Last updated on April 15th, 2024
Hokoku Shrine, Osaka Castle, © Can Stock / joymsk
Visit Osaka / Umeda Station
When you visit Osaka, start by taking the metro from the bullet train station to Osaka / Umeda Station. The Grand Front Osaka is right at Osaka Station. The Grand Front Osaka is a shopping complex with terraced gardens and tree lined pathways. Next visit the Umeda Sky Building. The two towers are capped by the circular Floating Garden Observatory, which has fabulous views over the city.
Osaka City Central Public Hall, © Can Stock / Elwynn
Just south of the Osaka / Umeda Station is a small island in the river. Here you can visit the Osaka City Central Public Hall, the Osaka Science Museum and the National Museum of Art.
Visit Osaka – Minami
The next area to visit after Osaka / Umeda Station is the equally popular Minami district. Take a 12 minute ride from Osaka Station on the Midosuji Line to Namba Station and join the crowds. Minami is the entertainment district for Osaka, so there are lost of shops and restaurants. Dotonbori is a major tourist attraction in Minami along the Dotonbori canal from Dotonboribashi Bridge to Nipponbashi Bridge. Dotonbori is famous for its night life. Take a Tombori River Cruise along the Dotonbori Canal. Near the canal, stop at the National Bunraku Theatre for a puppetry experience. You can take the Kintetsu Nara Line from Namba Station to get to the National Buraku Theatre.
Neon at Night in Osaka
You will find Nipponbashi (locally known as Den-Den) in the Minami district too. Nipponbashi is great for electronics shopping. The Minami district is also home to the Amerika-Mura teen fashion district.
Visit Osaka – Shinsekai
The Shinsekai district is just south of Minami. Shinsekai is a poorer area centered around the Tsutenkaku Tower, the Tennoji Zoo and the Osaka Municipal Museum of Fine Art. Take the Midosuji Line from Osaka Station for about half an hour. You can also see the Shitennoji Temple in the Shinsekai district.
Sumiyoshi Taisha Bridge, © Can Stock / imagex
Visit Osaka – Tempozan Pier
Cruise ships dock at the Tempozan Pier. The Tempozan Pier is right beside the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Tempozan Market and the Tempozan Ferris Wheel. Take the Osaka Loop Line west from Osaka Station and transfer to the Chuo Line to reach Tempozan Pier. Universal Studios Japan is on Osaka’s waterfront here too. Take the Sakurajima Line to reach Universal Studios Japan.
Visit Osaka – More Sights
- Sumiyoshi Taisha is the head shrine for the Suiyoshi. Take the Midosuji Line south from Osaka Station for 45 minutes to get to Sumiyoshi Taisha.
- Full-Day Walking Tour with Osaka River Cruise – Visit Osaka Castle, the Floating Garden Observatory and the Umeda Sky Building.
- Kyoto Afternoon Tour to Fushimi Inari Taisha, Heian Shrine, Sanjusangendo Hall and Kiyomizu Temple from Osaka.
Capsule Hotel Asahi Plaza Shinsaibashi
Visit Osaka – Hotels
- Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier
- Hotel Keihan Universal Tower
- Capsule Hotel Asahi Plaza Shinsaibashi – Stay in a capsule hotel. The average age range for people who seem willing to slide into a cubicle for the night is 18 – 39.
Osaka Castle Walls, © Can Stock / Fyletto
Visit Osaka – Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle is a popular destination east of the Osaka / Umeda Station. Take the Osaka Loop Line east from Osaka Station to get there. Hideyoshi Toyotomi built the original Osaka Castle in 1583, but the current castle is a reconstruction. See the Hokoku Shrine there too.
The castle grounds are extensive, but Osaka Castle seems lost in time, because the castle is surrounded by skyscrapers and densely populated urban Osaka. The Osaka Museum of History and the Osaka International Peace Center both border the grounds.
Osaka Castle, © Can Stock / 2nix
Savor the Tastes of Osaka
- Takoyaki – battered octopus balls.
- Kushi-katsu – skewers of meat, pork, fish or veggies is an egg batter.
- Fugu – poisonous blowfish, which must be prepared by an expert. Try tetchiri – blowfish stew.
- Udon – large noodle soup is a Japanese standard that has spread throughout the world.
Dotonbori Canal, © Can Stock / SeanPavone
Get to Osaka
There are limited international flights into Osaka, so most tourists arrive via Narita International Airport in Tokyo and take the bullet train to Kyoto and then Osaka. Shinosaka Station is the JR Tokaido Shinkansen Bullet Train station in Osaka. The Shinosaka Station just north of the Osaka Station and was built specifically for bullet trains. The bullet train also connects Osaka by high speed rail to the nearby cruise port of Kobe. Most people who visit Osaka by rail also stop in Kyoto which is about 40 minutes before Osaka on the bullet train from Tokyo.
Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, © Can Stock / imagex
Get Around Osaka
The Kansai International Airport is connected to the downtown by rail, but most people who visit Osaka arrive by rail from Tokyo. If you do fly in to Osaka, take the Kansai Airport Line, then transfer to the Hanwa Line and finally to the Osaka Loop Line, which will bring you to Osaka /Umeda Station.
Osaka has superior train service, just like Tokyo and the rest of Japan. So, there are many subway options to get to major attractions in Osaka. Pick a destination and you’ll likely find you can get there on the train. Try the West Japan Railway Company site or Google maps.
Cruise Ships
Cruise ships dock at Kobe or at Tempozan Pier in downtown Osaka. Both have rail connections to Osaka Station and the rest of the city.
Weather Graph for Osaka
Osaka Weather
The Osaka weather is influenced by the Pacific Ocean. Average temperatures peak in July and August at 90 F (32 C), while lows are about 77 F (25 C). In January and February average highs are 52 F (11 C) and average lows are 36 F ( C). Rainfall is highest in the summer months, but August has seen lower rainfall in recent years. Winter sees the lowest precipitation. Snowfall is rare, but it can be quite heavy and cripple vehicle transportation when it does occur.
April might be the best time of year to visit Osaka for good weather, plus early April is a good time to see cherry blossoms throughout Japan.
Visit Osaka – Background
About 3 million people live in Osaka. The city is on Osaka Bay, which opens to the Pacific Ocean. The urban area around Osaka supports a population of nearly 20 million. In early Japan, Osaka was a center for the rice trade. In the 600s, Osaka was called Naniwa and it was the capital of Japan.
Unlike Kyoto, the city of Osaka was badly destroyed in World War II. So, Osaka has few temples and shrines in comparison. Instead it is a contemporary economy enjoying modern conveniences, great food and lots of entertainment.
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