How I Spent 72 Hours in Osaka, Japan [Things To Do, What To Eat]

Osaka, Japan, is a bustling metropolis that perfectly mixes the old and new with historic temples and modern skyscrapers. The city also has arguably the best food scene in a country known for its incredible cuisine.

Osaka has grown to become one of Japan’s biggest cities and an incredibly popular travel destination in the Kansai area, thanks to its fascinating history, beautiful castles and shrines, high-end shopping, and incredible street food.

Although I have been to Osaka several times, my most recent visit was my wife’s first time. So, I was super excited to explore the city with her, even if I had visited some of the sites before.

A lot of what we did in Osaka is from a first-timer’s perspective mixed in with random things that I found fascinating. Here’s an in-depth look at how we spent 72 hours in Osaka, Japan.

Arriving in Osaka

Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Itami Airport (ITM) serve the Osaka area. Itami Airport is much closer to Osaka and accommodates domestic flights within Japan. Kansai International Airport serves both domestic and international flights, including all flights from the U.S.

You can fly nonstop between several U.S. airports and Osaka (KIX) on 3 different airlines:

Where To Stay in Osaka

Osaka is a relatively large city with 2 main urban hubs, Kita and Minami (which mean “north” and “south” in Japanese, respectively). Staying in one of these areas will provide the most convenience; however, Osaka also has excellent public transportation, making anywhere in the city easily accessible.

Here’s a look at some of the more popular and convenient areas in Osaka:

Kita Ward (Umeda)

Kita is Osaka’s most important transport hub, as 4 different train lines pass through (the JR line, Hankyu line, Keihan line, and Hanshin line). These offer excellent connections all across Osaka and to farther destinations, including Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe.

Kita is also a major shopping, dining, and entertainment district with many large malls and popular restaurants. Kita also has several tourist attractions, including the Umeda Sky Building.

The area also has many of Osaka’s most luxurious hotels, including the Four Seasons Hotel Osaka, The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka, Conrad Osaka, The Westin Osaka, InterContinental Osaka, and Hilton Osaka.

Minami Ward (Namba, Honmachi, Shinsaibashi)

Osaka’s second major hub is Minami, home to the Namba, Honmachi, and Shinsaibashi neighborhoods. The area is relatively central (about 20 minutes to Shin-Osaka and 30 minutes to Universal Studios Japan).

Namba has more shopping, nightlife, and some of Osaka’s most incredible street food. The Minami area contains major Osaka tourist attractions, such as Dotonbori, Kuromon Market, and Namba Yasaka Jinja.

There are more budget-friendly hotels in the Minami area, including Western chains such as Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka, W Osaka, Moxy Osaka Honmachi, and Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba. We spent a couple of nights at the Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka.

Tennoji Ward (Shinsekai)

Lastly, there is the Tennoji ward, home to the area called Shinsekai (or “New World”), a bustling and colorful district with many restaurants and souvenir shops. Tennoji Park, Tsūtenkaku Tower, and Osaka’s tallest building, Abeno Harukas, are in Tennoji.

The area is more budget-friendly than most others in Osaka. However, some Western hotels are nearby, including the Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel.

Day 1

After arriving in Osaka via an overnight bus from Tokyo at around 7 a.m., we headed straight to and checked in at the Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka. After dropping off our bags and freshening up, we were ready to explore Osaka.

We began the day by visiting the Osaka Castle area to learn about the city’s fascinating history. We then visited one of Osaka’s most famous markets before shopping for pop culture items and games.

Osaka Museum of History

We first went to the Osaka Museum of History, just across the street from Osaka Castle and Naniwa Palace Ruins.

The museum had numerous exhibits showcasing the city’s nearly 1,400-year-old history, from when Osaka was Japan’s first capital to the early Showa period when political power shifted from an oligarchy to the parliament and democratic parties. A massive collection of models and full-scale reconstructions was displayed across the museum’s several floors.

From the entrance hall, visitors can take the elevators up to the 10th floor, which is dedicated to the ancient period. On this floor, there was a partial reconstruction of the Daigokuden of the Nara period Naniwa Palace. Several life-sized replicas of the vermillion-painted pillars were surrounded by mannequins in period court dress.

