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Osaka

Kansai, Japan · City

This city eats standing up and out loud: the neon of Dotonbori over the canal, takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu, the izakaya alleys of Ura-Namba and, around Tenma station, the densest cluster of stand-up bars in Japan. Kitsune udon was invented here, and Osaka was pressing sushi in wooden boxes before Tokyo got round to nigiri. It is also home to Taro Okamoto's Tower of the Sun, seventy metres of sculpture you walk inside.

The essentials

Minimum days2
Spend levelMid
Physical difficultyEasy
Off the beaten track1/5

Getting there

Train — Kansai International Airport (KIX), a major train and Shinkansen hub

Needs an overnight stay: it does not work well as a day trip. Has an international airport.

Frequently asked questions about Osaka

How many days do you need in Osaka?

2 days minimum for it to be worth it. There are 83 documented activities in Osaka, so it keeps giving with more time.

How do you get to Osaka?

Train: Kansai International Airport (KIX), a major train and Shinkansen hub. It has an international airport, so it also works as an entry or exit point for the country.

When is the best time to visit Osaka?

It can be visited year-round, but 8 of the things worth doing there happen only on specific dates, and they cluster in March and July.

Can you visit Osaka in a day?

Not advisable. Osaka needs at least 2 nights: what makes it good is spread out, and one day only scratches the surface.

What must you see in Osaka?

What is marked as a must-see: Evening stroll through Dotonbori; Inside the Tower of the Sun; Street food tour (takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu).

Is Osaka expensive?

Spend level mid by Japanese standards. Factor in the per-night tourist tax as well, which varies from city to city.

What to do in Osaka: 83 activities

What only happens on specific dates

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Chains well with

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