or if you’re traveling with a bunch of friends, it may be cheaper to stay in one of these nice Airbnbs. For those looking for an Osaka hotel with an onsen, click here.
• Best Ryokan in Osaka
• Best Ryokan in Osaka with private onsen  

Tip: Be sure to become a member of our  Japan Travel Planning and Tips Facebook group.  The purpose of this group is to help you plan an amazing vacation to Japan.  You can ask questions and exchange tips with fellow travelers.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the things to see and to do in Japan? Can’t get a hold of Japan’s complex train system? Don’t worry! Check out our  Japan travel planner. This document will help you plan a stress-free trip to the land of the rising sun.

In a hurry? Here we share an overview of our Osaka itinerary

If you don’t have time to read through the full Osaka two-day itinerary,  use this overview to get an idea of the things to do each day and save it for later.

• Day 1: Visit Osaka castle, stroll through Nishinomaru Garden, grab a bite in the Kuromon Ichiba Market, feel the vibe of Japan in Namba, and go shopping in Shinsaibashi.
• Day 2:  Visit Osaka Aquarium, enjoy the views from the Ferris wheel, get up the roof of Osaka station and the Umeda sky building, go back in time in Shinsekai district and visit Tsutenkatu Tower.

If you have 3 days in Osaka: 

• Day 3: Make a day trip to Nara or Himeji or visit Universal Studios Japan. Here is an overview of what to do in Nara.

In case you only have 1 day in Osaka you can choose to focus on the first day of this itinerary or you can have a look at our special 1-day Osaka itinerary .

2 days in Osaka

Osaka itinerary 2 days: day 1, feel like a samurai in osaka castle.

Osaka Castle is a good starting point for your 2-day itinerary in Osaka. There are still a lot of Samurai castles everywhere throughout Japan. 

You should visit at least one and unless you’re very much into Japanese culture and history one may be enough as they’re all very much alike. Still, they are imposing structures and we visited at least 3 during our first trip to Japan.

The castle in Osaka is a reconstruction, as are most of the castles you find in Japan today.

If you want to visit an original castle you can do a side trip to Himeji.  The trip only takes 30 minutes with the Shinkansen.

Osaka castle was originally constructed in 1583 and completely destroyed in a battle in 1615. It was rebuilt but bad luck strikes again several years later when the main castle tower was struck by lightning in 1665. 

The whole castle burned down as a result. It took until 1931 before one decided to rebuild the castle. 

The current castle is a ferroconcrete reconstruction of the original one that used to be here several years ago.

It houses an informative museum about the castle’s history and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Samurai who lived in this castle and was one of the most powerful men in Japan in his era.  

Osaka castle is very popular and therefore often crowded even on weekdays, therefore we recommend visiting the castle early morning.

Several cherry trees around the castle make this a nice place to relax during the cherry blossom season.  Access to the grounds around the castle is free with the exception of the Nishinomaru garden.

Here is a list of more free attractions in Osaka. 

Persons with reduced mobility will appreciate that they don’t need to climb the steep flight of stairs anymore.  They can now use the elevator instead.

How to get there :

The nearest subway station is Tanimachi Yonchome Station.   You can get there with both the Tanimachi Subway Line and the Chuo Subway Line.

If you come by train you need to head to the Osakajokoen station which is conveniently located on the Osaka loop line served by JR.

Stroll through Nishinomaru Garden 

We are continuing our 2 days in Osaka by strolling around Nishinomaru.

This small garden adjacent to the Osaka castle  is worth a visit during the Sakura season.   It’s Osaka’s most popular hanami spot. 

Hanami means doing a picnic underneath the cherry trees.

The garden contains 600 cherry blossom trees and it’s exceptionally beautiful when they are blooming during spring.

It’s also fun to see how the Japanese are celebrating the yearly Sakura season with their friends and family.  We’ve never before seen such large crowds of people enjoying picnics in the park.

During the Sakura season, the Nishinomaru garden can also be visited after sunset.  The opening hours are extended until 9 pm and the trees are illuminated from 6 pm.

Although some will say it is not as spectacular, or not as unique as the Sakura, the cherry trees turn beautifully red, yellow, pink, brown, and orange in autumn which makes this season another good moment to visit the park.

How to get there:

The nearest  subway station  is  Tanimachi Yonchome Station.   You can get there with both the Tanimachi Subway Line and the Chuo Subway Line.

If you  come by train  you need to head to the Osakajokoen station which is conveniently located on the Osaka loop line served by JR.

More cherry-blossom eye candy : We couldn’t get enough of the beautiful cherry blossoms.

If you feel the same you should make a small detour to the nearby Kema Sakuranomiya Park. 

A pedestrian bridge takes you to a waterfront promenade along the O river.  Close to 5000 cherry trees line this boardwalk.  As you stroll along the boardwalk you will also get great panoramas of the city’s skyline.

During the Sakura season, the water buses such as the aqua liner will also offer special Sakura cruises that take you along the park.

Grab a bite in the Kuromon Ichiba Market

Kuromon Ichiba Market , nicknamed Osaka’s kitchen, is an indoor marketplace that has been around for more than 150 years.

Vendors sell everything from rare fruits to vegetables, meat, and fresh seafood. Inside the market, there are several restaurants where you can enjoy delicious local dishes like Takoyaki ( a ball-shaped snack typically filled with diced octopus) and okonomiyaki ( an Osaka favorite, a sort of pancake made with egg and flour).

Best things to do in Osaka

Everything is sold in small servings so you can taste more than one dish. It’s an excellent place to wander around and to try different Japanese specialties.

The closest metro station is  Nippombashi Station.  From this station take Exit 2, and walk for about 2 minutes, veering to the left, and you’ll be at the market.

The fastest option from Osaka Castle would be to first take the Tanimachi line at Tanimachiyonchome station and change for the Sen-Nichimae line at Tanimachikyuchome station.

The closest JR station is JR Namba station, it’s the terminal of the Yamatoji line.  Leaving Osaka Castle you take the JR Loop Line in Osakajokoen station towards Tennoji station.  You can change trains in Tennoji station or any of the subsequent stations. From Tennoji station onwards until Imamiya Station both trains stop in all stations.

Get a real sense of the Japanese vibe in Namba 

The Namba district is alive day and night and it’s a popular shopping and entertainment district.  The main street Dotonbori is a lovely place to stroll and feel the (crazy) vibe of Japan. 

The district is especially impressive at night when hundreds of neon lights and billboards illuminate the streets. It is one of the famous landmarks of Japan.

It’s also a good place to stay in Osaka if you like to stay in a place that’s very vibrant and has a good and broad selection of bars, restaurants, and other nightlife.

Foodies should definitely take a look at these 9 best restaurants in Osaka for cheap eats. A lot of them can be found near Dotonbori.

How to get there : The Namba district is just a 10-minute walk from the Kuromon Ichiba market.

The nearest subway station  is Namba station.  You can choose from the Midosuji line, Sen-Nichimae line or Yotsubashi line to get here.

Shop till you drop in the Shinsaibashi shopping Area

Shinsaibashi is right next to Namba’s famous Dotonbori. 

It is one of the most visited and fastest-growing shopping areas in Osaka with lots of high-end stores such as Chanel and Cartier.

But no worries, If you do not have a well-stocked wallet, you can also score plenty of bargains or find 100 yen shops where you can buy your souvenirs.

Even if you don’t want to buy anything it is a nice place to do some window shopping and admire the expensive handbags, handmade jewelry, kimono, and yukatas. 

The main street of the Shinsaibashi shopping area is t he Shinsaibashi-suji street, a covered pedestrian street, that is almost 2 kilometers in length. It starts at the world-famous Dotonbori bridge and runs the full length of the Shinsaibashi district.

Besides shops, there’re also a lot of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. 

Tip: If you are a foodie and want to discover Osaka’s food scene, then this Osaka Food Tour might be something for you.

The main street starts right at the Dotonbori bridge and runs all the way up to the Shinsaibashi subway station . The Midsosuji and the Nagahoritsurumiryokuchi trains stop at this station.

The nearest subway station to the Dotonbori bridge is Namba station. You can choose from the Midosuji line, Sen-Nichimae line, or Yotsubashi line to get here.

The closest JR station to the Dotonbori bridge is JR Namba station, it’s the terminal of the Yamatoji line.

2 day Osaka itinerary: Day 2

Admire colorful fish at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan.

We start the second day of our Osaka two days itinerary at the Osaka Aquarium. The Osaka Aquarium is one of the   largest public aquariums in the world.

The aquarium is organized into 15 tanks each representing different habitats around the Pacific Rim.

The main attraction of the Osaka aquarium is a pair of gigantic whale sharks which can be seen in the central tank, representing the Pacific Ocean.

The Osaka Aquarium is located at Osakako Station on the Chuo subway line. (take exit 1)

Enjoy panoramic views from Tempozan Ferris Wheel

A 5-minute walk from the Osakako subway station, and steps away from the Kaiyukan aquarium you will find the Tempozan Ferris Wheel.

This was once the world’s largest wheel and is still in the TOP 25 today. Its diameter spans 100 meters and it is 112.5m high.  It holds 60 cars, each of which can accommodate up to eight passengers. 

A ride takes about 15 minutes and offers panoramic views of the bay and Osaka’s skyscrapers.

Tempozan Ferris Wheel is located at Osakako Station on the Chuo subway line. (take exit 1 or 2)

Get up to the roof of the Osaka station

The former station was completely rebuilt and reopened in 2011 as Osaka Station City.  The new construction is much more than just a station, it also houses shops, a sports club, a movie theatre, and travelers can choose from a wide range of restaurants to satisfy their hunger before they hop on board.

The station consists of 2 buildings that are on either side of the tracks. 

Both buildings have a rooftop terrace, in the Northern building the terrace is on the 10th and 11th floor and it is called the Healing Garden.

This terrace offers nice views on the Umeda Sky building. Further up, but only reachable by stairs, is a vegetable and fruit garden.

The Southern building houses the terrace, called the Sun Plaza, on the 15th, 16th, and 17th floors.

This is a nice plaza to take a break while you enjoy the view of the skyscrapers in the Umeda district.

Osaka station is the main JR hub in central Osaka.  7 JR lines connect this station to the rest of Japan including the Osaka loop line, the Hida line, and the Hamakaze line.  

The closest subway station is Umeda Station on the Midosuji line.   To reach Osaka Station from the Osaka Bay Area you first take the Chuo line until Hommachi station where you change for the Midosuji line.

See the city from above at the Umeda sky building

One of the best ways to see the city from above is from the Umeda Sky Building. The futuristic building is only a 10-minute walk from Osaka station.  

 The 173-meter tall construction consists of two towers that are connected with each other by the “Floating Garden Observatory” on the 39th floor.

From here you will have 360-degree views of the city through its windows and from the open-air deck.

At night the views are quite spectacular

Also on the 39th floor are a Chinese restaurant and a cocktail bar called Stardust.  On the 1st basement floor, you will find Takimi Koji, a food alley of over 20 eateries, that replicates a nostalgic townscape of the Showa period.  

Osaka station , the main JR hub in central Osaka, is the closest JR station.  7 JR lines stop at this station including the Osaka loop line, the Hida line, and the Hamakaze line.  

The closest subway station is Umeda Station on the Midosuji line.

Go back in time in the Shinsekai district and visit Tsutenkaku Tower

The Shinsekai area was developed before the war and remained largely untouched afterward.

If you want to experience a truly retro Osaka atmosphere, this is your go-to spot.

The Janjan Yokocho alley, officially Nanyo-Dori, is one of the main shopping arcades that has recently regained some of its old glory.

Locals love the street for the broad selection of so-called B-grade gourmet restaurants that serve flavor-rich dishes at inexpensive prices.

Shinsekai is also where you find   Spa World , a huge bath complex with a large number of onsen from around the world which are to be enjoyed naked and gender-separated.  

During uneven months the men get to enjoy the Asian-styled rooms and the women the European-styled rooms.  During even months the roles are reversed. 

There is also a family section with several water slides, pools and jacuzzis so don’t forget your swimsuit!

Tsutenkaku Tower, also known as the Eiffel Tower of Osaka, is 103 meters high and one of the symbols of Osaka. Tsutenkaku Tower has three observation decks.  The two themed indoor observation decks are at 84m and 87.5m respectively. There’s a third outdoor observation deck at 94.5m. This deck also has a small catwalk with a see-through floor extending over the edge of the tower.

All of the observation decks offer beautiful 360-degree views and particularly nice vistas of Tennoji park and Tennoji Zoo. 

At the end of your visit, you can exit the tower in style thanks to the latest edition, the tower slider, a 60-meter-long slide that starts at the tower’s third floor.

The standard ticket gives access to the inside observation platforms.  Both the outside platform and the tower slider require an additional ticket.

With your Osaka Amazing Pass you have free access to the inside observation platforms and discounts on the other attractions.

How to get there: 

The nearest subway stations are Dobutsuen-Mae station in the South and Ebisucho station in the North.  The first is served by the Midosuji line and Sakaisuji line, the latter by the Sakaisuji line.

The closest JR station is Shin-Imamiya on the Osaka loop line and Yamatoji line.

To get here from the Umeda Sky building you can either take the JR Loop line at Osaka station towards Shin-Imamiya or the Midosuji subway at Umeda station.

Other Highlights of Osaka

If you have more than 2 days we recommend a day trip to either Nara or Himeji or you might opt for a day of thrills and fun in Universal Studios.

Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios is a great place to come with kids but you don’t need to have children to enjoy this theme park. 

There is a good amount of thrill rides for both children as well as adults. 

The Harry Potter section is done with such an eye for detail that you might think that you accidentally ended up in the movie itself.

The park itself is not that large but it is often very crowded.  Popular attractions often have waiting lines of +2 hours. 

If you want to be able to do all the rides in 1 day we highly recommend to pay the extra fee for the Express Passes.   The express passes need to be bought separately from the entry tickets. A limited number of express passes is available for each day so these may be sold out on the day itself.

Take t he JR Osaka Loop Line towards  Nishikujo Station and switch to the JR Yumesaki Line to Universal-city Station.  Once you exit the train at Universal-city station you just need to follow the crowds through the shops to the entrance of the park.

Day trip to Nara

If you have more time in Osaka a day trip to Nara which is only about a 35-minute train ride away is highly recommended.

Nara was the original capital of Japan but once Buddhism became too powerful in the country the government decided to move it.  You can still see traces of this as Nara is literally littered with temples.

The city is relatively small and most of the main sights can be covered on foot.

A highlight of your day trip is a visit to the  Todaiji Temple which is the largest wooden building in the world.  It is a popular UNESCO World Heritage site. Inside the building, you will find a large bronze, Buddha.

Other highlights are the Nandaimon gate, Nigatsu-do, Kasuga Taisha, and Kofuku-ji.

You will probably also meet some deer as they roam freely through Nara and they will approach you unabashedly to beg for cookies.

If you have a Japan Rail pass, you can use the  JR Yamatoji line. The trajectory is completely covered by the Japan Rail Pass, as well as the Kansai area pass, and takes about 50 minutes.

If you don’t have a JR Pass you might prefer the Kintetsu Nara Line.  The Rapid Express Kintetsu train reaches Nara in only 39 minutes and the Kintetsu station is more centrally located in Nara.

Kintetsu has a faster limited express train but it costs twice as much and it only saves you 5 minutes.

The Kintetsu trains leave from Osaka Namba station.

Tickets for the JR trains ( without having the JR pass) as well as the Kintetsu trains are 810 yen.

Day Trip to Himeji

The prime landmark of Himeji is the magnificent castle that towers above the city.  The castle is a UNESCO world heritage site and is one of Japan’s most impressive original castles that can still be visited. 

Next to the castle is a well-maintained Japanese-style garden.

Mount Shosha is located at the city’s border and is home to the  Engyo-ji Temple.  The temple’s buildings are spread across the densely forested top of the mountain. A fairly strenuous path leads up the mountain to the temple.

Otherwise, the ropeway offers a quicker and less exhausting alternative.

The temple has a rich history of over 1,000 years.  The impressive wooden buildings, beautiful scenery, and absence of any modern elements have attracted many filming crews. 

The temple is often featured in both national and international movies.  The most famous movie is probably “the last samurai”.

The temple has always been popular amongst locals and its popularity amongst foreign tourists has grown since it was featured in “the last samurai”.

You can use both regular JR trains as well as the Shinkansen. 

Regular JR trains leave from Osaka station and take about one hour to reach Himeji.

The one-way fare is 1520 yen but they are covered by the Japan Rail pass as well as the Kansai Area Pass.

The Shinkansen leave from Shin-Osaka station and reach Himeji in only 40 minutes.

The one-way fare for the Shinkansen is 3820 yen but the Sakura, Hikari, and Kodama trains are covered by the Japan Rail Pass and the Kansai Wide Area Pass.

Learn to cook Japanese with a cooking class

One of the highlights of our Osaka trip was the cooking class we followed. We had so much fun learning to cook typical Japanese dishes such as Ramen and Gyozas.

You can read more about it here. 

What is the best time to visit Osaka?

Osaka can be visited all year round because the weather is quite moderate but ideally, we would recommend visiting Osaka during spring (March-May) or fall (October-November) .

Read on to learn the pros and cons of each season if these two periods don’t work for you.

In spring everything starts to bloom and being in Osaka during the cherry blossom (Sakura) period is an unforgettable experience.

Keep in mind that spring is also the most touristy and therefore most expensive season.

The Sakura not only draws tourists from all over the world but also Japanese go crazy over this yearly event.  At lunchtime and during the weekends they head into the parks en masse to picnic and take selfies. 

It’s lovely to see the Sakura but being a witness to the enthusiasm of the Japanese was what really made our experience complete.

If this is your first visit to Japan, we recommend reading our 15 tips before traveling to Japan.

Although April and May are very good months to travel late April and early May also mark the “Golden Week”, a week with 4 Japanese holidays in which many Japanese take a local trip. It may, therefore, be very busy during this period. 

The end of the golden week announces a less touristy period. 

The climate is still very enjoyable with many sunny days. 

Fewer crowds mean a better experience and shorter queues in many of Osaka’s top attractions.

Until the end of June, it is still a perfect time to discover Osaka.

Towards the end of June, the rainy season starts and it starts to become hot and humid. 

The rainy season usually goes from mid-June to late July.

Whilst it usually does not rain every day we wouldn’t recommend visiting Osaka during this period if you’re not used to a hot and humid climate.

Fall is another excellent period to visit Osaka. 

In general, you will experience a mild climate. 

The colorful autumn foliage makes the various parks spread across Osaka very photogenic although you need to head into the national parks or the mountains to fully appreciate the beauty of this season.

The autumn foliage attracts many tourists but the crowds are not nearly as massive as during the Sakura season.

Winter (December – February) in Osaka is cold but not too cold to travel.

It’s a great time to visit Osaka if you don’t like the crowds.

How to get to Osaka?

How to find cheap tickets to osaka.

The best websites to find cheap flights to Osaka are Momondo  and  Skyscanner .  Both are flight aggregators that compare several hundreds of booking sites and give you an overview of the best flights and the cheapest online travel agents to book them. 

Momondo and Skyscanner are both very good at finding good deals, of the two, Momondo is probably the one with the most intuitive user interface.

Read our full review about 10 booking sites here. 

Osaka has 2 international airports, Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka International Airport (better known as Itami; ITM).

Kansai International Airport

Kansai International Airport is Osaka’s international airport and lies about 37 kilometers southwest of downtown Osaka. 

It also serves some domestic flights from other parts of Japan.

