Osaka Travelers Recommend

Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, Kyoto is home to some of most beautiful and fascinating palaces, castles, and temples found anywhere in the country, all of which are easily accessible via day trips from Osaka. Here’s what you need to know about guided tours of Kyoto from Osaka.

Group Tours

Taking a small-group tour of Kyoto from Osaka offers a convenient way to see the top attractions and UNESCO World Heritage Sites—Arashiyama, Kyoto Imperial Palace, the Golden Pavilion, Sagano Bamboo Forest, Kinkakuji Temple, and Nijo Castle—without blowing your travel budget. Group sizes are limited, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to ask questions and learn about what you’re seeing from your local tour guide. Full-day tours to Kyoto from Osaka often include stops in Nara and Kobe as well. 

Private Tours

With your own dedicated guide, a private tour to Kyoto affords you even greater flexibility to plan your perfect day and see the sights you want to see most, skipping those you don’t. A fully customizable day tour, complete with an English-speaking driver, can also include visits to nearby cities of interest, like Nara and Kobe.

Things to Know

• Choose between the value of a small-group tour and the flexibility of a private tour.

• Morning, afternoon, or full-day Kyoto tours from Osaka are available.

• Day trips to Kyoto from Osaka can last between six and 13 hours, depending on the option you choose.

• Focus your day trip on Kyoto, or visit nearby Nara and Kobe as well.

• Visit Kyoto by bus, private vehicle, or bullet train from JR Osaka Station.

With three days in Osaka, you have plenty of time to deeply explore both the traditional and the modern sides of this laid-back city, as well as get out of town to one or two of Japan’s ancient capitals. Here are a few ways to see, taste, and otherwise experience the very best of Osaka in three days.

Day 1: City Sights and Bites

One of the best ways to see Osaka’s top sights and get your bearings is by embarking on a group or private tour by bus or by foot. Tours typically include stops at such must-sees as Osaka Castle, Shitennoji Temple, the Umeda Sky Building, and the colorful, neon-bright Dotonbori district. Some tours also include a river cruise. Other options include chartering a private bus, limo, or van, with a driver and optional guide, and creating your own itinerary for exploring Osaka’s sights. Alternatively, a hop-on hop-off bus and boat tour allows you to create your own sightseeing plan, disembarking at places of interest along the route. Tours usually include a public transit pass for further independent exploration.

In the evening, get a taste of Osaka’s famous eats on a street food tour of downtown. Feast on local classics including the takoyaki (battered octopus balls) for which the city is known.

Day 2: Explore Deeper

Now that you have seen the city’s main landmarks, delve deeper into local culture on a walking tour that is focused on a particular aspect of city life. You can take a tour that penetrates off-the-beaten-path, lesser-known neighborhoods or a tour focused on visiting Osaka’s most important temples and shrines. Other options include otaku (manga and anime enthusiast) tours that visit cosplay theaters, game shops, and maid cafés, as well as tours that teach the art of traditional Japanese skills such as the tea ceremony, sword techniques, or Japanese cooking.

For dinner tonight, indulge in another evening of culinary adventure on a small-group food and drink tour that takes you to hidden-away bars and restaurants to eat Osakan favorite dishes, such as kushikatsu (fried food on sticks) and tonpeiyaki (grilled pork and egg). 

Day 3: Visit Kyoto and Nara

The ancient capital of Kyoto is an easy day trip from Osaka. On a full-day tour you can absorb the city’s traditional atmosphere, explore its rich culture and UNESCO World Heritage–listed sites, stroll through serene gardens, and marvel at such spectacular attractions as the seemingly endless torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, the 1,000-plus Bodhisattva statues at Sanjusangendo Hall, and the gleaming Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji). Tours often include hotel pickup and lunch.

Some full-day tours also include a visit to the charming nearby city of Nara, another of Japan’s ancient capitals, which is home to Todai-ji temple, an 8th-century structure that houses some of Japan’s national treasures. Nara is also known for its eponymous park, populated by more than 1,000 deer.

