The third largest city in Japan, after Tokyo and Yokohama, Osaka is part of most tourists’ destinations while traveling Japan. However, with Kyoto nearby it is often suffers from the comparison. Still, to me Osaka shines thanks to its lively and welcoming atmosphere. It is a city you have to experience instead of just passing by. So let me show you all the spots you need to visit in Osaka !
Osaka Castle & Gardens
I am starting this post with probably the most famous spot to visit in Osaka: its Castle ! Located on the east side of the city, Osaka Castle is surrounded by a moat and a park. With its large stance, you can see it even before you enter the park ! The walls look as if they were painted yesterday and the colours are as bright as new, really impressive ! Indeed, the castle is unfortunately not in its historical structure but in the renovations performed in the 20th century.
Inside, the castle is intended as a museum more than a reproduction of the castle in itself. As you climb up the few stairs leading to the entrance, you can choose to either take the lift or climb by yourself. The queue was quite long, so we decided to skip the lift. However, we were not aware of the exhibition; it doesn’t start on the first floor ! So go up first, and visit as you go down ! All the way up, on the last floor, you have an amazing view of the surrounding park and the rest of Osaka. I feel like it is one of the best spots to admire the castle’s architecture, as you can see the grey tiles and gold statues !
As you go through the museum, you can see a lot of paintings and writings from the many years that the castle was in service. However, I have to say that I was disappointed with the exhibit. The explanations include a huge number of historical figures, and I kept on getting lost in the story. Still, I would recommend visiting Osaka Castle for the historical part it holds in the city and for the view !
History Museum of Osaka
Near the castle, in a tall modern tower, you can find the History Museum of Osaka. This museum is split across different floors that trace the construction of Osaka and the history of its inhabitants over the years. Since Osaka main business was centered around trades you will find explanations around its relationship with rivers and the sea. As you walk around, you will find many recreations of scenes and places that transport you back to the way of life of that time.
I found the museum to be unlike many museums I have visited before, with more drawings sometimes than the actual objects that were being displayed. It was also lacking some explanations at times but overall the visit was very nice ! Also, a big bonus point for its beautiful views of the castle, very impressive !
Dotonbori & The Glico Man
Dotonbori is famous for being the Peak of Osaka’s nightlife. Even if you are not a huge party person (like me), you will be taken aback by the festive atmosphere. Everything feels very lively and cheerful.
The most famous spot is the Glico Man. Glico is a local brand that produces food for supermarkets. You might already know the notorious Pocky, that’s Glico ! In Dotonbori, a huge ad poster of Glico shows a running man crossing the finish line and raising his hands in victory. Everyone stops to take a selfie with him or to try and recreate his pose, which makes the spot very fun !
Another fun thing to see in Dotonbori is its restaurants’ facades ! Some display huge crab or octopus animatronics to impress the tourists. The most impressive is at Kani Doraku with its huge crab !
Alongside Dotonbori and separating it from Shinsaibashi is the Tonbori River walk. It is a great for late-evening walk to see the buildings and nightlife lighting up. As you walk, you will come across the Giant Ferris Wheel Ebisu Tower. It is a huge Ferris wheel attached to the Don Don Donki tower. The first time I saw it, I was stunned I didn’t even realize it was a Ferris Wheel ! You can have a go if you’d like but the queue can get long ! On the river you can also do a boat tour to experience the view all the way !
Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street
North of the Tonbori River Walk, you will find Shinsaibashi-suji Street, an indoor street perfect for all your shopping sprees ! The street is quite long, but you can find everything from skincare, clothes, restaurants, and souvenirs ! International and local brands blend together so you can find everything you need ! The nearby streets are also very charming with lots of cute shops and restaurants with lanterns; at night, they create a really nice atmosphere.
Hozenji
Completely hidden away in the busy streets of Osaka, this little temple stands in stark contrast with the surrounding noise. As you enter, the atmosphere is calm and relaxing, and people come to pray under beautiful paper lanterns. At night, they light up, which adds to the charm of the temple. There is not much to see, but the temple is a nice breath of calm outside the busyness of the nearby streets.
Let me know what you think about this visit of Osaka, and drop a comment if you have any other recommendations ! You can check my other Japanese posts here !
