One Day Osaka Itinerary: Best Of Osaka In 24 Hours
In under 24 hours, it’s possible to see the best of Osaka and this blog shows you exactly how.
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Ashley Metcalfe
October 24, 2024
Only have 1 day in Osaka, Japan? Don’t worry!
You can visit the main attractions, restaurants, shopping and history within a day. But only if you plan it properly!
This one day Osaka itinerary shares exactly how to see the best of the city (from top landmarks to hidden gems) in a limited amount of time.
Matthew and I have been to Osaka twice: 2 weeks as tourists on vacation and 1.5 months living in Osaka as digital nomads. This city became our home and we were able to explore the cool landmarks, attractions and find hidden gems throughout our time in Osaka.
You can certainly spend longer in Osaka but there’s just so much to see and do that you only end up having short, full days in some cities.
We use our experience living and exploring this city to give you the top things to do, see and places to eat that we think are worth it (and those that aren’t worth it), including efficient transport logistics to for the most efficient itinerary.
In this guide, we take you through our personalized itinerary of how to see the highlights of Osaka in one day and make the most of your day in this vibrant city!
We’ll also walk you through some important logistics that will be useful for planning your trip, such as how to get around over the course of a day.
Here’s how to experience the very best of Osaka in 24 hours!
Osaka In One Day Map View
Here’s a quick overview of all the cool spots we are going to visit in Osaka in under 24 hours:
How To Spend One Day In Osaka (Itinerary Overview)
After living in Osaka for 1.5 months, these are our suggestions for the best things to do in under 24 hours.
We’ve mapped out the transport and logistics to ensure this itinerary is efficient enough to see everything below.
Morning: Umeda Sky & Osaka Castle
Afternoon: Shitennoji Temple & Shinsekai
Late Afternoon & Evening: Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi & America-mura
In this one day Osaka itinerary, we help you cover all of the above and make the most of your time!
Helpful Things To Know Before Visiting Osaka:
You’ll want to be more strategic with how you map out your day, from the starting point to the end. These are some practical things to keep in mind and help prepare for your trip:
Transport Cards (Suica, ICOCA, PASMO): Add Suica to Apple Wallet (before arrival).
All 3 options work in Osaka. We used Suica because you can add it to Apple Wallet. From there, you get to tap on and off with your phone. Easy peasy!
Otherwise, get an ICOCA card at Kansai International Airport because getting on the train to Namba Station. You will have to pay a bit for the card and top up some cash.
Best Apps To Use: Google Maps, Klook, Japan Transit Planner
If you don’t want to download more apps, we found Google Maps to be sufficient for our 1.5 month stay. Note: We realized a 3.5 star rating on Maps is more like a 4.3+ rating. For some reason, the ratings are low even for a great restaurants. A 3.5 star on Maps is probably decent!
Klook and GetYourGuide are great apps to book unique tours in Osaka.
Arrange Travel Medical Insurance: Get it in advance.
Healthcare in Japan is expensive.
If anything goes wrong, you want to make sure you’re protected if the worst case happens. We’ve used and can recommend SafetyWing to fellow travelers.
Heading to Japan? Don’t forget to buy travel medical insurance beforehand. If anything goes wrong, it’s expensive to get care in Japan. Get protected with SafetyWing.
SafetyWing offers good value for money, offers great benefits and takes less than 5 minutes to sign up for.
Get Mobile Data With An eSIM: Don’t get a pocket wifi device anymore.
Let me be loud and clear: you DON’T need pocket wifi for mobile data in Japan.
That’s so 5 years ago! We’ve moved on to better and more convenient options like an eSIM. We suggest buying a Japan data package before you depart and activating it when you land at the airport.
Holafly have unlimited data plans if you need a lot of GBs to post and share on social media.
Accommodation: Book in advance for the best deals
For one day in Osaka, we suggest choosing a hotel near the train station. With limited time, it’s much easier to dump your luggage at your hotel and get going.
When to visit Osaka: April, June, October
Avoid Osaka from July to September because of the hot, humid weather (it’s harder to bear than we expected ourselves). Also, early May is Golden Week – an extremely crowded time in Japan.
