Japan might seem like a small collection of islands, but in truth, it’s far bigger than you might realise. Boasting a diverse and complex mixture of both the modern and the ancient. Japan is well known for its juxtaposition of ultra-modern and historic, so no matter what your interests are, there’s always something to explore.
If you are looking to immerse yourself in both chaos and stillness, that is Japan, but are pressed for time and only have a short window to check out one city that packs a punch and allows you to really get your teeth into the unique culture, then look no further than Osaka. Whether you’re after nightlife, temples, or some of the best things to do in Osaka, Japan, this guide will give you all the best bits.
A vibrant, historic neon city nicknamed The Nation’s Kitchen, Osaka offers world-class food culture, local rural escapes, and a taste of Japanese city life with a slower, less overwhelming pace than in cities like Tokyo. I loved Osaka as an introduction to Japan, and it makes a perfect first place to stop and get accustomed to the culture. A city where history-lined streets meet the new age, with automatic opening taxi doors and a global epicentre for next-generation technology. If it’s your first time in Japan, rest assured, Osaka is nothing short of warm and welcoming people who genuinely want to help you and share the place they call home. People were so friendly and genuinely wanted to help you and share the place they call home.
Regardless of the reasons you might have chosen to visit Japan, Osaka really is a great place to start the adventure, and this guide covers the best things to do in Osaka across every corner of the city. In this guide, I will take you through the aromatic food markets of Dontonbori, where there is no shortage of food stalls to choose from, all the way to the ghostly, silent and sacred streets of Koyasan, located in Wakayama Prefecture, where you will find Japan’s largest cemetery. This is one of my favourite stays in all of Japan, and honestly, one of the best things to do near Osaka if you have the extra day to spare.
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When to Visit Osaka
Osaka is a city you can comfortably visit at any time of year, with a temperate climate, with the same seasonal pattern as the Northern Hemisphere.
Spring from March to May, summer from June to August, and autumn from October into November. However, summer can be extremely hot and humid, with June among the wettest months.
Spring and Autumn will provide you with some of the most beautiful seasons, boasting bursts of colour across both. If you are looking to witness the cherry blossoms (Sakura) and the most celebrated season in Japan, head to Osaka in spring; it will be the busiest time for both international and domestic travel. If you are looking for something a little different, you can also head to Osaka in Autumn, where you can enjoy the colourful reds, oranges, and yellows of the changing leaves across the mountains and comfortable daytime temperatures.
Top tip:
Travelling during cherry blossom season? Book accommodation and popular activities in advance; rooms near Dotonbori and Namba fill up fast, and prices go up as the time approaches!
Where to Stay in Osaka
First things first: location. Osaka is a pretty big city with no shortage of places to stay, ranging from high-end hotels to traditional ryokan and budget accommodation. The city is divided into districts, with Namba/Minami and Kita/Umeda considered the top two districts to base yourself in for your stay in Osaka. Both locations put you into the heart of the action, with Namba/Minami putting you within touching distance of the Dotonbori and Kita/Umeda putting you close to central shopping districts and transport links, and most sightseeing is either a short walk away or roughly a 40-minute train ride, depending on the activity.
As it’s Japan, there is no shortage of local cafes and restaurants in both areas and plenty of little street nooks to explore on foot.
My favourite for value, experience and overall location was Drop Inn Osaka. Located in the Kita/Umeda area and only a 7-minute walk from Osaka Station with train links to major tourist attractions and a 15-minute walking distance from Dotonbori. Drop Inn provides dorm-style rooms with both female and mixed pods with 6-8 bed options.
Japan is big on personal space and respect for others’ need for privacy, so you’ll find it quite normal to have pod-style bunks. Female and mixed dorms start at 3,000 yen, roughly £13.00 per night. If you are looking for private rooms, they also offer traditional tatami rooms (with woven straw mats) for 2-4 people, starting from 8,600 yen or £40.00. Drop Inn also offers premium private rooms with thicker futons and a few additional basic amenities. All rooms share the bathroom facilities by gender. Drop Inn doesn’t provide en suite facilities in its rooms, but the space is generous.
There’s also a cosy lounge room, a laundry room, and a small shared kitchen available if you need them. There is a free breakfast of fresh bread, spreads, tea, coffee and teas from 7 am – 9:30 am. They also provide bike rentals, should you decide to get out and explore on two wheels.
Coffee First?
Starting any adventure requires a good cup of coffee, and there are certainly a whole host of cafes to hunt down in Osaka; the Japanese cafe culture is almost unmatched. With tea houses, coffee shops, bakeries and cafes on most street corners. If you’re looking for something close to the city with beautiful river views, plenty of workspace, and an in-house florist that adds an earthy feel to an urban cafe, then head to Brooklyn Roasting Company, Kitahamma.