It’s well connected to Osaka by train, limousine buses, and taxis.

Japan Rail Pass

If you have a Japan Rail Pass , the fastest, cheapest, and easiest way to get to Osaka is with the JR Haruka airport express.

This airport express train is free for holders of a JR pass and offers direct access to the major train stations of Tennoji and Shin-Osaka.

The train offers easy transfers to, amongst others, the Osaka loop line, the Midosuji subway line, and the Shinkansen.

The Rapi:t train

If you don’t have a Japan Rail Pass, you might prefer the  Rapi:t airport express  operated by the private Nankai Line. 

The Rapi:t train is a limited express train that runs between the airport and Namba station. It is somewhat slower but also cheaper compared to the JR Haruka. 

The Rapi:t train is certainly a good choice if you’re staying near Namba, according to us one of the best places to stay in Osaka.

In Namba, you can transfer to the Midosuji, Sennichimae, or Yotsubashi subway lines to reach other destinations in Osaka. 

JR West offers a Haruka airport express/Icoca combination ticket that is a great deal to save money.

We have more information about this in the Osaka money-saving tips below. 

Rapi:t tickets are also sold online at discounted rates  and the Yokoso! ticket can be interesting as it combines the Rapi:t train with discounts on attractions and free unlimited use of subway, tram, and city-busses for one day. 

There’s more info about the Yokoso ticket in the Osaka money-saving chapter  below.

Limousine bus

If you aren’t staying near Tennoji, Shin-Osaka, or Namba , or if you have a lot of luggage and don’t want to take the subway, taking a limousine bus  might be a better option. The buses run along three routes, stopping at popular hotels and destinations in Osaka and Kyoto.

You can find the routes and purchase the bus ticket here with Klook: Limousine bus

The most comfortable option of all would be  a shared or private transfer.   If you’re not looking forward to train, subway or bus rides in your first hours in Osaka you could book this service and your driver would be waiting for you in the arrivals hall of the airport.  

More information and bookings:

Shared transfer

Private Transfer

You could also take a taxi from KIX to Osaka, but we wouldn’t recommend it because it’s quite expensive.  A ride to Osaka’s center will cost approximately €90.

Osaka International Airport

Osaka International Airport or Itami is Osaka’s domestic airport.  Despite its name, it handles no international flights. It lies about 11 kilometers north of central Osaka.

Itami is not as good connected as KIX.  If you take the Osaka Monorail you will most probably need to change to another train or subway.  The monorail doesn’t stop at any of the major stations or near any of the major tourist sights.

Because you need to switch trains we would rather recommend  the Osaka Airport Limousine bus if you have a lot of luggage.   The journey from the airport to central Osaka costs 650 JPY and takes about 30 minutes.

An even more comfortable way is to take  a shared transfer or private transfer .

Click here to get more information about these transfers:

Shared Transfer

You could also take a regular private taxi. The ride will take around 25 minutes and will cost around Y5000.

The high-speed Shinkansen or “bullet train” provides the fastest transport service between Tokyo and Osaka. 

If you have a JR Pass , you can ride the Hikari Shinkansen at no additional cost. The journey from Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station takes 3h. The Nozomi Shinkansen is faster and rides more frequently but is not covered by your JR Pass. 

The Kodama Shinkansen is also covered by the JR pass but is slower than the Hikari Shinkansen.

If you do not have a Japan Rail Pass then the fare will be  13,870 yen  one way with an unreserved seat. 

The easiest and fastest way to get from Kyoto to Osaka is by train.  

There are several options depending on your location in Kyoto and your destination in Osaka.

Below is how to reach Shin-Osaka station and Osaka station. These are the major transportation hubs In Osaka. Both stations offer transfers to several other trains and the ability to easily reach places all over Osaka.

The most efficient Kyoto 2 day itinerary  and The best things to do in Kyoto at night. 

Shin-Osaka Station

The high-speed Shinkansen will get you from Kyoto Station to Shin-Osaka Station in 12 minutes for 1440 yen.

This is the fastest and most comfortable route into Osaka and might be worthwhile  if you have a  Japan Rail Pass   to cover the cost.

If you don’t have a JR pass, you can also opt for a cheaper alternative. 

The JR Kyoto line takes 23 minutes to reach Shin-Osaka station from Kyoto. 

The fare for this service is 570 yen.

Osaka station

If you want to go to Osaka station, you can take the Special Rapid Train on the JR Kyoto line. This train will get you to Osaka station in about 30 minutes for 570 yen.

How to get around Osaka

We visited Osaka as part of a 3-week itinerary throughout Japan.  We owned a JR Pass and used the JR trains to get around Osaka.

Osaka has a very extensive public transportation system and with either the JR trains or the subway you will be able to quickly get near all major sights and attractions.

The cheapest and most efficient way to use the metro is with an Osaka Metro Pass . You get unlimited rides on the Osaka Metro Lines as well as the city bus. In addition, you enjoy a discount at 30 popular tourist sights including the Osaka Castle, the Umeda Sky Building, the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel, and the Shitennoji Temple. You can buy this pass for 1 or 2 days.

The Osaka Amazing Pass makes traveling around Osaka a breeze. It covers rides on the Osaka Metro, several private train lines (excluding the JR lines), and most city buses. The pass also offers free access to over 50 popular tourist attractions and discounts at several more. This is the best pass for those who are serious about discovering everything that Osaka has to offer.

Check prices and availability:

Osaka Amazing Pass

Osaka Metro Pass

Travel Insurance for Japan

Did you already think about travel insurance?  Accidents happen when you least expect them.

Drawing up a travel insurance policy that covers theft, damage and all kinds of medical expenses may seem expensive at first but it can potentially save you a significant sum, significantly more than the small insurance fee. 

The good news is that it’s never too late to get cover with HeyMondo and SafetyWing , you can even get their travel insurance online while you’re traveling.

Get a free quote:

or read our  in-depth post with everything you need to know about Japan travel insurance. 

Osaka money-saving tips

When traveling around Osaka, you can choose from a variety of discount tickets. Here we list the most important ones.

Osaka Amazing Pass 

The Osaka Amazing Pass is a one-day or 2-day pass for tourists.

With the pass, you get unlimited use of the Osaka subway, tramway, and bus network.  It also gives you free entry to more than 50 of Osaka’s top tourist attractions such as the Osaka Castle, Osaka Zoo, the Umeda Observatory, and the Nagai Botanical Gardens.

You can also take a free trip on the famous Tombori River with a classic river cruise or a Tombori River jazz boat tour.

The guidebook that comes with the pass includes two pages with extra coupons for discounts at various other attractions, restaurants, and shops.

This is the perfect pass if you  plan on visiting a lot of the included tourist sites.    The website  lists the normal entry price of the attractions so you can see if and how much you will save with this pass.

Click here for more information or to buy your Osaka Amazing Pass: Osaka Amazing Pass

Osaka Metro Pass for 1 or 2 days

This pass gives you unlimited and fast travel around Osaka on Osaka Metro-operated city buses and subways and gives a discount to   30 famous sightseeing facilities such as Osaka Castle, the Umeda sky building, the Tsutenkaku Tower, etc.

A very cheap option if you plan on  using public transportation a lot and don’t have a Japan Rail Pass.

This pass is strictly only available to foreign tourists with short-stay entry status.  You will need to present your passport when you pick up your pass at the airport.

Read more information or buy your pass here: Osaka Metro Pass

Yokoso! Osaka Ticket

Note that the pass is not available at the moment

This ticket includes a Nankai Electric Railway Train ticket valid on the Rapi:t train, a discount at 31 tourist spots , and free unlimited use of the subway, tramway, and city buses for one day. 

Some of the popular attractions that offer a discount are the Osaka Castle, the Nishinomaru garden, the Shitennõ-ji temple, the Umeda Sky building observatory, and the Tsutenkaku tower.

This pass is an interesting option to  get from the airport to the city if you don’t have a JR Pass.   The ticket for the rapi:t train itself costs 1,130 yen.  If you do 2 subway rides and visit one of the sights you have saved with this pass.

More information and bookings: Yokoso Osaka Ticket

As our 2-day itinerary focuses on the sights within Osaka’s city limits the Osaka Amazing or Osaka Unlimited pass are probably the best options.

But for the sake of those who have more time in Osaka and want to do some side trips to Nara, Himeji, Hiroshima, Takayama, or Kanazawa we mention the JR Passes for completeness.

The Kansai area pass is the most popular pass. It covers Himeji, Nara, Kobe, Osaka, and Kyoto. This pass is also valid on the Haruka express so you can use this pass to get from the airport to the city.

This pass is available for periods ranging from 1 day to 4 days.  The  other variants  can only be bought for longer periods starting at 5 days.

Click here to get more information or to buy your JR West Pass: JR WEST Kansai PASS

To visit Hiroshima you would need the Kansai – Hiroshima pass. Trips to Takayama and Kanazawa are included in the Kansai – Hokuriku pass.

Read here  what you can do in Hiroshima.

ICOCA & Haruka discount ticket

This combi ticket is a combination of a rechargeable IC Card and a discounted ticket for the Haruka express train that connects Kansai airport with Osaka.  The IC Card comes pre-charged with 1,500 yen.  This credit can be used on JR trains, the subway, buses, and several private railways.

This ticket can only be bought at the JR desks at the airport.

If you already hold an ICOCA card you can buy the discounted Haruka train tickets only.  You just need to show your ICOCA card at the JR desks at the airport.

Best Osaka Organized Tours

Here is an overview of the best-organized tours in Osaka.

  An organized tour can save you a considerable amount of time and, moreover, the tour guide will enlighten you about the different sights you visit.

We partnered up with GetYourGuide and Viator for these activities. 

We love both because they’re flexible.  Sometimes your plans change last minute and then you want to be able to cancel your tickets and get your money back.  It’s also good to know that GetYourGuide and Viator have your back when the local tour operator doesn’t show up or cancels your trip.

GetYourGuide and Viator are reliable platforms where you can book thousands of tours anywhere in the world.  We selected 3 excellent tours in Osaka just for you.

Deep backstreet Osaka tour

This award-winning tour offered by Viator shows you the historic districts and local traditions of Osaka.

You will learn a lot about Osaka and Japan in general and you will also have the chance to try delicious food.

The guide has in-depth knowledge about the area and is also very entertaining.

Highly recommended if you want to get a glimpse of the backstreets of Osaka.

Less suitable for children.

Check prices and availability: Deep backstreet Osaka tour

Discover Osaka with a private walking tour

One of the best ways to start your visit to Osaka is by  making a private walking tour with a local host.  

Nothing is more fun than getting a first impression of this fantastic city from somebody who lives here.

The local guide will tailor the tour to your taste.

It’s also a great opportunity to ask insider tips about where to eat, what to do besides Osaka highlights, and more. You can book this tour with GetYourGuide.

More information and booking: Private Walking Tour

Osaka food tour

This small-group tour offered by Viator ( maximum of 8 people) takes you to the backstreets of Shinsekai.

Here you have the chance to visit 5 eateries and try 10 local dishes such as kitsune udon ( Japanese Udon soup), gyoza ( dumplings), takoyaki ( octopus dumplings), etc.

There are also 2 drinks (one alcoholic and one nonalcoholic) included in the tour.

This food tour takes you off the beaten path. Guests also love the fantastic guides.

This is the perfect tour if you want to visit Osaka’s most famous areas at night and learn more about Osaka history and culture.

More information and booking: Osaka Food Tour

Where to stay in Osaka

For first-time visitors, the best place to stay in Osaka is somewhere in Central Osaka (Kita, Minami, or Honmachi).

This will save you a lot of time on trains and subways that can be better spent exploring the many sights Osaka has to offer. 

Kita is the absolute favorite if you fancy some day trips to nearby places like Nara. 

You will be able to leave directly from Osaka station without the need to take the subway first.

Here we share a good hotel in that area.

ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka

This  Crowne Plaza  hotel is relatively close to several subway stations, they also offer a free shuttle service.

The rooms are spacious, comfortable, and quiet. Guests also love the delicious breakfast that you can enjoy while admiring the view over the river.

More information and booking:

Booking.com

Looking for a place to stay in Osaka? We’ve got you covered:

• The best places to stay in Osaka . Info about the various wards with public transportation maps
• A self-curated list of cool hotels in Osaka
• If you are looking for a more traditional stay, check out this list of ryokans in Osaka
• A number of highly-rated self-catered apartments in Osaka

The 2 days we spent in Osaka were an absolute thrill!   The city has quaint charmful districts like Shinsekai as well as vibrant areas such as Namba.  Every place we visited showed us another aspect of this versatile city.

After 2 days you probably won’t have enough of this city, at least we didn’t, but there are so many sites around the city that are worth exploring as well. For a list of Osaka’s hidden gems, click here.

We enjoyed Nara and the incredible tranquility that this place radiates.

If you can’t get enough of the robust impressive castles you should head to Himeji , which may be Japan’s best-preserved castle.

Osaka was our number 1 city in Japan.  If you love this city as much as we do you can also opt to stay in Osaka while you visit Kyoto.  The 2 cities are just a 30-minute train ride away.

Japan travel tips

Tips when traveling to Japan:

We took a little bit of cash with us but most things we paid with our credit card. Expenses abroad can be seriously inflated by fees from your bank or credit card.  That’s why I’m a huge fan of my N26 account.   The account is available to most EU residents. The  checking account is free as well as the associated Mastercard and there’s no exchange rate provision when you use the card for payments abroad.  There’s a 1,7% exchange rate provision when you withdraw money abroad but even that is free with the premium Black Mastercard.

The app is another great feature of the card, you can follow your expenses in real-time and instantly block your card if you see any signs of fraud.

A local SIM card or pocket WiFi device comes in handy. We have often used Google Maps to find our way around major cities. If you want to purchase a local SIM card, you can find our detailed post here. If you want to compare the different WiFI devices you can rent in Japan, click here. 

When you’re traveling by train it’s also a good idea to forward your baggage.  You can read these tips and much more in our separate article about traveling to Japan for the first time .

We traveled around Japan by train and could save a few bucks by buying a Japan Rail Pass in advance.

Get more information on the Japan Railpass here: Japan Railpass

Or  read this article in which we describe how you can find out whether you would also benefit from a Japan Rail Pass .

Wondering what to wear in Japan? Take a look at our complete Japan packing list. 

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Inside Osaka

Your Osaka Travel Guide

Make the most of your trip to Osaka with our comprehensive Osaka itineraries , our recommendations of the best places to eat in Osaka and rundowns of essential attractions in each of Osaka's fascinating districts

Osaka Itineraries

Osaka Restaurants

Osaka Hotels

Osaka Ryokan

First Time In Osaka

Osaka Districts

Things To Do In Osaka

Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo Itineraries

Best Time To Go To Osaka

SIM Cards in Osaka

How To Get To Osaka

Getting Around Osaka

Eat Like A Local In Osaka

Where To Stay In Osaka

Japan Travel Guides

There are several must-see destinations in Japan within easy reach of Osaka. They all make great additions to any Osaka itinerary. These concise guides provide details about what to see and do.

Kyoto Travel Guide

Tokyo Travel Guide

Nara Travel Guide

Kanazawa Travel Guide

Hiroshima And Miyajima

Takayama Travel Guide

Where Are These Places Located?

• Open the Osaka map
• You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
• Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
• Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
• If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.

Osaka Vacation Checklist

• For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Osaka guide
• Check Osaka accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
• Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Osaka
• You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Osaka , Osaka to Kyoto and Osaka to Tokyo
• You can buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Osaka's Kansai International Airport. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
• Compare flight prices and timings to find the best Japan flight deals
• If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
• World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world

Osaka District Map

• Shin-Osaka Area
• Central Osaka Area
• Minami Area
• Tennoji Area
• Osaka Castle Area
• Osaka Bay Area

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• South Korea
• China (HK, Taiwan)
• Itinerary Ideas
• Asia Highlights Travel Reviews
• Thailand Travel Reviews
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• Cambodia Travel Reviews
• Japan Travel Reviews
• Myanmar Travel Reviews
• China Travel Reviews

Best (and Worst) Times to Visit Osaka: Weather, Experiences, and Travel Tips

Osaka is a vibrant port city known for its rich culture and referred to as the culinary capital of Japan. It offers a delightful travel experience year-round, with its four distinct seasons.

The best times to visit Osaka, when the weather is mild and the scenery is most attractive, are in spring (March to May) to enjoy the charming cherry blossoms and in autumn (September to November) to appreciate the vibrant autumn foliage. However, September is often affected by typhoons, which bring strong winds and increased rainfall.

Summer (June to August) in Osaka is hot, especially in August , with the average daily high reaching 34°C (93°F), but you can experience big festivals and fireworks celebrations.

Winter (December to February) in Osaka is cold and dry. January is the coldest time, with an average daily high of about 10°C (50°F). It's a great place to spend Christmas and New Year with your family.

The rainy season in Osaka is from June to July with steady light rain. It does not rain every day and you can travel.

• Spring in Osaka
• Summer in Osaka
• Autumn in Osaka
• Winter in Osaka
• Travel Guide by Month

Weather in Osaka Every Month

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family 's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

Spring in Osaka (March to May): The Best Time to Visit

• Mild weather and the charming cherry blossom season

Spring (March to May) is the most popular time to travel to Osaka as well as other places in Japan due to its incredible cherry blossom scenery as well as the pleasant weather. The temperature typically ranges from 14 to 25°C (57–77°F) and the average rainfall is a moderate 114 mm (4 in).

The cherry blossoms are usually in full bloom from late March to early April, making a spring or Easter vacation a perfect time to travel to Osaka. You could capture a memorable photo under the cherry trees while wearing a kimono with your family or partner.

The local cherry blossom festival (hanami) is the most important event in most cities in Japan, including Osaka in spring, attracting thousands of travelers to appreciate the cherry blossoms. Higher costs and large crowds are inevitable, so we highly recommend that you make your reservations at least 3–6 months in advance.

Clothing tips: Spring in Osaka is mild/warm so sweaters and coats are adequate to cope with the changing temperatures, but you should also prepare shirts for the days when it gets even hotter.

Get more ideas about  Plan Your Trip to Osaka >>>

Summer in Osaka (June to August): Hot and Humid

• Enjoy a bustling big festival and fireworks celebrations

Summer (June to August) is the hottest time in Osaka , with temperatures ranging from 20–34°C (68–93°F) on average. The rainy season lasts from June to July and the average rainfall in June reaches a high 185 mm (7 in). It becomes drier in August with a moderate average rainfall of about 113 mm (4 in).

The heat and rain are not major concerns when you travel to Osaka. It does not rain every day, allowing you to have an enjoyable trip. Also there are plenty of indoor activities in Osaka, such as a ninja experience, Ukiyo-e printmaking, and making cup noodles, which are inside air-conditioned buildings.

Compared with July and August (the summer vacation months), June is cooler and less crowded, which makes it a better time for families to visit Osaka and have fun at Universal Studios Japan or Super Nintendo World.

Festival: Tenjin Matsuri, held in July, is the biggest festival that's celebrated in Osaka. Immerse yourself in the celebrations as you watch the traditional float parade and awesome fireworks to fully experience the rich cultural atmosphere.

Clothing tips: Shirts, hats, sunglasses, and umbrellas are recommended to pack for a summer trip to Osaka.

Suggested reading:  How to Plan Your Trip to Osaka  >>>

Autumn in Osaka (September to November): Best Time to Visit

• Cool weather and colorful autumn foliage

Autumn in Osaka is cool and comfortable , with an average daily temperature range of 15–23°C (59–73°F). Typhoons hit in September, so the average rainfall of about 153 mm (6 in) often mostly falls in a short spell. Typhoon season will have passed by November , resulting in a low average rainfall of 73 mm (3 in).