The best time to visit Japan is April (for cherry blossoms), June (for warmer weather without rains) and October (for fall foliage without much crowds.
One Day In Osaka Itinerary: The Best Of Japan’s Foodie Capital in 24 Hours
This complete guide we’ve put together gives you a comprehensive overview of Osaka, helping you figure out how to make the most of your time in this lively city.
For this one day in Osaka, we assume you have the full day to explore and you’re staying near Umeda station which is you’re starting point.
We’ve included places to eat and drink in each area so you always have options if you needs a coffee break or want to try the culinary capital’s cuisine.
Now, we’re ready to explore Osaka!
1. Arriving In Umeda District
If you travel to Osaka for the day, you’ll arrive in Umeda Station (north of Osaka). This is the main station (Osaka JR train station) where the bullet trains from Tokyo arrive and where the famous Hankyu line from Kyoto arrives in Osaka.
This is your starting point for one day in Osaka. Here’s the best things to do and where to eat or drink in the area.
Top Things To Do In Umeda:
The Umeda District is more of a quiet, commercial area with decent shopping. There’s great observatories and activities in this area though.
Observation Deck at Umeda Sky Building
As one of the tallest buildings in the city, the panoramic views of Osaka make this observation deck a popular attraction for travelers. The Kuchu Teien Observatory is located on the 39th, 40th and rooftop of the Umeda Sky Building.
This observation deck is a unique experience because of the 360-degree open air rooftop! The price for the observation deck is ¥20,000 yen ($13.50 USD) and you can book this activity online in advance.
Our friends raved about this experience! If you have more than a day in Osaka (and pre-book well in advance), visit during sunset — it’s worth it!
From the JR Osaka station, Umeda Sky is only a 10-minute walk.
Hep Five Ferris Wheel
Hop on the Hep Five Ferris Wheel for views of the city! This is a great option in the area since its biggest ferris wheel in the city. It costs ¥800 ($5.40 USD) to enter and opens daily from 11am to 10:45pm.
Places To Eat & Drink In Umeda:
This isn’t the best area for food and drinks but they do have some cool spots we found tucked away.
Okonimyaki Sakura ($ / 4.1 star rating)
Located underground of the Umeda-Osaka train station is this gem of a restaurant. We enjoyed dining here for the traditional Osakan-style okonomiyaki. While lining up, you can feel the trains above!
Yakitori No Meimon Akyoshi Umeda ($$ / 4.2 star rating)
Local yakitori spot with a fun, social atmosphere. You might have to wait in line for a bit but it’s worth it!
Hotels in Umeda District:
Hotel New Hankyu Osaka ($ / 7.4 star rating)
Hotel New Hankyu is a great budget option while staying in Umeda. You are only a 5-minute walk to the major train stations. The furniture is a tad outdated, but it’s a comfortable night’s sleep for a lower price.
Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA ($$ / 8.6 star rating)
This is more your mid-range hotel with nicer facilities and amenities. The rooms are more modern and you could get a city view. Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE Osaka has a very high rating of 8.6 from more than 8,500 reviews which speaks for itself. Probably your best value for money in Osaka near Umeda Station.
Canopy by Hilton Osaka ($$$$ / 9.0 star rating)
The luxury option has to be the new Canopy by Hilton near Umeda Station. The rooms, the facilities, the amenities and the friendly service are top-notch. Great option if you want a luxury stay in Osaka!
2. Tour Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle is not only an iconic landmark for this city but for the whole of Japan. It holds a deep historical significance as a symbol of Japan’s unification in the 16th century under the powerful figure, Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
From Umeda Station to Osaka Castle, take the Midosuji Line (red line) from Osaka-Umeda Station, change to the Chuo Ward Line (green line) at Hommachi Station to Tanimachiyonchome Station. This is the exact route if you want to follow it and walk towards Exit 9.
The train journey takes around 20 minutes. From the station, you have to walk through the park to get to Osaka Castle grounds. It’s a beautiful walk!
Osaka Castle has beautiful gardens, structural details and the exterior of the castle is just the start. In the interior, you can learn about the history, see the cool armor, and discover the significant role it played during the Siege of Osaka.
