Last Updated on eighth April 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
Bustling and shiny, Osaka is on the highest of many traveller’s bucket lists because of its iconic neon indicators and sheer modernity. In stark distinction to historic Kyoto, it’s a glimpse of contemporary Japan at its very best. Here’s the right someday in Osaka itinerary to provide you a crash course in what this multicultural and necessary monetary centre is all about.
While not as massive because the capital of Japan, Tokyo, Osaka continues to be an enormous metropolis, with greater than 19 million residents, making it extra populated than London and even New York. Indeed, it’s the tenth most populated metropolis on this planet!
Unfortunately, this additionally implies that you’ll solely be capable of get a glimpse of what Osaka is all about when you solely have 24 hours within the metropolis. Luckily, lots of the metropolis’s foremost points of interest are pretty centrally positioned and so this itinerary is designed to cowl the highlights of this foodie metropolis.
Getting round Osaka
Since a lot of the locations listed inside this itinerary are fairly unfold out (as in a number of km away from each other), you’ll wish to hop on and off public transportation in order to not waste beneficial exploration time merely strolling between locations.
The underground is quick and environment friendly and there are additionally buses. I’d suggest taking an unlocked cellphone with you and utilizing Google maps to get round by buying an Airalo esim (simply examine that your cellphone can assist esims).
Whatever method you get round, make sure to have loads of money on you always. Despite its modernity, Japan is a really cash-based society and there are numerous institutions (in addition to public transportation routes) the place you’ll be able to solely pay in money.
Is someday sufficient time in Osaka?
As I discussed, as a consequence of its sheer measurement and variety of points of interest (in addition to close by day journey alternatives), someday isn’t actually sufficient time in Osaka. The perfect period of time to remain can be at the very least 3 days (2 nights).
We personally stayed within the metropolis for 4 days (3 nights). However, if someday is all you’ve, then it’s a ample time-frame to get to see the true highlights and pattern some native delicacies.
One day in Osaka itinerary
Osaka Castle
Start your day by heading to probably the most historic (and undoubtedly hottest) attraction that Osaka has to supply. You’ll wish to start your day right here round 9 AM as it will possibly get actually crowded and, when you select to enter the citadel, you don’t wish to spend half of your day in Osaka queuing for entrance!
Osaka Castle performed an necessary position within the unification of Japan throughout the Sixteenth-century and its surrounding parkland, Osaka Castle Park covers about two sq. kilometres and was open to the general public in 1931.
Free to go to (although it’s a must to pay to enter the citadel itself), the citadel grounds are well-known for cherry blossom season (sakura) and for the autumn leaves of autumn (koyo). These are undoubtedly the 2 hottest occasions of the yr to go to and so you must plan to reach as early as attainable if visiting throughout these occasions.
Shitennoji
The Buddhist temple of Shitennoji is likely one of the oldest temples in Japan and can be the primary temple to have been constructed by the State. Dating all the way in which again to the late Sixth-century, the temple is characterised by its central five-storied Pagoda, which looms excessive above the encircling panorama.
The temple prices 300 yen to go to and consists of the possibility to see the inside of the pagoda. Close by, the Gokuraku-jodo Garden is a conventional Japanese backyard which is free to go to and boasts its personal blossoming sakura timber within the spring.
Tsutenkanu
After visiting Shitennoji, it’s time to make your solution to Tsutenkaku, an iconic tower that has develop into an emblem of the town since its building within the early Twentieth-century. The unique tower was inbuilt 1912 and was modelled on the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
When it was first constructed, it stood at a heigh of 64 metres, making it the second highest construction in Asia. The tower was sadly broken by a fireplace in 1943, and the choice was taken to rebuild it following WWII.
The new tower on web site stands at 103 metres and, for a charge, you’ll be able to pay to entry the statement deck, which gives a 360 diploma view of the town. We personally opted to stroll between Shitennoji and Tsutenkanu, although you too can take public transportation.
You can even seize lunch within the space surrounding Tsutenkanu, which is named Shinsekai. The many eating places surrounding the tower provide up conventional Kansai classics, together with takoyaki (fried octopus balls) and kushi-katsu (deep-fried skewers).
Namba Yasaka Jinja
Finish your daytime actions in Osaka by heading to Namba Yasaka shrine. This Shinto shrine is especially distinctive in that it’s house to a lion head-shaped constructing that stands at 12 metres in top. The shrine is free to go to, however can get very busy as a consequence of the truth that it’s so distinctive!
Tombori
After having fun with a day of sightseeing, head to Tombori, a river which runs by means of the center of Osaka’s most vigorous district, Dotonbori. Dotonbori is shiny, vibrant, and stuffed with neon colored indicators, in addition to distinctive indicators within the shapes of creatures.
There are a couple of methods to expertise the river, although the most well-liked is to take a river cruise which gives you a perspective from the realm through the water, in addition to a guided tour as to the historical past of the realm and another fascinating data.
Dotonbori and Minami
After your river cruise, head into the streets of Dotonbori and Minami to expertise the jam-packed district for your self. Loud, vibrant, and ever-busy, this is likely one of the coolest locations I’ve ever visited and strolling by means of the brightly lit streets is an expertise I’ll bear in mind for years to come back.
There are a couple of points of interest specifically that you just gained’t wish to miss in Dotonbori:
Crab: Located on the Kani Doraku Dotombori Main Branch storefront, there’s an enormous mechanical crab which dances throughout the constructing and is so well-liked that it has since develop into one thing of an emblem of the Dotonbori district.
Hozenji Yokocho: This quiet and secluded road boasts a wide selection of conventional foodie eating places on a slim alleyway. The road is greatest visited at evening when it’s illuminated with lanterns.
Okonomiyaki
After a busy day of exploring, head to a gap within the wall restaurant to attempt a neighborhood speciality: Okonomiyaki. This savoury pancake dish is a Japanese Teppanyaki and consists of wheat flour batter with different added components cooked on a teppan.
My private favorite restaurant for this native dish was Okonomiyaki Sakaba, positioned within the Dotonbori space, as they’d a wide selection of vegan and vegetarian choices (one thing that’s not at all times readily obvious in Japanese eating places).
Just be warned that the place is actually well-liked and so it’s greatest to go there round 7 PM to get a numbered ticket, head out for a drink within the native space, and are available again to take pleasure in your dinner!
We returned to the restaurant round 9 PM and have been seated and served nearly instantly upon returning at this later time.
If you wish to discover Osaka (the Namba district, to be exact) along with a neighborhood information, then contemplate this Bar Hopping evening tour. An different dinner choice can be to e-book a meals tour in Shinsekai like this one.
Where to remain in Osaka
Osaka makes for an ideal base from which to discover the encircling area, and we personally took day journeys to locations like Miyajima Island, Hiroshima, Nara, and Kurashiki Bikan from the town.
The greatest space to remain in is the Kita ward, which is near Osaka practice station (which in flip offers nice transport hyperlinks to Shin-Osaka, the Shinkansen- bullet train- practice station of the town) and has loads of cool procuring and foodie choices shut by.
Bon Condominium Osaka: We personally stayed on this appartment lodge for a number of nights and notably loved that it was only a brief stroll to succeed in Osaka station. There have been a number of comfort shops shut by and it was good to have a small balcony, in addition to a kitchen the place we might put together mild meals. Check costs and availability right here.
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