Takoyakiたこ焼き
Crisp-edged batter balls with octopus inside, sold hot from street stalls all over the city.
Kansai
Osaka Travel Guide
Local tips, regional food and places off the tourist trail
Western Japan’s biggest city and the food capital of Kansai. Come for Dotonbori’s neon and street food, Osaka Castle, Universal Studios Japan and the retro Shinsekai district.
Open Osaka on the map50 places on the map · 9 local favourites
Local tips
- TipOsaka Metro and the JR Loop Line reach most sights; an IC card like ICOCA saves buying tickets.
- TipIn Osaka, people stand on the right side of escalators, unlike in Tokyo.
- AvoidAt kushikatsu shops, don’t double-dip your skewer in the shared sauce pot.
- Heads upSummers are hot and humid, and the Tenjin Matsuri in late July brings huge crowds to the river area.
- TipWalk Tenjinbashisuji, a very long covered shopping street full of local eateries away from the tourist core.
What to eat
Okonomiyakiお好み焼き
A savoury cabbage pancake cooked on a hotplate, topped with sauce, mayonnaise and bonito flakes.
Kushikatsu串カツ
Deep-fried skewers of meat and vegetables dipped in sauce, a Shinsekai speciality.
Local favourites
Places mostly visited by people who live here — quieter, and often the highlight of a trip.
Inunakisan Onsen
犬鳴山温泉 Hot SpringsNature & SceneryA small hot-spring village in the mountains of Izumisano, beside a mountain temple and waterfall trail. A short trip from Kansai Airport.
● Mostly localsSayamaike
狭山池 Nature & SceneryJapan's oldest dam reservoir, with a walking path around the shore lined with cherry trees and a Tadao Ando-designed history museum.
● Mostly localsTondabayashi Jinaimachi
富田林寺内町 Sights & HistoryA preserved temple town of white-walled merchant houses and narrow lanes in southern Osaka, a peaceful walk with small cafés and hardly any tourists.
● Mostly localsKyobashi Standing Bars
大阪 京橋商店街 NightlifeKyobashi's shopping streets turn into a hub of cheap standing bars and izakaya after work. The very Osaka art of 'senbero', getting happily merry for little money.
● Mostly localsNagai Botanical Garden
大阪市立長居植物園 Nature & SceneryA spacious botanical garden next to Nagai Park with seasonal flower displays, a pond and a natural history museum on site. A calm break from the city.
● Mostly localsNaniwa no Yu
なにわの湯 Hot SpringsA rooftop natural hot-spring bath in north Osaka with open-air pools under the city sky. A true locals' place to unwind after the Tenjinbashisuji arcade.
● Mostly localsKishiwada Castle
岸和田城 Sights & HistoryA compact castle with a stone garden and moats in the town famous for the Danjiri Festival, where huge wooden floats are raced through the streets.
● Mostly localsHoshida Park Star Swing
府民の森ほしだ園地 Nature & SceneryA forest park in Katano with the Hoshi no Buranko, one of Japan's longest pedestrian suspension bridges, swaying high above the valley.
● Mostly localsKizu Market
木津卸売市場 Local FoodA wholesale market near Namba that welcomes the public, with small restaurants serving fresh seafood bowls at breakfast and lunch. Far more local than Kuromon.
● Mostly localsThe famous sights
The places most visitors come for. Worth it — just go early.
Universal Studios Japan
ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン ExperiencesOsaka's big theme park with Super Nintendo World and Wizarding World zones. Buy tickets and timed entry passes online well ahead.
Kuromon Market
黒門市場 Local FoodA long covered market famous for seafood, wagyu skewers and fresh fruit, eaten standing at the stalls. Many shops cater to visitors, so browse before buying.
Osaka Castle
大阪城天守閣 Sights & HistoryOsaka's iconic castle keep rising from massive stone walls and moats, with a history museum inside. The surrounding park is at its best in plum and cherry season.
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
海遊館 ExperiencesOne of the world's largest aquariums, built around a giant central tank with a whale shark. Descend the spiral ramp past ecosystems of the Pacific Rim.
Shinsaibashi-suji
心斎橋筋商店街 ShoppingOsaka's main covered shopping arcade, running from Dotonbori north with fashion, drugstores and department stores.
Tsutenkaku & Shinsekai
通天閣 Sights & HistoryLocal FoodA retro observation tower at the heart of Shinsekai, a neighbourhood of neon signs, kushikatsu shops and Billiken lucky statues. Rub Billiken's feet for luck.
Umeda Sky Building
梅田スカイビル Sights & HistoryTwin towers linked by an open-air Floating Garden Observatory with sweeping city views. Sunset is spectacular, and the retro food alley in the basement is worth a look.
Tombori River Cruise
とんぼりリバークルーズ ExperiencesA short boat ride along the Dotonbori canal past the neon billboards and Glico running man. Take it after dark for the best lights.