Top places to go in Osaka — 20+ top, must-see places & best places to visit in Osaka

In recent years, along with Tokyo and Kyoto, Osaka has been one of three very popular tourist cities of Japan. If Tokyo is the administrative center of Japan, then Osaka is the center of commerce. So, where should I go in Osaka, where to go in Osaka, where to travel in Osaka and where to visit in Osaka? Let’s check out our suggested top places to go in Osaka, top places to visit in Osaka including 10 best places to visit in Osaka, best places to see in Osaka, top 10 places to visit in Osaka, best places to go in Osaka, best places to visit in Osaka, famous places to visit in Osaka, must go places in Osaka, must see places in Osaka and must visit places in Osaka to enrich your travel list in the culinary city of Japan!

In the article below, we will introduce to you 20 must-see attractions and best places to visit in in Osaka!

Osaka tourist center of “Dotonbori” (best places to visit in osaka)

One of the most famous and best places to visit in Osaka is Dotonbori. The typical feature of this area is the giant, vivid, long signs. Very photogenic signs are everywhere, such as the sign of a man running with both hands raised from the Glico confectionery company, or the sign of a moving crab… If seen at night, when the night is lit up, you will be overwhelmed by its charm.

This is a place that condenses the charm of Osaka, always bustling with people passing by every day. Going through the Shinsaibashi area next to it will be a shopping street with food stores and fashion stores extending up to 580m in length! There are also many shops where you can enjoy Osaka’s local dishes.

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) (#must visit places in osaka)

Address: 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, 554-0031, Japan

Universal Studio Japan is an entertainment and amusement area that can be enjoyed all day long, focusing on domestic and foreign entertainment rides, themes mainly Hollywood movies.

Very popular rides, adventures recreate the world of movies such as “Jaws”, “Jurassic Park The Ride”, or “Wizarding World of Harry Potter”, the recently opened “Minion Park”… In addition, you can’t miss experiential model events such as water shooting games with your favorite characters held in the summer or “Street Zombie” during the Halloween festival.

At USJ, visitors can pose for photos with Hello Kitty, become a Monster Hunter or Sailor Scout in one of the 4-D experiences, or be chased around the park by zombies during Halloween. Opening hours change according to season.

Where you can find delicious food “Kuromon Market” (must see places in osaka)

Address: 2 Chome Nipponbashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0073, Japan

You will immediately see raw oysters, sea urchins, seafood rice, Japanese beef, premium fruits… Enjoy your favorite delicious dishes! The market has about 180 shops in a row such as fish shops, meat shops, fruit shops, and food shops.

The place where you can enjoy the excitement that only exists in the locality is the market. The most famous market in Osaka is “Kuromon market”. The information center in the market has staff who can converse in foreign languages, free Wi-Fi, a currency exchange machine, a luggage storage counter (fees apply)… so you can return complete peace of mind.

The “Aerial Garden Observatory” offers a panoramic view of Osaka (must go places in osaka)

Address: 1 Chome-1-88 Oyodonaka, Kita Ward, Osaka, 531-6023, Japan
Hours: 9:30 AM–10:30 PM

Umeda Sky Building was once selected into the list of “TOP 20 buildings around the world” voted by “THE TIMES” magazine. Its unique shape resembles a triumphal arch which is very eye-catching.

The 40th floor is the highest floor and is also an aerial observatory with panoramic views of Osaka city! You can go out and observe from the rooftop, experience a height of 173m, 360-degree panaroma. If you go at night, the beautiful night scenery spreads out, which has been selected in the list of “100 beautiful night views” in Japan.

Nostalgic Osaka alley “Hozenji Yokocho”

Hozenji Yokocho is a 3-minute walk from Dotonbori with small square paved roads, you will feel the nostalgic Osaka space.

One place you will want to visit is Hozenji Temple located near the entrance to Yokocho. It is said that if you sprinkle water on the Mizukakefudo statue here and pray, your wish will come true. The statue has been watered over many years so it is covered with moss.