The ninth floor focused on the Middle Ages and early modern periods and featured exhibits on Osaka during the Edo period and hundreds of miniatures.

The eighth and seventh floors featured artwork from the modern and contemporary periods. Many realistically reproduced displays of the late Taisho and early Showa periods were on display, as were more modern representations of Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori.

You could see Osaka Castle from the windows near the escalators between the museum floors. Despite the glare from the windows, this was one of my favorite views of the castle in the city.

The museum’s admission fee was ¥600 (about $4). However, a combination ticket with admission to the Osaka Castle was available for ¥1,000 (about $7), which is what we got, as we were visiting both sites.

The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Tuesdays when it is closed. The closest station to the museum is Tanimachi Yonchome Station on the Tanimachi and Chuo subway lines, a 5-minute walk away. 

If you are traveling on a JR Pass, the closest JR station is Morinomiya Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line, which is approximately a 25-minute walk from the museum.

Osaka Castle

Next, we headed to Osaka’s most recognizable attraction and landmark, Osaka Castle, which was about a 10-minute walk away. Since we already had our tickets, we could skip the queue to purchase tickets, which was about an hour long.

The construction of Osaka Castle began in 1583 on the site of the former Ishiyama Honganji Temple. It was built under the leadership of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a powerful feudal lord and warrior during the Sengoku period, who intended it to become the center of a new, unified Japan under his rule.

However, just a few years after Hideyoshi’s death in 1598, Tokugawa troops attacked and destroyed the castle and ended the Toyotomi lineage.

The museum was rebuilt in 1931 with more modern construction. It miraculously survived citywide air raids during World War II. In 1998, Osaka Castle underwent major repairs and is now quite modern on the inside. It also has elevators for easier accessibility.

The castle boasted an informative museum on several floors that depicts its history, including that of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Much of the interior furnishings (as well as the exterior awnings) featured gold.

The castle also offered incredible views from the top floor. From there, you could see many skyscrapers across Osaka, Osaka Castle Park, and Nishinomaru Garden nearby.

Below, you could also see the castle tower’s surroundings, which included secondary citadels, gates, turrets, impressive stone walls, and moats.

Osaka Castle is open daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (last admission is at 4:30 p.m.). The closest station is Tanimachi Yonchome Station along the Tanimachi and Chuo subway lines. The closest JR station is Osakajokoen Station on the JR Loop Line.

Kuromon Ichiba Market

After several hours exploring the Osaka Museum of History and Osaka Castle, we were quite hungry. So we decided to get some food. We headed to Kuromon Ichiba Market, Osaka’s most famous fresh seafood market, often called “Osaka’s Kitchen.”

Kuromon Market, a traditional public marketplace that stretches for about half a kilometer, is parallel to Sakaisujidori Street in the Minami area of Osaka. It is a 5-minute walk from the Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka, where we stayed.

The market, which dates back to the Edo period, has over 150 shops that predominantly sell fish, meat, and produce. However, some shops also sell traditional Japanese sweets and other goods, including low-priced clothes and souvenirs.

You could try a multitude of street food at the market, including grilled seafood like sea urchin, eel, crab legs, oysters, yakitori, and Osaka’s street food staple, takoyaki. The food was incredibly fresh, and the market was frequented by the itamaes (chefs) of many Japanese restaurants in the area.

I was thoroughly impressed by the selection of seafood. There were also vendors selling wholesale seafood, including one specifically for king crab.

We tried an eel rice bowl with miso soup at an izakaya eatery. As expected, the meal was absolutely delicious.

Kuromon Market is less than a 5-minute walk from Nipponbashi Station on the Sennichimae and Sakaisuji subway lines and less than a 10-minute walk from Namba Station.

Den Den Town

In Nipponbashi, just 10 minutes from Kuromon Market, Den Den Town (commonly referred to as Denki Machi, or “Electric Town’) is Osaka’s pop culture hub and a shopping destination for Japanese anime, manga, and cosplay fans, similar to Tokyo’s famous Akihabara area.

The area has long been known for its cheap electronics and appliance stores. Still, it has more recently become well-known as Osaka’s center of otaku culture (otaku are characterized by their deep passion for their chosen interests, particularly in anime, manga, and video games).