Colorful autumn foliage presents charming views in fall in Osaka and it's most abundant in November, allowing you to appreciate it almost everywhere. Osaka Castle is one of the best places to admire red maple and golden ginkgo leaves. Not only can you learn about the history of this city but also walk around it to enjoy the multicolored autumn views.

Clothing tips: Shirts, jackets, and coats are adequate to deal with the frequent weather changes.

Winter in Osaka (December to February): Cold and Dry

• Celebrate Christmas and New Year with your family

Winter is the coldest time in Osaka , with daily highs of about 10°C (50°F). It is not too cool to travel though. It is also the driest time with a low average rainfall of about 54 mm (2 in).

Celebrating Christmas and New Year in Osaka is extremely popular among families. You can enjoy a fancy Christmas feast with high-class Wagyu beef and appreciate the colorful Christmas illuminations. During the New Year celebrations, you can experience traditional Japanese bell-ringing ceremonies to pray for good luck and welcome the coming year.

Christmas and New Year are two of the busiest times to travel to Japan, especially from December 23rd to January 5th. Hotel prices during this period can be two to three times more expensive than usual. For the New Year holiday, many stores may be closed for one or two days and some activities are hard to book. Our Japan experts would help you to have a hassle-free trip and meet your requirements.

For better value for money, some of our clients have previously booked their visit to Japan before December 20th or after January 5th. They saved more than 30% on the prices of hotels and international flights.

Clothing tips: Thick clothes, such as a down jacket and gloves, should be worn in Osaka in winter to keep warm.

Osaka Travel Guide by Month

Click the sign of each month to check the travel guide information.

Osaka Weather in January

• Average high: 10°C (50°F)
• Average low: 3°C (37°F)

January is cold in Osaka with more clear days. Most of stores close from January 1st to 2nd due to the New Year celebrations in Japan. After the busiest New Year period (usually January 10th), there are fewer crowds and the costs are lower.

Osaka festivals and events in January: To celebrate New Year, the most important festival in Japan, you can experience a bell-ringing ceremony at a shrine to pray for luck in the coming year in a traditional Japanese way.

Osaka Weather in February

• Average high: 11°C (52°F)

Cold and dry weather continues in February in Osaka, but it's not too cold for traveling. Watching a sumo wrestling show and experiencing Ukiyo-e printmaking are excellent activities to enjoy during this month.

Osaka Weather in March

• Average high: 14°C (57°F)
• Average low: 6°C (43°F)

March is the start of spring and the popular cherry blossom season. It's one of the best months to travel to Osaka. Cherry blossoms in Osaka are usually in full bloom by late March, attracting thousands of travelers who go there to appreciate them.

Osaka Weather in April

• Average high : 20°C (68°F)
• Average low: 11°C (52°F)

As one of the best months to travel to Osaka, April has pleasant weather and amazing cherry blossom scenery. Early April is usually when cherry blossoms are in full bloom, which attracts numerous travelers from both Japan and abroad to admire them.

Osaka festivals and events in April: Hanami, the traditional event of viewing flowers in bloom, is the most attractive event in Osaka and the rest of Japan in early April.

Osaka Weather in May

• Average high: 25°C (77°F)
• Average low: 16°C (61°F)

May is warmer and the skies are mostly clear in Osaka. The Golden Week (usually from April 29th to May 5th) is a public holiday in Japan and many Japanese people choose to travel during this time. The crowds and costs tend to decrease toward the end of May, making it an excellent time to visit Japan.

Osaka Weather in June

• Average high: 28°C (82°F)
• Average low: 20°C (68°F)

June sees the beginning of summer and the rainy season. Rainfall is not very heavy though, and it doesn't rain every day.

June is a recommended month to spend your summer vacation with your kids as the weather is cooler and it's less crowded compared to July and August. Family-friendly activities in Osaka, such as visiting Universal Studios Japan and enjoying a ninja experience, are great options that your family can enjoy together.

Osaka Weather in July

• Average high: 32°C (90°F)
• Average low: 25°C (77°F)

The heat and the steady light rain are characteristics of July in Osaka. But they are not big problems as Osaka offers plenty of indoor activities inside air-conditioned buildings, minimizing the worries of heat and rain.

Osaka festivals and events in July: Tenjin Matsuri is the most important festival that's celebrated in Osaka. You could experience a fantastic traditional float parade and amazing fireworks to soak up the strong cultural atmosphere.

Osaka Weather in August

• Average high: 34°C (93°F)
• Average low: 26°C (79°F)

August is the hottest time in Osaka and the rainfall decreases to 113 mm (5in). To avoid the heat, you can enjoy plenty of authentic indoor activities , such as ninja experiences, sumo wrestling shows, and Ukiyo-e printmaking experiences.

Osaka Weather in September

• Average high: 30°C (86°F)
• Average low: 22°C (72°F)

September is the low season to travel to Osaka as typhoons hit and bring heavy rains at times. The average number of rainy days is about 14 days, with an average rainfall of about 153 mm (6 in). If you are traveling in September, it is important to keep your itinerary flexible in case of flight delays or cancellations.

Osaka Weather in October

• Average high: 24°C (75°F)

The weather gets cooler and milder in October in Osaka, and the average rainfall decreases to 136 mm (5 in). Traveling to Osaka in late October, you could enjoy the scenery of autumn foliage with many fall colors.

Osaka Weather in November

• Average high: 18°C (64°F)
• Average low: 10°C (50°F)

November is one of the best times to visit Osaka as the weather is at its most comfortable with many dry days . During this month, you can appreciate the stunning autumn foliage scenery that's abundant throughout Osaka.

Osaka Weather in December

• Average high: 12°C (54°F)
• Average low: 5°C (41°F)

December is cold and dry in Osaka, making it an excellent choice for celebrating Christmas with your family. Not only can you admire the eye-catching winter illuminations but you can also have a delicious Christmas feast, including high-end Kobe beef, to make the vacation memorable.

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Osaka (���, Ōsaka) is Japan's second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo . It has been the economic powerhouse of the Kansai Region for many centuries. Osaka was formerly known as Naniwa. Before the Nara Period , when the capital used to be moved with the reign of each new emperor , Naniwa was once Japan's capital city, the first one ever known.

In the 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi chose Osaka as the location for his castle , and the city may have become Japan's political capital if Tokugawa Ieyasu had not terminated the Toyotomi lineage after Hideyoshi's death and established his government in distant Edo (Tokyo) .

Top attractions in Osaka

Osaka by interest

Getting there and around

Itinerary ideas.

• Nostalgic Shinsekai
• Shopping arcades and food markets
• Bustling Dotonbori

• Outstanding museums
• Osaka Castle and its extensive grounds
• Ancient temples and shrines

• Famous Osaka Castle
• Japan's tallest skyscraper Abeno Harukas
• Namba entertainment district

Questions? Ask in our forum .

Links and Resources

Osaka tourist guide, hotels around osaka, osaka hotel guide.

How to choose the best places to stay in Osaka

Experiences around Osaka

Osaka Travel Blog – A Complete Travel Guide to Plan Your Trip

Osaka Travel Blog – For first-timers heading to Osaka, this complete travel guide is all you need to plan your trip. It covers all the questions you might have about entering and exploring this wonderful city in Western Japan, and includes helpful tips on how you can make the most of your stay here. Whether you’re planning to stay over the course of a week and want to include day trips from the city centre, or you’ve only got a spare few day and need to max out your hours in the day, we’ve got the necessary information below for you to make the most of your visit.  

Osaka Travel Blog – The Accommodation

One of the biggest questions that most travellers to new places ask is “Where is the best spot to stay?”.

Of course, the answer will vary for different types of travellers; some people thrive on the never-ending buzz of the crowds and actually prefer staying smack bang in the city so that the white noise of conversations never really drowns out; others will prefer staying at a location that’s relatively convenient on the outskirts of town so that they can get as much peace and quiet as possible, and don’t mind a little bit of extra traveling.

Others still, will not care where they stay as long as it provides easy access to everything that they want to do.

We’ve curated a short but detailed list of areas of Osaka that you might want to familiarise yourself with, as they are some of the most popular destinations in Osaka. We’ve also recommended some highly rated accommodation in each area which might interest you also.

Check out our blog post to choose the best area guide for your accommodation in Osaka: Where To Stay In Osaka >>

For a different kind of accommodation experience that is unique to Japan, you might want to consider staying in a capsule hotel. Like many hotels in general, you will get your own private space in a capsule hotel, however, unlike many hotels, that space might only be enough to fit you and your luggage.

You basically sleep in a capsule room, and most other facilities are shared, such as bathrooms, common rooms, and study areas. Before your turn your nose, there are actually many styles and variations of capsule hotels, and these days, some actually rival that of fancy and modern hotels!

Osaka hosts some of the most incredible capsule hotels you’ll ever come across; if you want to find out some cream of the crop capsule hotel options, we suggest you read our article here about the best capsule hotels you should try in Osaka .

Osaka Travel Blog – The Best Local Food

Every prefecture, region, city, and town in Japan is special in their own unique way. A great way to get to know a local spot is through their specialty dishes, and Osaka is no small fish in the sea when it comes to delectable dishes you absolutely need to try!

If you want to discover the local food with a guide, check these 3 great food tours in Osaka:

• Downtown Osaka and local food walk
• Adventurous evening of food and drink in Osaka
• Market tour and Japanese home cooking in Osaka

Number one on the list is takoyaki. For all those who have ever heard of takoyaki, they are one of the most classic Osakan snack foods, and you will see endless street carts and restaurants selling them in Osaka.

They are basically round balls that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, filed with octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion. They can be topped with a variety of toppings, but the most classic combo would be with mayonnaise, takoyaki sauce, green seaweed and bonito shavings.

Okonomiyaki

Second on this list is okonomiyaki. This dish is a savory pancake that consists of flour batter, shredded cabbage, eggs, grated yam, mixed together and cooked fresh on a teppanyaki grill right in front of you. At most places, you’ll be able to select from additional fillings such as pork belly, seafood, and other vegetables.

You absolutely cannot leave Osaka without trying at least one kushikatsu restaurant. Kushikatsu are skewered meats and vegetables that are placed in a crumbly batter and deep-fried fresh to order, served with a variety of sauces to dip it in. Pretty much anything you can imagine will be on the menu, including pork, beef, chicken, innards, pumpkin, onion, quail eggs, asparagus, mushroom…the list goes on and on. The only rule here is: no double dipping!

Lastly, the Osakan’s believe that they do yakiniku differently, and we’re inclined to agree. Some of the best yakiniku restaurants are based right in the middle of Osaka, with certain cuts of their meat being so perfectly marbled, you’ll be left craving it for the rest of your trip. Being so close to regions like Hyogo (i.e. where Kobe beef hails from) certainly has its benefits!

Osaka Travel Blog – The Best Places to Visit

Now to the best part of this article: the best places to visit in Osaka. We guarantee you that every single person you speak to who has experienced Osaka will provide you with differing views of what you must do and must eat, and they probably wouldn’t be wrong.

Osaka is a densely populated city with so much going on and so much to see, with hundred-year-old traditions entrenched in historical buildings and structures still existing in the city, hidden amongst high rise towers that offer expansive observation decks that offer beautiful sweeping views of the city.

With this in mind, you can imagine that there are heaps of attractions to see and do in Osaka.

If you’re an Instagrammer, then you’re going to love our article on the most instagrammable places in Osaka . It covers a handful of spots in the city that will allow you to capture stunning images of traditional and modern Japan, all within easy access of transport. If you need some inspiration, why not check out these locations on Instagram before heading there to see what it is about these places that attracts people there?

Most Instagrammable places in Osaka >>

For those who are after the quintessential experience of onsen bathing in Japan but are worried that their body art tattoo, then we’ve got your covered! Whilst traditional onsen rules have forced establishments to turn away guests with tattoos, in relatively recent years, more and more hot spring facilities have opened up to them.

It’s a great step in the right direction, and if you want to find out more, check out our article which details tattoo-friendly onsen in Kyoto and Osaka .

If you love hot springs, you can also check out our list of the 7 best onsen towns near Osaka .

If you’re planning to visit Osaka during the cherry blossom season, we have the perfect article for you to have a read and get to know the top cherry blossom spots you have to visit in Osaka .

Osaka city itself is a sprawling metropolis that you may think is full of flashing lights and traffic, but there are actually some (very!) decent spots within the city that take you away from that futuristic aspect of Japan and allow you to appreciate the beautiful sakura blossoms in all their glory.

For those who don’t want to travel far from the city centre at all, you have plenty of options to choose from.

For those after a more traditional cherry blossom celebration where you can pack a picnic mat and basket and sit under the sakura trees, eating and being merry with crowds of other tourists, there are plenty of parks around the city that you can easily get to. We’ve outlined these options in this article:  Osaka sakura blossom spots >>

If you want to check out more cultural spots, make sure you read our article about the best free museums in Osaka !

Osaka Travel Blog – The Best Itinerary

Building an itinerary is a very important task, and the bigger and greater the city (i.e. Osaka), the more difficult it will be, especially given the amount that you can actually do and experience and the sheer size of the city.

However, we’ve broken down the best of the best activities for you to experience in Osaka across a jam-packed 3-day itinerary that will take you from the Northern district of Osaka all the way across to Osaka Bay, back into the city centre to experience some epic food adventures, and even across to Universal Studios – an Osaka must-do (specially with the new Super Nintendo World ).

We believe that the perfect itinerary must have lots of excitement, some leisurely downtime, impressive architecture, jaw dropping views, a mix of scenery, and enough time at each location for you to really immerse yourself and enjoy what you’ve come to see, and our itinerary does just that.

Check out this blog post for more details: Osaka Itinerary >>

What To Do Around Osaka

If you’re staying a tad longer than three days, you might want to consider basing yourself in Osaka and traveling outside the city to do someday trips. Depending on where you go, this will allow you to experience some unique cities and towns, try different foods, get a glimpse of the rural life in Japan, come across images you’d never have seen before, breathe in fresh mountain air, and ultimately get a glimpse of the side of Japan you’ve probably only ever seen in pictures.

We’ve dedicated an article to 10 of the best day trips from Osaka that you can do, as a solo traveller or as a group of travellers. From the essential Kyoto to the lesser-known but equally captivating Ise or Koyasan , we’ve highlighted some of the beauty that you can expect to see at these cities so you can determine whether it’s something you’re interested in.

All of them can easily be done in one day, and if you’re pressed for time, you might be able to squeeze in two! (But for the sake of enjoyment, one day-trip per day is the perfect way for you to leisurely travel to and from, explore at your own pace, discover things off the beaten path, and not worry about missing last trains).

Read more about our 10 best day trips from Osaka >>

Again, with so much to see and so much to do, planning a trip to Osaka can be overwhelming. Hopefully reading this article has helped you in some way to plan how you’re going to shape your trip to this exciting city.

From deep fried food to amusement parks to gorgeous waterfalls short train rides away, a visit to Osaka would be a feast for all of your senses.

Wanna save money during your trip? Check out our guide on how to travel to Osaka on a budget .

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Here is the BEST Time to Visit Osaka

March 17, 2022

Choosing when to visit Osaka can turn into a difficult moment especially for first-timers due to the big number of events all year round as well as the different kind of seasons and weather that can make or break your trip to the city. We wrote this guide as the definitive resource you’ll need to understand what are your options and what you can expect from the city regarding the weather, the events, the tourists density, and all the little details you’ll have to take into consideration to choose the best time for you to go to Osaka.

With bright neon lights, some of the world’s coolest bars and the best food in Japan, Osaka attracts a huge number of tourists every single year.

The cool capital of Japan, as some people call it, is one of the country’s most exciting destinations. In fact it’s the second most visited city in Japan after Tokyo ( source ) , and one of the most visited cities in the world !

But your Osaka experience can vary a lot depending on when you visit. With four distinct seasons, and a big program of annual events, it’s important to choose the right time of year for your trip.

If you’re planning a trip to Osaka but you’re not sure when you want to visit, this guide is exactly what you need.

In this guide, we’ve assembled details and facts about weather, events, and popular periods to help you decide on the best time for you!

Keep reading !

When is the Best Time to Visit Osaka? Quick Answer:

The best time to go to Osaka is in April . Though Osaka has a huge number of tourists in April, it’s an incredible month to visit the city. With picnicking families, beautiful weather and the unparalleled pink of countless cherry blossoms, April is the perfect time to take a trip and discover Osaka at its most iconic period.

During April, Osaka also has around 13 hours of sunlight per day, giving you plenty of time for sightseeing. Unless you particularly want to avoid large crowds of other tourists or you want to see a particular event/activity in another month, this is the time to go.

Summer: June to August

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Osaka has four very distinct seasons, which all offer different weather, events and atmospheres. Here’s what you can expect:

Summer is Osaka’s hottest period, with temperatures ranging from around 28ºC to 36ºC. If you’re not a fan of high temperatures, it’s best to avoid this month. August in particular is very hot, you don’t want to stay outside especially at noon in Osaka during August, trust me!

Nights are typically a little cooler though, so summer sleeping isn’t too uncomfortable in Osaka, even in the hottest months. Despite the hot temperatures, summer still brings some rain, especially in June, making it a poor month to visit.

If you want to visit Osaka in the summer, July is the best choice – it offers a good compromise between manageable temperatures and bearable amounts of rain.

In summer, Osaka plays host to Summer Sonic Festival , one of Japan’s best music festivals. It’s also the season of Tenjin Matsuri , a huge cultural extravaganza with boats, parades and lots of exciting insights into Japanese heritage and history.

Fall is a fantastic time to visit Osaka. There aren’t too many tourists, and the weather is pretty good. Temperatures range hugely from around 9ºC to 29ºC.

October brings some rain, making it the worst of the fall months, but September and November are excellent months for an Osaka adventure. Osaka has many beautiful parks – and at this time of year, they burn with beauty, offering vivid and vibrant hues of autumnal orange and red.

If you like cooler temperatures and fewer tourists, fall is a great time to visit Osaka.

Winter can be a great time to visit Osaka. While many other Japanese cities are painfully cold in the winter months, Osaka’s temperatures are very tolerable, typically ranging from 2ºC to 14ºC. Winter is also a pretty dry period in Osaka.

The coldest month is January, which also has the shortest days.

If you’re hoping for snow, you probably won’t get it – some parts of Japan have lots of snowfall in winter, but that’s not the case in Osaka.

Famously, Osaka is one of Japan’s most illuminated cities. In winter, the city shines even brighter, with lots of beautiful winter illuminations to celebrate the time of year. If you like winter lights and cosy illuminations, this is a great time to visit Osaka. It’s also an excellent choice if you want to witness Japanese New Year celebrations on 1st January.

Cherry blossom season! If you want to visit Osaka for cherry blossoms, this is the time. The blossoms typically hit full bloom at the beginning of April, so time your trip accordingly! Because of Osaka’s countless parks and green spaces, it’s one of the best Japanese cities for enjoying these beautiful blossoms.

Spring is when Osaka is at its busiest, as endless tourists flock to the city for good temperatures and their fix of flora.

Temperatures range from 5ºC to 24ºC, and there’s little rain, especially in March and April, but nothing to be scared of.

Data source: weatherbase.com

Travel Seasons in Osaka

The high season in Osaka is spring, from March to May, when tourists from all over the world travel to the city to enjoy good temperatures and beautiful blossoms.

