by Sgt Garcia / [CC BY-SA 3.0

A Vibrant City Renowned for Its Rich Culture, Diverse Culinary Scene, and Energetic Nightlife

Nickname: The Nation's Kitchen

A. About Osaka

Traditionally considered Japan's economic hub, cosmopolitan Osaka is one of the busiest cities on the planet.

The pace of life in Japan's third-largest city with its skyscrapers, neon, electronics stores, large shopping complexes, canals, and countless bars and clubs never seems to slow down.

Osaka is also the largest component of the Keihanshin Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the entire world with around twenty million people.

Best Things to do in Osaka

The Good: 

 Above all, Osaka is an incredibly safe city with very efficient public transportation.

Furthermore, situated on the Yodo delta with its network of watercourses and canals spanned by more than a thousand bridges, Osaka enjoys a fantastic location.

Nicknamed "The Nation's Kitchen" of course the city is famous for its delicious food.

Osaka boasts also great shopping, in districts such as Namba and Shinsaibashi, and the Dōtonbori canal entertainment area.

In addition, in the center, the city possesses numerous pedestrian zones in the form of covered shopping arcades such as the 600m long Shinsaibashi-suji and the 2.6 km long Tenjinbashi-suji.

Finally, the nightlife in Osaka is particularly vibrant.

The Not-So-Good: 

First of all, Osaka is an expensive city.

In addition, don't expect great weather most of the year, but many cold or rainy months.

Furthermore, the quality of the sights is (compared to the other cities on our list) not particularly high overall.

Finally, Osaka was widely destroyed in World War II and rebuilt in concrete. Therefore, you will notice hardly any historic buildings. 


B. Best Things to Do in Osaka in 2024 (Detailed List with Photos and Information)

In total, we count almost twenty-five sights in Osaka. The following sights contribute to a decent score of 6.10/10 in this most important category:

# Osaka Castle and Park 6 3 out of 5 stars

Originally built in 1583, the iconic Osaka Castle (Osaka-jō) was reconstructed in its present form in 1931.

Surrounded by an enjoyable park, this visually stunning castle is home to an interesting museum and offers magnificent views over Osaka.

Castle and Park | Viewpoint Originally Built: 1583 | Reconstructed: 1931 | Height: 58 m

Best Things to do in Osaka

by Jakub Hałun / CC BY-SA 4.0

# Universal Studios Japan 6 3 out of 5 stars

Attracting around ten million visitors each year, this world-class Hollywood-styled theme park offers a variety of fun and thrilling rides inspired by blockbuster movies.

Theme Park

Best Things to do in Osaka

by Batintherain / CC BY-SA 4.0

# Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan 6 3.5 out of 5 stars

The world-class aquarium, designed by the famous American architect Peter Chermayeff, appears very stylish from outside and hosts one whale shark and a wide variety of other species, including otters, sea lions, penguins, dolphins, rays, and jellyfish.

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (海遊館) is ranked as the sixth-best aquarium in the world on our detailed list.

Aquarium Biggest Tank: 7.5 million liters | Tunnel: 11 m, 36 ft | Species: 740 | Established: 1990 | Rank in Our List of the Best Aquariums in the World: #6

by 663highland / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Dotonbori 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

The pedestrian thoroughfare of Dotonbori is the heart of Osaka nightlife and is most impressive during the evening when the light of its giant neon signs is illuminated.

City District

Best Things to do in Osaka

by Type specimen / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Shitennō-ji Temple 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Carefully reconstructed to reflect the original sixth-century design, this is Osaka's best-known temple complex.

Highlights include a five-story pagoda, the Golden Pavilion with its fine statues and paintings, the Lecture Hall, and the beautiful Japanese garden. 

Temple Complex

Best Things to do in Osaka

by 663highland / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Umeda Sky Building and Floating Garden Observatory 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

The 173-meter tall Umeda Sky Building is a stunning example of modern architecture.

To enjoy a delightful panoramic view of Osaka head to the observatory called "Kuchu Teien" (The Floating Garden), an open-air deck that is filled with local flowers and plants.

Skyscraper | Modern Architecture | Viewpoint

Best Things to do in Osaka

by Eriyasu / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Abeno Harukas (Abenobashi Terminal Building) 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Standing at a height of 300 m, this iconic modern skyscraper is the tallest skyscraper in Japan.

The observation deck on the building's top three floors offers outstanding views over Osaka from glass-enclosed and open-air spaces.

Skyscraper | Viewpoint Total Height: 300 m / 984 ft m | View Type: Glass Windows | Completed: 1988

Best Things to do in Osaka

by Jo / CC BY-SA 4.0

# Sumiyoshi Taisha 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Sumiyoshi Taisha with its vivid red Sorihashi Bridge is the head Sumiyoshi shrine of over 2,300 shrines Sumiyoshi located in Japan.

Temple Complex Built: ca. 3rd Century

Best Things to do in Osaka

by Saigen Jiro / Public domain

# Minami (Namba) and the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Situated in the south of Osaka, Minami (Namba) is the city's most famous entertainment district and an extremely popular shopping destination.

Start by exploring the famous 600 m long Shinsaibashi-suji is a covered shopping arcade.

City District with Covered Shopping Street 

Best Things to do in Osaka

by BradBeattie / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Shinsekai 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

The more traditional Shinsekai district is Osaka’s old downtown and home to the iconic Tsutenkaku Tower.

City District

Best Things to do in Osaka

by 螺钉 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Scoring and Icons Legend (Click here for detailed information)

10 = top-10 sight in the world

9 = world-class  

8 = outstanding

7 = excellent 

6 = impressive

5 = interesting

4 = decent

3 = mediocre

2 = bad

1 = abysmal

= World Heritage Site

= Excursion

C. Other notable sights and attractions in Osaka

- Kuromon Market 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Market

by DVMG/ CC BY-SA 3.0

    • Osaka Museum of History 5.5
    • National Museum of Art 5.5
    • Tempozan Ferris Wheel and Harbor Village 5.5
    • Osaka Science Museum 5.5
    • Hozenji Temple (Hozenji Yokocho) 5.5
    • National Bunraku Theater 5.5
    • Tsutenkaku Tower 5.5
    • Amerikamura (city district) 5.5
    • Osaka Expo Park 5
    • Denden Town (city district) 5
    • Tennōji Park and Zoo (city district) 5

D. Best Day Trips and Excursions from Osaka

Minoo National Park 6 3.5 out of 5 stars

City 20.5 km from Osaka

by Go Imai / CC BY-SA 2.0

KYOTO (city, 55 km from Osaka) 8

NARA (city, 32 km from Osaka) 6

Kobe (city, 32 km from Osaka) 6

MOZU TOMBS (city, 20.5 km from Osaka) 6

Miho Museum (city, 85 km from Osaka) 5

Ise-Jingu (shrine, 198 km from Osaka) 5


E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in Osaka (including close-by excursions)

To sum things up, these are the ten best sights we recommend to you when visiting Osaka for at least three entire days:

Osaka Castle and Park 6

Universal Studios Japan 6

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan 6 

Minoo National Park (20.5 km from Osaka) 6 

Dotonbori 5.5

Shitennō-ji Temple 5.5

Umeda Sky Building and Floating Garden Observatory 5.5

Abeno Harukas 5.5

Sumiyoshi Taisha 5.5

Minami (Namba) and the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade 5.5