Nara, established in Japan’s Kansai region in 710 AD, was the country’s first permanent capital city. Today the abundance of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, atmospheric gardens, and some of Japan’s oldest Buddhist temples make this compact city a must-see attraction, easily accessible from Osaka. Here’s how to visit.

Nara Day Tours

It’s easy to reach Nara from Osaka via either high-speed train or bus, and it’s well worth the effort, especially if you’re returning to Osaka in the same day. A typical day trip to Nara lets you experience Todai-ji, a spectacular ancient Buddhist temple—and the world’s largest wooden building—that houses Japan’s largest Buddha statue, the Daibutsu (Great Buddha). During your visit, admire the 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns of Kasuga Shrine and the free-roaming deer of Nara Park (Nara-koen, also called Deer Park).

Combo Tours

Nara is close enough to Osaka that it’s possible to combine your Nara tour with stops at other points of interest in the area, like Kyoto or Kobe. Depending on the option you choose, you might find yourself walking through the UNESCO-listed Sagano Bamboo Forest, snapping photos of Kinkaku-ji temple (the Golden Pavilion), touring the Kyoto Imperial Palace, or sinking your teeth into Kobe’s world-famous beef.

Things to Know

• Spend a day delving into the history and culture of Nara, or combine your visit with trips to Kyoto and Kobe as well.

• Travel from Osaka to Nara by bus, private car, or high-speed train.

• Day trips can last anywhere from seven to 13 hours, depending on the option you choose.

Two days in Osaka allow you time to thoroughly explore the thrilling city, with its contrasting neon-lit center and traditional backstreets, as well as venture to nearby Nara for stunning temples and a brush with nature. Here’s how to spend 48 hours sightseeing, eating, and reveling in one of Japan’s most fun cities.

Day 1: Explore the City

Morning: Begin your stay in Osaka with a group or private tour of its top sights. Tours typically include stops at must-sees such as Osaka Castle, Shitennoji Temple, and the Dotonbori district. Alternatively, a hop-on hop-off bus and boat tour allows you to create your own itinerary and typically includes a public transit pass.

Afternoon: After seeing the sights from a vehicle, get a closer look on an afternoon walking tour that reveals gems hidden amongst the main landmarks. Walking tours often include admission to places such as Osaka Castle, as well as a river cruise around nearby Nakanoshima island.

Night: Get a taste of the culinary delights upon which the city built its reputation as a foodie hot spot on an evening street food tour of downtown Osaka. Feast on local classics including grilled seafood, meat skewers, and savory pancakes, as well as the takoyaki (battered octopus balls) for which the city is known.

Day 2: See Marine Life and Deer

Morning: Begin your second day with a visit to the world’s largest aquarium. The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is home to an enormous variety of sea life, from seals and penguins to whale sharks and manta rays. Prebooking skip-the-line tickets saves time; some packages also include a cruise on the bay.

Afternoon: Head for the charming nearby city of Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to explore its temples, shrines, and reserve home to more than 1,000 free-roaming deer. Afternoon tours from Osaka typically include hotel pickup and drop-off plus round-trip train travel.

Night: Conclude your Osaka visit with an evening food and drink tour. A small-group tour takes you to some bars and restaurants missed by most visitors and introduces you to the best of local cuisine, such as kushi katsu (fried food on sticks), dote nikomi (slow-cooked meat), and tonpeiyaki (grilled pork and egg).

Don’t overlook Osaka, Japan’s 3rd-largest city—lest you miss out on experiencing a metropolis that is charmingly easy-going, visually striking, and passionate about eating. Wall-to-wall neon lights compete for attention with a lovely river and some of Japan’s best dining. With only one day in Osaka you’ll want to do as much as possible. Here’s how.

Morning: See the Sights

One of the best ways to maximize your short time is by booking a private tour and visiting only places of most interest. Aboard a chartered bus, limo, or van in the company of just your party, you can set your own itinerary and explore Osaka’s sights—such as Osaka Castle, Shitennoji Temple, and the vibrant Dotonbori district—at your own pace, either independently or with a guide. Alternatively, a hop-on hop-off bus and boat tour allows you to create your own sightseeing plan, disembarking along the route at your leisure. Tours typically include a public transit pass for further exploration.