On our visit, hundreds of stores sold anime merchandise, including plastic models, action figures, artwork, cosplay goods, and trading cards. The area also had many game centers, Gachapon capsule toy arcades, and maid cafes.

However, the area was not only for those looking for anime and manga. Numerous shops in the area sold all types of electronics, including computers, cameras, and video games (including retro game consoles from over 20 years ago).

As I’m someone who loves anime, Den Den Town was a lot of fun. Although I have been here several times over the years, I always discover new shops or retro items I had never seen before. I spent a lot of time and money in Den Den Town.

Day 2

After an incredible first day filled with history, incredible street food, and shopping, we wanted more of the same. Except, on this day, we decided to venture further out to Umeda.

Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

We started the day by visiting the Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda in Ikeda City, the birthplace of instant noodles. The museum, which opened in 1999, teaches the history of instant noodles and conveys the importance of innovation and discovery.

The museum featured massive displays with over 1,000 instant ramen noodle packages and a history of instant noodles, from how they are made so efficiently to how they have become such a global phenomenon.

In 1958, Momofuku Ando invented the world’s first instant ramen noodles after a year of research using common tools in a shed he had built in his backyard. After 13 years of perfecting his craft, Momofuku then invented Cup Noodles, transforming instant noodles into a global food.

The museum also offered a hands-on food education approach in the form of an experimental kitchen lab, where you can draw your cup design, choose a soup, select ingredients, and produce your own Cup Noodles. There was also a dining area where you could sit and enjoy different types of Cup Noodles.

Of course, we decided to have a bowl.

The museum is open daily between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. There is no admission fee, though fees are charged at some of the museum facilities: the Chicken Ramen Factory costs ¥1,000 (around $7), and the My Cup Noodles Factory was ¥500 (around $3.50) for each bowl.

Pokémon Center Osaka

Pokémon, also known as Pocket Monster, is one of the most recognizable games and anime worldwide. As a 1990s kid, I spent thousands of hours watching the Pokémon anime, trading its cards, and playing numerous handheld Pokemon video games.

In the game, you would visit a Pokémon Center to rest your Pokémon after battle. However, in real life, you can also visit Pokémon Centers to browse and buy various Pokémon merchandise. There are numerous Pokémon Centers across Japan, each with unique features that make visiting each store a new experience. 

Although I have been to several of them, this was my first time visiting the one in Osaka. The Pokémon Center Osaka is on the 13th floor of the Daimaru Umeda Store.

As with many Pokémon Centers, much of the space was dedicated to plush Pokémon toys. Thousands of these plush toys were available, though the most beloved Pokémon characters were in much lower supply.

I really wanted to buy another plush toy, but I couldn’t because of space restrictions from all the shopping we did in Japan.

In addition to the plush toys, numerous other Pokémon products were available throughout the store, such as the latest Pokémon video games, collectible cards, booster packs, Poké Balls, and even socks!

Overall, Pokémon Centers are an absolute treat for fans and enthusiasts alike. They offer a unique experience that invites visitors to the vibrant world of Pokémon and are like havens for Pokémon lovers.

I had a blast at this location and picked up a few stickers, a reusable shopping bag, socks, and a luggage tag.

Nintendo Osaka

Next, we headed to the Nintendo Store Osaka, also on the 13th floor, on the other side of the mall from the Pokémon Center Osaka.

Nintendo, the popular Japanese video game company, has official Nintendo Stores nationwide where you can buy various themed goods, such as clothing, action figures, tableware, stationery, and popular video games.

You can also find plush toys of various Nintendo characters, including many famous ones like Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Princess Peach, Wario, and Bowser, among others.

You could also find nearly every Nintendo video game and console, which is why we came to the Nintendo Store in the first place.

My wife had been asking for a Nintendo Switch for a couple of months, and I thought this would be the perfect place to purchase it. You could customize the device to your liking, and the price was significantly better than when purchased back in the U.S.

After browsing the various games and consoles, we purchased a Nintendo Switch. We spoke to an incredibly helpful Nintendo store employee who noted our color combinations on a sheet of paper before we paid.

We got the Nintendo Switch’s OLED version, purple and green joysticks to pair with it, and a physical copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

The Nintendo Switch cost just under ¥38,000 (about $260), considerably less than its price in the U.S. ($350). However, the best part was being able to choose the joystick color for free, which is an additional charge in the U.S.

