The Ninth Harbour › Japan
Osaka
Japan’s kitchen: neon canals, street food and a castle in the city.
Osaka is Japan’s friendly, food-obsessed second city. Eat your way through Dotonbori’s takoyaki and okonomiyaki stalls, explore Osaka Castle’s park, and spend a day at Universal Studios. Kyoto and Nara are both under an hour away.
Best time to visit: March to May and October to November. Language: Japanese. Currency: Japanese yen (JPY).
Did you know?
- Osaka has long been called “the nation’s kitchen” for its love of food.
- The city hosted the World Expo in 2025.
- Universal Studios Japan is home to the world’s first Super Nintendo World.
Things to do in Osaka
- Shitennō-ji Temple (Buddhist temple, free): Shitennō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Ōsaka, Japan.
- Universal Studios Japan (Theme park): Universal Studios Japan is a theme park located in Osaka, Japan.
- Tsūtenkaku (Observation tower): Tsūtenkaku is a tower and landmark of Osaka, Japan, and advertises the Hitachi company.
- Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (Aquarium): The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is an aquarium located in the ward of Minato in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, near Osaka Bay.
- Sumiyoshi Taisha (Shinto shrine, free): Sumiyoshi-taisha, also known as Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Osaka Castle Park (Park, free): Osaka Castle Park is a public urban park and historical site situated at Osaka-Jō in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan.
- National Museum of Art, Osaka (History museum): The National Museum of Art, Osaka is a subterranean Japanese art museum located on the island of Nakanoshima, located between the Dōjima River and the Tosabori River, about 10 minutes west of Higobashi Station in centra
- Tennōji Zoo (Zoo): Tennōji Zoo is a 11-hectare zoo located at Tennōji Park in Tennōji-ku, Osaka, Japan, opened on January 1, 1915.
- National Bunraku Theatre (Theatre): The National Bunraku Theatre is a complex consisting of two halls and an exhibition room, located in the Nipponbashi district in Osaka, Japan.
- Tennōji Park (Botanic garden): The Tennōji Park is a park with botanical garden at 1–108, Chausuyama-cho, Tennōji-ku, Osaka, Japan.
- Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts (Art museum): The Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts is a museum located in Tennōji Park, Tennōji-ku, Osaka, Japan.
- Ōsaka Tenmangū (Shinto shrine, free): The Osaka Tenmangū Shrine is a Shinto shrine and one of Tenmangū founded in AD 949 in Osaka by Emperor Murakami.
- Osaka Science Museum (Science museum): The Osaka Science Museum is a science museum in Naka-no-shima, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan.
- Nipponbashi (Bridge, free): Nipponbashi is a shopping district of Naniwa Ward, Osaka, Japan.
- Dainenbutsu-ji Temple (Buddhist temple, free): Dainenbutsu-ji is a Buddhist temple in Hirano-ku, Osaka, Japan.
- Hōkoku Shrine (Shinto shrine, free): Hōkoku Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Osaka, Japan.
- Taiyū-ji Temple (Buddhist temple, free): Taiyū-ji is a Buddhist temple in Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Kokubunji Temple (Buddhist temple, free): Kokubun-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Ikasuri Shrine (Shinto shrine, free): Ikasuri Shrine is a major Shinto shrine located in central Osaka, Japan.
- Yuki Museum of Art (Art museum): Yuki Museum of Art opened in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan, in 1987.
- Ikukunitama Shrine (Shinto shrine, free): Ikukunitama Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Tennōji-ku, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Shōren-ji Temple (Buddhist temple, free): Shōren-ji is a Buddhist temple in Tennōji-ku, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Fujita Art Museum (Art museum): The Fujita Art Museum is one of the largest private collections in the Kansai region.
- Umeda Arts Theater (Theatre): Umeda Arts Theater is a Japanese theater located at Chayamachi Applause in Chayamachi, Kita-ku, Osaka, operated by Umeda Arts Theater Co., Ltd.
