Osaka Prefecture independent travel guide (2025): top things to do, popular tourism attractions, itinerary planning, accommodation, food, transportation, weather, and more - everything you need to know (updated August 2025) | Trip.com
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Cute and spooky coexist! Halloween events that will make you scream and laugh at the same time@Universal Studios Japan
Experience the Blue Depths of Osaka Kaiyukan Under Moonlight@Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
M86***11:“Immerse yourself in Mario Kart and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and the park is packed with details! The Minions popcorn bucket is adorable, and the Halloween-only haunted house is so exciting that a whole day wouldn't be enough!”
136***05:“I went once in April. Because it was at night and time was limited, I only visited one or two pavilions. This time, I went again in July while taking students on a study tour. It was incredibly hot, and the experience was much worse than in April. The entrance line alone took almost two hours, and even after entering, there were still many lines. Combined with the weather, I was exhausted by the end. However, each pavilion had its own unique charm. I hope to visit again someday.”
M44***42:“👍 Osaka Sea Tour is worth a visit. 🌸 I finished playing Universal Studios and stayed nearby for one night. I went to the pier in the morning to buy tickets for the ➕ Hall. The cost is shown in the picture (only cash), and a paper will be given with a QR code on it. The boat will arrive on the other side in ten minutes. It is very convenient to scan the code to enter the museum directly. Note that the ticket office does not directly accept some APP orders, and don't make an appointment on the official website. You have to have a foreign mailbox to make an appointment. You can directly enter by buying a joint ticket directly at the pier. 🌸 content in the museum: mainly around a huge ocean pool to visit in a circle, tourists can enjoy the sea creatures of each water layer at three heights in high school and low school. I like this design. There are regular dolphins and penguins feeding performances in the museum. The animals are very active and in good spirits. The staff checks the animal body every day and makes feeding records. The animals live well. The design of the venue is very exquisite, the details are in place, and the experience is good. Souvenir shops can pay Alipay WeChat. recommend. 🌸 Food: After visiting the restaurant on the first floor, there is a light meal for drinks, and you can pay by Alipay WeChat.”
AlexisMazini:“I used to live close by, I was running 25k daily, perfect spot for running and having a chill day. There will be a lot of walking if you go by yourself, bring comfortable shoes and tons of water when summer.”
Open today at 09:00-18:00 (admission ends at 17:30)
逛东逛西的银溪:“It's about a 1.2-kilometer walk from two subway stations.
Through the lush greenery of Osaka Castle Park, you'll find the whitewashed, green-tiled castle tower. This five-story Japanese castle has eight floors for visitors, making it compact yet fully functional. My favorite is the holographic display on the seventh floor, which vividly depicts the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The view from the top observation deck is average. It's recommended to purchase e-tickets in advance (saving at least a half-hour in line) and take the stairs (elevator waits are longer). While some areas are windowless, the exquisite architecture and historical atmosphere are still worth a visit.
Adults under 15 are free. Adult tickets were purchased through Ctrip and were very reasonably priced.
We spent over three hours exploring almost all the exhibits and videos.”
Open today at 10:00-20:00 (admission ends at 19:30)
likesummerhot:“I booked my ticket early in the morning on Ctrip and lined up directly at the mobile ticket check-in machine. The video recording service was a thoughtful touch, so I didn't have to bring my phone. A unique experience in Osaka perfect for kids.”
ㅣreccoㅣ:“It is a shopping street with a long history.
It is an excellent place to explore the common people’s culture in Osaka, Japan.
The small shops on both sides are full of nostalgic style of the times.
A dazzling array of products and various specialty shops,
There are also very exaggerated signboards, which can take many good photos.
It is also a concentrated place for fried skewers.
You can feel the local people’s eating and party habits.”
Open today at 09:00-22:00(Tickets available until 21:30; admission ends at 21:30)
爱睡懒懒觉的我:“The observation deck is worth visiting. There is a shopping mall downstairs. I got a coupon for foreigners with a 5% discount. If you spend more than 5,500, you can go to the 3rd floor for tax-free shopping. You can go shopping for a whole day. It is a very good shopping mall. Children in the observation deck are half price. It is recommended that children buy tickets on site for cheaper prices. The 16th floor and below are free. After buying or exchanging tickets on the 16th floor, take the elevator to the 60th floor observation deck. When you look up from the elevator, you can see star-like lights. You can take videos. It feels like traveling through time. It is a very good experience.”
狗狗太上皇:“🌟Must-see photo spots (with best times)
1. Glico Sign
- 👉Camera locations: Middle of Ebisu Bridge (front view for panoramic shots), Riverside under the bridge (upward view with street view), 3rd floor of the drugstore across the street (close-up shots to avoid crowds)
- ⏰Time: No one's around before 9:00 AM! The atmosphere is even more dramatic at night when the lights are on (brightest from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM).
