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Few places in Japan receive as much attention as the city of Osaka. Japan’s third largest city, it has long been one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. I find this interesting as Osaka was one place that left me with mixed feelings. And, unlike Kyoto or Tokyo, I actually think you can experience enough of the city’s highlights with an Osaka 1-day itinerary.
You’re probably thinking that one day in Osaka is nowhere near long enough. I did too, so I stayed 4 nights there. But when I look at my sightseeing, except for a day trip to Himeji, I could have condensed my Osaka travel itinerary to just one day. Below, I’ll explain my challenges with liking Osaka, as I think it helps to know what the city is like. So whether you’re limited on time or unsure whether to go, here’s my one-day itinerary for Osaka.
Is Osaka worth visiting?
Normally, I have a clear answer to this sort of question. But not in the case of Osaka.
Osaka is famous for being a big, frenetic city where tourists go for food and nightlife. But I found that meant Osaka wasn’t the greatest place for solo travel, at least for my personality and approach to travel. If those things interest you, then Osaka is definitely worth going to.
However, if you’re looking to experience Japan’s cultural and historical sides, Osaka’s offerings are more lean. I think that’s why I preferred Tokyo and Kyoto; they have these more traditional tourist attractions, as well as boundless opportunities for food and fun.
I’m not saying Osaka isn’t worth visiting. But I don’t know if I’d prioritize it over Tokyo or Kyoto unless you have a specific reason to visit.
Getting around Osaka
When you’re sightseeing in Osaka, walking will only get you so far. Instead, take advantage of the Osaka Metro that operates throughout the city centre. Using an IC card you can travel across its 8 colour-coded metro lines, and even if you need to transfer lines, it’s pretty easy to do.
The metro also connects with Osaka’s major train stations, so you also have help arriving and leaving during your Osaka visit. Remember, a JR Pass doesn’t include free travel on the metro, so you’ll need to buy tickets or use an IC card.
One other piece of advice for using the Osaka metro is to be aware of women-only cars. In my confusion during peak hour, I accidentally boarded one and was embarrassed once I realized my mistake.
Where to Stay in Osaka
Even if you’re only planning to spend one day in Osaka, you’ll need to think about accommodation. Working out where to stay in Osaka can be confusing at first, so let me help you understand your options.
Part of the problem is that Osaka has three major train station areas: Shin-Osaka, Osaka-Umeda, and Osaka-Namba. The areas around each station are common places to stay, each with its benefits and drawbacks.
But look at a map and you’ll see that they make a line that runs north-south through the city. Stick close to that line and you’ll find most accommodation options and easy access to metro lines.
For my 4-day visit, I stayed in the Umeda area, which was convenient for intercity transport and getting about. I stayed at Hotel Hokke Club Osaka, a 3-star hotel that worked fine for my visit. A minor drawback was the surrounding area is a bit of a nightlife district, so it was louder and more boisterous than what you normally see in Japan.
1-Day Osaka Trip Itinerary
If you only have one day in Osaka, it’s important to have a plan for what you’re going to do. You could spend your day in a whole variety of ways in all honesty. There are also Osaka walking tours that make it easy to cover a lot of ground. But based on my visit, this would be how I’d lay out my Osaka trip itinerary.
Osaka Castle
To me, one of the main things Osaka is known for is Osaka Castle. It’s a beautiful and impressive castle that is easily one of Japan’s most famous. Not only do you have its green and gold keep, but the castle defences and park are beautiful. It’s one of the best places to see cherry blossoms in Osaka in spring as well.
Start your one day in Osaka here because it’s going to be the busiest attraction. Going here first will save you time on lining up to get in and make it easier to plan the rest of the day, knowing how much time you have left.
Now, don’t make the same mistake I did – book your ticket to Osaka Castle in advance.
I almost gave up on visiting because the line to visit inside the castle was so long. If you only take one Osaka travel tip away from reading this, let it be this one. Spending 40 minutes in line in the sun was not fun.
Unlike original castles such as Himeji Castle and Matsumoto Castle, Osaka Castle is a reconstruction of the original castle. But that doesn’t make it less worth visiting inside. The original castle was destroyed in the 19th century as Japan transitioned from shogun rule to Imperial rule.