- Hōon'-in Temple (Buddhist temple, free): Hōon'in is a Buddhist temple in Chūō-ku, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Shōen-ji Temple (Buddhist temple, free): Shōen-ji is a Buddhist temple in Abeno-ku, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Namba-yasaka Shrine (Shinto shrine, free): Shinto shrine in Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Namba Shrine (Shinto shrine, free): Shinto shrine in Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Isshin-ji Temple (Buddhist temple, free): Isshin-ji is a Pure Land Buddhist temple in Osaka, Japan.
- Nagai Botanical Garden (Botanic garden): The Nagai Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located in the southern part of Nagai Park, Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, Japan.
- Liberty Osaka (Museum): Liberty Osaka was a museum dedicated to human rights situated in Naniwa-ku, a ward in south Osaka City.
- Sakuya Konohana Kan (Botanic garden): The Sakuya Konohana Kan is a botanical garden set within one of the world's largest greenhouses, located in Tsurumi Ryokuchi park at 2-163 Ryokuchi Koen, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka, Japan.
- Sumiyoshi Park (Park, free): Sumiyoshi Park is an Osaka prefectural park in Hamaguchi-higashi Itchome, Suminoe-ku, Osaka, Japan.
- Hōzen-ji Temple (Buddhist temple, free): Hōzen-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Jōdo-shū sect in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan.
- Imamiya Ebisu Shrine (Shinto shrine, free): Imamiya Ebisu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Naniwa-ku, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Naniwa Nagara-Toyosaki Palace (Palace): Naniwa Nagara-Toyosaki Palace , is a historical palace which was located in present-day central Osaka, Japan.
- Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka (Art museum): Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka opened in Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan in 2022.
- NMB48 Theater (Theatre): Building in Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Namba Grand Kagetsu (Theatre): Building in Chuo-ku, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Sankō Shrine (Shinto shrine, free, hidden gem): Sankō Shrine is a Shinto shrine on a hill named Mt.
- Hattori Ryokuchi Arboretum (Botanic garden, hidden gem): The Hattori Ryokuchi Arboretum is an arboretum located within Hattori Ryokuchi Park at 1-13 Terauchi, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan.
- Kishibe Shrine (Shinto shrine, free, hidden gem): Kishibe tile kiln ruins is an archaeological site consisting of the remains of Heian period kilns located in what is now the Kishibe-kita neighborhood of the city of Suita, Osaka Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan
- Kawaguchi Christ Church Cathedral (Cathedral, free, hidden gem): Japanese church of the Anglican sect.
- Samuhara Shrine (Shinto shrine, free, hidden gem): Shinto shrine in Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Sukunahikona Shrine (Shinto shrine, free, hidden gem): Shinto shrine in Chūō-ku, Osaka.
- Tsuyu‑no‑Tenjinsha (Shinto shrine, free, hidden gem): Shinto shrine in Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Kakuman-ji Temple (Buddhist temple, free, hidden gem): Building in Kita-ku, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
- Shimo-fukushima Park (Park, free, hidden gem): Shimo-fukushima Park is a public urban park, situated at 4 chōme Fukushima in Fukushima-ku, Osaka, Japan.
- Utsubo Park (Park, free, hidden gem): Utsubo Park is a large public, urban park, situated at Utsubo-Hommachi in Nishi-ku, Osaka, Japan.
- Yahataya Park (Park, free, hidden gem): The Yahataya Sports Park Center also known as Yahataya Park is a park in Osaka, Japan
Where to eat and drink in Osaka
- Dotonbori, Namba: Neon canal-side street of takoyaki and okonomiyaki.
- Kuromon Market, Nippombashi: Grilled scallops, wagyu skewers and fresh sea urchin.
- Shinsekai, Naniwa: Retro district famous for kushikatsu skewers.
- Mizuno, Dotonbori: A queue-worthy okonomiyaki institution since 1945.
- Hōzenji Yokocho, Namba: Moss-covered temple and stone lane of tiny bars.
- La Cime, Osaka: Modern French cooking from one of Asia’s most admired kitchens.
- KAKAN, Osaka: Contemporary cuisine newly picked by Michelin.
- Time Out Market Osaka, Osaka: A food hall with the city’s best cooks under one roof.