- ✨Tips: Wear light-colored clothing; the neon background is incredibly vibrant!
2. Dotonbori Canal
- 👉Camera locations: Walk along the riverside promenade, using the giant Crab Doraku sign or takoyaki model as your backdrop.
- ✨Tips: Have a friend take a photo from the other side, capturing the canal, lanterns, and you in the frame for a truly Japanese movie-inspired look! 3. American Village Graffiti Wall
- 👉Address: West side of Shinsaibashi (near Tanimachi 4-chome Subway Station)
- A variety of street-style graffiti and colorful shipping containers. Styling in trendy, cool clothes will make you look like you're in a magazine shoot!
4. European Village Cobblestone Street
- 👉Suochosuji Street, with its British-style streetlights and brick buildings. Strolling in a short skirt and snapping a few photos will instantly transform you into the streets of London~
👗Outfit Tips
- Japanese-Sweet Girl: Light-colored JK skirt/floral dress with white sneakers and a canvas bag.
- Street Style: Loose T-shirt, overalls, and sneakers. A baseball cap is even more striking.
- Retro Style: High-waisted jeans and a crop top. The retro poster wall at the entrance of Shinsaibashi PARCO is a perfect spot for photos!
📌 Tips
- Many drugstores have cartoon figures in front of them (like Matsumoto Kiyoshi's Kumamon), offering free photos with them—super cute!
- The cherry blossom season (March-April) and Christmas decorations (November-December) in front of Daimaru Department Store are great hidden photo spots.
- Go in the evening to take photos against the light—your hair will glow! Remember to use live mode to capture some moments!
Food and Prices
- Mizuno Okonomiyaki: Located at 1-4-15 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka, this okonomiyaki restaurant has been recognized by Michelin Guide for eight consecutive years. Both the yamanomiyaki and yakisoba okonomiyaki are highly recommended. The ingredients are plentiful and the portions are generous. The price per person is around 1,500 yen (approximately RMB 75).
- Shabucho: Located at 1-15-25 Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, the sukiyaki here is tender and the vegetables are well-seasoned. The lunch hour is a great value, with prices around 3,000 yen (approximately 150 RMB) per person.
- Kibitaki: Located on the 3rd floor of Samboa Bldg, 2-1-10 Shinsaibashisuji, this is a highly rated yakitori restaurant in Shinsaibashi. The yakitori is cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Prices are around 2,000 yen (approximately 100 RMB) per person.
- Daiki Suisan Conveyor Belt Sushi: Located on the 10th floor of Daimaru Department Store, the sushi is fresh, with prices ranging from 10 to 20 RMB per plate, or around 80 RMB per person.
- Yoshinoya: Across from Shinsaibashi-gu, they offer tempura, oden, udon, and more, with prices ranging from 35 to 60 RMB per person.”
Open today at 09:30-22:30 (admission ends at 22:00)
Cameo19:“Umeda sky building is particularly impressive if you go late afternoon towards sun set. It about 18 minutes walk from the nearest metro stop but definitely worth visiting. Unfortunately the art museum was closed for the day, didn’t realise is shut so early, nevertheless, if you walk to the top floor, then up the stairs to the outside section, you’ll have spectacular 360 views! You can also eat/drink or just watch if you can get a stool at the large window area. Theres also lots of restaurants and shopping nearby.”
Where to stay
Discover the most popular places to stay in Osaka Prefecture, complete with recommendations from fellow travelers and special hotel offers
没有蜡olling:“Takoyasu, a puffer fish restaurant, has a history of more than 80 years. The puffer fish in the restaurant is tender and delicious. Puffer fish sashimi, deep-fried puffer fish, puffer fish hot pot, cold puffer fish skin, grilled puffer fish, puffer fish porridge... all are delicious, but the stomach is so big”
没有蜡olling:“The decoration of the store is very Japanese, like a Japanese tea house, but there are only eight seats, which is hard to get. This is a husband-and-wife shop. The wife is responsible for serving wine and service, and the chef is responsible for the preparation of the kitchen dishes. The couple is warm and hospitable and very talkative. The wife is also responsible for making the last dessert in the set meal. The rice used in the store is the highest quality variety carefully selected from the wife's own farm.”
