The reason why 14 million people visit to Osaka every year!
Table of Contents
- 1 Features
- 2 Reasons why it is popular with foreign tourists
- 3 Unique cultural experiences you can enjoy
- 4 Access
- 5 Food
- 6 Accommodation
- 7 Finally
Features
Osaka is one of Japan’s leading tourist destinations. It has a rich history, great food and entertainment, and is a place that attracts visitors from all over the world. Osaka is also known as the “Kitchen of the Nation”, and is nicknamed the “City of Gluttony” because of the delicious food on offer, such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki.
Reasons why it is popular with foreign tourists
The reason why so many foreign tourists visit Osaka is because it is packed with attractions that can only be found in Osaka.
・You can enjoy delicious food at low prices
・There are many entertainment facilities such as Universal Studios Japan (USJ) and Dotonbori
・There are many historical places of interest such as Osaka Castle and Shitennoji Temple
・You can enjoy the nightlife of Osaka, a city that never sleeps, at Tsutenkaku Tower and Shinsekai
・You can experience a variety of Japanese culture
Because of these attractions, Osaka has become a “city that people want to visit” for many foreign tourists. Please experience the charm of Osaka, a city where food, history and entertainment come together!
Unique cultural experiences you can enjoy
Osaka is a city that attracts tourists from all over the world, but the most famous attraction is undoubtedly Universal Studios Japan (USJ). You can enjoy it from morning to night, so if you’re going to USJ, be sure to spend a whole day having fun!
Of course, there are also a variety of other activities that foreign tourists can take part in. Here we will introduce some of the most popular experiences!
If you see a plan that interests you, click on the photo! It will take you to the information page!
Universal Studios Japan
At the world-famous theme park Universal Studios Japan (USJ), you can experience the world of Hollywood movies. The thrilling “Hollywood Dream the Ride” and the magical world of “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” are very popular. There are also many attractions in the park based on movies and anime. In particular, the Super Nintendo World area, which is only available in Japan, is like being transported into the world of Mario.
One-day tickets start at 8,600 yen (about $57) for adults. Weekdays are not as busy, but on weekends and holidays, tickets that allow you to board the rides first can make your visit more enjoyable! You can buy tickets from the official website below or from a travel agent. We recommend making reservations in advance, as it is expected to be busy!
Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle is a historic castle that symbolizes Japan’s Warring States period. Built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the castle, together with its beautiful gardens of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, attracts many visitors. From the observation deck in the castle tower, you can get a panoramic view of the city of Osaka. Admission is 600 yen (4 dollars).
There is a history museum inside the castle, where you can learn about the culture of the samurai and battles of the Warring States period. You can also try on samurai armor and become a real-life samurai warrior.
There is also a facility on the grounds where you can try on samurai armor, which we will introduce later
Osaka Castle is a spot worth visiting, where you can experience Japanese culture and learn about history!
Samurai Experience, Kendo Experience
You can learn how to use, draw and swing a sword at a real martial arts dojo, and at the end you can actually have a sword fight.
The assistant instructor will provide English interpretation. You can watch a performance and straw cutting using real Japanese swords with Yushin-ryu sword techniques
The “Samurai Course” involves wearing a simple, informal outfit consisting of a regular outfit and an iai belt. The price is 15,000 yen (100 dollars) and the experience lasts about 40 minutes!
Bushido Experience, Japanese Sword Straw Cutting Experience
This is the only place near Osaka Castle where you can experience Japanese sword fencing. Osaka Castle is the most popular tourist attraction and a sacred place for samurai. On the day, you will learn the basic sword stance, practice holding the sword, practice drawing and sheathing the sword, and practice iaijutsu.
Then, you will get to try cutting with a real Japanese sword! This time, you will cut rolled straw, and you can take the straw you cut home as a souvenir.
The fee is 10,000 yen (65 dollars). It is very popular, so be sure to make a reservation!
Learning Bushido & Zen at Samurai Calligraphy in kimono
You write with a heavy brush on a large piece of Japanese paper. Unlike regular calligraphy, where you quietly concentrate and face the paper alone, you pour your overflowing emotions and feelings into the brush. It is a very Japanese experience, but there are only a limited number of places where you can experience it. You express your outlook on life with a single character written with a brush and ink. The balance of the characters, the shades of the ink, and the beauty of the overall arrangement that arises from the writing all express your life. The price is 9900 yen (65 dollars). We hope you enjoy this quintessentially Japanese experience!
Osaka specialty takoyaki making experience
Our local staff will give you a lecture in English on how to make takoyaki, one of Osaka’s local dishes. After taking a commemorative photo, please enjoy the taste of Osaka’s famous food by eating the takoyaki you made yourself. In addition, as a souvenir to commemorate your visit, we will give you a gift of Japanese culture and tradition!
The venue is conveniently located just a 3-minute walk from Tennoji Station, and the price is 3,300 yen (22 dollars)!
Access
The most convenient and easiest way to get to Osaka is by train!
The travel itinerary we have introduced on this site is as follows!
