Tourist Attractions in Osaka

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Osaka

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Osaka

Osaka is the third most populous city in Japan. Its location on the bay and the presence of a convenient port made Osaka an important trading centre of the country. The less influence the samurai had in the area, the more success the merchants achieved. This favoured the development of the city. To this day, the Dotonbori shopping district and Shinsaibashi-sooji Street are important to the economy and attract tourists. In addition, Osaka is the capital of the national bunraku and comedy theatre. Connoisseurs of local culture, especially those who speak Japanese, will enjoy the colourful performances.

As there is no vacant land in the city, the available land is used as sustainably as possible. Thus, the Tennoji Zoo opened within the park of the same name, and the National Museum of Art is built almost entirely underground.

Top-25 Tourist Attractions in Osaka

Dotonbori

 4.4/5

65218 reviews

The neighbourhood is located along the canal of the same name. It is both a shopping and business district of the city. The streets are full of people, and the smells of food and music waft from many restaurants around the clock. Tourists are attracted by the large entertainment centres, bunraku puppet theatre and all kinds of shows. At night, neon signs and lanterns light up, so Dotonbori is as bright as day.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Osaka Castle

 4.4/5

65845 reviews

One of the most popular and important historical and architectural monuments in Japan. The castle was founded in the late 16th century. In the past, a temple stood on this site. The area of the construction is about 1 km². The project was to be impregnable. Buildings reach up to 5 floors high and 3 underground. For a long time the castle was in a deplorable state, it was restored to its former form, including interior furnishings, only in the XX century.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street

 4.3/5

17263 reviews

It is located next to the metro station of the same name. The shopping street, which stretches for more than half a kilometre, is always crowded. Every day it is visited by about 60,000 people. The neighbourhood is about 380 years old. The shops are characterised by an atypical combination of boutiques of famous brands and, for example, shops of tailors who make kimonos. Here you can also buy ready-to-eat food from one of the many outlets.

Open time

Monday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Kuromon Market

 0/5

Located a five-minute walk from Nippon Bashi underground station. In the spacious square under the roof, all sorts of clothing and food shops are open from 8am to 6pm. All stalls selling fresh catch or fruit are traditionally closed on holidays and through Sunday. There are also many establishments selling hot takeaway food. For this reason, the market has been dubbed “the people’s kitchen”.

Umeda Sky Building

 4.3/5

26952 reviews

The 173-storey futuristic skyscraper was built in 1993. The author of the project was Hiroshi Hara. Initially it was planned to create four towers, but taking into account the financial possibilities, two towers were chosen. At the very top they are connected by the Observatory, which is also unusual in design. The Takimi-koji restaurant is open on one of the lower floors. Its interiors refer to the first half of the last century.

Open time

Monday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 PM
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 PM

Abeno Harukas

 4.2/5

46198 reviews

The construction of the skyscraper took about 4 years and was completed in 2014. The 60-storey building is 300 metres high. It is currently considered the tallest in Japan. Only large companies can afford offices in Abeno Harukas. Sharp Corporation moved its headquarters here. It also houses boutiques, department stores, an observation deck and a high-class Marriott International hotel.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Shitenno-ji

 4.3/5

9932 reviews

Although the temple was founded in the VI century, the initial buildings have not survived to this day. It has been destroyed and rebuilt at least seven times, according to chronicles. In the last century, when Shitenno-ji was rebuilt for the first time, reinforced concrete was used to make the structure stronger. The temple is dedicated to the Buddhist gods, the so-called Heavenly Emperors. The treasury and the Gokurakujodo Garden are important objects of the complex.

Open time

Monday: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Sumiyoshi Taisha

 4.4/5

10148 reviews

It is the main shrine of the god Sumiyoshi in Japan. According to legend, this temple was founded by Empress Jingu after her return from Korea. The complex consists of four main buildings. There are also other significant buildings in the traditional style, such as a bridge and an archway at the back entrance to the grounds. The temple houses ancient Japanese seals as well as historically and culturally valuable regulations of the emperor.

Open time

Monday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM

National Bunraku Theatre

 4.1/5

1479 reviews

Osaka is the capital of bunraku. The National Theatre is located in the Chuoku district. The performance involves marionette puppets. They are usually about a metre high. They are controlled by a master with assistants. The performance is accompanied by the playing of the shamisen, a three-stringed lute, and a narration that is often sung. The troupe tours extensively as this art form is complex, rare and in demand.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Namba Grand Kagetsu

 4.3/5

15196 reviews

Among other things, Osaka has been called the comedy capital of Japan. Namba Grand Kagetsu is direct proof of this. In this theatre, artists from the Yoshimoto Kreative Agency stage humorous shows and comedy solo concerts. The shows are in Japanese, so they are aimed primarily at city dwellers and domestic tourists. The programme is variable as there are many comedians and they rotate between each other.

