Visiting Japan for the first time? Take a break from exploring the cultural treasures of Kyoto next door to spend at least one day in Osaka! On my second trip to Japan, I was finally able to carve out some time in Japan’s third-biggest city. And despite what I’d heard elsewhere, I found plenty to love in this delightfully massive city.

If I needed to jam all my favorites into a time-crunched Osaka itinerary, my trip would look quite different from my original haphazard journey.

I’d start the morning exploring Osaka Castle Park and the Shitennō-ji temple complex. Then, I’d head back into “reality” to explore the retro-nostalgic Shinsekai neighborhood and the commercial heart of Namba, Shinsaibashi. Finally, I’d end the evening under the neon lights of Dotonbori, searching for Osaka’s coolest restaurants & bars.

Ready to tackle the second-biggest metro area in Japan? Here’s my complete itinerary for what to do in Osaka in one day for first-time visitors…

Our recommendations for what to do in Osaka in one day

As much as I’d love to say that 24 hours in Osaka is enough to come to grips with the city, it’s not.

(Truthfully, I don’t think it’s enough for any city even close to this big, but we gotta work with the hands we’re dealt, right?)

Like most of our one-day itineraries, I’ve tried to minimize backtracking as much as possible. I modeled it mostly on a walking tour, sweeping through some of my favorite Osaka attractions in the city center rather than zipping around on public transportation to farther-flung areas in the city like Umeda.

I’ll admit: This time-crunched Osaka trip itinerary might feel a tad rushed for some travelers. You’ll thank me later, though. I designed it to paint a well-rounded view of the city that should keep you interested throughout.

With that, let’s lace up our walking shoes; we’ve got a busy day ahead!

Beat your early morning blues at Osaka Castle

Managed to drag your jet-lagged body out of bed? After exploring much of the city, I don’t think there’s any better place to start exploring Osaka than at its most famous attraction: Osaka Castle.

Fortunately, we won’t need to battle our morning blues too early.

Osaka Castle doesn’t open until 9 am. I’d suggest heading over a little earlier, though.

Start with a quick wander around Osaka Castle Park before checking out the castle itself. The park stretches over two square kilometers. It’s crisscrossed by walking paths that shuttle between gardens and all the facilities of the castle.

If you’re lucky enough to plan your visit in spring, one of the ideal seasons to visit Osaka, the true stars of Osaka Castle Park come to shine. The park is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places to see cherry blossoms in Osaka.

(Just don’t be surprised when what seems like the entire city of Osaka has the same idea!)

Osaka Castle Park also hosts a plum orchard with over 1,200 trees and a peach grove. The plum blossoms here are earlier than the cherry blossoms, starting in January and peaking in February.

While you’re roaming around the park, I’d also recommend checking out the park’s Nishinomaru Garden. 

Of all the cherry blossom viewing spots in Osaka, this garden is among the finest. Nishinomaru Garden is decked out with about 600 cherry trees. During sakura, you may even want to return in the evening for a festive cherry blossom viewing party with some new Osakan friends.

Nishinomaru Garden opens at 9 am and costs ¥200 to enter. (NOTE: It’s closed on Mondays.)

Oh, and, let’s not forget about the actual castle!

Before stepping foot in the city, I knew Osaka Castle was one of the most recognizable landmarks in Japan. The castle started its history in 1583 under legendary warrior Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The original castle is, of course, long gone. What you’ll see today hails from the intra-war period.

A renovation in 1997 spruced up Osaka Castle into the fine specimen we see today. Step inside the distinctive feudal castle tower to explore the eight-floor museum, depicting the castle’s storied history.

Even if the museum’s artifacts and models don’t interest you, I’d recommend scaling up to the top floor of Osaka Castle. Standing on the observation deck and enjoying stunning views over the city’s modern core was my own favorite experience here.

Indulge in Osaka’s spiritual side at Shitennō-ji

Leaving Osaka Castle, it’s about a 20-minute walk via Ōte-mon Gate to Temmabashi or Tanimachiyonchome Station.

(When I walked this route myself, I was shocked that most of the trip was within the castle grounds itself; the park is really that big!)

Let’s save ourselves over 45 minutes of walking by hopping on a subway due south to Shitennōji-mae Yūhigaoka Station. From here, it’s a short 10-minute walk to our next stop: Shitennō-ji. The temple is the most important Buddhist site in the city—and one of the most beautiful I visited within the city center.

With renovations finished in 2018, there’s never been a better time to slip into Shitenno-ji, one of Japan’s oldest temples.

Several fires have gutted the temple’s main buildings since their original 593 founding. Each repair, however, left Shitennō-ji still looking much like its dapper ol’ self. (Not bad for a 1400-year-old, I’d say!)

Like so many temples I visited around Japan, wandering around the outer grounds of Shitenno-ji is free. In my opinion, though, the real stunner here lies in the Gokuraku-jodo Garden (¥300).

Gokuraku-jodo Garden is Japanese landscaping at its finest. I love strolling here through winding paths, passing ponds flanked by wispy cherry trees. The garden is a near-perfect escape from the city. (Even if you just started your day!)

