Welcome to Osaka: a first timer's one-day guide

PLAN

Welcome to Osaka:
a First Timer's One-Day Guide

PLAN LENGTH：1 day

LOCATION：Osaka

HIGHLIGHTS：Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, Okonomiyaki

COST PER PERSON：6,200 YEN

(Excludes transportation fees)

Get a taste of some of Osaka's most popular sights (and foods!) following this one-day plan. For this plan, we recommend purchasing an Osaka Amazing Pass. Using this pass, you can get free or discounted access to great places like Osaka Castle, the Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory, and Tombori River Cruise. A one-day pass is 2,300 yen and a two-day pass is 3,000 yen.

Shin Osaka Station

Approx. 15 min

4 min. ride on the JR Tokaido Main Line bound for Kobe (160 yen) → Osaka Station → 10 min. walk

Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory

TIME NEEDED：30 min
COST：700 YEN

Look out over Osaka City from this 567 mi/173 m tall observatory.

Approx. 25 min

10 min. walk → Osaka Station → 9 min. ride on the JR Osaka Loop Line outer loop bound for Kyobashi (160 yen) → Osakajo-koen Station → 15 min. walk

135.490142034659 34.7053085088921 Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory train 1

Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory(View spot details)
HOURS	10:00am-10:30pm (entrance until 10:00pm, varies depending on the season)
ACCESS	7 min. walk from the JR Osaka Station
WEBSITE	http://www.kuchu-teien.com/observatory/

Osaka Castle

TIME NEEDED：1 hour
COST：600 YEN

Osaka Castle is one of the symbols of Osaka. We recommend you climb the tower and check out the museum.

Approx. 45 min

15 min. walk → Osakajo-koen Station → 17 min. ride on the JR Osaka Loop Line outer loop bound for Tsuruhashi (180 yen) → Shinimamiya Station→ 10 min. walk

135.525870171017 34.6873752177897 Osaka Castle train 1

Osaka Castle(View spot details)
HOURS	9:00am-5:00pm (entrance until 4:30pm, varies depending on the season)
NOTES RE: CLOSINGS	Closed from Dec.28 to Jan.1
ACCESS	15 min. walk from the Osakajo-koen Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line
WEBSITE	http://www.osakacastle.net/

Tsutenkaku

TIME NEEDED：30 min

Enjoy the rows of brightly colored billboards in the Shinsekai area as you make your way to Tsutenkaku tower. This place makes a great photo spot! If you want to go inside the tower, it will cost you 700 yen per person.

Approx. 5 min

Tsutenkaku(View spot details)
HOURS	9:00am-9:00pm (entrance until 8:30pm)
ACCESS	3 min. walk from the Ebisucho subway station
WEBSITE	http://www.tsutenkaku.co.jp/

Oniyashi Janjan-yokocho Branch

TIME NEEDED：30 min
COST：1,500 YEN

This area is lined with famous kushikatsu shish kebab restaurants. One stick will cost between 110 and 200 yen.

Approx. 15 min

5 min. walk → Subway Doubutsuen-mae Station → 4 min. ride on the Subway Midosuji Line (180 yen) → Namba Station → 5 min. walk

Oniyashi Janjan-yokocho Branch(View spot details)
HOURS	11:30 am-10:00 pm (Close 10:30 pm)/Sat.-Sun., Holidays from 11:00 am/ Lunch time 11:30 am-2:00 pm (L.O.)
ACCESS	Near Dobutsuen-mae subway station

Dotonbori

TIME NEEDED：30 min

Take photos in front of the figures of giant crabs and blowfish as well as the Glico sweets billboard.

Approx. 5 min

Dotonbori(View spot details)
ACCESS	5 min. walk from the Namba subway station
WEBSITE	http://www.dotonbori.or.jp/

Tombori River Cruise

TIME NEEDED：30 min (cruise time 20 min)
COST：900 YEN

You don't need to make a reservation in advance to on this river cruise! The boat departs from and returns to Tombori Riverwalk pier.

Approx. 5 min

135.50303401475 34.6692175943875 Tombori River Cruise walk 5

Tombori River Cruise(View spot details)
EVENT/OPEN PERIOD	All year
HOURS	1:00 pm-9:00 pm （Close)/ Sat.-Sun., Holidays 11:00 am-9:00 pm
CLOSED	Jul. 13, 24 and 25, Aug. 8
NOTES RE: CLOSINGS	Dec. 29-Jan. 3
ACCESS	5-minute walk from Namba sybway station
WEBSITE	http://www.ipponmatsu.co.jp/cruise/tombori.html

Okaru

TIME NEEDED：1 hour
COST：2,500 YEN

A famous okonomiyaki (savory pancake) restaurant, Okaru has become even more popular thanks to the mayonnaise illustrations the staff draw on the okonomiyaki.

Approx. 5 min

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Okaru(View spot details)
HOURS	12:00pm-2:30pm (L.O.), 5:00pm-10:00pm (L.O.)
CLOSED	Thu.
NOTES RE: CLOSINGS	Closed Dec. 31-Jan. 1
ACCESS	5 min. walk from Namba subway station

Shinsaibashi Suji Shopping Arcade

TIME NEEDED：1 hour

You'll find clothing stores, 100 yen stores, drug stores and more in this outdoor shopping arcade.

Approx. 15 min.

13 min. ride on the Subway Midosuji Line (240 yen) → Shin Osaka Station

Shin Osaka Station

Notes

Osaka's bright lights and flashy billboards as well as its more peaceful castle make great photos. Be sure to add #digjapan when you upload your best pictures to Facebook and Instagram!

THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 12 01,2015 Author：DiGJAPAN! Editorial Team