If you’re a history buff or just want to learn more about the history and culture of Japan, it’s worth buying a ticket to get inside and catch panoramic views of the city. A ticket costs $6 and it’s open daily from 9am to 5pm.
Otherwise, the exterior is free to visit which is an iconic spot for photos and the gardens are beautiful to walk around.
After living in Osaka for more than a month, we finally visited the inside of Osaka Castle. We held off because we wanted to finish watching Shogun first. This totally enhanced our experience and tour of Osaka Castle!
TTA TOP TIP: You need to book tickets for Osaka Castle ONLINE IN ADVANCE. We bought tickets on Klook and it was easy peasy! If not, the lines are extremely long (up to 1.5 hours) in the heat if visiting during summer. With our Klook ticket, we skipped the line and went straight inside. It’s so simple and it saves you the hassle!
3. Visit Shitennoji Temple
Next stop — one of the oldest temples in Japan, founded back in the year 593!
Shitennoji Temple is a restored buddhist temple with a 5-story pagoda, serene garden with statues and ponds filled with koi fish. In the main hall is a huge shrine dedicated to Prince Shotoku who helped introduce buddhism to Japan.
The grounds around the Shitennoji Temple are free. If you pay, you can climb the 5-story pagoda, it costs ¥500 ($3.40 USD). You can pay in cash at the temple itself, no need to book in advance.
Matthew and I visited Shitennoji Temple. We paid the small entrance fee and we got to climb the 5-story pagoda. It’s such a unique experience! Usually, you can only look at the exterior but this at this temple you can walk up the narrow stairs to the top.
4. Explore Shinsekai (The New World)
Shinsekai, meaning “New World” in Japanese, is known for being a futuristic and forward-thinking district in the early 20th century.
This quirky area is vibrant and lively with narrow streets filled with lights, traditional izakayas and arcade games!
Things To Do In Shinsekai
We think that Shinsekai is an iconic neighborhood that everyone should visit even if you only have one day in Osaka.
If you’re visiting Shitennoji Temple, it’s only an 15 minute walk to Shinsekai. However, if you’re taking the metro — the closest station to Shinsekai is Ebisucho Station.
Tsutenskaku Tower Observatory & Tower Slide
The Tsutenskaku Tower is the most famous landmark in this area. You can buy tickets to the indoor observatory for the panoramic views of the city. Entrance fee is $6.75 on Klook!
But you know what the coolest part is?! You can slide all the way down the Tsutenkaku Tower on their Tower Slide (60 meter long slide). The fee to slide down is $6.75 USD for a weekday entrance. I don’t think you need to book in advance but you might have to wait in line on weekends.
Eat Kushikatsu At An Izakaya
Shinsekai is the birthplace of kushikatsu, a dish consisting of skewered deep-fried meats, vegetables amongst other things. Originally, this was an affordable, delicious dish for the working class after a long day at work.
Restaurants to try kushikatsu:
- Kawachiya ($$ / 4.2 star rating): We ate at this spot! It’s a tight izakaya with cool local vibes. The kushikatsu was delicious and there’s a good variation of food to try.
- Kushikatsu Takoyaki Ajinodaimaru ($$ / 3.1 star rating): This is a tad more tourist-friendly. They offer kushikatsu, takoyaki and teppenyaki.
- Omiya Honten ($$ / 4.0 star rating): More in the middle of the first two, so a good option to try kushikatsu!
5. Wander Around Dotonbori
Finally, we’ve made it to Dotonbori! This is the most famous area in Osaka for travelers — a must-visit for a one day Osaka itinerary.
As for transport from Shinsekai to Dotonbori, you have two options:
- Walk 30 minutes towards Dotonbori (you can stop at Nipponbashi Den Den Town for games or Namba Parks for shopping)
- Train journey from Ebisucho Station to Nipponbashi Station which takes 15 minutes including walking to Dotonbori
Whether you visit Dotonbori during the day or night, this is a quirky area with the coolest signs, street food and more.
It’s truly a feast for the senses!
Things To See/Do In Dotonbori:
The streets of Dotonbori may feel overwhelming at first with all the neon lights, colorful signs and the street food stalls. After a while, you begin to appreciate the little details and creativity that goes into it.
