4 days in Osaka

Day by day

1. Day 1: Osaka Castle and Dotonbori

   Osaka Castle, Dotonbori and Kuromon Market, then Hozenji Yokocho in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Osaka Castle

      Allow 2–3 hours (low cost). Walk the outer moat and the Sakuramon Gate for the best views of the stone walls, and come early in cherry-blossom season.

   2. Late morning

      Dotonbori

      Food stalls sell takoyaki and kushikatsu, and the Tombori River Walk runs along the canal.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Takoyaki

      Stands all over Dotonbori, Amerikamura and Shinsekai; many have counters to eat at.

   4. Afternoon

      Kuromon Market

      Allow 1 hour (mid-priced). Prices are high for street food; compare a few stalls, and go mid-morning when everything is fresh.

   5. Evening

      Hozenji Yokocho

      Splash water on the statue with the ladle and make a wish, as locals do, then eat at one of the alley's okonomiyaki or kushikatsu restaurants.

2. Day 2: Namba Yasaka Shrine and Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory

   Namba Yasaka Shrine, Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory and Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku, then Universal Studios Japan in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Namba Yasaka Shrine

      This small shrine a short walk from Namba is known for its 12-metre stage built in the shape of a giant lion's head with an open mouth, said to swallow bad luck and bring success in business and exams.

   2. Late morning

      Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory

      Allow 1 hour (mid-priced). Go at sunset and stay for the night view; the basement has a recreated Showa-era food street.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Okonomiyaki

      Okonomiyaki restaurants in Namba, Dotonbori and Umeda, many with hotplates at the table.

   4. Afternoon

      Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku

      The current tower, rebuilt in 1956, has an observation deck, a statue of the good-luck god Billiken and an outdoor slide down its side.

   5. Evening

      Universal Studios Japan

      Arrive well before opening on a weekday, and head first for the area you care about most.

3. Day 3: Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan and Shitenno-ji

   Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Shitenno-ji and Abeno Harukas 300, then Amerikamura in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

      Allow 2–3 hours (mid-priced). Go in the late afternoon on weekdays when school groups have left; combine with the Tempozan Ferris wheel next door.

   2. Late morning

      Shitenno-ji

      Its five-storey pagoda, main hall and corridors have been rebuilt several times but keep the original Asuka-period layout, and the stone torii at the west gate is one of the oldest in Japan.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kushikatsu

      Counter restaurants in Shinsekai, the home of the dish, and around Namba.

   4. Afternoon

      Abeno Harukas 300

      Allow 1 hour (mid-priced). Clear winter days give the longest views; the department store below has a large food hall.

   5. Evening

      Amerikamura

      Try the area's famous takoyaki stands around Triangle Park and browse Orange Street's furniture and design shops nearby.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Kyoto

   About 15–45 minutes by train each way. Getting there: Shinkansen, JR special rapid, or Hankyu and Keihan lines.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Kyoto

      About 15–45 minutes by train (Shinkansen, JR special rapid, or Hankyu and Keihan lines); about 45 km.

   2. Day

      Kyoto

      Japan's former imperial capital has Fushimi Inari's torii gates, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji and the geisha district of Gion. It deserves more than a day, but a well-planned day covers the east side.

   3. Evening

      Back in Osaka

      Dinner: try Kitsune udon.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Universal Studios Japan and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 nights, Namba and Dotonbori keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Umeda ($$$) suits first-timers, shopping, luxury and families. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 19–25 hours of visiting over 4 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.8 hours in December to 14.5 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Osaka
• 2 days in Osaka
• 3 days in Osaka
• 5 days in Osaka

Questions travellers ask