Things to Do in Osaka

Osaka is no stranger to those who knows about Japan. It is one of the famous cities in Japan that offers delights from past to present. Osaka is a rich blend of past and present with simple and grandeur. You will find tourist attractions like the Himeji Castle which is one of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, that stood as a testament of the grandeur past of Osaka world of art and history. At the same time it bring you the best of the current times like nightlife, good food and entertaining attractions to visit.

If you think that Japan prides itself of many of its nature, culture and history, then you can be sure that Osaka is the epitome of it. Since there are so many treasures in Osaka, it would be hard for us to nail down the Top 10 Things to do in Osaka, but nevertheless, enjoy our comprehensive list here to start off your travel planning to Osaka:

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Japan

Immerse in Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

Here immerse yourself into the habitats of the Pacific Rim where the tour consists of a fascinating walk through the aquarium that takes you through various sea life environments. Here family and kids alike will get to learn about the many lives of the sea from those on the surface like the seal to those deep underwater like the whale sharks. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is touted as the largest public aquariums in the world. It also takes in lots of natural light and clear acrylic glass makes the whole place seem like a natural wonder. The entrance fees are around 23 USD.

Take a walk inside Osaka Castle Park

The Castle Park is formally a home of the wife of the 16th-century Japanese ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This park is contains the 15-acre of Nishinomaru Garden that is well known as Osaka’s best place to view cherry blossoms, with the towering Osaka Castle serving as a majestic backdrop. The large park are concealed by ancient walls that towers like a castle surrounding a garden. The entrance fee to Osaka Castle Park or 600 yen. A traveler’s tip here is to bring your mosquito repellant as the mosquitoes can be notorious here within the garden.

Sumiyoshi Taisha, Oldest Shrine, Osaka

Admire the oldest shrine – Sumiyoshi Taisha

One of the oldest shrine in Osaka, Sumiyoshi Taisha is the epitome of Japanese architecture style and design. The three shrines are original Japanese architecture styles of the shinto religion before the influence of Buddhism. At times there are wedding processions being held here that could be quite an attraction if you are lucky. There is no entrance fee to the shrine and feel free to take your time wandering around the temple grounds, slowly revering in its beauty.

Shitenno Ji Pagoda, Osaka

Give respect to the ancient Shitenno – ji

After the oldest shrine, you have to also visit one of the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan – Shitenno-ji which is founded back in 593. The original torii (shrine gate) is the oldest in the country dating back to 1294. Within the temple grounds you will find Honbo Teien, a beautiful garden stood among the wide desolate landscape. Also don’t miss checking out the good flea markets outside the temple grounds during the 21st and 22nd of each month that have a good selection of antiques and secondhand items such as old kimonos.

Have a romantic night at Umeda Sky building

The Umeda Sky building is well known for couples to cuddle under the moonlit sky, though it does not mean the lone travellers cannot head there as well for some chill out. THe landscape of the place is inspired from rural surroundings of japan with rainforest and waterfalls. One would have to enter through the Magic Building to get to the sky garden. Traveler’s tip is to come here early in the morning when there is less crowd and the view is not obscured. The view here is amazing stretching far and wide on Japanese architecture in Osaka. For those who comes at night you will get to cuddle in the love seats provided or have a one of its kind experience in a glow in the dark open air observatory.

Travel tips: When exiting the subway, walk towards the building and you will see a main road with a set of traffic lights near a covered underground walkway. Cross the road and use the walkway which will lead you to Umeda Sky Building in less than 5 minutes.

Umeda Sky Building Night View, Osaka

Learn up at National Museum of Ethnology

One of the major museums in Japan, this National Museum of Ethnology is the largest research institute in area of humanities and social science. Located in Osaka, it serves as a former ground of the Expo ’70 in Suita and holds a collection of ethnological Japanese materials, which also includes the early finds Jomon archeological artefacts as part of the Morse Collection. Here you can learn about places in the world from Japan to Oceania, China and East Asia in terms of agriculture, music and way of life. There are also interesting facts on the Mongols and Nordic people from Eastern Siberia.

Shopping at Shinsekai, Osaka

Shopping at Shinsekai

Shinsekai is one of the popular to shop in Osaka, which has the feel of the Japanese bygone era. Here you will find it dotted with statues of Biliken, which is the God of “things as they should be”. Besides shopping, there are many selections of food from street food like deep fried snacks to high end restaurants like Fugu (blowfish) restaurant. At the top of the mall there is an observatory called Tsutenkaku tower and a Spa World. Shinsekai is the living proof of the life in Osaka, bustling with the local people going about their day out while the place is teem with unpretentious shops and stalls. If you wander even further here, you might stumble into the red light district. Here in Shinsekai you can experience the old world in the modern days of Japan, experiencing the life of the days go by. To get to Shinsekai, get to the Ebisucho subway station that exits here
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Marvel at the Open Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses

This unique museum in Ryokuchi-koen, Osaka features a collection of traditional Japanese country houses. These houses had been reconstructed with much effort in this open-air museum. The few notable of these houses is the giant gassho-zukuri, a farmhouse from Gifu-ken with steep slating thatch roof and the farmhouse from Nagano with thatched walls that gives the illusion of wearing a shaggy coat. This museum is most striking during the autumn as the abundant maple leaves turned to golden red.

Himeji Castle, Osaka

Study the architecture of Himeji Castle
One’s visit to Osaka will not be complete without ticking this tourist attraction off your list. It is one of the long list of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage but rightly so with a stunning white castle sitting at the hilltop of Hyogo Perfecture. The architecture of this castle is one of the finest in Japan, boasting 83 buildings that shows the advanced systems from the feudal period. It is known as the Hakuro-jo (white Egret castle) or Shirasagi-jo (white heron castle) to the people as it resembles a great bird about to take flight.

Osaka Street food – Takoyaki, Japan

Eat Osaka’s best street food – Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki

At the top of the thing to do in Osaka, you cannot missing out trying the famous local street foods – Takoyako and Okonomoyaki. Here in Osaka you will find them in their best and authentic to Japan. Takoyaki is a savoury ball-shaped pancake wrapped around octopus chunk that will be doused generously with sweet sauce, mayonnaise, fish flakes and sweated while Okonomiyaki is a Japanese egg pancake that are like an omelette which are overflowing with a plethora of ingredients from chopped meat to seafood to cheese and vegetables. You will find these delights easily in any of the restaurants in Osaka or in one of the many street vendors dotting the city.