- Don Quijote Ferris Wheel: Our favorite thing we did in Dotonbori — hands down! It’s an oval-shaped structure that turns vertically, which is a different feeling from most ferris wheels. We recommend riding at night for the best night views of Osaka. Only ¥600 ($4 USD) per person, cash-only.
- Glico Running Man: Get a photo with the famous Glico poster on the bridge along Dotonbori. Or you can try this secret spot with less crowds for a photo op!
- Moving Crab: Another iconic street sign with a giant red crab moving!
- Hozenji Yokocho: Small alleyway leading to the Hozenji Temple. You can step back in time, get a drink at an izakaya or simply wander the streets which is very interesting!
Where To Eat In Dotonbori:
You can have dinner at Dotonbori because a lot of the popular spots are located here. But there’s also hidden gems in this area that we share below.
Our favorite restaurants in Dotonbori:
- Oosaka Tonkatsu Dotonbori Main Store: Huge portion of pork tonkatsu spot founded by a former Sumo wrestler.
- Chibo Okonomiyaki: A famous spot to try one of Osaka’s dishes: okonomiyaki! Fun atmosphere with a grill in front of you. You can make reservations here (rare in Japan).
- Daiki-suisan kaitenzushi Dotombori: Fresh, delicious conveyor belt sushi (hidden gem). Slightly higher than the normal chain sushi spots like Kura Sushi or Sushiro.
- Street food stalls to try: Melon Bread, Cremia Ice Cream, 551 Horai Buns.
Note: Get used to lining up in Japan! You might have to wait for attractions and restaurants. Some lines go quicker than others but the longest we waited was 1.5 hours! Be prepared and/or arrive before opening hours.
6. Shop At Shinsaibashi & America-Mura
Only a 15 minute walk from Dotonbori, you’ll enter the shopping district of Shinsaibashi. Get your Onitsuka Tiger, Adidas and Salomon shoes here or go vintage shopping at 2nd Street.
Only about 10 minutes from Shinsaibashi, head to the hip area of America-Mura. Filled with vintage shops and a cool vibe, you’ll feel like you stepped into this Gen Z hotspot.
And that ends your one day in Osaka itinerary!
What To Do With More Than A Day In Osaka
If you’re looking for more things to do in Osaka, here are cool options to consider:
- Universal Studios Japan: A full day to explore Nintendo World, Harry Potter and more!
- Kuromon Ichiba Market (closed on Sundays): Try some Japanese street food and snacks.
- Nipponbashi Den Den Town: Play arcade games and check out retro electronics store.
- Round 1 Spocha: Spend hours playing sports, arcade games and get in a batting cage!
- Instant Ramen Museum: Quirky museum with tastings and cool factory displays.
- Hike Minoh Falls Trail: Get out in nature and hike to a beautiful waterfall.
- Explore Tenma: Local spot to get a drink and wander narrow alleyways.
- Namba Yasaka Jinja: Unique temple with iconic dragon.
- Namba Parks: Shopping plaza and mall.
- Day trips: Nara, Kobe and Kyoto are only about 1 hour away.
Is One Day In Osaka Enough?
Any city in Japan can take days, weeks or even months to explore and you will never see it all. That’s the beauty of Japan!
So, is 24 hours in Osaka enough time to truly explore all there is to see? Unfortunately, not really.
In an ideal world, the perfect amount of time to explore Osaka is 3-5 days with a day trip to a nearby city.
However, we think it’s a worthwhile destination even if you only have 24 hours.
Wrap Up: Exciting One Day Osaka Itinerary
Now you see…Osaka in one day is totally possible with this itinerary!
It’s relatively quick to travel around Osaka using the metro, so it’s possible to get the main attractions ticked off in a day.
With this one day Osaka itinerary, we focused on 4 main areas: Umeda, Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi and Shinsekai including major landmarks like Osaka Castle and the famous Glico running man.
Famously dubbed as the “Kitchen of Japan”, Osaka is home to foods like okonomiyaki, takoyaki and more! Make sure to try these dishes on your 24 hours in Osaka!
Our suggestion is to make a must-do list and prioritize those items first. You might run out of time (or energy) to tick everything off so make sure to save them for your next trip to Osaka, Japan.
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