Osaka Castle Gozabune Boat

Take a 20-minute spin along the inner moat of Osaka Castle on this tourist boat, and you’ll be able to see Japan’s highest stone wall from a close proximity. Long ago, only those of a high status were able to ride this special boat layered with gold foil.

Giraffe Resort

The largest club in Kansai fits over 1400 people. Many foreigners visit the 4-floor building with a giraffe sign out the front. The 2nd and 4th floors have different genres of music playing, with the 2nd floor in particular being high tension (3rd floor is the VIP room). It opens and closes early so it […]

Houkoku Shrine(Osaka)

Visiting this shrine will supposedly bring you success and good luck in the future. It is a 5-minute walk from the south side of the castle tower and was where Toyotomi Hideyoshi was deified. A 5.2-meter tall statue of this commander stands just right past the torii gate of the shrine.

Tempura Kisaka

Although the average cost of dinner here sits at around ¥20,000, the restaurant offers a tempura set at ¥1300 during lunch which includes: eight different tempura rice, miso soup other various side dishes Not only is this a fantastic deal, but you’ll also be able to watch the chefs fry the tempura right in front […]

Daimaru Shinsaibashi

Established way back in 1726, the Shinsaibashi store is the flagship store for the long-standing Daimaru chain. It is directly connected to Osaka Metro Shinsaibashi Station and very convenient to access via public transport. In the north building there is a range of luxury shops, whereas the south building is almost entirely aimed at tourists. […]

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine

This shrine is where the Tenjin Festival, one of the three greatest festivals in Japan, is held. The shrine has a long history stemming from 650, when Emperor Kotoku built Naniwa Nagara-Toyosaki Palace. The “Shrine of General ” was founded to the northwest of the palace as a guardian deity. In 949, the God of […]

Nipponbashi ・ Ota Road

Originally centered on household electronics and parts, in recent years the downtown Nipponbashi area has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of otaku shops, much like Akihabara. On the side of Otaroad (“otaku road”) there is a large parking lot, where you can often find “itasha” cars decorated with pictures of cute anime girls. […]

お好み焼 美津の

Super Kids Land Main Store

A shop specializing in anime/manga characters – mainly figurines and plastic models. The first floor contains figurines, while the second floor contains Gundam products. The large Gundam at the entrance serves as a landmark.

海遊館

America Mura

A popular place among young people in Kansai and the birthplace of many trends, America Mura is a place where many Kansai youth and teens hang out. Despite being beign only 300m by 500m in area, there are numerous import & second-hand stores, general stores, cafes, galleries, music instrument shops and more – a chaotic […]

Sōhonzan Shitennōji

A temple with a long history, a rarity in Osaka. It is the first ever state-sponsored temple in Japan built by order of Prince Shotoku (574-622) in 593. He was also a magnificent statesman who is revered by Japanese even today. Shitennōji has been destroyed countless times by fire caused by wars, lightening, and typhoons, […]

Kuidaore Taro

The Kuidaore Taro doll dressed in red and white striped clothes and large black and dark rimmed glasses holding a taiko drum is considered a very famous and popular figure in Kansai. It was originally the mascot of a large restaurant chain Osaka Meibutsu Kuidaore which was established in 1949 and went on to achieve […]

ダイワ果園黒門本店

旬の果物がたっぷり入った生ケーキで有名な老舗高級果物専門店。 日本全国から選び抜かれたフルーツを売っている。 ここではケーキやフルーツの以外にも、4月末〜11月は店頭でフレッシュフルーツジュースも販売している。 テイクアウトのみだ。

Rinku no Yu

Rinku no Yu is a hot spring located in Rinku Pleasure Town SEACLE on the mainland, the opposite shore of Kansai International Airport. The prices are cheap; a good place to visit if you have time until your flight. There are various baths and saunas such as outdoor hot springs and rock baths, and you […]

The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

This museum, located along the Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street, is a life-size replica of the streets of Osaka during the early 1830s of the Edo Period. Many tourists love to dress up in kimono here for just an extra 500 yen (in addition to the admission fee), then take many photos along the photogenic streets. It’s […]

Daimaru Umeda Store

A department store aimed at young women with a focus on fashion and general goods. Includes major chains such as Tokyu Hands and Uniqlo. The Pokemon Center and Tomika Shop are fun for kids. The food court is also of good standard.

Abeno Harukas

Standing proud as the tallest skyscraper in Japan (300 m tall, so it’s not that impressive…the tallest structure in Japan, however, is Tokyo Skytree at 634 m.) On the top floor, presenting a grand view of Osaka roughly 300 meters high, (60 floors up) is the observation deck Harukas 300. Below, a department store stretching […]

黒門市場