没有蜡olling:“I bought it with the intention of giving it a try [sad face] I found that there are no delicious souvenirs in Kyushu. I didn’t remember anything about the famous Hakata Dorimon after eating it. Fukutaro Akebi, which used to be one of the best in my heart, felt that it was just so-so after trying all the flavors this time. And since I found that the same manufacturer also produced similar regional specialties in Hokkien, and they were quite delicious, I [sad face]
There is so little souvenirs in the desert that I almost bought a lot of them in excitement when I returned to New Chitose [sad face]
Oh, but the Nagasaki cake of Fukusaya that I ate on the plane today was okay and too exquisite. It came in a cube box with two pieces and a foldable knife and fork. No wonder it is still on the list everywhere despite its small product line and low cost performance.”
没有蜡olling:“With only ten seats, this is the most difficult restaurant to book at the Osaka Marriott. Located on the 57th floor, you can overlook the entire Osaka Castle. During the meal, we also found the Tsutenkaku on the ground, which is very prominent but also very small. Many set meals can be upgraded to wagyu beef from different regions. The price of dinner is between 18,000-35,000 yen, and lunch is cheaper. The set meal I chose includes beef, scallops, fish, vegetables, etc., and there will be soup, rice, dessert and hot drinks at the end.”
Hanadan-go:“Kahara
▹Osaka|Kitashinchi|Creative cuisine
▹2 Michelin stars
▹Tabelog 4.27
2020 SILVER
「Creative cuisine」6 people/9703
Kahara will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2021.
Chef Yoshifumi Mori opened his own shop at the age of 26 and won numerous awards. Not only is he a master in cooking, but he is also quite accomplished in the production of lacquerware. He also held a solo exhibition of lacquerware in New York more than a decade ago. During the meal, lacquerware was on stage many times, and many works were made by Chef Mori.
Chef Farran Adrian of the world's top restaurant El Bulli commented, "Just being able to taste Chef Mori's delicious meal can be a reason to come to Osaka." Then he arranged for 10 employees of the store to come to Osaka from Spain and spend two days to fully experience Chef Mori's magical craftsmanship. I heard that there are also diners (tu) (hao) who roared in from overseas in their own helicopters. 🌚
Share a few standard dishes↴
The following dishes are not much different in form each time, but the sauces or ingredients are slightly different.
✦Mullet roe and buckwheat
✦Mille-feuille steak
✦Pre-drink: unfiltered and unpasteurized wine from Kashiwabara, Osaka.
✦Noto Peninsula scallops topped with celery and basil seed sauce.
✦Seaweed rolls with roasted Caciocavallo horseback cheese.
✦Eat the curry puffs first and then drink the homemade coffee oil, which just balances the spicy taste of the curry left in the mouth.
✦Light snow salt + several unique ingredients, YC is a standard ingredient that will be there every time.
✦ French snails are served with mature black garlic / abalone with Italian cheese / shrimp with Chinese-style chili sauce.”
李静静is:“Okonomiyaki (Umeda Sky Building Branch) is located at 1-1-90 Oyodonaka, Kita-KuUmeda Sky Bldg. B1F Takimi Koji 531-0076, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture. When we arrived, we saw many tourists dining there. There were several kinds of Okonomiyaki on the menu. The staff were very friendly and introduced them to us in English. The fried Okonomiyaki was hot and delicious, and the food was also crispy and had a good texture.”
空空CJ:“There are several things we really like about the breakfast in this hotel. First of all, the restaurant is divided into a central area and a surrounding area. The seats are generally arranged around the outer landscape windows of the entire restaurant, so the comfort and shielding of dining are quite good. Next, the breakfast includes a salad area, a fruit area (whole apples over 300g, kiwi and orange), a rice area, a Japanese noodle area, a bread area, a staple food area (creamy salmon, takoyaki, freshly fried omelette, bacon rolls), a beverage bar (fresh juice bottles), etc. To be honest, the entire supply is really generous, and you can definitely enjoy it leisurely and appreciate the city view. As a hearty breakfast before departure to draw a perfect end to the journey, this is definitely a good choice.”
Boye1:“It's on a small path inside Shinsaibashi, not very easy to find, but you can find it by following Baidu Maps. Kaiseki cuisine is very particular, and the dishes are prepared in advance, so it's best to arrive on time.”
M45***59:“My favorites are the fresh ginger mackerel and mushrooms and the olive beef tenderloin. The mackerel is very soft and goes well with the fresh ginger juice. The giant mushrooms are fragrant, the meat is firm and the taste is delicious.”
Boye1:“The restaurant is very small, with only 8 seats. Reservations must be made in advance and it is always fully booked. The dishes are very exquisite. Because there are always a group of people at a meal time, the owner and chef arranges the dishes according to the number of people.”
没有蜡olling:“I think this is the best Okonomiyaki I've ever had~ I highly recommend it! I feel so happy eating even the most ordinary tonkatsu~ Four young people next door walked out of the store and shouted: Delicious! I was shocked [poor]
It's really delicious. I'll go to Sennichimae's main store to try it next time I have time~”