Inside the castle, you can learn a lot about the castle’s history and its decisive part in the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate. You also get to enjoy the panoramic views from its top floor. Seeing the castle grounds and the wall of modern buildings around it is quite a sight.
Nakanoshima
An area worth exploring with a mix of attractions is Nakanoshima island. Sitting in the river on the south side of the Kita Ward, Nakanoshima has one landmark after another to choose from.
Nakanoshima Park is a good starting point as it’s a pleasant green space with river views on either side. Its main feature though is a large rose garden, which for some travellers will be the main appeal.
Follow the riverside promenades and you’ll reach the Osaka City Central Public Hall. While it’s mainly an event venue, visitors also come to see it for its neoclassical architecture, something you won’t see much of in Japan.
Further cultural attractions here include the National Museum of Art, the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, and the Osaka Science Museum. So a visit to Nakanoshima could be a quick 30-minute walk around, or span several hours if you find a museum you like.
Dotonbori
One of the most popular places in Osaka for tourists to go is the Dotonbori entertainment and nightlife district. This is where you’ll find the over-the-top neon signs, huge sculptures over restaurant entrances, and all of the people.
While I knew that Dotonbori gets very busy in the evening, I couldn’t believe how many people were there in the early afternoon. The many seafood restaurants in the area are open that early I suppose, almost all of them with long lines to get in.
Things got a little quieter once I started walking along the canal area. And I do just mean a little. If you want to see the area, but don’t want to walk, you can do one of the canal cruises. They’re pretty affordable and let you see the area in 20 minutes.
As for the nightlife in Dotonbori, I didn’t really experience it. If I were going to as a solo traveller, I think doing a bar hopping tour would be the way to do it.
Kuromon Ichiba Market
Not far from Dotonburi, you’ll find Kuromon Ichiba Market, Osaka’s most famous market. This large market is just another showcase of how interesting it can be to visit markets in Japan. Even if you’re not hungry, I think it’s worth visiting.
While the main focus of Kuromon Ichiba Market is seafood, vendors there also sell various other things, including food that’s ready to eat. Unlike the Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo, the whole market is covered and it’s much easier to walk through and browse.
Other places to visit in Osaka
While the above Osaka travel itinerary might not look like much, you’d be surprised how quickly that can fill one day in Osaka. Add in dinner at Dotonbori, E-Street, or the countless restaurants in the shopping malls attached stations like Osaka-Umeda and that’s a balanced day of sightseeing.
Have extra time or want to do something different? Here are a few more Osaka attractions to look at:
- Umeda Sky Building – this tall skyscraper features an unusual design and a floating observatory with great city views, but tickets are a bit expensive in my opinion.
- Osaka Tenmangu – if you’re not already tired of shrines and temples then you may get a lot from visiting this 10th-century Shinto shrine.
- America-mura – a short distance from Dotonburi you have this other food, shopping, and nightlife district that’s more Western in its style
- Shitennoji – if you want to see a classic Buddhist pagoda in Osaka then head out to the southeast for this ancient temple site.
- Osaka Tsutenkaku Tower – another observation deck you can visit in Osaka for city views, with more reasonably priced tickets.
Day Trips from Osaka
With extra time in Osaka, you could continue exploring the city’s sights. But honestly, I think a better use of your time is trying one of the many Osaka day trips. That’s because the city is a very convenient place from which to explore the Kansai region.
While many day trips from Osaka are possible, the easiest and most common are:
- Kyoto – it’s very easy to reach Kyoto from Osaka. While Kyoto deserves multiple days just to scratch its surface, you won’t regret doing a day trip if you’re short on time.
- Nara – one of the classic day trips in the area. Nara is where you’ll find the famous bowing deer, but also some incredibly important cultural and historical sites, all within its expanse Nara Park.
- Himeji – if visiting one castle just isn’t enough. Visiting Himeji is a great choice if you want to see its magnificent castle, but also works well if you’re interested in seeing Japan’s famous cherry blossoms.
What other information do you need from this travel blog on Osaka? If you’ve been to Osaka, how long did you stay? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