They make great coffee and their little baked goods. I’m a big fan of their doughnuts. A perfect start to the foodie adventure in Osaka. There was something so homely about this place with its leather couches and lively buzz. Such a good little spot to soak in the first few moments of Japan.
Exploring Dotonbori – food glorious food
Food in Japan, as you might imagine, is next-level; everything from presentation and service to the food itself is an experience in its own right. In Japan, it is widely recognised that you eat with your eyes before you even take a bite, so food is usually presented in a way that’s almost an art form.
Osaka really is the place to go if you are looking to eat your way through Japan. With street vendors, restaurants, pop-ups and even the local 7-Eleven sushi being really good if you’re in a rush. You need to be quick, though, because a lot of people use it as a quick lunch stop and will clean out the shelves during lunch.
There really is almost too much choice in Osaka, but day or night, one of the greatest places to visit is Dotonbori. It has to be one of Osaka’s most mesmerising and explosive districts, situated on the Dotonbori River with entertainment, nightlife and of course food.
With neon and lantern-lined streets, giant brightly coloured advertisements and a buzz like no other. Think giant octopus and crabs that are literally leaping off the walls.
My favourite food stop for dinner or lunch, and the perfect place if you’re looking to get your first Japanese Ramen, is Kinryu Ramen Dotonbori. It’s a popular choice with locals, so you know it’s going to be good. This little place offers cute alfresco and immersive dining. Easily located by its iconic giant green dragon and bright red features.
Ordering food in Japan can look different at times, with electronic vending-machine-style kiosks that issue a ticket and a number. Giving you time to watch the chefs in action. I loved the casual atmosphere of this place, and of course, the ramen was delicious.
More Must-Try Bites
A few more foodie spots I couldn’t leave out:
Try Okonomiyaki (savoury pancake) or Takoyaki (octopus balls). I’ve shared a couple of my favourite spots for both above, but there are heaps of other places to try around Dotonbori, just follow where your nose leads you.
Dive into the ancient History
If you are looking to get amongst some history while in Osaka, then a great place to kick start the adventure is Osaka Castle. The castle was built in 1583, with an 8-story museum covering the history of the Samurai and the city’s deep history. The ornate castle sits within the grounds of Osaka Park, surrounded by moats and over 600 cherry blossom trees that, if you catch them in season, really add to the mysticism and wonder of this place.
The grounds themselves are surrounded by stunning little wooden street vendors where you can pick up some delicious street eats with views of the castle in the background. It’s the perfect place to sit and soak up the magic of Japan’s ancient and traditional culture, juxtaposed with modern skyscrapers.
If you are staying at Drop Inn or staying in either of the two main areas in Osaka, it’s fairly easy to commute via train. Starting at the Osaka Station, take the Osaka Loop Line clockwise to Ōsakajōkōen Station, and from there it’s a 20-minute walk to the entrance. You can also take the Tanimachi Line from Higashi-Umeda Station to Tanimachi 4-chome Station, from there it’s about a 26-minute walk.
The entry fee for the tower is roughly £6.00, with a separate fee for Nishinomaru Garden of roughly 200 yen, rising to 350 yen during cherry blossom season, so £1 – £2.
Explore Kema Sakuranomiya Park
If you are looking to experience the cherry blossoms and have more of an immersive walk through public parklands, then head twenty minutes on foot to Kema Sakuranomiya Park.
The park follows the Okawa River, and you can walk as much or as little as you want. The park itself spans around 4.4km. The perfect place for people watching, woven with little ponds and stress, traversed by traditional bridges and little shrines. In both spring and autumn, it becomes an immersive experience of colour as the seasons shift. With around 4,000 cherry blossom trees, it is widely considered one of the best cherry blossom viewing locations. The perfect opportunity for those all-important and impressive photos.
With views of the city reflecting over the river, with boat rides available if you decide you don’t want to walk and experience the city from the water. Much like at Osaka Castle, there is an array of temporary food vendors lining the river if you are looking for fewer crowds to grab a bite to eat. Tucking into some Takoyaki and, of course, a matcha float, delicious iced matcha with soft serve matcha on top.
If you decide to walk far enough, you will find the Osaka Waterfront, a mini city beach, complete with a sandy shore. Admission to the park is free, and it makes a perfect addition to, or an alternative to, Nishinomaru Garden if you’re looking to save a little money or simply want to experience more of Osaka on foot.
If you decide to make a separate trip to the gardens, then you can hop onto the Osaka loop line and jump off at Sakuranomiya Station, putting you into the heart of the park.
Kōyasan
Getting out of the city to experience rural Japan has to be on the list of things to do while in Osaka. By far one of the most immersive experiences is staying at an active Buddhist temple and taking the world-famous Shinkansen bullet trains to get there. I can’t recommend the trip to Mount Koya highly enough if you have time. The trip will take a little bit of effort, but luckily, travel logistics are something that the Japanese are renowned for.