Besides the garden, I’d recommend that history and culture buffs carve out time for Shitenno-ji’s Treasure House (¥500). The museum houses several ancient Buddhist artifacts, including relics, scriptures, and artwork. The collection includes many officially listed Japanese National Treasures.

Explore the “New World” at Shinsekai

After exploring the cultural treasures of Shitenno-ji, let’s saunter west. Just 15 minutes away by foot awaits the wacky world of Shinsekai, one of the most interesting areas of the city.

Although I’d already explored much of Namba, Shinsekai came as a huge surprise. Unlike Dotonbori’s modern neon-washed façade, this area has a more retro-nostalgic feeling, also carnival-like.

Osaka’s “New World” is an early-20th-century concoction. It was built to celebrate an optimistic vision of the future.

In the years surrounding World War I, Shinsekai soared. Crowds from all over Japan swung by to see the area’s futurism in action. It wasn’t long, though, before the act grew old and the area languished. The destruction of its centerpiece, Tsutenkaku Tower, during World War II in 1943 seemed to all but seal Shinsekai’s fate.

Fortunately, that too was short-lived.

Seeing an opportunity to lift Osakans’ spirits from their postwar blues, the city decided to rebuild Tsutenkaku Tower, surging new life into Shinsekai as restaurants, bars, and cinemas sprouted up around it.

The post-WWII reconstruction lacks the original’s grandiose ambitions. Still, Shinsekai remains one of Osaka’s weirdest places to wander around.

The colorful, over-the-top signage, caught in a bygone era, is overwhelming even by Japanese standards. Sure, it’s kitschy. It feels more like an over-caffeinated amusement park than a real city district. But it’s not something I’d recommend missing while visiting Osaka—even if you’re tight for time.

Love heights? One of the coolest things to do in Shinsekai is scaling up to the 91-metre-high open-air observatory at Tsutenkaku Tower.

To be sure, I saw much bigger views elsewhere in the city. (Umeda Sky Building and Abeno Harukas come to mind.) The view from the tower, however, throws down a unique perspective on the city.

Besides overloading your senses, Shinsekai is also a popular place to grab a bite to eat. (And after chowing down on a few great meals of my own here, I’d give it the thumbs up, too!)

Most of the restaurants in Shinsekai deal in traditional Kansai favorites. A few of my favorites?

• Try takoyaki (fried octopus balls) at Takoyaki Senju (2 Chrome-4-1 Ebisuhigashi).
• I loved chowing down on the kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) at Kushikatsu Daruma (2 Chome-3-9 Ebisuhigashi), a popular local chain with branches all over the city.
• You can’t go wrong with the okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancakes) at Okonomiyaki Chitose (1 Chome-11-10 Taishi). 

Dispense with your yen in Shinsaibashi

From Shinsekai, it’s a 30-minute walk through the heart of Namba to Shinsaibashi, Osaka’s top shopping destination. Even if you don’t get jazzed about fashion boutiques, there’s plenty to keep you busy in this bustling neighborhood.

Much of the buzz in Shinsaibashi centers around Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street. This covered shopping arcade stretches almost 600 meters north-south between Dotonbori and Nagahori-dori, one block east of the main drag of Mido-suji.

I found covered shopping streets all over Osaka. But this one is special. About 180 stores dwell within the arcade and its offspring alleyways alone!

Walking down Shinasaibashi-suji Shopping Street, I spotted everything from high-end fashion brands to small independent restaurants & teashops. If you forgot anything on your Japan packing list, I guarantee you’ll find it here.

Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street sees an average of 60,000 visitors per weekday and double on weekends. (I’m mildly claustrophobic, so, believe me, I noticed.)

Once you’ve battled the crowds, head west and cross over Mido-suji to America-mura (American Village).

Spinning around Sankaku Koen Park, America-mura is one of Osaka’s most vibrant areas, famous for its forward-facing youth culture. (Think: Osaka’s answer to Harajuku in Tokyo.)

The neighborhood’s history digs back to the 1970s. Savvy young entrepreneurs swooped in to swap out the district’s warehouses and lumber yards for retail shops. The stores brought all the snazziest Western fashion & cultural trends of the times to the streets of Osaka.

Although it’s fallen out of style with the upscale fashion-forward crowd, America-mura is, in my opinion, still a cool place to hang out and explore.

Wandering the streets of America-mura, I loved popping into vintage shops to check out old retro band t-shirts and record shops to thumb through classic vinyl records. (I found more of the latter east of Yotsubashi-suji, rather than in America-mura itself.)

America-mura gets especially colorful on weekends when the area’s avenues fill with street performances, fashion shows, and flea markets.

Eat under the neon lights of Dotonbori

All that shopping and exploring is bound to strike up an appetite, no? Let’s tackle it full force by heading south to Dotonbori. Lining the Dotonbori-gawa Canal, the area is Osaka’s most famous entertainment district—and, in my opinion, the most interesting part of the city.

