Osaka itinerary

1. 1

   Osaka Castle - The Restored Stronghold of Toyotomi Hideyoshi

   Osaka Castle (Osaka-jo) was first built in 1583 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the warlord who unified Japan. The current main keep is a 1931 ferroconcrete reconstruction (with elevators and air-conditioning) of the original…

   Address

   1-1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka 540-0002

   Nearest transit

   Osakajokoen Station (JR Osaka Loop), 10-min walk; Tanimachi 4-chome (Metro)

2. 2

   Dotonbori - The Neon Heart of Osaka Nightlife

   Dotonbori is the 500-metre canal-side strip of restaurants, bars, and oversized neon signs that defines Osaka in every guidebook photo. The Glico Running Man billboard (operating since 1935, the current LED version…

   Address

   Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka 542-0071

   Nearest transit

   Namba Station (Midosuji, Yotsubashi, Sennichimae lines); 3-min walk

3. 3

   Universal Studios Japan - The Theme Park Day

   Universal Studios Japan opened in 2001 and is the city's biggest single attraction, drawing 14 million visitors a year. The 54-hectare park combines Hollywood-themed rides with sections unique to Japan: Super Nintendo…

   Address

   2-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka 554-0031

   Nearest transit

   Universal-City Station (JR Yumesaki line), direct exit

4. 4

   Shitennoji Temple - Japan's Oldest Officially Built Temple

   Founded in 593 AD by Prince Shotoku (the regent who introduced Buddhism to Japan), Shitennoji is the country's oldest officially established Buddhist temple. The complex includes a 5-storey wooden pagoda (a 1963…

   Address

   1-11-18 Shitennoji, Tennoji Ward, Osaka 543-0051

   Nearest transit

   Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka Station (Tanimachi line), 5-min walk

5. 5

   Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan - One of the World's Largest Aquariums

   Kaiyukan opened in 1990 and is among the world's largest public aquariums by volume - the central tank holds 5400 cubic metres of water and houses 2 whale sharks (the resident pair are around 5 metres each). The visitor…

   Address

   1-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato Ward, Osaka 552-0022

   Nearest transit

   Osakako Station (Chuo line), 5-min walk

6. 6

   Kuromon Ichiba Market - Osaka's Kitchen

   Kuromon Ichiba is a 580-metre covered arcade just east of Namba/Dotonbori, operating since the 1820s as Osaka's central fresh-food market. Approximately 150 small shops sell fresh seafood (uni, tuna, scallops…

   Address

   2-4-1 Nipponbashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka 542-0073

   Nearest transit

   Nippombashi Station (Sennichimae, Sakaisuji lines), 2-min walk

7. 7

   Umeda Sky Building - The Floating Observatory

   The Umeda Sky Building was designed by Hiroshi Hara (also the architect of Kyoto Station) and opened in 1993 as 2 connected 40-storey towers crowned by a Floating Garden Observatory at 173 metres. The observatory bridge…

   Address

   1-1-88 Oyodonaka, Kita Ward, Osaka 531-6023

   Nearest transit

   Osaka Station (JR), 8-min walk via underground tunnel

8. 8

   Sumiyoshi Taisha - One of Japan's Oldest Shinto Shrines

   Sumiyoshi Taisha, founded in the 3rd century AD, is among Japan's oldest Shinto shrines and the head of approximately 2300 Sumiyoshi-affiliated shrines across the country. The architecture (Sumiyoshi-zukuri style)…

   Address

   2-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka 558-0045

   Nearest transit

   Sumiyoshitaisha Station (Nankai Main line); Sumiyoshi-Toriimae (Hankai tram)

9. 9

   Nakanoshima and the Old Central Public Hall

   Nakanoshima is a long thin island in the centre of Osaka, splitting the Dojima and Tosabori rivers - the city's financial and cultural heart since the Edo period. The Osaka City Central Public Hall (1918), a red-brick…

   Address

   1-1-27 Nakanoshima, Kita Ward, Osaka 530-0005

   Nearest transit

   Naniwabashi Station (Keihan Nakanoshima line), direct

10. 10

    Den-Den Town and Shinsekai - Osaka's Retro Districts

    Den-Den Town (Nipponbashi) is Osaka's answer to Tokyo's Akihabara - the post-war electronics and now anime/manga district stretching south of Nipponbashi station. Several blocks of specialty shops sell vintage games…

    Address

    Nipponbashi/Shinsekai, Naniwa Ward, Osaka 556-0002

    Nearest transit

    Ebisucho Station (Sakaisuji line) for Shinsekai; Nipponbashi for Den-Den Town

From the trip1 travel guide “10 Top Things to Do in Osaka, Japan” · trip1.com