”Golden Route 1” Plan (When going from Kyoto Gion Shijo Station to Osaka Castle)
You can get from Kyoto to Osaka smoothly by train. The station you go to will depend on your destination, but here we will introduce a course for those who stayed in the Gion Shijo area the night before and are heading to Osaka Castle!
How to get there by train (fastest and most comfortable)
Travel time: approx. 1 hour 30 minutes
Fare: approx. 550 yen (approx. $4)
Route
1. Gion-Shijo Station (Keihan Main Line) → Tenmabashi Station [approx. 30 minutes
2. Tenmabashi Station (Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line) → Tanimachi 4-chome Station [approx. 5 mins
3. Tanimachi 4-chome Station (Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line) → Osaka-jō Koen Station [approx. 5 mins
By using the Keihan Main Line, you can access Gion-Shijo Station directly. The trains run relatively frequently, so the waiting time is short and convenient.
“Golden Route 1” Plan (When going from Kyoto Gion Shijo Station to Osaka Castle)
Next, after you’ve finished your tour of Osaka Castle, head from Osaka Castle Park Station to Namba Station in Dotonbori, the heart of the city of food lovers!
How to get there by train (inexpensive)
Travel time: approx. 30 minutes
Fare: approx. 240 yen (approx. 2 dollars)
Route
1. Osaka Castle Park Station (Osaka Metro Chuo Line) → Hommachi Station (Midosuji Line) [approx. 10 minutes
2. Hommachi Station (Midosuji Line) → Namba Station (Midosuji Line) [approx. 5 mins
It’s about a 4-minute walk from Namba Station to Dotonbori
How to get there by taxi (fastest and most comfortable)
Take a taxi directly from Osaka Castle Park Station to Dotonbori. It will take about 15 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. The fare is about 1000 yen (7 dollars).
Food
The area around Osaka Castle and Dotonbori is full of delicious food, making it a city that lives up to its nickname of “kuidaore” (meaning “eat till you drop”)!
The following links are recommended stores
Many Japanese gourmets write reviews that are in tune with their surroundings, so many of them rate 3 stars, and the restaurant ratings tend to be low, but they are all very tasty restaurants!
All of these restaurants are rated very highly by TripAdviser and others!
Around Osaka Castle
– The Konamon Bar Rikyu: A casual bar where you can add toppings to your fried potatoes or fried rice. It’s popular with tourists and has good English support
– Tokumasa Udon Morinomiya: A casual restaurant where curry udon is popular. It’s friendly to tourists and the prices are reasonable
– Yakitori Matsuoka: A restaurant with a good reputation for its delicious chicken skewers. It’s popular with foreign tourists too
Dotonbori Area
– Dotonbori Riverside Grill Wonder: This restaurant is popular for its excellent service and wonderful views along the Dotonbori River. It has a casual, trendy atmosphere and offers a wide range of alcoholic drinks.
– Kobe Beef WANOMIYA Dotonbori Main Store: This is a high-class restaurant that serves teppanyaki-style Kobe beef. It is popular with tourists and reservations are recommended.
– Kobe beef Uma Dotonbori: This is another high-class restaurant that serves teppanyaki and yakiniku made with Kobe beef, and it is very popular with tourists, so reservations are recommended.
– Halal Wagyu & Vegan Ramen Gyumon Osaka Dotonbori: This restaurant is popular with tourists, as it serves halal-certified Japanese beef ramen and vegetarian options.
– Chibo Okonomiyaki Restaurant: A casual restaurant serving okonomiyaki, a specialty of Osaka. It is popular with tourists and also serves alcohol.
– Kani Doraku Dotonbori Main Store: This restaurant is famous for its crab dishes and the giant crab signboard that is a symbol of Dotonbori. It is popular with tourists and reservations are recommended
If you’re worried about making a reservation at the restaurant, please contact us! We’ll make a reservation for you:)
Accommodation
Osaka has many izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) and is a city where you can enjoy yourself even at night, so we recommend staying in the area around Namba Station!
Osaka Recommendations
There are many attractive hotels in Osaka (Namba Station). There is a wide range of hotels, from high-end hotels costing over 50,000 yen (over $300) per person per night to more reasonably priced hotels costing under 10,000 yen (under $65) per person per night.
Since you’ve come to Japan’s famous hot spring resorts, I hope you’ll be able to enjoy the hot springs! Japan is a country with good hygiene and public safety, so even a relatively inexpensive middle-end hotel costing around 15,000 yen (around 100 dollars) will be more than enough to satisfy you. I’ll introduce some recommended hotels.
Please click on the image you want to see!
High-end hotels
Middle-end hotels
Reasonable hotels
Finally
I hope that you will make the most of your trip to Japan and enjoy doing things that you can only do in Japan, things that are quintessentially Japanese, and create wonderful memories.
The reason I decided to create this website was because I saw a foreigner who had come to Japan on holiday a few years ago and was confused by the language barrier, and I was frustrated that I couldn’t help him.
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Have a good day!
The conversion of yen to dollars in the text is calculated as 1 dollar = 150 yen.
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