Afternoon: Explore Deeper

Having taken in the sights from a vehicle, hit the streets on foot for a closer look. Afternoon walking tours reveal local culture and gems hidden amongst the city’s main attractions by heading off the beaten path to lesser-known neighborhoods such as Shin-Sekai, Namco, and Tennoji. Another option is to embark on a tour specifically focused on a certain aspect of Osaka culture, such as a temple and shrine tour that takes you to the most important sacred sites, or one focused on otaku (manga and anime enthusiast) culture through visits to cosplay theaters, game shops, and maid cafés.

Night: Enjoy the Nightlife

Osaka really comes to life after dark, when the neon glows brightly and the bars and restaurants fill up with revelers. Get a taste of Osaka’s buzzing nightlife culture on a food and/or drink-focused tour. Your options include pub crawls that hop between bars and finish up in a nightclub; street food tours that introduce you to local casual specialties, such as takoyaki (battered octopus balls); and tours that take you down the city’s backstreets and into hidden away bars and izakaya (casual taverns).

The Japanese world kuidaore roughly means to eat oneself into ruin. It’s something of a pastime in Osaka, thanks to the sheer variety of foods, including everything from piping hot street food to endless conveyor belts of fresh sushi. Here are the foods and activities you won't want to miss.

Must-Try Dishes

There’s a lot to eat in Japan’s most food-obsessed city. While Osaka is no stranger to Michelin-starred restaurants, street foods reign supreme. One local favorite is okonomiyaki, a savory pancake made with octopus, squid, shrimp, cabbage, green onion, and noodles. Another popular option, takoyaki, is the ultimate Japanese comfort food—bite-sized balls of batter stuffed with octopus and topped with Japanese mayonnaise and takoyaki sauce.

While udon noodles don’t come from Osaka, kitsune udon originated here. This traditional Japanese food is served with a slice of deep-fried tofu atop a bowl of plump noodles. Step into any trendy izakaya in Osaka, and you’ll likely see kushikatsu on the menu. The dish consists of breaded and fried skewers of meat and vegetables, served alongside a citrusy ponzu sauce. Since Osaka is home to some of the country’s largest fish markets, the sushi and sashimi here are some of the freshest around.

Must-Do Experiences

• Sample Osaka’s best bites on a street food tour through neighborhoods like Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi, Tenma, and Kyobashi.

• Learn to prepare sushi the traditional way during a chef-led afternoon cooking glass.

• Tour Osaka’s 200-year-old Kuromon Market to learn about the history of Japanese food and its staple ingredients.

• Take a cooking lesson right in the home of an Osaka culinary expert.

• Sample several varieties of sake, a traditional rice-based spirit, during a guided tasting.

Japan’s cherry blossom season is an event like no other, particularly in the Kansai city of Osaka, a town where cherry tree–lined parks and scenic monuments offer the perfect backdrop. Here are some ways to enjoy this special annual Osaka event.

When to Go

The peak of cherry blossom (also called hanami) season generally takes place between the last week of March and the first two weeks of April, with the peak period of blooms occurring around April 1. However, the specific time for this annual event depends on weather conditions. Be sure to leave some flexibility in your travel plans for the best chance of seeing the fleeting flowers.

Where to Go

The Osaka Mint, which opens its doors for free during mid-April, offers a lovely garden complete with more than 300 cherry trees. Kema Sakuranomiya, a public park, is another great spot for cherry blossom viewing, thanks to the 5,000 blossoming trees that line the Okawa River. Osaka Castle is also one of the best places to admire blossoms, particularly at Nishinomaru Park along the castle’s western flank.

How to Go

Many cherry blossom tourists in Osaka choose to enjoy this special season by taking part in a full- or half-day city sightseeing tour. Participants get to explore some of Osaka’s top attractions surrounded by pink blossoms while traveling by foot and on the water during a fun-filled river cruise. It’s the perfect way to cover more ground during your visit.