Dotonbori

After a few hours of shopping, we headed to Dotonbori, Osaka’s most popular tourist, shopping, entertainment, and nightlife destination. The Dotonbori area, often called Osaka’s Times Square, stretches along the Dotonbori Canal from the Dotonboribashi Bridge to the Nipponbashi Bridge in the Namba district.

Dotonbori is a major business and shopping district in Osaka and often serves as a city symbol. Its origins date back to the early 1600s, when a local businessman wished to increase commercial opportunities in the district. 

It is especially popular for food crawlers. The area is lined with hundreds of Osaka’s most famous and largest restaurants, which compete for business with massive neon signs and other attention-grabbing items like large, mechanical crabs. In addition to the restaurants, many takoyaki stalls are scattered around the area.

After walking around Dotonbori for approximately 30 minutes, we decided to eat ramen again after the wonderful experience at the Cup Noodles Museum earlier in the day.

We found an izakaya, an Japanese bar that serves inexpensive alcoholic drinks and snacks. Although it’s not extremely common to find an izakaya that serves ramen, this one did. And the food was amazing.

The easiest way to Dotonbori is via Namba Station. You can take the Midosuji line directly to Namba from Osaka or Umeda stations.

Alternatively, Namba Station is served by other lines: the Sennichimae line and Yotsubashi line on the Osaka Municipal Subway and the Nankai Main Line and Nankai Koya line on the Nankai Railway.

Day 3

After 2 incredibly fun and busy days in Osaka, we wanted to make the last day a bit easier. We first headed to an interesting shrine and then to an observation deck to see the city from above.

Namba Yasaka Jinja

Although Osaka’s Namba area is well-known for many different things (eating, drinking, and shopping, to name a few), shrines and temples aren’t exactly at the top of the list. However, there is a relatively famous one in the area: Namba Yasaka Jinja.

Namba Yasaka is known for its stage, which is shaped like a lion’s head. This unique piece of architecture is a distinct place of worship and is significantly different from the thousands of more traditional Japanese shrines in the Kansai area.

The lion’s head stage, built in 1975, is believed to consume evil spirits and bring good luck, particularly in business matters. Because of this, people often visit the shrine during the beginning or end of the financial year.

Namba Yasaka Jinja is a 8-minute walk from Namba Station. It is open daily between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and has no admission fee.

Tennoji Park

We then headed to Tennoji Park, a garden oasis with expansive lawns in the heart of the bustling city. I’ve always said that great cities usually have good public parks and open spaces, and Osaka was no exception.

The park grounds are home to the Tennoji Zoo, the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts, a Buddhist temple, a traditional Japanese garden, a soccer field, a children’s playground, an ancient burial ground, and several cafes and shops. The area is a popular picnic and recreation space.

Tennoji Park is free and accessible via Tennoji Station, served by the JR Loop Line, JR Hanwa Line, JR Yamatoji Line, Tanimachi Subway Line, and the Midosuji Subway Line. The park grounds are open daily between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Tsutenkaku Tower

Next, we headed to what I consider to be the coolest building in Osaka: Tsutenkaku Tower. Originally built in 1912, it was designed to mimic the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. At 64 meters (210 feet), it was the second-tallest building in Asia at the time.

However, a fire in 1943 severely damaged the tower. Instead of being repaired, it was disassembled, rebuilt, and completed in 1956. Hitachi, the Japanese engineering and electronics company, sponsors the tower. The light designs on the exterior of the building display Hitachi advertisements.

Tsutenkaku Tower also has an open-air observatory deck that offers panoramic views of Osaka. This was the main reason we wanted to visit, as admission prices were significantly lower than those of many of Osaka’s other observatories (mainly the Umeda Sky Building and Abeno Harukas).

We purchased tickets for the observation deck on the basement level of the building. Admission was ¥1,000 (about $7) per adult. We were then directed to elevators that would take us to the open-air observation deck, 94 meters (308 feet) above ground.

We arrived at the perfect time and were able to catch the incredible sunset over the city. Although I visited Osaka in 2022, the city had grown significantly and looked even more spread out.

We spent about an hour at the observation deck, admiring the 360-degree view of the city. From the top, we could easily see Abeno Harukas, the second-tallest building in Japan.