Here are the best things to do in Osaka in spring:

• Cherry blossoms: one of Japan’s archetypal attractions, you haven’t fully experienced Japan until you’ve indulged in the sights of this iconic season. While the cherry blossoms peak at the very beginning of April, March sees the equally-attractive plum blossoms bloom.
• March Sumo Tournament: if you want to see sumo while you’re in Japan, this is one of the best tournaments to attend. One of only three of its size held outside of Tokyo every year, it’s a traditional extravaganza of grappling and gasping.
• Golden Week: with four national holidays in the space of seven days, this is a great time to get a sample of Japanese tradition. These four holidays are Constitution Day, Greenery Day, Children’s Day and Showa Day, which celebrates the birthday of a former Emperor.

Osaka’s low season is typically in summer, from June to August. During this period, temperatures can be very high and the rain can be very disruptive. That said, summer also means less travelers, less crowds and better prices, so it can still be a good time to visit if you don’t mind the perils and pitfalls of Osaka’s worst weather.

Though Osaka is less busy in the summer, the city plays host to many interesting and exciting events during this season:

• Tenjin Matsuri : one of Japan’s greatest annual festivals, this offers a fantastic insight into Japanese history and heritage. The highlights are the processions, which take place both on land and on sea. Other exciting attractions include fireworks, street food and traditional clothes and dances.
• Obon: an annual event in honor of ancestral celebration, Obon involves lanterns, costumes, dances, special foods and even haunted houses!
• Yodogawa Fireworks Festival : for over 20 years, this festival has been bringing some of Japan’s best fireworks displays right to the banks of Osaka’s Yodo River. For a combination of sumptuous skylines and explosive light displays, it doesn’t get much better than this. Check out this video to get a taste of the show.

Osaka has a very long shoulder season from September to February. During these six months, Osaka has less tourists than the busy spring period, but more tolerable weather than the summer. Because the weather in Osaka is never very cold, any of these months can make for a good time to visit if you want to avoid spring’s crowds.

Some highlights during these six months include:

• Koyo: though cherry blossoms are Japan’s most famous foliage, koyo is the season’s polar opposite. Koyo refers to Japan’s autumnal period, which is almost as beautiful as its blossoming one. Every year, November and December’s koyo enshrouds Osaka in beautiful tones of red and yellow (look at the picture below) .
• Illuminations: every winter, Japanese people embrace the magic of the season by draping countless lights throughout the entire country. Osaka is home to many of the best displays, which are a wonderfully cozy way to enjoy the season.
• Oshogatsu: the Japanese new year, Oshogatsu is one of the country’s best insights into Japanese tradition. Rich with custom, this period consists of shrine visits, family events and traditional decorations. It’s a very interesting time to visit Osaka, as the ultra-modern city becomes atypically traditional.

When to Visit Osaka – Depending on the Type of Traveler You Are

Though shopping in Osaka can always be fun, the best time is in winter.

During winter, temperatures are low, making shopping a pleasantly sweat-free experience. The streets are also adorned with endless illuminations, so it’s a beautiful time to stroll and explore the city’s stores.

And because winter is home to Christmas and New Year, you can find lots of interesting oddities to purchase on your shopping trips!

There are two types of honeymoon to enjoy in Osaka – and they’re both flower-filled.

The first of these periods is early April, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Yes, it’s busy and there may be too many crowds, but there aren’t many experiences as romantic as strolling through the blossom-lined parks of Osaka.

If you want a less busy (but equally leaf-heavy) honeymoon experience, autumn is fantastic. Osaka’s autumnal hues are bold and beautiful – and because this season offers great temperatures and few crowds, it’s a great time to enjoy time with your brand-new spouse.

Here, you have two options.

The first is to visit during New Year, when you’ll see local people visiting temples, cleaning their homes, and making traditional decorations. Though Osaka is a modern city – even by Japanese standards – this period sees its citizens embrace the simplicity of tradition for a while.

For a traditional Japanese festival, visit during July’s Tenjin Matsuri. There aren’t many festivals with processions of countless boats. But this is one of them. The festival also includes dancing, music, portable shrines and a real insight into Japanese traditions. One of the best and biggest festivals in the whole of Japan, many visit Osaka just to witness the festivities.

If you really want to enjoy Osaka’s outdoors to their full potential, early April is the only time. You’ve only really enjoyed Osaka at its best when you’ve seen it covered in cherry blossoms.

If you’re more interested in sightseeing, fall is your best time. Osaka still looks great in the fall, but it also brings fewer crowds, making it a relaxing time to see all the sights.

Between September and February.

During other months, there are lots of other tourists – both local and international – which make the city very busy and very expensive. Japan can be an expensive destination any time of year, but it’s particularly pricey from March to August.

But if you visit during the quieter period between September and February, you’ll get better deals on hotels, hostels, attractions and even food and drink.

The best period to visit with your kids is early fall. During this period, the temperatures are good and the crowds are low. This means you can enjoy all of the excellent kid-friendly attractions without huge queues or weather complaints. At this time of year, queues for Osaka Aquarium and Universal Studios are relatively pretty small.

You should also consider visiting in May, when Japan celebrates the annual holiday of Children’s Day. With events, attractions, decorations and special food, it can be a really fun time to visit with kids.

Though few people visit Osaka for a beach vacation, there are some great beaches within an hour of the city. If your plan is to enjoy some sun and sand on a day trip from Osaka, your best time is August.

August is both the warmest and driest summer month, so it offers the perfect weather for lapping up the sun. July is pretty good too, but June’s heavy rainfall makes it a bad time for beach adventures.

That said, if you simply want to stroll along the beach without bathing in its bask, all months can be good – except the rainy periods of September and June.

Though very few tourists in Osaka ever visit the city to surf, it’s still an option for those who want to catch some waves. The best waves – though pretty far from Osaka – can be found in Wakayama. The beaches are usually pretty secluded, making them a great spot for some solitary surfing.

The best waves are found in the summer, making June, July and August your best options for surfing near Osaka.

Osaka has some incredible nearby hikes, including Minoo Park, Mount Rokko, and Mount Ikoma. All can be tackled within a few hours, making them great day-trip options from Osaka. The best months for these hikes are March, April, October and November, when temperatures aren’t too hot and rainfall is pretty low.

These months also bring the best flora and foliage. While March and April are full of blossoms and bloom, October and November offer the crisp hues of fall leaves.

If you hike outside of these months, the weather can be unpleasant.

Osaka Events and Weather by Month

This is Osaka at its coldest. Often Osaka’s chilliest month, January has low (but very tolerable!) temperatures. Sometimes frosty, but rarely snowy, January can be a great time to visit Osaka if you’re okay with low temperatures. There’s not much rain in January.

You’ll experience around 10 hours of daylight per day.

Make sure you pack lots of warm layers, including a very warm coat. Though you should pack a waterproof, you might not need it.

January is one of the best times to visit Osaka if you’re interested in tradition – Japanese New Year is a fantastic insight into Japanese culture, heritage and family life.

• Average Temperature: 6ºC / 43ºF
• Low Temperature (Average): 3ºC / 37ºF
• High Temperature (Average): 9ºC / 48ºF
• Average Rainfall: 50mm / 16 days

February is pretty similar to January, but the rainfall is a little heavier. In February, you’re very unlikely to experience any snow at all. The last month of winter, the end of February offers very small glimpses of the blooming flowers set to arrive March.

Again, you should pack very warm clothes. And you should definitely bring a waterproof, as there’s some chance of slightly heavy rain.

February offers around 11 hours of rain a day.

There aren’t many events in Osaka in February, though Valentine’s Day is a pretty big deal.

This lack of events – combined with relatively cold temperatures – makes Osaka pretty quiet, so it’s a great time to visit if you’re keen to avoid crowds of other tourists.

• Average Rainfall: 70mm / 15 days

In March, Osaka waves goodbye to winter with warmer temperatures, blooming flowers and the beginnings of picnic season. After a long winter, lots of local people start enjoying Osaka’s outdoors again, making it a great time to visit the city’s countless parks.

By March, there’s an average of around 12 hours of daylight per day.

You should still pack warm clothes, but you won’t need too many layers. That said, you’ll definitely need that waterproof coat, as rain starts to pick up in March.

March is an exciting time in Osaka. It heralds the start of the cherry blossom season, and marks the best part of the plum blossom period. It’s also the beginning of the sumo season, which is marked by a huge must-visit tournament at the end of the month.

• Average Temperature: 10ºC / 49ºF
• Low Temperature (Average): 6ºC / 43ºF
• High Temperature (Average): 13ºC / 55ºF
• Average Rainfall: 110mm / 17 days

April is Osaka’s busiest period: the cherry blossom season , or as they call it here, the Sakura season . During this period, Osaka is crammed with crowds, all keen to get their fix of Japan’s most famous flowers. If you want to see Osaka covered in cherry blossoms, this is the only time to visit.

But if you don’t like the chaos of countless crowds, you’ll find this period intolerable.

Temperatures in April are excellent, they’re warm and enjoyable without being too hot. Rainfall does start to increase in April, but it’s pretty manageable. For comfortable weather, this is one of the best times of the year to enjoy Osaka. You also get around 13 hours of daylight per day, which offers plenty of time for exploration.

You should pack warm-weather clothes along with a light waterproof layer.

• Average Temperature: 15ºC / 59ºF
• Low Temperature (Average): 11ºC / 52ºF
• High Temperature (Average): 19ºC / 66ºF
• Average Rainfall: 130mm / 14 days

For weather, May is one of Osaka’s best months. It’s warm without being overbearing, and it’s much drier than the coming June, which is Osaka’s wettest month by far. If you want to enjoy spring without crowds, this is the perfect time to visit the city.

Though a little rainy and a little humid, May’s weather is very rarely disruptive in any way. Temperatures average around 24ºC, making for excellent climes.

Make sure you pack light clothes. With around 14 hours of daylight per day, along with the hot temperatures, it’s very unlikely you’ll need warm clothes.

In May, locals celebrate three national holidays – Constitution Day, Greenery Day, and Children’s Day. This can create many crowds of local vacationers, which isn’t great for those who like quiet vacations. But it also means that it’s a great time to watch Japanese culture and tradition in action.

• Average Temperature: 20ºC / 68ºF
• Low Temperature (Average): 16ºC / 61ºF
• High Temperature (Average): 24ºC / 75ºF
• Average Rainfall: 150mm / 14 days

As summer arrives in Osaka, temperatures rise and the rainfall becomes very heavy. If you don’t like rain, June absolutely isn’t a good time to visit. Bring an umbrella along with waterproof clothes!

When it’s not raining, the temperatures are pretty high, so whether it rains or not, June is not the best time to walk around the city. That said, the days are long – you should expect around 14 hours of daylight per day.

June doesn’t have many big, exciting or interesting events. Overall, June really isn’t a great time to experience all the best things that Osaka has to offer, but you should consider it if you want to avoid the crowd while having some sunny weather from time to time.

• Average Temperature: 24ºC / 75ºF
• Low Temperature (Average): 20ºC / 68ºF
• High Temperature (Average): 28ºC / 82ºF
• Average Rainfall: 230mm / 17 days

In July, Osaka’s rain begins to die down a little – but the wetness doesn’t, as July is very humid and hot. If you’re accustomed to high humidity, this is an okay time to visit. But if you’re not accustomed to such weather, you won’t enjoy Osaka in July.

Osaka in July feels like a tropical month, so you should dress accordingly. You’ll get around 14 hour of sunlight per day.

Though the weather isn’t great for exploring the city, Osaka in July plays host to Tenjin Matsuri , one of Japan’s most exciting and interesting festivals. With parades both on land and on water, it’s an excellent insight into many parts of Japanese culture. If you can handle the heat, it’s one of the greatest events that Osaka has to offer, and absolutely worth the trip.

• Average Temperature: 28ºC / 82ºF
• Low Temperature (Average): 24ºC / 75ºF
• High Temperature (Average): 31ºC / 88ºF
• Average Rainfall: 140mm / 15 days

Osaka’s hottest month, temperatures are high and the air is humid, making for another tropical month. But if you can tolerate the heat, it’s not a bad time to visit, since rain is low.

Though a limited number of foreign tourists visit Osaka in August, there are many crowds of local people, as the country celebrates Obon, a period in which the Japanese celebrate their ancestry and heritage. Amongst other things, Japanese people use this period to mark the passing of loved ones.

This can be a very interesting time to visit Japan. Though busy, it’s a great time to experience the fascinating traditional period of Obon – and join the hordes as they enjoy riverside picnics.

If you visit in August, you should wear cool clothes. Though you should take a waterproof, you’re unlikely to need it. Small amounts of rain might even be a welcome respite from the searing heat. August has around 13 hour of daylight per day.

• Average Temperature: 29ºC / 84ºF
• Low Temperature (Average): 25ºC / 77ºF
• High Temperature (Average): 33ºC / 91ºF
• Average Rainfall: 90mm / 13 days

In September, Osaka begins to cool down a little, but the city still retains much of summer’s warmth for now. As the seasons change, there’s a lot of rain, so September is a very wet month in Osaka.

You won’t need heavy clothes but you’ll definitely need something waterproof!

There aren’t many events in September, so it can be an uninteresting time to visit Osaka. That said, similarly to month of June the lack of events makes the city fairly quiet, so if you’re interested in exploring without the chaos of many crowds, this can be a good time.

Before the days begin to get short, September offers around 12 hours of daylight per day, so you get plenty of time for sightseeing.

• Average Temperature: 25ºC / 77ºF
• Low Temperature (Average): 21ºC / 70ºF
• High Temperature (Average): 29ºC / 84ºF
• Average Rainfall: 170mm / 16 days

In October, temperatures and rainfall both drop. Even so, it’s still fairly warm, so October – as far as weather is concerned – can be a great time to visit Osaka.

In October, you can enjoy around 11 hour of daylight per day.

There aren’t too many tourists in Osaka in October, so if you want to explore the city without too many crowds, this can be a great time.

The lack of crowds is partially due to the lack of big events. While there’s nothing major happening in Osaka during October, Halloween is a big deal.

If you like the season of ghosts and ghouls, you’ll love Japan’s interpretation of the spooky spectacular. There are many Halloween-themed parties and events across Osaka in October, which offer a fantastic insight into Japan’s fascination with kooky costumes.

• Average Temperature: 19ºC / 66ºF
• Low Temperature (Average): 15ºC / 59ºF
• High Temperature (Average): 23ºC / 73ºF
• Average Rainfall: 110mm / 14 days

Temperatures and rainfall drop again in November. If you like cool weather, November can be a great time to visit Osaka. It’s also a great time to visit if you like outdoor adventure. During this time of year, fall dominates Osaka, leaving the city draped in fiery tones of red and orange.

If you’re planning to do some hiking in Osaka’s beautiful November colors, you’ll have more than ten hours per day to do it.

Bring a waterproof, though you may not need it. And though the days are fairly temperate, nights can bring some chills, so pack a couple of layers.

For those who like nature, November is second only to the period of March and April. Fall in Osaka is almost as beautiful as cherry-blossomed spring. And because it’s pretty quiet, it can be an ideal time for outdoor exploration.

• Average Temperature: 14ºC / 56ºF
• Low Temperature (Average): 10ºC / 50ºF
• High Temperature (Average): 17ºC / 63ºF
• Average Rainfall: 70mm / 12 days

Fairly cold and very dry, December is a fantastic time to visit Osaka if you don’t mind low temperatures.

You’ll need warm clothes but you’re very unlikely to need any waterproof stuff, which is excellent news for exploring the city and its parks.

Christmas time in Osaka is very exciting. Full of winter illuminations, the city looks even more magical during December than it usually does. If you like cozy winter nights and bright Christmas illuminations, this is a fantastic time to visit the city – especially given the comfortable weather.

• Average Temperature: 9ºC / 47ºF
• Low Temperature (Average): 5ºC / 41ºF
• High Temperature (Average): 12ºC / 54ºF
• Average Rainfall: 30mm / 14 days

Osaka is incredible. One of Japan’s most fascinating cities, its neon-soaked streets are full of great food, friendly people and cool venues. With some of Japan’s best meals, morsels, bars and parks, it has something for everyone.

But your experience can vary depending on when you visit. And these experiences vary wildly and widely, from winter illuminations to boat-filled parades to a traditional festival to honor the dead.

Our top pick is April, Osaka’s busiest period. The beginning of April is the cherry blossom season, Japan’s most iconic flower. Osaka is one of the best places to experience the hot-pink hues of the season. If you don’t mind big crowds, you should absolutely visit Osaka in early April.

But whenever you choose to go, you’ll fall in love with the city. For many, it’s the best city in Japan. If you visit, you’ll see exactly why that is. But before traveling to Osaka, make sure to learn some common phrases in the Japanese language that will help you communicate with locals and enjoy your stay even mire.

About the author

Senior Travel Reporter

Paul is a handsome and hilarious travel writer and travel journalist from the UK. He's hiked, hitchhiked and laughed his way through more than fifty countries, and he's always looking for a new place to call home. Originally from Newcastle, he's lived all over the UK, spent more than three years in Asia, and most recently lived in Vietnam and then in Georgia.

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2023 OSAKA TRAVEL GUIDE (BUDGET + ITINERARY)

by thepinay solobackpacker | Jan 3, 2023 | Featured , Itinerary , Japan , Osaka , Travel Guide | 37 comments

Osaka, Japan is a lively city blessed with dumbfounding infrastructures, well-edited shops, food haven, stylish hostels, and astonishingly spotless streets! Adding up to its allure are the utterly helpful and disciplined Japanese.  Here’s a travel guide blog to help you plan your trip to Osaka.

TRAVEL BLOG CONTENTS

WHERE IS OSAKA?

Osaka, is a prefecture situated in the Kansai region on Hunsho Island in Japan.  It is sandwiched by Kyoto in the north, Nara in the east and Wakayama in the south.  Osaka is largely known as the economic powerhouse of Kansai region, its capital is Osaka City, the erstwhile capital of Japan (Naniwa).

JAPAN TOURIST VISA

If you are a Philippine Passport holder, Japan visa is required to enter Japan.  You can apply for a single-entry Japan visa (good for 15 days) or a multiple-entry Japan visa (good for 5 years).

However, since the Japanese Embassy no longer entertains visa applications,  you have to lodge your Japan visa application through an accredited agency processing Japan visa. You can find the list here .

Click the link below for the step by step guide: JAPAN VISA REQUIREMENTS + APPLICATION + TIPS

OSAKA PRE-TRIP PREPARATION

BEST TIME TO VISIT OSAKA: Osaka is a year-round destination, you will not run out of reasons to visit regardless of the season.  But since most travelers going to Osaka also want to visit the nearby Kyoto and Nara, it best to visit during October to November for autumn (colorful foliage) and March to May for spring (cherry blossoms)

ATM/MONEY EXCHANGE: As soon as we landed at Kansai International Airport, we exchanged our money near the arrival area.  I usually bring some PHP cash jut in case my ATM card don’t work in Japan.  Otherwise, you can just withdraw from the international ATMs in 7-Eleven.  Take note that many ATMs in Japan do not accept foreign credit card, debit card or ATMs. I usually use 7-Eleven because that’s where my ATM card works, I tried at other convenience stores but my card is usually declined. You can also try at Family Mart or Lawson ATMs, but they don’t work for my ATMs.  Withdrawal fee is usually JPY 600 / PHP 300/ USD 6.   Make sure to inform your bank that you will be traveling to Japan so you won’t have a problem withdrawing overseas. If you plan to bring Japanese Yen, you can exchange some at Sanry’s in Robinson  Forum (Robinson Pioneer) in Mandaluyong or  Sanrys in Glorietta 4.  Or if Sanry’s is too far for you, just bring PHP money and change it at Money Changers at the airport.

