When we took the bullet train (book your JR Pass) from Hakone to Osaka we figured a lot more people would be getting off at our stop. But, it turned out that most travelers disembarked in Kyoto (which is only about 20 minutes away).
If there is one thing I can say about Osaka is that the train is super easy to use there. We stayed a little bit out of the city center, but it was so simple to get in. It was nice to stay outside of the city – you could see how locals live. We were able to get a bit more of an idea of how life in Osaka is. (Side note: if I go back I’m having a local plan me an epic itinerary so I can see even more amazing things in the city — and eat all of the food).
There weren’t many westerners around during our time in Osaka (except near Osaka Castle). We had two full days in the city and were able to explore quite a bit.
Here are 6 Things To Do In Osaka
Visit The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
The Osaka Aquarium holds the largest tank in the entire world. It’s filled with species of animals from all over the world. You can find Whale Sharks, Stingrays, Mantarays, schools of fish and many more species inside of the large tank (you can walk around the entire thing 3x during your visit). You can also find otters, penguins, jelly fish, and much more in the aquarium. It’s definitely worth the trip.
Walk Around Dotonbori At Night
I seriously wonder how much money the Japanese spend on their electricity bills. This area of Osaka is a popular spot for tourists and locals. The walking streets are filled with tax free shops, street food stands, popular restaurants and more. You can spend time walking by the canals (and in the daytime you can take boat rides down them!). We had a delicious meal at a rotating sushi bar over here called, DAIKI SUISAN. Definitely check it out!
Grab A Bite To Eat In Shinsekai
One of the best meals that we had was in the area of Shinsekai. This area is super colorful (my dream), crazy, loud, and magical. It’s just a bunch of walking streets basically boasting restaurants that all serve one thing… kushikatsu. Which means deep friend skewers…of chicken, tuna, shrimp, vegetables, and whatever else you can think of. It’s super interesting because at the places that you eat kushikatsu there is a strict no double dipping rule when it comes to the sauce.
That’s because they don’t actually change out the sauce in between customers. That’s right. The same dish of sauce sits there all day and is simply topped off. Don’t worry, there are signs everywhere (yes, in English), and the cooks will remind you of the etiquette. The sauce is amazing. Thee deep fried skewers on point. You’ll have to wait on line, but try to grab a seat at Daruma in Shinsekai.
Take A Ride On One Of The Many Ferris Wheels
There are two ferris wheels you can hop on to take in the views of Osaka. One of them, Tempozan Ferris Wheel (800 yen), is located next to the aquarium. You can actually buy a ticket that includes entrance to the aquarium and a ride on the ferris wheel for a discounted rate. This is one of the highest ferris wheels in the world. You can get a 360 view from the top and it’s truly spectacular.
There is another ferris wheel, the HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel. This one is on the roof of a shopping mall and it’s a bit cheaper to ride (500 yen).
Catch The Sunset From Umeda Sky Building
The Umeda Sky Building consists of two skyscrapers attached by a “floating garden.” It’s actually pretty spectacular. It has an open air deck (that I hope is usually nicer than when we were there as it was under construction), and a great observation deck around the bottom. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset. The views are incredible. Seriously. Grab a beer from the cafe (they have beers from all over the world), take a seat and watch the golden light wrap around the city. Plus, there is a bad ass escalator, that’s enclosed in glass, that is literally floating in the sky.
Take In Some History At The Osaka Castle
You can’t go to Osaka without visiting the Osaka Castle. One of Japan’s most famous landmarks, nothing about the castle is original. The castle has actually been rebuilt several times over the years due to wars, fires, and natural disasters. But, you can still learn a lot about the history of Osaka from the version of the castle that stands there today (the only thing that stands there that’s original are these massive rocks that no one can figure out how they got there).
Interested in reading more about my adventures in Japan? Check out my posts about Tokyo, Hakone, and Kobe.
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