Osaka Travel Guide: From World Expo to Best Day Trips

How can the city of Osaka be described? It is the largest metropolis in the Kansai region, often referred to as the 'Western Tokyo', yet with a more relaxed and cozy atmosphere: bustling with food and colorful nightlife, which is charming enough for your exploration, and convenient enough for day trips around Japan. What else is there to know about Osaka? Let my Osaka travel guide show you more details and fun.

About Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai

Held in Osaka, Japan, the Expo 2025 is a 6-month event around the theme of "Designing Future Society for Our Lives", where you can witness and explore "life" with diverse people and values, while admiring the view of the Seto Inland Sea through 8 signature pavilions.

• Date: from April 13 to October 13, 2025
• Open: from 9 am to 10 pm
• Access: about 30 minutes by car or train from Osaka Station to the Yumeshimanaka venue
• Where to Stay: Osaka Bay (the closest), Minami (for the night fun), or Kita Area (home to Osaka Station)

Is Osaka Worth Visiting

Well, in my opinion, if you are not in a hurry with your schedule, Osaka is not a city to skip on your Japan trip.

My first impression of Osaka is from an animation character called Hattori Heiji in Case Closed, a detective speaking in his lovely Osaka dialect (which is also usually used in comedy shows), with interesting words and a funny tone, making hospitality and laid-back my first idea of this city, even though I hadn't been there yet.

So, how does Osaka feel exactly? It is a leisure bay with iconic neon-lit streets and the famous Glico Running Man, where food enthusiasts will be satisfied by the cuisine with market calling, and adventure seekers can also find some fun amusement and historical treasures at their own relaxing pace. And in Osaka, I do feel more warm-hearted moments than in Tokyo.

Locals here are also busy living at their fast pace, but they are still willing to stop and share - to lend some help, or to make some jokes. Maybe the loud voices and free spirit of the residents here make Osaka not that "Japanese", but the true fuel to make this city buzz with dynamism and diversity.

Dalton Hori

Best Time to Visit Osaka

Speaking of the best time to visit Osaka, I prefer a spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November) visit to Osaka, not only for the best weather conditions but also for its seasonal colors from pink to gold. (Pick a May or September visit if you are looking for a more budget-friendly trip.)

As a well-known sakura watching spot, spring in Osaka is the season when you can follow the locals to join the cherry blossom viewing parties with food stalls and night illumination. Though the foliage here is not as popular as in Kyoto, you can still take advantage of this harvest season to fill your stomach with fresh ingredients and golden hues.

Top Things to Do in Osaka City

Take a Food tour along the Dotonbori Canal

Osaka, the kitchen of Japan, has various forms of cuisine and delicacies. Taking a cozy food tour to sample the local flavor is always a top thing to do in Osaka. As for the most recommended place to begin this gourmet feast, Dotonbori is my favorite.

Imagine your stroll with neon and the iconic Glico running man, or a lazy water bus ride on the lively canal, along with restaurants and food stalls in their mouth-watering fragrance - from the sweet sauce with spice to the smoky charcoal reburned by the buttery-lush skewers. Whether hopping at an izakaya for your dinner or a snack hunt with the night views. If there is only one thing you can do in Osaka, then heading to Dotonbori to fill your stomach is never a bad choice.

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Have Fun Around the Osaka Bay

For your ultimate relaxation in Osaka, empty a few days to explore the amusement attractions around the bay of Osaka. Ranging from some anime and game fun at Universal Studios Japan to a romantic night ride on the Tempozan Ferris Wheel, Osaka Bay sightseeing is a top thing fancy for most family visitors from home and abroad.

Apart from those entertainment complexes, you can also visit the aquarium to capture some large fish and sharks, go somewhere higher for dinner paired with its charming skyline, or head to the Yumeshima Island to catch something fresh at the Expo 2025.

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Relax at the Iconic Osaka Castle

Often featured in Japanese movies, anime, and games, Osaka Castle holds a special place in the hearts of the Osakans, as well as a must-visit attraction representing this city the most.

It is a very large park with thousands of cherry trees. You can enjoy your sakura viewing here when the wet and warm ocean breeze arrives in late March, having your picnic lunch around the shining castle or a tipsy sitting on the petal bench.

Or, make it your after-dinner stroll destination, take advantage of the courts for some light sports, wander around with the lit-up to capture the night view of yozakura beneath the castle, or just drop by the street bands playing their songs.

Osaka Castle

How Many Days in Osaka is Enough

For first-time visitors traveling around Osaka, a 3-day journey is ideal to explore the most highlights of the city, from Osaka Castle sightseeing to a food tour through Dotonbori, as well as a day trip to have fun at Universal Studios Japan.

With more days empty during your Japan tour, you can also extend 1 or 2 days here for some day trips from Osaka, like Nara, Kobe, and Himeji, all popular day trip destinations within a 1-hour train ride.

For the second time visitors, a popular choice is to make Osaka your transport hub to the east (Kyoto, Tokyo, and Hokkaido) or west (Hiroshima, Kyushu, and Okinawa), or just like most of our clients, make Osaka their final stop in Japan and try more day trips beyond the city.

Best Places to Stay in Osaka

Kita Area, Umeda

Also known as the northern district, it is the daytime heart of Osaka, a busy business and transport hub centered on Umeda, as well as the home of Osaka Station promises your convenient journey.

