How exciting is it that one of your stops in Japan is Osaka! Trust me, it’s everything that you could have hoped and dreamed for. Osaka is known for its street food, nightlife, and overall, for its fun. Come along with me as I show you the best way to spend a day in this adventurous and bright city.

My husband and I stayed at Hiyori Hotel Osaka Namba Station, and honestly, we couldn’t have asked for a better location. It was only a 5 mins walk to the train stations and less than a 15 mins walk to Dotonbori. We also used Osaka as our main spot to take a day trip to Kyoto. And if you’re wondering about getting around Japan, you’ll find everything you’ll need to know about transportation in my Kyoto blog.

Things to Do

Let’s start the day by visiting some historic sites in Osaka. Our first stop is to Osaka Castle. Emerge yourself in the history and architecture of the castle while learning about the different leaders that impacted Japan’s history. Make your way to the top floor where you can view the moat below and have a skyline view of the city. TIP: Purchase your tickets online, this is extremely faster than standing in line for the ticketing window. There’s even a separate entry lane for mobile ticket holders and you could even purchase tickets the day of.

After filling up on some Japanese history, fill your belly at Kuromon Ichiba Market. This was hands-down my favorite market that we tried during our trip. It’s also where I had the best tuna and shrimp tempura in my life. Seriously, I’m still dreaming about it to this day. The tuna was so soft that it melted in your mouth and the shrimp tempura was fried to perfection, with just the right amount of saltiness. My husband and I had a great time wondering around the stalls, seeing and trying all the various things that were offered and eating everything in site. This market is definitely a must visit.

Go shopping at Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street. This indoor shopping area is a great spot to stop by if you need a break from the beating sun or if it’s raining.

You definitely cannot go to Osaka without visiting the infamous ​​Dotonbori. This is the street that you picture when thinking of Japan, the bright lights, the 3D structures hanging off the restaurants, and the very famous Glico Running Man. I highly recommend visiting it during the day and at night; I will say that both have very different vibes and I definitely enjoyed it more in the evening. Don’t forget to get lost on the streets, stop by one of the many stands to eat from (try the wagu or the tangulu), or get a souvenir from one of the gachapon (a capsule toy from a vending machine) that lines the walls.

If you have time or if you’re a big Super Mario fan, I would suggest visiting Universal Studios Japan. However, if you want to visit Nintendo world, be sure to reserve a slot before hand, these run out weeks in advance. If you weren’t able to snag a spot, you can try your luck when you arrive at the park by entering the day’s lottery system through the Universal App. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a reserved slot to visit Nintendo world but the rest of the park was great to venture though. The employees were all very nice and the park was extremely clean. Some characters even came out to take pictures with the park-goers! It’s a great way to spend a majority of your day with the family or if you just want to be a kid again. TIP: I wouldn’t recommend planning a whole day at Universal Studios; half a day would be more than enough time here.

Other places that I didn’t get the chance to go to are Namba Yasaka Shrine, which is known for a large lion’s head stage and Denden town, which is lined with anime shops and from what I read, where you can also run into a lot cosplay.

Other tips in Osaka/for Japan: walk around and get lost in the city. Don’t be afraid to try new things, like the takoyaki (octopus balls), you’ll never know if you’ll like it, if you don’t try. And lastly, Japan does not have hosts like the US does when you first walk into a restaurant, so don’t be scared to just walk in and take any available seat.

Overall View

Osaka is definitely up there in one of my favorite cities that I visited. I would come back just for the food market alone. The vibrant night life at Dotonbori is something that everyone should experience and is loads of fun. Maybe when I come back, I would spend at least 2 days in Osaka instead of 1, but there is a lot that you can do in a day’s trip here as you can tell. That being said, I hope that you get the adventure of a lifetime here.

If you’ve been to Osaka before or are excited about something here, leave a comment below! Or if you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Don’t forget to check out my other blog: Your Ultimate Day Guide to Kyoto

As always, thanks for being here.

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