WI-FI/INTERNET ACCESS: Having internet while traveling around Japan is important.   Most likely you will be using the train in getting around which is fast, reliable but is quite complex.  Google Maps and Hperdia.com will be your travel buddy. Google Maps can help you track your location and how far you are from your destination, I’ve been using this during my bus and train trips. You can also use this to check what train and subway to ride and at which platform.  Hyperdia.com can also help you decide which train to ride, where to get off and how much you need to pay for the train ride. But I usually use this for planning my itinerary ahead of time or when searching for shinkansen trains that is covered by JR Pass.

When arriving at Kansai International Airport, you can rent a Wi-Fi router at the arrivals section.  However, you need a credit card and because it is in-demand, they usually run out.  So to avoid the hassle of looking for a Wi-Fi router, you can rent before leaving the Philippines, you can rent a 4G WiFi pocket handy device with convenient pick up  and drop off at all international airports in Japan.  You can enjoy 4G Wi-Fi coverage across Japan on a pay per day rental basis and connect up to 5 devices on the same pocket Wi-Fi router.

You can rent a pocket Wi-Fi : RESERVE HERE  

ELECTRICITY: Osaka uses 2 electric plugs, Type A and Type B. If you’re from the Philippines, we use the same type of power plug, so I didn’t need to use my travel adapter. For other nationalities, best to bring  a travel adapter. Japan standard voltage is 100 V and 60 HZ in Western Japan including Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe.

LANGUANGE: Kansai dialect is the language used in Osaka. People working for tourism-related establishments speaks English,.eg. hotel staff and restaurant staff. It helps to learn a few essential Japanese phrases like:

OSAKA SAFETY: Osaka, like the rest of Japan, is generally safe for tourist, even for solo travellers. The Japanese are probably the most polite and helpful people I’ve encountered on my travels. Despite the language barrier, they will do their best to help you.

WHERE TO STAY IN OSAKA

If you’ve already made up your mind that Osaka will be your base for your Japan trip, the next question is, where to stay in Osaka? Well, it really depends on your itinerary, but the following are popular options:

1.NAMBA AREA. If you will be staying most of the time in Osaka, this is your best bet. Namba Station, the main subway makes it easy to get to and from the airport. There’s also a direct bus to and from Kansai Airport. Plus, the shopping areas (Shinsaibashi and Horie) and food haven (Dotonburi) are nearby. For first timers in Osaka, Namba area is easier to navigate than Umeda.

BUDGET HOTELS IN NAMBA:

HOSTEL WASABI OSAKA

CHECK RATES HERE  OR RESERVE HERE

Room Type: Dorm

Nearest subway/train station: Namba (Metro)Station North exit, Osaka-Namba Station, Nippombashi Station (Metro), and Kintetsu Nippombashi.

How to get there:

1.From Kansai Airport, take the Nankai-Limited Express or Nankai-Airport Express Train to Nankai-Namba.

2.Get off at Namba Station.

3.Walk to hotel. 5 mins.

NINE HOURS NAMBA STATION

CHECK RATES HERE OR  RESERVE HERE

  Room Type: Capsule

Nearest subway/train station: Namba Station (Metro)

3.Walk to hotel. 3 mins.

  BUSINESS INN NAMBA

CHECK RATES HERE   OR RESERVE HERE

Room Type: Single and Double Rooms

Nearest subway/train station: Osaka-Namba Station, Namba Station (Metro)

3.Walk to hotel. 9 mins.

HOTEL SHIN-IMAYA

CHECK RATES HERE OR RESERVE HERE

Nearest subway/train station: Shin-Imaya Train Station

1.From Kansai Airport, take the Nankai-Limited Express Train to Nankai-Namba.

2.Get off at Shin-Imamiya Station.36 minutes.

3.Walk to hotel (use Google Maps) .

2.UMEDA (OSAKA STATION) AREA. Staying in Umeda is a better choice if you will be exploring other cities in Kansai Region like Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, etc. because it is the hub of JR Lines (Osaka Station) and Hankyu and Hanshin Line (Umeda Station). So yes, basically Umeda Station and Osaka Station are both located in the same area – it’s just that,  Osaka Station is for JR Lines while Umeda Station is for Hankyu and Hanshin Lines. The subway/metro stop here is also called Umeda Station. There’s also a direct Limousine Bus from Kansai Airport to Umeda/Osaka Station.

BUDGET HOTELS IN UMEDA AREA:

HOTEL WBF KITASEMBA WEST

Nearest subway/train station: Hommachi Station (Metro),Sakaisuji-Hommachi Station (Metro)

2.Get off at Umeda Station.

HOTEL DAIKI OSAKA

CHECK ROOM RATES HERE OR RESERVE HERE

Nearest subway/train station: Ogimachi Station (Metro), Temma Station (JR Line)

1.Take the Kansaikuko Line Kanku-Rapid to Kyobashi (JR Line)

2.Get off at Temma Station.

1.Take the Nankai-Kuko Line Airport Express to Nankai-Namba

2.Alight at Tengachaya Station

3.Walk to Tengachaya Station (Metro)

4.Take the Sakaisuji Line (brown line) to Tenjimbashisuji-6-chome Station

5.Alight at Ogimachi Station

6.Walk to hotel

Anyway, whatever area you choose, remember that these 2 areas (Umeda and Namba) are just 10 minutes away from each other by subway. Just make sure you check the hotel address before booking to see if it’s near the subway station or the main tourist attractions.

3. TENNOJI AREA. This is Osaka’s 3 rd major downtown hub. It has direct access to Kansai Airport. It is located 4 stops (by subway) south of Namba. It has pretty much gotten a facelift now, especially with the rise of Abeno Harukas – the highest building in Japan standing at 300 meters situated on top of Kintetsu Abenobashi Station, just across JR Tennoji Station. While popular attractions in Osaka (e.g. Osaka Castle and Dotonbori) are quite far from here, Abeno Harukas where Kintetsu Department Store, the largest department store in Osaka is located, is situated here, as well as the Tsutenkaku Tower  and Shinsekai District, the old-school entertainment district.

TENNOJI AREA BUDGET HOTELS:

  HOTEL CHUO OASIS

Nearest subway/train station: Dobutsuen-mae Station (Metro)

1.If coming from Kansai Airport, take the Nankai-Kuko Line Airport Express to Nankai-Namba and get off at Tengachaya Station (train). 39 minutes.

2.Walk to Tengachaya Station (metro/subway) and take the Sakaisuji Line (Brown Line) to Tenjimbashisuji-6-chome Station.

3.Get off at Dobutsuen-mae Station and walk to hotel (use Google Maps). Fare: ¥1,610

Travel Tip: During peak season, when prices of hotels spike at the more popular Osaka area such as Umeda and Namba, you can find relatively cheaper hotels at Tennoji Station. Anyway, don’t fret, because if you want to reach the popular Osaka attractions, Tennoji is connected by subway and trains (JR and Kintetsu Line) to Namba, Umeda, and Shin-Osaka, so you can easily reach them.  Plus, there’s a direct limousine bus from Tennoji station to Kansai Airport!

4.SHIN-OSAKA STATION AREA. If you plan to explore other cities in Japan, like Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, this is a convenient base, since this is the hub of the shinkansen trains. The area is sprinkled with hotels and restaurants. During my most recent trip to Osaka, I stayed here and found some pretty affordable and decent hotel, just walking distance from the station even during the peak season in spring!

Travel Tip: If you’re visiting Osaka during peak season like spring and autumn, most likely hotel rates in Namba and Umeda will spike, but, you can still find affordable and reasonably-priced hotel near Shin-Osaka Station.

IMPORTANT: Whatever area you choose as your base, I highly recommend choosing a hotel near a train or subway station so it will be easier for your to get around Osaka and transfer to other neighboring cities.

OSAKA TRAVEL GUIDE 

Manila to Osaka

There are several airlines flying between Manila and Osaka like Cebu Pacific http://cebupacificair.com , the largest airline in the Philippines.  Cebu Pacific flies between Manila and Osaka five times weekly. Cebu Pacific also flies from Manila to Tokyo (Narita), Nagoya and Fukuoka, as well as from Cebu to Tokyo (Narita). Book its trademark lowest fares now through http://bit.ly/CEBOsakaflights  or (+632) 702 0888.

KANSAI AIRPORT TO OSAKA CITY CENTER

Osaka is served by 2 airports: Kansai International Airport (KIX), the airport for all international flights and some domestic flights, and Itami Airport (Osaka Airport) – the airport for domestic flights.

Kansai Airport has two terminals – Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. International flights land at Terminal 1. So, if you are arriving from the Philippines or other countries, you will most likely end up in Kansai International Airport Terminal 1 , which is about 1 hour away from Osaka city center.

Travel Tip: You can check the train routes, schedules, and fare via Hyperdia.com or Google Maps. I prefer using Hyperdia when planning my itinerary as it is more detailed. You can check my HYPERDIA GUIDE to learn how to use it.

Also, if you will search for routes to and from Kansai Airport, use “Kansai Airport” instead of “Osaka Airport”, which is meant for Itami Airport (domestic flights).

But, when I’m traveling, I prefer using Google Maps because it also gives me the information as to what train/subway to use, platform to go, fare, travel time, and can even tell me where I am already if I turn on my GPS. Because the problem with Hyperdia is, you need to know the station name of your destination or wherever you are coming from. But with Google Maps, you can just input the name of your destination and where you are coming from. It also gives you real time updates, like if the train is delayed or the trip is cancelled due to natural phenomenon or accidents or defective train, etc.

However, there are instances, when Google Maps is giving the longer route or is not pulling up any information. So, you still need to search on Google  “how to get to __” .

NAMBA AREA BY BUS

If your hotel is in Namba Area and Tennoji Area, there are direct limousine buses from Kansai Airport.

If you are staying in Namba Area, you can also get there by bus from Kansai Airport Terminal 1.  You have to make your way to OCAT (Osaka City Air Terminal) in Namba in downtown Osaka.

(Adult) ¥1,050 (PHP 502 – USD 9)

(Child) ¥ 530 (PHP 255 – USD 5 )

Travel time:  Approximately 50 minutes

Departure:  Every 30 minutes

1.At Kansai Airport Arrival Hall, go to the AIRPORT BUS to OCAT counter on the 1 st It’s on your way to Platform 11, where buses to OCAT stops and leaves.

2.Purchase a bus ticket to OCAT at #11. You can purchase at the ticket machine or counter.  If purchasing via a staff at the counter, show your passport.  You can also purchase in advance

Bus ticket to Namba Station, Umeda/Osaka Station, Uehommachi or hotel is in Kyoto):   DISCOUNTED HERE .

Bus ticket to Tennoji Station (Abeno Haruka), Nara, Kobe: DISCOUNTED HERE

3.The ticket machine or the staff will give you the bus ticket (white paper) and the receipt (green paper).

4.Go to Platform 11.

5.Fall in line and wait for the airport bus.

6.Once the airport bus arrives, if you have big bags, you need to put it inside the luggage compartment under the bus. The bus staff will take your bags, tag it and give you a receipt with a number. Make sure it matches the number on the bag tag. Don’t lose your receipt/number because you need to give it to the staff to claim your luggage once you arrive in OCAT.

7.Show your bus ticket to the driver and then board the Airport Bus.

8.Get off at OCAT in Namba. Claim and collect your luggage.

9. Walk or take a taxi to your hotel.

IMPORTANT:   First bus trip from KIX Terminal 1 to OCAT in Namba is 6:25 AM, last trip is 11:55 PM. See the Namba bus time table  HERE .

TENNOJI AREA BY BUS

If you’re staying in Tennoji Area, there’s also a direct bus to Abeno Harukas (Tennoji Station) from Kansai Airport (Terminal 1 and 2).

(Adult) ¥1,200

(Child) ¥ 600

Travel time:  Approximately 70 minutes

1.At Kansai Airport Arrival Hall, go to the AIRPORT BUS to OCAT counter on the 1 st It’s on your way to Platform 7, where buses to Tennoji Station (Abeno Harukas) stops and leaves.

2.Purchase a bus ticket to OCAT at # 7.  You can purchase at the ticket machine or via the counter with a staff. If purchasing via counter, show your passport to the staff.  Or better yet, purchase in advance. DISCOUNTED HERE  

4.Go to Platform 7.

5.Fall in line and wait for the airport bus. Make sure you don’t lose your ticket.

7.Show your bus ticket to the driver and then board the Limousine Bus (Kintetsu or KATE). Make sure you don’t lose your tab for claiming your luggage.

8.Get off at Abeno Harukas (Tennoji Station). Claim and collect your luggage.

IMPORTANT:   First bus trip from KIX Terminal 1 to  in Tennoji Station (Abeno Harukas) is 7:35 AM, last trip is 05:45 PM. See the Namba bus time table   HERE .

The fastest way to get to downtown Osaka from Kansai Airport is by train. You can find the train terminal (Kansai Airport Station) at the 2 nd floor of the building next to the Arrival Hall of Kansai Airport. Take the elevator and use the bridge to get to that building on the other side.

Kansai Airport to Namba Station. If your hotel is located in Namba area, you can take either of these 2 types of trains to Namba Station (Nankai):

*Nankai Airport Express: No need for seat reservation for this train. This is a regular train that is slower and cheaper.

Transit time: 46 minutes

Nankai  Limited Express (Rap:t): This futuristic blue train is faster and more comfortable than the Airport Express. You have the option to reserve seats.

Fare: ¥1,430

Transit time: 38 minutes

If you’ll choose the Nankai Limited Express train, you can book your train ticket via Klook.

RESERVE HERE

Kansai Airport to Umeda Station. If your hotel is in Umeda Station/Osaka Station area, you can do the following:

Option 1 (Direct)

JR Kansai Rapid: You can use your JR Pass.

Fare: ¥1,190 (Free with JR Pass)

Transit time: 75 minutes

1.Take JR Kansai Airport Rapid for Kyobashi

2.Alight at Osaka Station (JR Lines).

3.Walk to Umeda Station for about 5 minutes.

Option 2 (2 Transfers)

If you don’t have a JR Pass, you can take the Nankai Airport Express + Osaka Metro.

Fare:  ¥1,150

Transit time:  60 minutes

1.Take the Nankai Airport Express.

2.Alight at Namba Station (Nankai).

3.Walk for about 8 minutes to Namba Subway (Metro).

4.Take the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line bound for Shin-Osaka.

5.Alight at Umeda Station.

Kansai Airport to Shin-Osaka Station. From Kansai Airport, you can go directly to Shin-Osaka Station via the Limited Express Haruka.

Option 1(Direct)

Limited Express Haruka

Fare: ¥2,850

Travel time: 51 minutes

Nankai Train + Osaka Metro

Fare: ¥1,200

Travel time: 68 minutes

2.Get off at Namba Station (Nankai).

5.Alight at Shin-Osaka Station.

Taxis in Osaka are clean, reliable, and plentiful. If you want a convenient ride and you have the money to spend, you can take a taxi to your hotel, but it’s quite steep, flag down is ¥650 and Kansai Airport is about 1 hour away from Osaka city center. Taxi drivers in Osaka are usually seniors, so just think of it as a little way of helping in their job. Tipping is NOT common in Osaka and the rest of Japan.

GETTING AROUND OSAKA

To help you in getting around the city, refer to Google Maps or get a tourist Map at Kansai Airport or  at Tourist Information Center in Umeda Station or Namba Station.

So, just to clarify, Osaka could mean Osaka Prefecture (Province) or Osaka City.  This Osaka Travel Guide covers Osaka City where most attractions are concentrated.

Map Legend :

Blue marker – Shin-Osaka Station

Purple marker – Umeda Station

Green marker – Namba Station

Yellow marker – Tennoji Station

Osaka City is composed of several wards, but let’s divide them into the 4 well-known areas to simplify things. Take note that all these areas are connected by subway/metro:

NAMBA AREA: Just 10 minutes away from Umeda by subway (Mido-Suji Line) is Namba. This is where Namba Station is located, the main subway station in Osaka. If you’ll be traveling around Osaka only most of the time, this is a good base. This is where you’ll find Dotonbori  – a photogenic street filled with neon-lights of restaurants, takoyaki stands, etc, and Shinsaibashi-suji that is popular for its market street, locally known as s hotengai . Of the 4 areas I mentioned here, this is the most popular base for first-time tourists traveling to Osaka.

UMEDA (Osaka Station Area/Kita): This is where Umeda Station, the main train station in Osaka is located, making it a convenient base for inter-city travels, like if you’re traveling to Kyoto, Kobe, or Nara. Technically, JR Osaka Station serves JR Lines, while Umeda Station serves private lines such as Hankyu Line and Hanshin Line, but remember they’re both in Umeda area. This area is dappled with department stores.

TENNOJI AREA: This is Osaka’s 3 rd major downtown hub. While popular attractions in Osaka (e.g. Osaka Castle and Dotonbori) are quite far from here, Abeno Harukas where  Kintetsu Department Store, the largest department store in Osaka is located, is situated here, as well as the Tsutenkaku Tower  and Shinsekai District, the old-school entertainment district. Anyway, if you want to reach the popular Osaka attractions, Tennoji is connected by subway and trains (JR and Kintetsu Line) to Namba, Umeda, and Shin-Osaka.  It also has direct access to Kansai Airport.

SHIN-OSAKA AREA. This is where Shin-Osaka Station is located. It’s a good base if you will be exploring other cities in Japan, like Hiroshima, Tokyo, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, since it is the hub of the shinkansen trains. There’s really not much to do here, but there’s a wealth of hotels and restaurants sprinkled around the area. I used it as my base during my recent solo trip in Osaka as I was traveling to Fukuoka by shinkansen.

If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of changing trains, finding the right station to stop, buying the right Pass or train ticket, you can explore Osaka by bus. It’s an ideal way to explore Osaka especially if you are traveling with seniors or kids. The Osaka Wonder Loop Bus is a hop-on hop off bus that stops at 14 destinations in Osaka, including Osaka Castle Park, Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi, Namba Parks, JR Osaka Station (Umeda), and more. The bus comes with an English-speaking guide and a free Wi-Fi. Do ask for a map to see where the bus stops are located.

BY SUBWAY/TRAIN

A fast and easy way to get around Osaka is by subway (metro) and trains since this megapolis is linked by a convenient train system. However, Osaka’s train system can look complicated for first timers. But it need not be if you prepare and understand how and where to ride the trains or metro. For train schedules, fare and routes, check out Hperdia.com or Google.

ALSO READ: HOW TO RIDE JAPAN TRAINS + FINDING THE TRAIN SCHEDULES

As I mentioned above, to simplify this Osaka City Travel Guide, we will divide the city to 4 popular areas, where the main train and subway stations are located:

Tennoji Area: Around Abeno Harukas (Tennoji Station)

Namba Area: around Namba Nankai Station and Namba Subway/Metro

Umeda Area: around Umeda Station (Hankyu and Hanshin Lines) and Osaka Station (JR Lines)

Shin-Osaka: around Shin-Osaka Station

Travel Tip: Osaka trains and subways are convenient to use, but if you’ll be moving around a lot, the fares can pile up and eat up your budget. To save on transportation cost, best to purchase a Pass. But because there are several Passes available, it can be confusing which Pass to get. To help you decide, I’ll discuss each pass below, but first, take note of the following:

Kansai: This is the region composed of the prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Hiroshima,  Hyogo (Kobe), Shiga, and Wakayama.