Mino Park

Just outside Osaka city is a semi-national park complete with hiking trails, waterfalls, monkeys, temples, and more. When you’re tired of feeling the chaos of the city, few places offer a more scenic escape than Minoo Park. The park is especially beautiful in the fall when the maple leaves change color.

Umeda Sky Building (best places to go in osaka)

The Umeda Sky Building attracts tourists in two ways, by providing incredible views of downtown from the top and views of the sleek structure itself. It’s actually two 40-story towers connected at the top by a “floating” observation deck, where visitors enter the space via a tunnel-like escalator surrounded by glass. There is also an underground market in the basement that recreates the atmosphere of early 20th century Osaka.

Osaka Ikeda Cup Noodle Museum (#top places to visit in osaka)

Address: 8-25 Masumicho, Ikeda, Osaka 563-0041, Japan
Hours: 9:30 AM–4:30 PM/Tuesday: Closed

Did you know that instant noodles that only need to be poured boiling water to be eaten were actually born in Osaka? Mr. Ando Momofuku – The founder of Nisshin Shokuhin company – is the inventor of “noodles” chicken in Osaka and created the dish “cup noodles” that later became known around the world.

At “Osaka Ikeda Cup Noodles Museum”, you can make your own special cup noodles (no reservation needed).

Nakanoshima Park

Address: 1 Chome-1 Nakanoshima, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0005, Japan
Hours: Open 24 hours

Located near Umeda, Osaka’s bustling commercial district, is this lovely strip of greenery that divides two rivers and is home to the city’s first public park. Established in 1891, Nakanoshima Park has become an escape for the city’s residents, with a rose garden of more than 300 varieties of flowers and stunning views of the adjacent rivers. The urban oasis also has a beer garden and is a popular gathering place for yoga, dance practice and picnics.

Sumiyoshi Taisha

Address: 2 Chome-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka, 558-0045, Japan
Hours: 6 AM–5 PM

This ancient Shinto shrine looks like something out of a storybook or a postcard, except you can actually walk around it. Sumiyoshi Taisha is the main Sumiyoshi shrine in Japan and is known for its picturesque bridge leading to the main gate and the thousands of people who gather to pray each year on New Year’s Day.

Expo ’70 Commemorative Park

Address: Senribanpakukoen, Suita, Osaka 565-0826, Japan
Hours: 9:30 AM–5 PM/Wednesday: Closed

In 1970, Osaka was the host city of the World Expo, soon a huge park was opened on the site to commemorate this event. Banpakku Kinen Koen or Expo ’70 Commemorative Park in English, is a vast space with amenities ranging from a Japanese garden to the whimsical but beloved Tower of the Sun, a structure that surrounds the park. Also on site are a folk crafts museum and the National Museum of Ethnology, both worth a visit.

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine

Address: 2 Chome-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0041, Japan
Hours: 9 AM–5 PM

At the other end of Tenjinbashisuji shopping street is one of Osaka’s most famous shrines, Osaka Tenmangu. More than a thousand years old, this shrine is home to Osaka’s largest and most famous annual festival, the Tenjin Matsuri. Perhaps the best thing about this temple is that it is never too crowded or noisy, especially since it is located in a busy commercial district. This makes it more sacred.

The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

Address: Japan, 〒530-0041 Osaka, Kita Ward, Tenjinbashi, 6 Chome−4−20 住まい情報センタービル 8階
Hours: 10 AM–5 PM/Tuesday: Closed

This charming museum is located near one end of Tenjinbashisuji and is one of Osaka’s best thanks to its interactive exhibits. You can walk through a life-size replica of Edo Period Japan, where you can explore traditional houses, buildings, and streets. Both day and night are simulated in the village as you walk. You can also pay a little extra to wear a kimono while you wander.

Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street

This is the longest shotengai, or covered shopping district in Japan. Stretching for many kilometers and surrounding areas, Tenjinbashisuji is a series of shops, restaurants, cafes, bookstores and a true reflection of the daily hustle and bustle of business owners. What could be better than strolling along a shopping street no matter the weather and enjoying all the delicious food, souvenirs, and other goods Osaka has to offer?

Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel

Address: 1 Chome-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato Ward, Osaka, 552-0022, Japan
Hours: 10 AM–9 PM

Right outside the aquarium is what used to be the world’s tallest ferris wheel, which is likened to Japan’s smallest mountain right across the street. The giant Tempozan ferris wheel stands at a height of 112.5 meters and offers stunning views of many of the city’s famous landmarks

Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium

Address: 1 Chome-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato Ward, Osaka, 552-0022, Japan
Hours: 10:30 AM–8 PM

Located on the shore of Osaka Bay is Kaiyukan – one of the largest aquariums in the world. Home to a variety of marine animals from habitats spanning the Pacific on display, including a giant whale shark. There is also an interactive exhibit where visitors can get up close to penguins, seals and manta rays in the giant tanks.

Osaka Castle

Built in the 16th century by the famous warlord who unified Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi – today’s Osaka castle is an old replica of the original (except inside there is now a museum). The castle was destroyed several times before being rebuilt in 1931 thanks to donations from locals and fully restored later in 1995. Surrounding the castle is a huge moat, some of the original walls and turrets remain and a large, beautiful park.

Abeno Harukas

Address: 1 Chome-1-43 Abenosuji, Abeno Ward, Osaka, 545-6016, Japan
Hours: 9 AM–10 PM

Speaking of breathtaking architecture, did you know that the tallest building in Japan is in Osaka? Harukas has a train station, shopping mall, art museum, hotel, offices, etc., but the most interesting feature is Harukas 300, a three-story observation deck and outdoor center that provides views amazing about the impressive urban area that seems to stretch outward.

Tsutenkaku

Address: 1 Chome-18-6 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0002, Japan
Hours: 10 AM–8 PM

Once known as the tallest structure in the Orient and surrounded by an amusement park, Tsutenkaku Tower may have lost some of its splendor over the years but still retains its charm. Although now overshadowed by surrounding skyscrapers, it still stands out for its bright lighting, thanks to public service announcements and advertisements as well as weather forecasts. It has also become a symbol of the city itself.

Spa World

Address: 3 Chome-4-24 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0002, Japan
Hours: 10 AM–8:45 AM

As one of the largest cities in the world, Osaka can become stressful and tiring. A great way to unwind is to soak in a steamy bath at Spa World – a giant spa and water park. Spa World’s main attraction is its world-themed bathing experience. There is an European side and an Asian side, each with seven unique and luxurious bathrooms.

Osaka is a city with a very bustling atmosphere full of vitality. You should definitely enjoy all the fun of this place, shopping, sightseeing, walking around and enjoying delicious food here!

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Osaka you can refer to

• Osaka Amazing Pass (Osaka Pick Up & HK/TW Delivery)
• OSAKA Unlimited Travel Pass (1 or 2 Days)
• Osaka Amazing Pass (HK/TW/ICN/Osaka Pick Up & MY Delivery)
• Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass (1 Day/2 Days, Kyoto Pick Up)
• JR West Kansai Pass (1, 2, 3 and 4 Day Rail Pass)
• Kyoto Temples & Shrines Day Tour from Osaka: Fushimi Inari-taisha, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera & More
• Limousine Bus Transfers between Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka or Kyoto
• 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
• 4G WiFi (Japan Pick Up) for Japan
• JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)
• Osaka One-Day Walking Tour
• Arashiyama, Nara & Yasaka Shrine & Hanakomiji OneDay Tour from Osaka
• Osaka Amazing Pass & Osaka e-Pass
• teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka Ticket
• Kyoto and Nara Day Tour from Osaka/Kyoto
• Arashiyama & Nara Todai-ji Day Tour from Osaka
• Solaniwa Onsen Ticket in Osaka
• Nara, Todaiji Temple & Kuroshio Market One Day Tour from Osaka
• Sanda Outlet Market, Nara Park & Todaiji Temple Day Tour from Osaka
• ICOCA IC Card
• The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living Ticket

Are you looking for more Osaka travel guide and top things to do in Osaka: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Osaka travel blog — The fullest Osaka city guide for a wonderful trip to Osaka for the first-timers.