5 days in Osaka

Day by day

1. Day 1: Osaka Castle and Dotonbori

   Osaka Castle, Dotonbori and Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory, then Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Osaka Castle

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

   2. Late morning

      Dotonbori

      Take a short canal cruise in the evening for a different angle on the neon, then eat your way along the street. (2 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Takoyaki

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

   4. Afternoon

      Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory

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

   5. Evening

      Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku

      Eat kushikatsu at a counter and remember the rule: dip each skewer in the shared sauce only once.

2. Day 2: Kuromon Market and Namba Yasaka Shrine

   Kuromon Market, Namba Yasaka Shrine and Hozenji Yokocho, then Universal Studios Japan in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Kuromon Market

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

   2. Late morning

      Namba Yasaka Shrine

      Combine it with Kuromon Market or Den Den Town; it takes just 15 minutes. (15–30 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Okonomiyaki

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

   4. Afternoon

      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. (30 minutes, free).

   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 Sumiyoshi Taisha, then Abeno Harukas 300 in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

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

   2. Late morning

      Shitenno-ji

      The outer grounds are free; pay only for the central precinct and the Gokuraku-jodo garden. (1 hour, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kushikatsu

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

   4. Afternoon

      Sumiyoshi Taisha

      Ride the Hankai tram from Tennoji or Ebisucho for a slower, scenic approach. (1 hour, free).

   5. Evening

      Abeno Harukas 300

      Clear winter days give the longest views; the department store below has a large food hall.

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. Best for first-timers, culture and couples.

   3. Evening

      Back in Osaka

      Dinner: try Kitsune udon.

5. Day 5: Amerikamura and Cupnoodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

   Amerikamura, Cupnoodles Museum Osaka Ikeda and Nakanoshima riverside and museums, then Dotonbori and Namba in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Amerikamura

      Try the area's famous takoyaki stands around Triangle Park and browse Orange Street's furniture and design shops nearby. (1–2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Cupnoodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

      Take the Hankyu Takarazuka line from Umeda to Ikeda, about 20 minutes, and arrive early on weekends for the workshop. (1.5 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kitsune udon

      Udon shops across the city, particularly around Shinsaibashi and Namba.

   4. Afternoon

      Nakanoshima riverside and museums

      Take a river cruise from Yodoyabashi or walk the riverside path at dusk when the buildings are lit. (2–3 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Dotonbori and Namba

      Bars, izakaya and karaoke along the canal and in the side streets.

Before you go

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

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 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 23–31 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 4 days in Osaka

Questions travellers ask