Osaka: This could mean Osaka Prefecture (province) or Osaka City (the capital).

JR Lines: JR means Japan Railways, they operate several train systems in Japan. For Kansai Region, they own JR West.

Non-JR Lines: Private lines that include Nankai, Kintetsu, Keihan Railway, Hankyu/Hanshin Railway.

Metro: Osaka’s subways are not operated by JR Lines but they are connected to them.

KANSAI PASSES: WHAT PASS TO USE IN OSAKA?

There’s a lot of tourist passes in Osaka, which can get overwhelming. It really depends on your itinerary, but to help you decided which one to use, here’s a list of Osaka passes and when to use it.

1.ICOCA Card

This is not actually a pass but a rechargeable card for subways and trains, pretty much like Hong Kong’s Octopus Card or Manila’s Beep Card. Unlike the Pass, this is NOT unlimited, but it’s a stored value card that you can use to pass through the subway gates to avoid the hassle of buying tickets every time you ride the metro/subway.  You can also use this at convenience stores and other establishments.

When to purchase: If you only have 1 day or 2 days in Osaka and you won’t be moving around a lot, you can use the ICOCA Card.

Where to purchase: RESERVE HERE

You can also purchase at ticket vending machines in major JR Line Stations.

ALSO READ: JAPAN IC CARDS: WHICH ONE TO USE?

2.OSAKA AMAZING PASS (Osaka Only) *Recommended

This is a cost-efficient pass if you plan on exploring Osaka. Osaka Pass entitles you to unlimited subway, and bus rides within Osaka City. You can choose 1 Day or 2 Day Osaka Amazing Pass  for extra flexibility. The 2 Day Pass must be used in consecutive days. What’s good about this pass is, you’ll gain entry to 30 Osaka tourist attractions, including:

Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory

Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

Legoland Discovery Center Osaka

Osaka Science Museum

HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel

Osaka Wonder Cruise

Depending on where you want to pick it up, you can book it in advance below:

Kansai Airport/Namba Station/OCAT pick up: RESERVE HERE

You can even book a combo ticket below:

Osaka Amazing Pass + Universal Studios Osaka 1 Day Ticket: RESERVE HERE

Destination Covered: Osaka only

Trains Covered: unlimited use of subway/metro, trams/streetcar, and bus in Osaka. Free and discounted admission to some Osaka attractions.

Validity: 2-3 NON-CONSECUTIVE days

Airport Train: Not covered.

When to purchase: If you will be exploring Osaka only in 1 – 2 days and you plan to visit the above tourist destinations, you can get the Osaka Amazing Pass to save on admission fees and metro rides.

You can also combine this pass with other passes. For example, if aside from exploring Osaka in 1 or 2 days, your itinerary also includes a visit to Kyoto, Nara or Kobe, you can purchase Osaka Amazing Pass (for exploring Osaka) + JR West Pass or Kansai Thru Pass (for exploring other major cities in Kansai like Kyoto, Nara, Kobe.etc).

3.KANSAI THRU PASS (Kansai Region) *Recommended

The Kansai Thru Pass offers unlimited non-JR train and bus rides around Kansai Region for 2 or 3 days non-consecutive, so it’s pretty flexible. Meaning, you can use this to travel in Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and other major cities in Kansai, but JR Lines aren’t covered. This pass also allows you to travel from Kansai Airport and Osaka or Kyoto on the Nankai Train (The Limited Express Rap:t requires additional fee).

Destination Covered: Kansai Region (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Nara, Wakayama and Koyasan)

Trains Covered: Non-JR Lines

Airport Train: Yes. Kansai Thru Pass can be used from Kansai Airport Station on the Nankai Train after arriving at Kansai International Airport (The Express Rapi:t requires additional fee).

When to purchase: If traveling to Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Himeji Castle.  If you’ll be staying in Osaka or Kyoto, and you’ll be exploring other cities in Kansai like Kobe, Nara, Wakayama, and Koyosan, and your itinerary requires you to use non-JR line trains in non-consecutive days, then the Kansai Thru Pass is for you. For example, you want to see Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera, Gion District, Arashiyama, and Himeji Castle. For more details on where you can use this, check HERE  

4.JR WEST KANSAI PASS (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe)

The JR West Kansai Pass is a regional pass for JR Lines, should not be confused with the Whole Japan Rail Pass. This pass offers unlimited bus and train rides for local JR-West trains and Rapid services in major cities in Kansai Region like Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. You can also use this pass for train rides to and from Kansai Airport via Kansai-Airport Express Haruka. You can choose a 1, 2,3, or 4 Day JR West Pass. This pass is exclusive for foreign nationals traveling as tourists in Japan.

When to purchase: If you’ll be exploring Osaka and other major cities in Kansai like Kyoto, Nara, or Kobe and your itinerary requires you to take local JR West trains most of the time, then the JR West Pass is for you.

1 Day Pass: RESERVE HERE

2 day pass: reserve here, 3 day pass: reserve here, 4 day pass: reserve here.

How to use the JR West Kansai Pass:

1.Book a ticket in advance. Click the links above.

2.Print or download the mobile voucher that you’ll get in your e-mail once your booking is complete.

3.Present your printed or mobile voucher along with your passport in exchange of your physical JR Pass. You can redeem it in Kansai Airport or at OCAT (Osaka City Air Terminal) in Namba Station.

Redemption Location:

Osaka Kansai International Airport Terminal 1

• Location: HIS counter 1 st Floor, next to the Northern Exit in the Arrival Hall
• Opening hours: 8:30 AM -10:00 PM

Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) at JR Namba Station:

• Location: Japan Holiday Travel 1 st Floor OCAT Tourist Information Center
• Opening hours: 8:30 AM -6:30 PM
• Contact: +818040968552

4.On the first day that you’ll be using the JR West Kansai Pass, approach the staff at the gate or counter of any train station to have your JR Pass stamped with the final date that you can use your JR West Kansai Pass. Remember that you have to use the pass CONSECUTIVE days.

5.For the succeeding days that you’ll be using the pass, just show it to the staff at the gate of the JR Station.

IMPORTANT: You don’t have to use your pass right away once you get it. It’s up to you so long as you use it before the expiration date. And since the JR West Kansai Pass must be used consecutive days, make sure to plan when to use. For example, on your arrival date you claimed your JR Pass physical voucher but you won’t explore Osaka yet because your tour will start the next day, you don’t have to use the pass. You can use it the next day or the day after, but once you start using it, you will have to you use it the succeeding days after that because of the consecutive days policy.

5.Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Nagoya)

KINTETSU RAILPASS:  RESERVE HERE

I used the Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus pass recently since itinerary includes Mie (Ise-Shima and Nabano no Sato in Mie). You can read our itinerary below.

ALSO READ: KANSAI ITINERARY (USING KINTETSU RAIL PASS PLUS)

Important: You still have to purchase a Limited Express ticket when boarding the Limited Express trains that will guarantee you a seat on the train even if you have a Kintetsu Rail Pass/Plus already. Otherwise, just use the local train.

6. HANKYU PASS (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe)

For unlimited train travel in and around Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe using the Hankyu train lines. You can pick from 1 day or 2 day pass.

HANKYU PASS: RESERVE HERE

When to purchase: If your itinerary includes Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.

7.HANSHIN PASS (Osaka + Kobe)

This pass will enable you to get unlimited rides along the Hanshin Electric Railways for 1 whole day.

HANSHIN PASS: RESERVE HERE  

When to Purchase: If you’re going to Osaka and plan to see some of famous attractions including Universal Studios Japan, Kobe Seaside Park, Hanshin Koshien Stadium, and Umeda Sky Building, then it is best to avail of this Hanshin One Day Tourist Pass. You can combine this pass with Osaka Amazing Pass.

You only need this pass if you will be traveling to other prefectures and cities outside Kansai. For example, you will be heading to Tokyo, Fukuoka, Nagano, Hiroshima, etc.

JR PASS: RESERVE HERE

When to purchase: If traveling in different prefectures in Japan.

9.COMBINED PASSES 

As I mentioned above, you can also use a combination of the abovementioned passes. For example, you can purchase the Osaka Amazing Pass for traveling in Osaka in 1 or 2 Days, then use either JR West Pass (consecutive days/JR Lines) or Kansai Thru Pass (non-consecutive days/non-JR Lines) when exploring other cities in Kansai like Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, etc.

BY OSAKA TOUR PACKAGE

Some tourists prefer joining hassle-free, organized tours, and thankfully, Klook also offers that.

1.Arashiyama + Nara Day Tour from Osaka

This tour will take you to Arashiyama, Todai-ji, and Nara Park. The tour includes an English speaking staff. Depending on what you purchase, you can choose from bus fare only,  to a tour with buffet lunch with temple admission fee.

2.Kyoto Temples and Shrines Day Tour from Osaka

This tour includes a visit to Fushimi Inari-taisha, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama.

OSAKA TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

1.universal studios japan (usj).

One of Osaka’s most-visited attractions is Universal Studios Japan (USJ) and it’s easy to understand why.  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with its flagship attraction Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a crowd-drawer. You can see here the impressive Hogwarts castle recreation.  Don’t miss the butter beer at Hogsmeade and the nearby Hogswart Express Photo Op.  Catch the Universal Re-Boom party that features Universal Studios Japan Character such as the Minions and Hello Kitty, among others. For adrenaline junkies, try the Flying Dinosaur, it’s so much fun but not as scary as it looks! Since The Amazing Adventures of Spider Man bagged the first World’s Best Dark Ride award for 7 consecutive years by Today’s Magazine, do ride it! It’s an amazing and immersive experience.

Entrance Fee:

1 Day Pass: (Adult) ¥7,400  (Child 4-11 y.o) ¥5,100 (Senior) ¥6,204

2 Day Pass: (Adult) ¥14,700 (Child 4-11 y.o) ¥10,000

  Universal Studios Japan Tickets: RESERVE HERE

Open Hours: Depending on the day and month, it typically opens from 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM and closes at 8:30 PM – 9:00 PM.

Access: 5 minute walk from JR Universal City Station

Fare: ¥180 (Covered by JR West Pass and JR Pass)

Travel time: Approximately 30 mins

HOW TO GET TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN

2.OSAKA CASTLE

Castles are symbols of power, and although they are believed to have originated in Europe, you can find equally impressive castles in Japan. Osaka Castle is one of the country’s most beautiful castles, it is a prototypical Japanese castle, featuring many elements associated with feudal Japanese castle architecture.  It is said to have played a key part in uniting Japan during the Azuchi-Momoyama era. Osaka Castle is flocked by tourists during spring because it is fringed by 600 cherry trees.

Entrance Fee: ¥600 – ₱277 ($5, SGD 7, MYR 22)

Pass: Osaka Castle Museum, Osaka Castle Nishinomura Garden and Osaka Castle’s Yagura Turrets are FREE with Osaka Amazing Pass

Open Hours: Daily 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry: 4:30 PM), closed  on Dec  28 – Jan 1

Access: 15 minute walk from Tanimachi 4 chome subway station Exit 9, or 16 minute walk from Osakajokoen Station.

Train Fare:  ¥230 – ₱106 ($2, SGD 3, MYR 8)

Pass: Subway/Metro is covered by ICOCA Card, Osaka Amazing Pass and Kansai Thru Pass, while JR Line is covered by JR West Pass, JR Pass and ICOCA Card)

Nearby Tourist Attractions: Illusion Museum, Peace (Osaka International Peace Center), Osaka Museum of History, Entrepreneurial Museum of Challenge and Innovation, Osaka-jo- Gozabune Boat.  (FREE with Osaka Amazing Pass)

HOW TO GET TO OSAKA CASTLE:

3. DOTONBORI

Osaka is dubbed as the “Nation’s Kitchen”, the culinary capital of Japan, so yes, do not go home without trying its local dishes.  Some of the traditional food includes takoyaki (octopus bits inside fried dumplings), okonomiyaki (fried cabbage cakes that lookes like omelette), kushikatsu (skewers with different deep fried food such as meat, shrimp, cheese and vegetables) and battera (a block type sushi with mackerel).

If you really want to experience the food culture in Osaka, head to Dotonburi just right across Shinshaibashi.  This place is oozing with restaurants as well illuminated signboards. You know you are in Dotonburi when you see the iconic Glico Man.  This giant billboard was originally installed near Ebusu-bashi Bridge in 1935.  It’s a symbol for Ezaki Glico, a confectionary based in Osaka known for their caramel candy and Pocky pretzel snacks.  Average costs of meals in Osaka is JPY 800-1,500 (PHP 373 – PHP 699 / USD 7.7 – USD 14.39)

Things to do in Dotonbori:

Tombori River Cruise: RESERVE HERE (FREE with Osaka Amazing Pass)

Access: short walk from Namba Station (Metro) Exit 14

4. SHINSAIBASHI SHOPPING STREET

Osaka is a shopping haven, whether you are looking for upscale designer stores or   discount retail shops, you will find it here.  Umeda in the North and Namba in the south are two of its largest shopping districts. And in between is Shinsaibashi Suji , walking distance from Namba station, the most popular and one of the oldest shopping destinations in Osaka.  Be prepared though because the moment you walk into Shinsaibashi-Dotonburi area, just a 5 minute walk from Namba Station, you will meet a massive swirl of humanity.  Nearby you can also find Amerikamura (American Village), dubbed as the mecca of youth fashion.  This is where you’ll find small, inexpensive boutiques standing shoulder to shoulder selling mostly imported and hipster clothes targeting the youth.

Access: 5-minute walk fro Shinsaibashi Station

5. ABENO HARUKAS

Abeno Harukas is the tallest building in Japan, housing the largest department store in Japan – Kintetsu Department Store.  There’s also a museum on the 16 th floor that houses the garden, but perhaps the building’s highlight is the Harukas 300, the observation deck located on Abeno Harukas top 3 floors – (58 th -6oth floors) that offers 360 degree views of Osaka.  It can be accessed via the elevator on the 16 th floor.

Open Hours: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily (Last entry: 9:30 PM)

Entrance Fee: (Adult) ¥1,500 (Junior High/Highschool) ¥1,200, (child) ¥700

Pass: Discounted for Kintetsu Rail Pass (Adult) ¥1,350 (Junior High/Highschool) ¥1,080, (child) ¥630

Abeno Haruka Ticket: RESERVE HERE

Access: On top of Kintetsu Osaka-Abenobashi Station

6. UMEDA BUILDING

One of the tallest skyscrapers in Osaka is  Umeda Sky Building , a two 40-story building connected by a bridge and two escalators (said to be the highest in the world). The building is accessible via Umeda Station. On top of it is the Floating Deck, an observation deck which offers a scenic view of Osaka skyline.

Open Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily

Entrance Fee (Kuchu Teien Observatory):  (Adults) ¥1,500, (Child 4-12 y.o) ¥ 700 (FREE until 6:00 PM for Osaka Amazing Pass).

13-minute walk from Umeda Station (Metro/Subway Midosuji Line (Red Line) and Hankyu Railway) – Covered by Osaka Amazing Pass, Kansai Thru Pass,

13-minute walk from Higashi-Umeda Station (Metro/Subway Tanimachi Line (Purple Line)

13-minute walk from Nishi-Umeda Station (Metro/Subway Yotsubashi Line (Blue Line)

13-minute walk from JR Osaka Station (JR Line)

Fare: ¥230 (Subway and non-JR Lines covered by Osaka Amazing Pass, and Kansai Thru Pass)

HOW TO GET TO UMEDA SKY BUILDING:

7. TEMPOZAN HARBOR VILLAGE  

Tempozan Harbor Village is a leisure bay destination peppered with restaurant, shops, Osaka sightseeing cruise ships, the Legoland Discovery center, etc. You’ll never really run out of things to do here. You can even ride the Help Five Ferris wheel that is beautifully-lit at night.

Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel:

Open Hours: ¥800 (FREE for Osaka Amazing Pass)

11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (shops, amusement, and fast-food restuarants),

11:00 AM – 9:00 PM (restaurants)

Access: 10-minute walk from Osakako Station, Exit 1 on the Subway Chuo Line

Pass: Osaka Amazing Pass, Kansai Thru Pass, ICOCA Card

Travel Time: About 33 min

HOW TO GET TO TEMPOZAN HARBOR VILLAGE, STA.MARIA CRUISE AND LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER:

8. LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER

If you don’t know it yet, there’s a Legoland Discovery Center in Osaka. Located at the Tempozan Harbor Village.  Your kids will enjoy this place filled with millions of famous toy bricks and packed with activities such as brick-making class, a 4D movie, brick factory tour, lase rides, etc.  Book online in advance as it is cheaper than the walk-in price.

Entrance Fee : (Walk-in) ¥2,300 (online) ¥1,600

Legoland Ticket: RESERVE HERE  

Open Hours:

Weekdays: 10:00 AM -7:00 PM (last entry 5:00 PM)

Weekends & public holidays: 10:00 AM -8:00 PM (last entry 6:00 PM)

Access: 5-minute walk from Osakako Station (Metro/Subway)

Fare: ¥280  (Covered by ICOCA card, Osaka Amazing Pass, and Kansai Thru Pass)

HOW TO GET TO LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER: See directions under Tempozan Harbor Village.

9. STA.MARIA CRUISE

While you are at Tempozan Harbor Village, don’t miss the Santa Maria Sightseeing Cruise ship that sails around the popular tourist attractions in Osaka bay area. It’s a massive recreation of the boat that Columbus used to reach America.  You can experience the Sta. Maria day cruise or twilight cruise for about 45 minutes.

Cruise Rates:

Day Cruise: (Adults) ¥1,600 (Child) ¥800

Twilight Cruise: (Adults) ¥2,100 (Child) ¥1,050

*FREE for Osaka Amazing Pass

Access: 10-minute walk from Osakako Station, Exit 1 on the Subway Chuo Line. For the detailed directions, see the tables above under Tempozan Harbor Village.

  WHERE TO EAT IN OSAKA

We had a really tasty marutoku ramen (JPY 700) on our first night in Osaka at Morutoku near Fukushima Station.  Also try eating at teppanyaki (grilling on a plate) restaurants where you eat at the counter while the chef prepares the food in front of you and serves it immediately.

We also got to try the famous Omi Beef , one of the best beef in Japan, along with Kobe Beef and Matsusaka Beef, at Yasu-shi in Shiga prefecture, about 30 minutes away from Kyoto.  It’s really a must-try when in Japan!  We dined at a restaurant called  Jiku Kappo Sara where they have a special set of Omi Beef Steak that comes with Omi beef steak, sushi, sashimi, tempura, Omi-rice and miso soup for JPY 4, 600 (PHP 2,143 /USD 44) or  you can order their middle set meals for JPY 3,900 (PH 1,817) without the sushi and sashimi.

OSAKA SIDE TRIPS

Kyoto is highly recommended because of its wealth of attractions.   To help you plan your Kyoto trip, you can read my Kyoto blog here: KYOTO TOP TOURIST SPOTS .  But if you are pressed for time, you can do a day trip from Osaka or an afternoon tour. You can book cheap tours to Kyoto from Osaka : HERE.

ALSO READ:  KYOTO TRAVEL GUIDE (BUDGET + ITINERARY)

Nara, Japan known for its friendly deer is another favorite side trip from Osaka. I’ll be posting my Nara Japan Travel Guide soon, but if you have limited time, you can also book a Nara Day Tour : HERE , which includes a visit to Nara’s celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Sites temples.