In the past, Dotonbori was famed for hosting the city’s most popular theatrical venues and geisha. Today, Dotonbori has reinvented itself as the city’s top gastronomical destination. (It might even be one of the best I’ve visited on my trips to Japan!)

This district is where you see the city’s motto—kuidaore (eat ’til you drop)—most in action. Strolling the streets and alleyways spoking from the canal, I saw everything from restaurants and izakaya to karaoke bars and tachinomi (standing bars).

The focus in Dotonbori is, of course, regional Kansai cuisine. But you shouldn’t be surprised to find a taste of a little of everything from around Japan here. Try out some of these popular restaurants in the area:

• Kushikatsu Daruma Dotombori (1 Chome-6-8 Dotonbori): A popular local restaurant chain that’s served up delicious kushi-katsu (deep-fried meat & vegetable skewers) since 1929.
• Okonomiyaki Mizuno (1 Chome-4-15 Dotonbori): A famous family-owned okonomiyaki joint in the heart of Dotonbori.
• Kani Douraku (1 Chome-6-18 Dotonbori): The most popular crab restaurant in Osaka, whose giant moving crab sign is almost as famous as their food.
• Takoyaki Kukuru (1 Chome-10-5 Dotonbori): The original stall of what’s often hailed as the tastiest takoyaki (fried octopus balls) in Osaka. Look out for the unmissable octopus statue wrapped around its sign.

Get a taste of old Osaka at Hozen-ji Yokocho

Two blocks south of Dotonbori, let’s transport ourselves to the Japan of yesteryear at the atmospheric Hozen-ji Yokocho. This narrow alleyway stretches about 80 meters, hiding dozens of small bars and restaurants. Walking here, reminded me of Golden Gai in Tokyo, only at a smaller scale.

If you’ve still got room after our Dotonbori adventure, stop into the restaurants along Hozen-ji Yokocho to sample some of the tastiest food in Osaka, from okonomiyaki to katsudon.

While exploring Hozen-ji Yokocho, be sure to stop in at the laneway’s namesake, Hozen-ji Temple. Although it was one of the smaller temples I visited in Osaka, it offers a nice respite from the crowded streets of Namba.

After World War II, nothing remained of this 17th-century temple aside from a single statue that miraculously survived. The now moss-covered statue depicts the Buddhist spirit Fudo Myo-o. It’s become an important symbol for Osaka’s rebirth following its near-total destruction during WWII.

Where to stay with 24 hours in Osaka

With the city’s massive size and sprawl, nailing down where to stay in Osaka isn’t always a cinch. Like in other massive East Asian megalopolises, options in Osaka are plentiful. (Too plentiful at times, if you ask me!)

For a tourist with one day in Osaka, I’d recommend narrowing your accommodations search to one of the main districts in Chuo Ward. My favorite areas to stay in the city include Namba, Dotonbori, or Shinsaibashi.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few recommendations:

Getting there

By air

Osaka is served by Kansai International Airport (KIX), located about 50 kilometers southwest of the city center. Several international airlines fly into KIX, including:

• All Nippon Airways (ANA)
• Japan Airlines
• Jetstar Japan

By train

In my experience, getting to Osaka from other major Japanese cities is a cinch with Japan Rail. If you’re planning on traveling from Tokyo or beyond, I’d usually recommend picking up a Japan Rail Pass.

Check out our Japan Rail pass guide to see if it’s worth it.

Spoiler alert: It usually is. With little more than two shinkansen (bullet train) rides, I covered the cost of my pass on my last trip to Japan.

For sticking around Kansai, the budget-friendly JR-West Kansai Rail Pass is an even better option. It includes travel between Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, and Himeji.

Here are some sample train journey times and fares to Osaka:

• Tokyo: Hikari (3 hours; ¥13,620), Kodama (4 hours; ¥13,620), Nozomi* (2 hours 35 minutes; ¥14,500)
• Kyoto: Shin-Osaka Shinkansen (12 minutes; ¥1,420), JR Kyoto Line Special Rapid Service (23 minutes; ¥560)

* not covered by the Japan Rail Pass

How to maximize your 1-day Osaka itinerary: Tips, tweaks & more places to visit

Got a little more time or want to swap out a few of these suggestions? Here are some other recommendations to cram into your 1-day Osaka itinerary:

Beyond Osaka in one day: Where to go next

• Kyoto: The cultural treasures of the formal imperial capital of Japan are less than 30 minutes from central Osaka. Get started planning your trip with this complete itinerary for one day in Kyoto.
• Tokyo: Few cities in the world will grab your attention and grip it like Japan’s mega-capital. Squeeze the most of your visit by starting with these suggestions for how to spend one day in Tokyo.
• Nara: Become enchanted by the cultural treasures and free-roaming deer (yes, deer!) on the streets of Japan’s first capital city. Nara is one of the best day trips from Osaka. Best of all, it’s a short 45-minute train ride from the city. Plan your day with this guide for 24 hours in Nara.

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