To get to Tsutenkaku Tower, you can take the Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line to Ebisucho Station or the JR Osaka Loop Line to Shin-Imamiya Station. Both stations are approximately a 5-minute walk from the tower.

Shinsekai

After watching the incredible sunset over Osaka from the top of Tsutenkaku Tower, we headed down to the ground level to walk around Shinsekai.

Shinsekai was created as an entertainment district in the early 20th century and was originally modeled after New York and Paris. Opened in 1912, the area had a modern and colorful image that quickly made it a popular tourist attraction.

Nowadays, the Shinsekai area has a main shopping street and endless restaurants and eateries that lead to Tsutenkaku Tower. The restaurants also feature large, colorful retro signboards.

We found arcades, a shooting gallery, theaters, clothing shops, pubs, and even barbers. Below this massive building was a small shrine with colorful artwork.

After walking around and admiring all the retro signboards and billboards, we decided to have dinner. After a few minutes of searching for a place to eat, we settled on a ramen restaurant.

Fortunately, the dinner was incredible. The bowl of ramen was an excellent way to finish off 72 incredible hours in Osaka.

My Favorite Street Foods in Osaka

From multicourse kaiseki to high-end sushi, Japan is well-regarded worldwide for its delectable cuisine. However, Japanese cuisine doesn’t begin and end with the expensive stuff. You can also find inexpensive, tasty street food.

As with many other major Asian cities, Osaka is known for its incredible street food. In fact, many across Japan consider Osaka to offer the best cuisine in the country.

In my travels, I have always preferred street food, making Osaka a foodie paradise. While much of Osaka’s street food can be found in random alleys across the city, the best street food is in the areas around Dotonbori, Shinsekai, and Umeda.

Here’s a look at some of Osaka’s best and most well-known street food.

1. Takoyaki

Although not a full meal, there is arguably no snack better than takoyaki (literally “grilled octopus”). Although they are an Osaka street snack, they have a global reputation.

Takoyaki are crispy, large, battered balls filled with soft, diced octopus. They are topped with bonito flakes, nori powder, chopped scallions, pickled red ginger, thick brown sauce, and mayonnaise.

Each takoyaki stall has a different spin on the dish. Some are extra crispy, while others offer different dressings, like ponzu (soy sauce and citrus juice) or sesame oil and salt. 

2. Okonomiyaki

Translating to “to your liking” (“okonomi”), okonomiyaki is a cabbage pancake, often referred to as a Japanese pizza.

The savory pancakes are made from shredded cabbage and are held together by an egg and flour batter. They are cooked on a flattop grill, similar to hash browns. As the name suggests, you can customize the toppings, which include add-ins like squid, pork belly, kimchi, cheese, and more.

The pancakes are then coated in a tangy brown sauce, mayonnaise, nori, scallions, and bonito flakes. 

3. Kushikatsu

Kushikatsu is battered, deep-fried food served on skewers and often dipped in a tangy brown sauce. Yakitori, or grilled chicken skewers, are also considered a part of kushikatsu.

While meat and veggies are the typical ingredients for kushikatsu, some food joints also offer other options, such as strawberries.

Much of Osaka’s best kushikatsu is in or around Shinsekai, where it was supposedly invented.

4. Kitsune Udon

Kitsune udon is a simple dish of udon (thick wheat noodles) served in a hot soup with a piece of abura-age (deep-fried tofu), narutomaki fish cake, and sliced scallions. It is often seasoned with soy sauce, mirin, and sugar.

The difference between kitsune udon and a conventional bowl of udon is the tofu, which softens as it soaks in the soup broth alongside the noodles. Abura-age is supposedly the favorite food of the kitsune, the magical fox of Japanese mythology, giving the dish its name.

Final Thoughts

Although I have visited several times, I love the city of Osaka. It is an incredible destination with fantastic street food, hospitable people, world-class shopping, and fascinating culture.

Travelers often skip over Osaka in favor of nearby Kyoto, but I recommend you not miss out on Osaka. The city has plenty to offer, no matter what you seek. I cannot wait to return to Osaka soon.

Fortunately, it is possible to travel to Osaka using points and miles. Several carriers also offer nonstop routes between Osaka and 3 U.S. cities.