When travelling from Osaka Station, there are several ways to reach Koyasan (Mount Koya), with various train lines and connections. Travelling from Umeda Station, your best option is to take the Midosuji Line to Tennoji, then continue to Namba Station. From Namba Station, you’ll meet with the Nankai-Koya Line, travelling the full 14 stops to Hashimoto Station. From there, you’ll need to change to trains heading from Gokurakubashi Station. Once you reach Gokurakubashi Station, you’ll need to switch from trains to the cable car. The Nankai Koyasan Cable car will take you up above the mountains to meet with Koyasan Station. The final leg of the journey takes you into Koya via the Koyasannai Line. Getting off at Karukayado-mae, you’ll be in the heart of the village.
The whole journey takes around 2 hours and 45 minutes. The longest train journey is about an hour, and other links are around 10-20 minutes and cost roughly £10.00 (2,170 yen). It sounds complicated, but in reality, it’s not too hard to navigate.
Overnight stay at an active Buddhist monastery
Once in Koyasan, you’ll find a completely different pace, surrounded by forests, mountains, clear rivers and sleepy streets. Koyasan is widely regarded as a central site of Buddhism and is itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every street is steeped in history, with beautiful, peaked, tiled roofs and wooden facades. With the smell of cedar wood and crisp mountain air, you’ll feel worlds away from the busy streets of Osaka.
Koyasan itself is a hub for Pilgrims embarking on their journey and following the way of the Monks. Home to over 100 individual temples and the largest cemetery. Many temples offer overnight accommodation, and I highly recommend taking the time to immerse yourself. The streets are so beautiful it’s hard not to take hundreds of photos of all the different temple entrances and stunning places of worship.
The most notable shrine at the heart of Mount Koya is the Danjo Garan, complete with Torii Gates and a stunning red pagoda. The central grand pagoda is a striking contrast to the others in the area, standing tall and bright. The space is pretty active with Monks doing daily tasks and prayer, and pilgrims making their way to their destination.
I recommend staying at Ekoin. I only stayed here for one night, but it was by far my favourite experience in Japan. Ekoin offers a wide variety of Traditional Japanese Ryokan rooms, from luxury suites with private gardens to general and more basic rooms with shared facilities, large baths, and gender-separated washrooms, as well as Western-style rooms for those who would prefer not to sleep on futons. However, the night’s sleep I had here is still up there among the best of my life. To the point I considered getting rid of my bed for a futon.
Regardless of what you choose, the experience of staying in an active temple is something very special. The general room rate was around £244 (52,000 yen) per night for two people. With other rooms going up in price depending on the style and the individual’s needs.
The temple offers traditional Buddhist meals at both breakfast and dinner, with optional lunch. Both breakfast and dinner are offered in your room, but if you stay in larger groups, meals are served in the hall. Proudly serving food that is safe for both vegans and vegetarians with cooking methods that have been passed down for generations.
The morning meal is made up of steamed white rice, fermented tofu, miso soup, lightly pickled vegetables, umeboshi, which is a dried, salted pickled plum, pickled radish and tempura vegetables.
Ekoin also offers its guests experiences and insight into the life of a Buddhist monk. With the option to join a prayer at 7 am every morning, followed by the fire ritual at 7:30 am. I attended the fire ritual, sitting in a room completely blackened by ash from years of its performance. The fire represents the wisdom of the Buddha, and the wood symbolises human desires; the fire is a cleansing element. The burning away of human desires, and as we pray for wishes to come true.
They also offer Ajikan (meditation), Sutra Copying, the practice of transcribing, and a Koyassan night tour, taking you through the cemetery while lit by lanterns.
The morning fire prayer was my favourite part of my excursion. The room is incredibly small and dark, creating a very intimate view of the Buddhist ceremony and the life of the Monks. You almost feel as though you are a fly on the wall watching something incredibly sacred and private. It’s truly an honour to witness and something I think few people know about before visiting Japan.
A group of us walked through the cemetery at night, as it was close to the accommodation, a strange and spooky experience, but the lanterns lit the path through thousands of years of history.
Kōyasan is a place I feel you could spend a good chunk of time with onsen’s and cafes, hiking trails and just an overall softness that’s worth saying more than one night to experience and soak in. The entire experience will transport you to a different place and time before you have to return to the hustle and bustle of Osaka, ready for the next adventure.
Have you been to Osaka?
What are the best things to do in Osaka? Anything you’d add to this Osaka bucket list?
Francesca Solloway
Get lifetime access to my endless hours of research and time spent on the ground finding the best places to eat, drink, relax and explore in Japan. Simply open the Google Map on your device and all my recommendations are at the touch of your fingertips.