ALSO READ: NARA TRAVEL GUIDE (Budget + Itinerary)

Where to eat in osaka.

Since Osaka is dubbed as the culinary capital of Japan, trying the food here is a must. And the best place to do just that is at Dotonburi , a mere 5 minute walk from Namba Station.  The main road and small streets here are fringed with all types of eateries.

Crowned by the iconic Tsutenkaku Tower, the Shinsekai district is another haven for foodies, created after the World War II (1912), modeled after New York and Paris.  Here you’ll find some of the best kushikatsu shops in Osaka.

Osaka Station and Grand Front Osaka has a wealth of restaurants to choose from, but if you find it too clean and intimidating, head to Kitashinchi district, the entertainment capital of Osaka, just 10 minutes by foot south of Osaka Station.

If you’re looking for a ramen place, I highly recommend Marutoku near Fukushima Station, order marutoku ramen.

Average costs of meals in Osaka is JPY 800-1,500 (PHP 373 – PHP 699 / USD 7.7 – USD 14.39). If you are on a tight budget, you can try the bento and sushi meals sold at local supermarkets, visit at night around 7:00 PM or when they are about to close because they are tagged with discounts for as low as 50% off!  Meals would usually cost about JPY 279 – JPY 799 (PHP 130 – PHP 373 / USD 2.7- USD 7.7).  Otherwise, you can settle for microwaveable meals at convenience stores like Lawson and Family Mart. But then again, you are in Japan, so I highly recommend you splurge on food once in a while.

OSAKA ITINERARY (5 Days 4 Nights)  (Osaka-Kyoto-Nara)

Here’s a suggested Osaka itinerary with budget that includes  a trip to Kyoto and Nara.

*Hotel, drinks, souvenirs, shopping expenses, airfare, and NAIA terminal fee are not included.

Entrance fees, subways/trains and bus rides, and food are included in the calculation.

PASSES: OSAKA AMAZING PASS (1 day) + KANSAI THRU PASS (3 Days)

This entails that

Day 1 – No Pass

Day 2 –  Osaka Amazing Pass

Day 3 –   No Pass

Day 4 –  Kansai Thru Pass. Kyoto

Day 5 – Kansai Thru Pass. Nara

Important: For the itinerary below, if you combine the Hankyu 1 Day Pass (¥700) of  Osaka Metro fare, then on Day 5 you buy individual tickets worth ¥1,350 + the Nankai Kansai Airport  Line, it’s still cheaper for about ¥115 than using the Kansai Thru Pass on Day 4-5. But that’s a small amount compared to the hassle of buying individual tickets for the lines not covered by the Hankyu 1 Day Pass (e.g. Keihan Line + Kintetsu Line + Osaka Metro).  Yes, Kintetsu and Keihan have their own pass, but it’ll be more expensive if you use them with the Hankyu and Osaka Unlimited Travel Pass for the itinerary below. Therefore, I still opted to use the Kansai Thru Pass for this itinerary.

For the Subway Lines, I used the colors of the actual Metro line so you can easily find them at the Metro Station.

Red Line – Midosuji Line

Purple Line – Tanimachi Line

Green Line – Chuo Line

Pink Line -Sennichimae Line

Blue Line – Yotsubashi Line

Brown Line – Sakaisuji Line

Also, best to take note of the Station Number, so you can easily understand it when the staff announces the next station stop.  The station number stop is different for each line, for example, for Tanimachi-4-chome – if riding the Green Line, station number is C18, and T23 in Purple Line. The station numbers are usually listed inside the subway, usually above the subway doors.

So, without further ado, here’s a recommended Osaka itinerary for first timers in Kansai.

For the total expenses with Pass above, you need to add the cost of Osaka Amazing Pass (1 Day) + Kansai Thru Pass (2 Days). Total amount is:

Total Expenses with Pass = ¥27,510 – ₱13,986 ($249.24, €223.36, SGD 342.89,MYR 1,042, AUD 363.35)

Savings: ¥2,735 – ₱1,308 ($21.55, €24.64, sgd 35.11,myr 107, aud 35.65).

Universal Studios Japan is quite hefty and will eat up your budget on Day 2, if you want, you can skip it and replace it with the following itinerary (Legoland Discovery Center), which is also ideal for children. But if you will follow this, I recommend purchasing the Osaka Amazing 2 Day Pass to use for Day 2 and Day 3 so it will cover the attractions below

ALSO READ: 

Kyoto travel guide,   sapporo travel guide, kyoto tourist spots and how to get there, osaka-kyoto-nara itinerary with budget , sapporo itinerary, shirakawa-go from osaka, osaka to tottori, conan town travel guide (itinerary + budget), hakuba ski travel guide, fukuoka travel guide (itinerary + budget), related posts.

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37 comments.

Good tips and information shared. Do you recommend other places to go in Osaka besides Osaka Castle and USJ?

What about Kyoto and Nara? I dont see the itinerary here.

still writing it. posting soon

Hi! May I ask when did you visit Osaka? Thanks

hi! im following your posts and i find this helpful. i also plan to travel alone but still quite doubtful since im not really ‘gala’ but im in for adventures. did you really travel alone? how’s the condition of capsule hotels for a single female? i.e security, privacy

Is anybody here wants to visit Osaka, Japan on March 10-15, 2017? Kindly let me know. I need to have accompany to visit Osaka since I am only alone to travel there. I need some help guys. 🙁

Hi, this blog is very informative. But I would like to ask in your expenses you only paid p2,549 in Jr west rail pass. Tried to check it online, It’s for 200usd.

Depends on the # of days, there’s 1, 2, 3, 4 and even 5 day pass.

Does klook.com legite site.? I would like to buy usj ticket online.

Hi, your blog is very helpful and informative, I am a bit confused which train pass will i get. I will be travelling from KIX airport to Kyoto (Day 1) , Kyoto-Nara (DAY 2 – 4), Kyoto-Osaka (Day 5 – 7), Osaka back to Airport. Which rain pass I am going to avail? Hope you can help me with this. Thanks so much.

JR West Kansai Pass 🙂

What an incrediable blog. Appreciate your detail explanation. I am travelling to Osaka in Hot July, from osaka i plan to go kyoto then Nara. What would be your commendation number of stay in each city?

Really can’t wait for 5 more years to travel in Japan. Thanks for the infos! For sure, this will help me a lot. But I have a question, I heard that some Japanese don’t speak english, Is that true?

Hi there, You do have useful info posted here.. This will help me where, when and how to go Osaka. 🙂 Keep it up! Good luck on your next travel..

Welcome Jaybee. Safe travels! 🙂

First of, a very good read – brief and informative. A question though, I will be travelling on Sunday to Osaka (just OSAKA) where a friend will meet me however I did not purchase any JR Pass nor any train ticket card, instead she instructed me to get the SUICA card at the airport. I’m a bit anxious since you’ve mentioned that ticket rides for foreigners must be purchased outside Japan. I appreciate your response. Thank you.

I meant for JR Pass only. You can purchase the SUICA Card there. 🙂

Your blog is detailed & informative. Its very helpful for first timers like me, thank you. We plan to avail the suggested seniors citizens, nara, kyoto & arashiyama day tour…… from the hotel. We are only staying for 3 days in osaka & 1 day is for nara, kyoto arashiyama day tour. Which train pass shall we buy… Kansai thru pass, JR west pass or ICOCA card. Do we still need the pass if we have the day tour from a travel agent… for the kyoto, nara tour. Keep up your helpful blog….

If you have a tour na po with a travel agent, no need for the JR Pass. You can use ICOCA or Kansai Thru Pass depending on where your hotel is and how many times you’ll use the train/subway each day. If you will be using the subway/train several times a day, you may still need the Kansai Thru Pass.

Hi. i’m just a little bit confused with the train transfer. We will be staying near shibuya station. From that station can I use my jr pass(if ever I purchase one) in going to osaka(one-way)?

Hi. Im bit confused regarding JR west kansai rail pass, kansai thru pass and icoca ic card. What are the differences and which one is better cause it’s like (correct me if I’m wrong) they are all same? Thank you.

If you’re just touring Osaka, Kyoto and Nara, go for the ICOCA Card or Kansai Thru Pass. I’ll post a blog about this soon.

I had originally only planned to spent a day in Osaka but this seriously makes me reconsider that decision! Osaka sounds like such an amazing place with lots of things to do 🙂 thanks for the tips!

Hi, your blog is very informative. Thank you for the tips you have shared. We will be going to OSAKA in August (first timers). Our travel will be around OSAKA then to KYOTO and NARRA. Can we purchase this online so we can have them before we leave? We do not intend to stay in a hotel in Kyoto but will just do a day-tour. This would mean travelling to Kyoto by train. This we will do in 2-days. Which train would you recommend to take to Kyoto and more budget friendly? Thank you.

Kindly read here: https://www.thepinaysolobackpacker.com/hyperdia/

This is so helpful and amazing blog post ever. Thanks you for helping me preparing for my first trip in Japan.

Welcome. I just updated the blog. It’s more detailed now. 🙂

Hi! For a 1st-timer tourist in Japan, which do your recommend I visit first? Osaka or Tokyo? Would appreciate your opinion. Thanks!

Osaka, Tokyo’s train system is more complex

Hello, is it worth it to get the JR pass if our routes will be Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo? We’re arriving in Osaka and we’ll exit by Tokyo. Thank you.

Yes, because the train fare to Tokyo is expensive.

Hi, your blog is very informative. Me & two of my friends is going to Osaka this November. We are also planning to visit Tokyo and we already purchased our plane tickets which we will exit in Tokyo, Narita Airport from Osaka. Do you also have a travel guide + budget itinerary for shall we say 3 days in Tokyo? That would be so helpful! Thank you 🙂

you can check it here https://www.thepinaysolobackpacker.com/tokyo-itinerary/

Hello! I’m a follower of your blog. (: Kindly check if the translation for “nihongo ga wakarimasen” should be “I do not understand Japanese” instead of “I do not understand English”. Thank you. (:

Oh wow! Thanks for pointing that out. It should be “I don’t understand Japanese”.

HI, FOR JR WEST 4 DAY PASS, I CAN START USING IT WHENEVER I LIKE? OR MUST START USING ON THE REDEMPTION OF PHYSICAL PASS?

You can start using it after redemption, like a couple of days or week after. There’s an expiration date though, so check that out.

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Girl Eat World

A girl's adventure in food and travel around the world, things to do in osaka: an osaka travel guide including easy day trips.

I visited Osaka for the first time in the spring of 2017, to meet up with Kat, my best friend from college. We hadn’t seen each other in person for almost eight years since I moved away from LA but we kept in touch every day via chat apps. That spring, we finally decided to meet up in Japan.

Since we had such an amazing time catching up in Osaka last year, Kat and I decided to do an encore and meet up again this year. Long story short I’ve found myself visiting Osaka five times since then. So yeah, this post is long overdue – it’s about time I impart some knowledge and my favorite things to do in Osaka.

Getting to Osaka

There are two best ways to get to Osaka:

By Shinkansen train – Most people get to Osaka by train from Tokyo via Shinkansen, Japan’s famous ultra-fast bullet train. If you are coming here from Tokyo and you don’t have a JR Pass, you can book the Tokyo – Osaka Shinkansen here . You’ll most likely get off at Osaka Station or Shin-Osaka Station, where you will have plenty of convenient options for local trains to switch to. If you have the Unlimited JR Pass, then the Tokyo – Osaka train is already included so you don’t need to buy separately!

By Airplane via KIX – If you are flying and landing at Kansai Airport (KIX) and will be staying in the city, I recommend taking Haruka line by Japan Rail (JR). This line takes you straight from KIX to the city, stopping at major stations Tennoji and Shin-Osaka before going on to Kyoto. If you have the unlimited JR Pass, this is already included. Make sure to check ahead if your accommodation is closer to Tennoji or Shin-Osaka as there is a slight fare difference for the bundles – Tennoji is closer to the airport so it’s cheaper. From there, you can resume with local trains using your 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 luggage.

Getting around Osaka

Osaka is one of the largest metropolitan cities in Japan, second only to Tokyo . As with other big cities, you’ll find it very accessible and well-connected. Getting in and around Osaka is super easy.

Local trains in Japan run on IC (Integrated Circuit) Cards. This IC card will be your lifeline during your stay. It allows you to tap in and out of each train station without having to buy a ticket every single time you take a train. And because everyone has an IC card in Japan, you can even use your card balance to buy things from convenience stores and vending machines. Whenever the balance is running low, you can easily refill the card using cash or credit card at any train station.

Learn more about IC Card and how to use your mobile phone as an IC Card in Japan!

The IC card used in Kansai is called ICOCA. Different areas in Japan have different brands of IC cards, but they all work exactly the same way across the country. For example, in the Kanto (Tokyo) area, the popular brand is Suica or Pasmo. In the Kansai (Osaka) area, they are called ICOCA – a play on the Japanese word “Ikouka”, which means – “Let’s go!”.

Regardless of the brand, IC Cards can be used across Japan. You can use Suica and Pasmo in Kansai, and you can use ICOCA in Tokyo.

Using the virtual IC Card

Good news for iPhone users – the IC cards have gone virtual and you can use your phone as an IC card! This makes everything even more convenient, as you can refill the balance via your phone without having to go to the station.

Note that you  do not need to buy a physical IC card to do this , just start the process straight from your phone! However, if you DO have an existing IC card you can still transfer the balance to your phone. Your existing card will then stop working and you can only use your phone as an IC card from that point onwards.

If you prefer to have a physical IC card, you can buy the ICOCA Card online and pick it up from the Kansai airport. But if you already own an IC card from Tokyo or other areas of Japan, then you can just continue to use that – you don’t need to buy another one.

Do I need a JR Pass?

JR pass is a form of rail pass that gives you unlimited access to  all JR trains  in Japan for 7, 14, or 21 days. I bolded the JR train part for emphasis since this gets confusing for some people – in Japan, there are many train companies and Japan Rail (JR) is one of them, and this pass is only valid for JR trains! Getting a JR Pass makes sense if you are planning to visit multiple cities in Japan . The trains between cities aren’t cheap and you’ll be saving a lot more this way.

You HAVE to have already bought the JR Pass before your trip. You cannot buy it once you’re in Japan. You can buy the Unlimited JR Pass here and have it shipped to your house, so ensure you get it ahead of time!

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.

If you are in Osaka just to visit the Kansai area though, you might not need the unlimited JR Pass. The following JR Kansai pass covers Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe, and can be picked up at the Kansai Airport (KIX). All you need to decide is how many days you want to use the pass for!

• 4 Day JR West Kansai Pass (you can also get 1, 2 or 3-day JR West pass – just click on the link in the description)
• 5 Day JR Kansai Wide Pass (if 4 days is not enough for you)

Coin Lockers in the train stations

Flying out late but have to check out early from your accommodation? You don’t have to carry your luggage around all day. You can leave your luggage in a coin locker.

Coin lockers are available everywhere in major stations and they are quite spacious and cheap to rent. I was able to fit my 45L backpack into that tiny 300 yen one at the bottom. There is an English instruction on the machine to rent them – super easy.

Be sure to come early if you are going from a popular station – I once tried to do this in Kyoto station around noon but I was not able to find any available locker. In the end, I gave up and had to lug my backpack around all day.

Where to stay in Osaka

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

Things to do in Osaka

Alright, now that you know all about traveling to Osaka, here are the things I enjoyed doing in Osaka:

1. Visit the Osaka Castle

This is a must-visit when you’re in Osaka. Personally, I was way more impressed by the area around the castle rather than the castle itself. It’s surrounded by this amazing park and makes for a picturesque stroll especially if you happen to be here during Hanami (Sakura) or Momijigari (Autumn) season .

I would recommend entering the park from the southwest corner – the closest station is Morinomiya on the Chuo line – and walking through the park before finally getting to the castle.

The walk from this point would take about 20-30 minutes , so be sure to plan your time accordingly if you want to enter the castle.

You can pre-purchase the entrance ticket to the Osaka Castle here

2. Eat all the street food in Dotonbori

Dotonbori is the center of everything “Japan” in Osaka. You can find a 24-hour Donki (Japanese variety shop), Restaurants, Arcades with Gashapon machines, drug stores, vertical neon-light billboards, and most importantly for me: Takoyaki ! You can read more about Takoyaki in the “What to eat” section below.

3. Visit the anime town at Den-Den Town in Namba

If you enjoyed Akihabara in Tokyo, you’ll love Den-den town. It’s basically Osaka’s hub of everything geeky – electronics, Anime goodies, Gashapon machines, comic book stores, and video games. You can also find decent shopping here at Japanese variety stores like Loft and Donki.

If you don’t know what Gashapon is, you must try them while you are in Japan! They are these capsule toy machines that you can find all over Japan. The machine dispenses small toys or figurines in a capsule. Each machine has different themes with 4-5 possible options of toys that you can get, but you won’t know exactly which one you get until you put in your yen coins and turn that knob. It’s the literal definition of cheap thrill – each capsule toy costs only 200-400 yen.

4. Visit the Osaka Aquarium

The Osaka Aquarium is one of the most impressive aquariums I’ve ever visited so far. They have an intensive collection of marine life sourced from different parts of the world, including a pair of whale sharks in a massive tank along with other species like Manta Rays, Nurse Sharks, and Eagle rays.

However, as an avid diver, I have to admit this made me uncomfortable… especially seeing highly intelligent animals like dolphins in captivity. On the other hand, I can see how this is a great educational opportunity for kids and adults alike.

You can buy the tickets to the Osaka Aquarium online here so that you don’t have to wait in line.

5. See Osaka city from above

If you would like to see the city from high up, there are plenty of options around Osaka!

1. Highest Point of View at Harukas 300 (300m)

For the highest point of view, I suggest visiting the Umeda Sky Building Observatory at Umeda / Osaka station or Harukas 300 at Abeno Harukas in Tennoji station. The true highest one in Osaka is Abeno Harukas at 300m, while the Umeda Sky Observatory is only 170m above the ground.

You can pre-purchase the ticket to Umeda Sky Building (1500 yen) and Harukas 300 (1800 yen).

2. Retro Tsutenkaku Tower at Shin-sekai (91m)

My favorite is Tsutenkaku at Shin Sekai. Although not very tall at 103m (and the observatory is at 91m), I thought it was the most interesting tower because it has more history and character.

It was originally built in 1912 but refurbished multiple times over the years. As you are going up the tower and coming back down, you’ll be able to enjoy the retro Japan exhibition they have in the tower – stuff like Atom Boy and the retro history of Pocky and Glico snacks can be seen for free!

Purchase the Tsutenkaku ticket here and exchange it for a physical ticket when you get there

I would also highly recommend topping up an additional 300 yen to be able to reach the top deck. You can do this when you’re at the observatory.

Normally, I would not recommend topping up to get to the higher point of an observatory because it’s usually not worth it. But in the case of Tsutenkaku, it was TOTALLY worth it! The normal observation deck was indoors, but the top deck was completely outdoors. There is also a section with a glass floor so you can test your bravery by standing there and looking down. I did not pass that test because my legs were shaking as soon as I looked down 😛

3. Ferris Wheel at HEP FIVE

For a cheaper option, you can take the Ferris Wheel at HEP FIVE near Osaka station – It’s small but it’s only 600 yen per ride, you get a private car to yourself and the wait isn’t very long.

You can speed up the process too by buying the ticket ahead of time here: HEP Five Ferris Wheel , then all you have to do is scan the QR code when you get there.