Highlighted by the Umeda Sky Building with its unique design, there are many department stores and a variety of western-style chain brand stores that are popular with tourists, as well does accommodations ranging from budget hotels to luxury suites.

With an easy arrival at Nakanoshima-koen Park (about 15 minutes on foot), it is a more family and senior-friendly area in a relatively tranquil atmosphere.

Minami Area, Namba & Shinsaibashi

Minami Area, the southern region, includes the bustling Namba and Shinsaibashi districts, where many of Osaka's specialty food and local product stores are located. Favored by the younger generation, it is more popular for shopping, dining, and entertainment at night.

It is a sightseeing cluster to fulfill your to-do list, from the lively Dotonbori for your izakaya food tour or the neon night stroll, to localized shopping arcades parallel to each other. If you want to experience a more authentic Osaka style till the wee hours of the morning, staying in the southern region is a good choice.

Osaka Bay Area

Popular with people of all ages, this port area houses the main entertainment complexes of Osaka: Universal Studios Japan, Osaka Aquarium, Tempozan, and the Yumeshima Island venue for the Expo 2025. It is an area favored by adventure seekers and family visitors, thanks to the easy access for their immersive experience.

Though you can still find some traditional Japanese hotels there, modern and Western ones are the main styles in the Osaka Bay Area, such as the anime-themed rooms at the Park Front Hotel of USJ. Also, with more family-friendly restaurants in this area to serve your taste buds, from homemade cuisine to Western fast food.

Universal Studios

How to Get to Osaka

Home to Kansai International Airport, most of the time you can take advantage of the direct flight from your home to Osaka, with another 50 minutes by train or car to the central city. As for domestic transport to Osaka, taking advantage of the Shinkansen train ride is a good idea. Or, travel with Odynovo on a more private and convenient journey through Japan.

From Tokyo to Osaka

A 2.5-hour Tokaido Shinkansen train ride from Tokyo Station is an ideal choice to get to Osaka, the most popular way for your adventure from Kanto to Kansai. If you are catching in time, there are also some direct flights from Tokyo, offering a fast journey of about 1 hour to reach.

From Kyoto to Osaka

Thanks to the bustling railway network, the neighboring Kyoto provides a fast arrival within a 30-minute train ride, or a 1-hour drive enough to experience the different tastes of the two cities.

Best Day Trips From Osaka

Nara

• Access: About 40 minutes by car

Nara is a popular day trip destination from Osaka, especially if you are looking for some tranquil scenery after the lively Osaka exploration.

Sharing the same best visiting time as Osaka, Nara is a forest city famous for its stunning sakura and fall foliage. You can continue your temple collections here by following their mossy stone lanterns, taking a glimpse of the ancient stories while encountering those roaming deer - a further cozy experience for your extended relaxing Japan tour.

Kobe

• Access: a 20-minute train ride or a 40-minute drive

Home to high-ranking beef with its beautiful marbling fat weaves, Kobe is the best choice if you are still looking for some fresh and authentic Japanese flavors to satisfy your stomach and taste buds.

Apart from searing-kissed beef served by the balletic chief, you can also visit some of the best sake breweries there to sample some sweet Japanese wine, explore the cheese house with freshly made ice cream, or head to the Chinatown there for some flavor of chuka.

Himeji

• Access: about a 1-hour train ride from Osaka

Continuing westward is Himeji City, famous for its pure white Himeji-jo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that survived from the early 17th century, best for a spring visit when it is dotted with the pale pink cherry blossoms.

After the visit to the most beautiful castle in Japan, there is also a delicate garden for you to drop by - Kokoen, once the samurai houses, and now still preserved in its ancient beauty, an ideal choice for history and culture lovers.

Himeji Castle

Osaka Travel Tips

Follow the Color

The various public train line networks may confuse you during your first visit to Osaka, but don't worry, each line has its unique color code as a representation. So, when getting lost at the station, following the color is always recommended to find your way out.

Line on the Right

You may have heard of the Japanese line culture on the sidewalks and escalators - one side for walking or standing (usually the left side), and the other side will be empty for those in their hurry. But in Osaka, right is the exact side of the line. Still can't remember which line to stand? Just follow the locals or the line!

Some Popular Osaka Festivals You Can Also Attend

Tenjin Festival (from July 24 to 25): highlights with a mikoshi parade, where people dressed in Nara-era costumes parade through the streets accompanied by music and dance. People will light bonfires and fireworks at night, also with many food stalls nearby to feed the hungry stomach.

Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival (October 18, 2025): one of the best summer events that takes place along the Yodo river, a 1-hour-long visual feast to illuminate the night sky with thousands of fireworks: from those with long tails that flow like waterfalls to underwater ones with their stunning reflections.

Journey Through Osaka With Odynovo

It is well known that Japan is very well connected, and Osaka, the second largest port city in Japan, is a transport hub connecting the East and West, which means your journey here will never miss the charms of Japan - just need your willingness and drop by.

With a strong Japanese style, rich nightlife, countless gourmet restaurants and pubs, as well as the warm and welcoming Osakans, whether this is your first visit or looking for a skip tour to somewhere beyond or further, please feel free to contact us for more details or itinerary planning ideas of Osaka, Japan!