6. Cup Noodles Instant Ramen Museum

Also known as Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, the gentleman who founded Nissin Food Products – the company that makes Cup Noodles. I didn’t get to do this on my visits (yet!), but if you’re like me and lived off cheap instant ramen in college, I reckon this museum warrants a visit. You can even decorate your instant ramen cup!

7. Go back in time to Kyoto (Day Trip from Osaka)

Kyoto needs no introduction – it is 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.

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.

Although I filed this under day trips outside Osaka, you need 2-3 days to properly visit Kyoto – there is so much to see and do here that it warrants a separate post by itself . Set aside one day to visit the Arashiyama side of Kyoto (west), and 2 days to visit the temples (east side of Kyoto).

But I would still recommend staying at a hotel in Osaka because accommodations are cheaper here.

8. Get friendly with Sika deer in Nara (Day Trip from Osaka)

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 read that post for everything I know about Nara

9. Take a walk at Akame 48 Waterfalls (Day Trip from Osaka)

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. There are less than 48 waterfalls, but they used 48 in the name to signify endless waterfalls.

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

10. Visit Kobe (Day Trip from Osaka)

IKobe is also 30 minutes away from Osaka by train. Kobe is well-known for… well, the delicious Kobe beef, which you’ll find plenty of in Kobe. Aside from the beef, Kobe is known as the port city and a place where immigrants thrived when Japan began trading with the outside world. So make sure to check out Kobe’s Chinatown area, the Kobe ropeway, and the Nunobiki waterfall.

11. Suntory Yamazaki Whiskey Distillery

If you are a whiskey lover, a trip to this distillery is a must. They are located about 30 minutes from Osaka / Umeda station. You can visit the Yamazaki Whiskey Museum for free and do some whiskey tasting (not free). If you’re interested to learn about the whiskey-making process then they have tours that cost 1000-2000 yen.

Make sure you book your slot for the tour ahead of time here

12. Bonus: See Mount Fuji from above if you’re coming to Osaka on a domestic flight from Tokyo

If you are flying to Osaka from Tokyo, try to get a window seat on the right side of the plane. You might just get lucky and see Mount Fuji about 30 minutes into the flight. I knew about this before so I picked a window seat on the right side of the plane on my way there, but I wasn’t lucky with the weather. Mount Fuji was hiding underneath all those clouds… :/

What and Where to Eat in Osaka

Just like other big cities in Japan, there is plenty of good food in Osaka. Here are some of my favorites!

1. Takoyaki (Octopus Ball)

When visiting Osaka, eating Takoyaki is a must . Takoyaki is one of the most well-known street snacks in Japan. It’s a ball-shaped snack made from a wheat-flour-based batter with chopped-up juicy octopus tentacles and other ingredients such as ginger and green onion, grilled in a pan with hemispherical holes to help shape it into a ball. Once done, it’s served with takoyaki sauce and Japanese mayo, then topped with crispy bonito flakes. Although you can find this all over Japan, it was popularized in Osaka.

I tried Takocha near Umeda station. It’s a very small stall manned by one guy, and you might have to wait for your takoyaki. However, the takoyaki is stunningly delicious.

Takocha Closest Station: Osaka-Umeda Station or Osaka Station Direction: Google Maps

One of the most popular places to get Takoyaki is Dotonbori. The one I tried is from the Konamon Takoyaki Museum in the middle of Dotonbori and it was delicious! The batter is crispy on the outside yet juicy on the inside. The bits of octopus are also quite generous. Best of all, they’re always made fresh on the spot! If you see a queue forming, fret not. They’re just waiting for the next batch and once that’s done, the queue moves fast. I ended up eating a dozen of these by myself…

Konamon Takoyaki Museum  Nearest Station: Namba (Midosuji Line) Direction: Google Maps

2. Japanese Cheesecake from Rikuro Ojisan no Mise

Rikuro Ojisan no mise means “Grandpa Rikuro’s store”. You might have seen this store making its rounds on social media.

Popular for the fluffy cheesecake that “jiggles” as it comes out fresh out of the oven, Rikuro Ojisan cheesecake originated from Osaka and for a while could only be found in Osaka and Kobe, though I heard there are now branches in Shanghai and Beijing.

Their cheesecake is different from the ones you get in, say, New York, which tends to be very rich. Rikuro’s cheesecake is very fluffy in texture and light in taste – much like other Japanese desserts, it’s not too overly sweet. I only got a slice but I feel like I could have eaten an entire cake on my own.

3. Yakitori at an Izakaya in Namba

Visiting an Izakaya for some yakitori is a must when you’re in Japan. There are tons of them near Namba station, on the south-west side.

Izakaya is popular among corporate men and women as an after-work watering hole because they serve cheap small plates of various grilled skewers that go well with alcohol. My favorite is called Yakitori Nambatei, a small hole-in-wall restaurant where each plate costs 300-400 yen and comes with 3 skewers. I recommend having their draft beer as well!

Yakitori Nambatei Nearest Station: Namba (Midosuji Line) Direction: Google Maps

4. Naniwa Omurice

Trivia: “Naniwa” is the old name of Osaka from the 6th century. The earliest record of the city being referred to in Osaka dates back to 14th century.

In Japanese cuisine, there are plenty of occurrences of “japanized western food” aka yoshoku , where the Japanese have adopted western dishes and made it into their own. Omurice is a popular example of this and has become a staple comfort food for many Japanese households. It’s usually made by a mother for their small children as it’s fun to eat and tastes good.

Omurice can be served in tomato-based sauce, or demi-glace sauce (savory beef sauce). I prefer the latter. Naniwa Omurice serves both styles and you can add more toppings such as Kaarage (Japanese fried chicken), fried prawn, pork cutlet or cheese.

Naniwa Omurice Nearest Station: Shinsaibashi (Midosuji) Direction: Google Maps

5. Fishing Boat Restaurant Zauo

If you want a bit more drama with your dinner, try visiting Zauo at Namba. At this restaurant, you can catch your own fish and they will prepare them for you in any style you want.

It’s not for the faint of heart though – I for one couldn’t bear to fish because I felt so bad for them… while fishing, you can feel the hooks dragging against their scales and I just couldn’t do it. So, I let my friends do the hard work and enjoyed the catch later 😡 But it’s still fun!

Zauo Fishing Boat Restaurant Nearest Station: Namba (Midosuji Line) Direction: Google Maps

6. Zundouya Ramen

Zundouya Ramen specializes in Tonkotsu ramen, a type of ramen where the broth is made from boiling pork bone for hours until it turns white. It’s originated from Fukuoka but you can enjoy it all over Japan these days.

Zundouya is one of those ramen shops where you order outside the shop at a vending machine, then bring the voucher in and they’ll make your order for you. You can customize the noodles (curly or straight), the done-ness of the noodles (al dente, regular or soft), and the intensity of the broth (light, regular, or strong/fatty).

There are a few locations in Osaka but the one I went to is near Umeda / Osaka Station.

Zundouya Ramen Nearest Station: Umeda Direction: Google Maps

Alright, folks! That’s all from me about traveling in Osaka. Let me know in the comment below what you think and if there is anything else you want to know. I’ll be happy to answer your question as best as I can.

Til next time 👋

Are you planning a trip to Japan? I’ve written loads about the beautiful country. Check out the  ‘Japan’ category of this blog for some travel inspiration.

19 Comments

• March 11, 2024

Please don’t eat octopus, they are the most intelligent creatures on the planet behind humans (way above dolphins and chimps). I dare you to watch “My octopus teacher” and then eat octopus, squid or calamari. I’m also a diver and this documentary is very powerful. Great blog, well done! I’m going in May and look forward to all the things to see, eat and do.

• December 14, 2023

My friend n I (ladies age 60-72) would like to see Sakura from April 6-20 2024. Appreciate your recommendation which place should we go in order not to miss Sakura.

• October 18, 2023

Hi Melissa, I am just glad to find your posts. I’ll be traveling with my family to Osaka in December for 4 days. Can you share some of your recommendation on my first day in Osaka as I want to explore the city before we get to the AirBNB which is near Nishikujo station (close to USJ). will be coming from tokyo by bullet train but have not bought tickets yet. i am planning to get the 6:30 AM bullet from tokyo but will be too early to check in the air BNB. any recommended places close to shin-osaka station that we can look around to pass time? thanks

• June 21, 2023

Nice reading info for Osaka. Is our first trip to Japan.. hope get more info from you.

We will reach Kansai Airport then to Tokyo for 5 days then back to Osaka for 5 days before back to Singapore. From Kansai airport to Tokyo hotel, near Shin-Okubo. Would you suggest to buy JR Pass? Our trips rather straight forward, as NEW to Japan.

Mainly all the famous spot in Tokyo and Osaka such as Gotokuji Temple, Tokyo Tower, Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo, Ikebukuro, Asakusabashi, Shibuya and Harajuku for Tokyo. As for Osaka will be Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi-Suj, Kuromon Market and Nipponbashi Denden Town..

looking forward to your suggestion..

thanks sooooo much

Hey Rosalind, the one way cost to get from Tokyo is already $140 one way on the bullet train (shinkansen), so it’s definitely worth it to get the 5 days Unlimited JR even if just for the Osaka-Tokyo and then back. Just make sure the JR pass is still active for your shinkansen journey. You can buy the Unlimited JR Pass here

• May 23, 2023

Hi Mel, Planning to self drive in kansai & gifu prefectures and will be staying 2 nights in osaka. It is difficult to drive around and for car parking in osaka? Hope to hear from you soon. Thank you. Keong ( singapore )

Hey Keong, driving in Osaka is pretty similar to Singapore – it’s a big city so if you’re used to Singapore you should be fine. Parking is a little expensive in Japan but it depends where you are. If you are in the town area then it will get pretty expensive but if you’re in the outskirts then it might be free.

• April 7, 2023

Hi Can share the day itinerary for Osaka and Kyoto ? Can’t figure out where to start from day trip in Kyoto Also can’t plan the Osaka day trip Thanks for sharing

• March 12, 2023

Dear Melissa. I love what you have written. Mostly travel writers focus on putting up good pictures. I found your photos honest, true and look a lot of fun. Of course, the writing is also witty. Kudos 🙂

• March 13, 2023

Thanks Sahana!

• March 9, 2023

hi Melissa, From Singapore to Osaka, if my flight land at 9:35pm. it is ok? will there be train to city? what the train operation timing? i plan to stay 10 days in Osaka/stay in Osaka and move around. i need the wide area(5 days ) or jr-west kansai pass(4days)? what the different?

Hey John, the trains generally stop around midnight in Japan.

• January 11, 2023

Dear Melissa, I came across your blog by accident. You are very informative and insightful. My husband and I (in our 50s) are planning to visit Osaka in October 2023. Would greatly appreciate if you could help with planning our itinerary. We will fly into and out from Osaka. We have about 8-10 days of holiday. Osaka and Kyoto are the main places of interest at the moment for us. Please advise and revert. Thank you.

• November 22, 2022

Dear Melissa My friend and i are planning a 1 week trip from 12 Dec- 19Dec.to Western Japan with Osaka and Kyoto in mind as the places to go among others. This is our 1st time traveling to Japan. We will be flying in at about 3pm and out Kansai Airport at around 6pm flights. Any suggested itinerary? 12 Dec Kansai Airport to Kyoto via train JR pass

12 Dec – 15 Dec * Kyoto (book stay)

13 Dec Take the train from Kyoto to Hiroshima for a day trip. 1 day stay (Miyajima Island/Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park) ** or any other suggestions for places or city instead of Hiroshima

14 Dec Take train back to Kyoto (Day trip to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest)

16 Dec Leave Kyoto via train to Osaka

16 Dec – 19 Dec Osaka (book stay) (Osaka Castle, Dotonbori/Shinsaibashi (Shisaibushi-Suji), Tempozan (Ferris wheel, Osaka Aquarium), Universal Studios Japan), Shinsekai, Food Art Gallery(JTRRD Cafe), Pokemon Cafe

19 Dec Checkout/to Kansai Airport for evening flight

How about trains/transportation..should we just get the JR pass. Can we use the JR pass to take the Shinkansen)? Would love to experience the bullet train. 🙂 Any recommendation for accommodation which is cost saving? My colleague said that despite the places to stay is cheaper away from central Osaka, it is far from the train station and the train fares are expensive.

Do you think the suggested itinerary is ok or ambitious. Do you have any suggestion. We are unsure. Would really appreciate your help and advice.

Looking forward to hear from you the soonest possible so that we can plan and make the necessary bookings/reservations.

• October 27, 2022

Hi Which area in Osaka would you recommend for small kids?

• January 10, 2020

Hi Melissa!

I’ll be visiting and staying in Osaka during early Oct 2020 for 5 days and want to do day trips to Kyoto, Nara and Kobe! Should I get both the JR Kansai wide pass as well as the Haruka + ICOCA card? Or will the Haruka + ICOCA card be enough for me to do day trips to Kyoto, Nara and Kobe?

Thank you, Ricky

Hey Ricky, if you are ok with taking local trains (usually slightly slower and no booked seats) then you’re fine with just the Haruka + ICOCA card. You can use ICOCA card to do the local travels. Whether it would be cheaper or not depends on how often you’ll be taking JR trains during the day, since the JR pass can also be used on local JR trains.

• July 28, 2019

Dear Melissa,

I am thinking to doing Tokyo and Osaka (2 of us). In terms of time and costs, what will be your recommendation: fly into Tokyo and fly out from Osaka or the other way round? of should I just fly in/out from Tokyo?

thank you, Tham

i think depends on whether you are getting a JR pass and whether the Osaka – Tokyo train portion is covered or not. Also depends on the price difference between flying out of Tokyo vs Osaka. I personally would just fly out of Osaka to be more efficient!

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The Visa Bulletin

Visa Statistics

Laws & Regulations

Accepting, Serving in, or Performing Duties of a Position with the Government of a Foreign State - Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) Sectioin 349(a)(4)

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Visa Bulletin For January 2024

Number 85 Volume X Washington, D.C

View as Printer Friendly PDF

A. STATUTORY NUMBERS FOR PREFERENCE IMMIGRANT VISAS

This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during January  for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.

Unless otherwise indicated on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website at  www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo , individuals seeking to file applications for adjustment of status with USCIS must use the “Final Action Dates” charts below for determining when they can file such applications. When USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas available for the fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, USCIS will state on its website that applicants may instead use the “Dates for Filing Visa Applications” charts in this Bulletin. 

1.  Procedures for determining dates. Consular officers are required to report to the Department of State documentarily qualified applicants for numerically limited visas; USCIS reports applicants for adjustment of status. Allocations in the charts below were made, to the extent possible, in chronological order of reported priority dates, for demand received by December 4th . If not all demand could be satisfied, the category or foreign state in which demand was excessive was deemed oversubscribed. The final action date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who could not be reached within the numerical limits. If it becomes necessary during the monthly allocation process to retrogress a final action date, supplemental requests for numbers will be honored only if the priority date falls within the new final action date announced in this bulletin. If at any time an annual limit were reached, it would be necessary to immediately make the preference category “unavailable”, and no further requests for numbers would be honored.

2.  The fiscal year 2024 limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants determined in accordance with Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is 226,000.  The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000.  Section 202 prescribes that the per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 25,620.  The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320.

3.  INA Section 203(e) provides that family-sponsored and employment-based preference visas be issued to eligible immigrants in the order in which a petition in behalf of each has been filed. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. The visa prorating provisions of Section 202(e) apply to allocations for a foreign state or dependent area when visa issuances will exceed the per-country limit. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas:  CHINA-mainland born, INDIA, MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES. 

4.  Section 203(a) of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of Family-sponsored immigrant visas as follows: 

FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES

First : ( F1 ) Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens:  23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.

Second : Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents:  114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, plus any unused first preference numbers:

A. ( F2A ) Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents:  77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;

B. ( F2B ) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents:  23% of the overall second preference limitation.

Third : ( F3 ) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens:  23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.

Fourth : ( F4 ) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens:  65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences.

A.   FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES

On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); "C" means current, i.e., numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants; and "U" means unauthorized, i.e., numbers are not authorized for issuance. (NOTE: Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the final action date listed below.)

For January, F2A numbers  EXEMPT from per-country limit  are authorized for issuance to applicants from all countries with priority dates  earlier  than 22OCT19. F2A numbers  SUBJECT to per-country limit  are authorized for issuance to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO , with priority dates beginning 22OCT19 and earlier than 01NOV19. All F2A numbers provided for MEXICO are exempt from the per-country limit.

B.  DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS

The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart below may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of State’s National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated “current,” all applicants in the relevant category may file applications, regardless of priority date.

The “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which is earlier than the listed date may file their application.

Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 4.A.) this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS. 

5.  Section 203(b) of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of Employment-based immigrant visas as follows: 

EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES

First :  Priority Workers:  28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.

Second :  Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability:  28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.

Third :  Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers:  28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to "*Other Workers".

Fourth :  Certain Special Immigrants:  7.1% of the worldwide level.

Fifth :  Employment Creation:  7.1% of the worldwide level, of which 32% are reserved as follows: 20% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in a rural area; 10% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in a high unemployment area; and 2% reserved for qualified immigrants who invest in infrastructure projects. The remaining 68% are unreserved and are allotted for all other qualified immigrants.

A.  FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

*Employment Third Preference Other Workers Category: Section 203(e) of the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997, as amended by Section 1(e) of Pub. L. 105-139, provides that once the Employment Third Preference Other Worker (EW) cut-off date has reached the priority date of the latest EW petition approved prior to November 19, 1997, the 10,000 EW numbers available for a fiscal year are to be reduced by up to 5,000 annually beginning in the following fiscal year. This reduction is to be made for as long as necessary to offset adjustments under the NACARA program. Since the EW final action date reached November 19, 1997 during Fiscal Year 2001, the reduction in the EW annual limit to 5,000 began in Fiscal Year 2002. For Fiscal Year 2024 this reduction will be limited to approximately 150.

B.  DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS

The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of State’s National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated “current,” all applicants in the relevant category may file, regardless of priority date.

Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 5.A.) this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS. 

B .   DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY

Section 203(c) of the INA provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit additional immigration opportunities for persons from countries with low admissions during the previous five years.  The NACARA stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program.  This will result in reduction of the DV-2024 annual limit to approximately 54,850.  DV visas are divided among six geographic regions. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year.

For January , immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2024 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers  BELOW  the specified allocation cut-off number:

Entitlement to immigrant status in the DV category lasts only through the end of the fiscal (visa) year for which the applicant is selected in the lottery. The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-2024 program ends as of September 30, 2024. DV visas may not be issued to DV-2024 applicants after that date. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2024 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2024. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2024 cannot be taken for granted. Numbers could be exhausted prior to September 30.

C.   THE DIVERSITY (DV) IMMIGRANT CATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFS WHICH WILL APPLY IN FEBRUARY

For February , immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2024 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers  BELOW  the specified allocation cut-off number:

D.   EMPLOYMENT FOURTH PREFERENCE (SR) RELIGIOUS WORKERS CATEGORY EXTENDED

H.R. 6363, signed on November 16, 2023, extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until February 2, 2024.  No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight February 1, 2024.  Visas issued prior to that date will be valid only until February 1, 2024, and all individuals seeking admission in the non-minister special immigrant category must be admitted (repeat admitted) into the United States no later than midnight February 1, 2024. 

The SR category is subject to the same final action dates as the other Employment Fourth Preference categories per applicable foreign state of chargeability.   

E.   FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES, PLEASE VISIT THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS WEBSITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV

Department of State Publication 9514

CA/VO: December 4, 2023

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