Open time

The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka

 4.3/5

1000 reviews

The museum is most conveniently accessible from Keihandensha railway station. The collection is spread over several halls. It includes samples of Korean ceramic art from the 10th century and Chinese pottery. The number of exhibits exceeds 4 thousand. One of them is national treasures – a special status of the object for Japan. There is a souvenir shop at the museum, and tea ceremonies are organised.

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Osaka Museum of History

 4.1/5

5329 reviews

Open since 2003. It is located near Osaka Castle. The exposition tells about all stages of the city’s development. In the past, the Naniwa Palace was built here, and city neighbourhoods began to form after the appearance of shopping arcades. The museum does not occupy the whole building. As is often the case in Japan, you have to see the collection from the top floor, going down. The lower floors are given over to shops and restaurants.

Open time

Monday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

 4.1/5

6801 reviews

Entire streets as well as individual residential properties have been recreated within the vast complex. They are characteristic of past centuries and show the changes in Japanese tradition and style. Especially noteworthy are the Edo period buildings – you won’t find such models anywhere else in Japan. Due to their convenient location, tourists can see the interior of the houses. Some of them can be entered.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Osaka Science Museum

 4.2/5

3656 reviews

The year of opening was 1937. Since the 80s, the museum has had its present name. Each of its 4 floors is dedicated to a different scientific theme. The exposition includes about 200 exhibits. Most of them can be touched. The excursion consists of experiments, visual aids and theory. The museum has a planetarium, the fifth largest in the world. It underwent extensive restoration already in our century and has been welcoming visitors since 2004.

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The National Museum of Art, Osaka

 4.1/5

3365 reviews

The museum was started by the international exhibition Expo-70. The current collection grew out of its pavilion, where fine art was exhibited. In 2004, the museum moved to a new building on Nakanoshima Island. The American Cesar Pelli was responsible for its design. Three floors out of four are underground. The total area is 13.5 thousand square metres. There are more than 5,000 items in the collections.

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Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

 4.3/5

9091 reviews

This unusual museum was opened in 1958 on the initiative of Momofuku Ando. Familiarising tourists with the history of the invention of instant noodles begins with a small performance and a walk through the tunnel. Its walls are decorated with packs of noodles of different types, flavours and companies. At the masterclasses, you can take part in “assembling” noodles: add everything you need to a cup and seal it yourself.

Open time

Monday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Kids Plaza Osaka

 4.3/5

2996 reviews

An unusual museum for children. Here, young visitors are engaged in various scientific projects, give them the opportunity to realise their creative impulses and get to know their peers. Special educational programmes have been developed, where parents and children act as a team. There is a recreation area. The facility is fully enclosed, so the possibility of getting lost or meeting a stranger is nil.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: Closed
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Grand Front Osaka

 4/5

19909 reviews

The commercial complex opened in 2013. It was built as part of the reconstruction of the entire neighbourhood. The city authorities tried to make the unsightly area an attractive place for tourists and investments. The rest of the neighbourhood will be finished by 2025. Grand Front Osaka includes the Intercontinental Hotel, office space, shops, restaurants, concert halls, and a residential area.

Open time

Tsūtenkaku

 4/5

29108 reviews

The current television tower was erected in 1957. Previously, its predecessor with the same name stood in the same place, which was destroyed during the Second World War. The new structure is much larger: its height exceeds 100 metres. For a small fee, tourists can climb almost to the top of the structure, where there is a viewing platform. From here you can see the whole city in detail.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Spa World

 4/5

6969 reviews

The complex occupies seven floors. People come here specifically for health recovery and relaxation. There are also separate procedures to relax after a long walk. The third floor is dedicated to baths and saunas, including Finnish and Roman saunas. Men and women can visit the baths in different months. On the fifth floor there is an aqua park during the warm season. Spa World has its own restaurants and cafés.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 8:45 AM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 8:45 AM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:45 AM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:45 AM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:45 AM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:45 AM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:45 AM

Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel

 4.4/5

8147 reviews

Located near the Kaiyukan Aquarium. The opening of this attraction took place in 1997. The wheel is 112.5 metres high and has a diameter of about 100 metres. During the ride, which lasts 17 minutes, tourists can view the surroundings, including the city’s bay and the Rocco Mountains. The wheel is decorated with special lights. They indicate the weather in the coming days: orange – sunny, green – cloudy, blue – rain.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Tennoji Zoo

 4/5

13664 reviews

The name is derived from the city neighbourhood. The zoo opened on the territory of the park of the same name in 1915. The number of its inhabitants has already exceeded one and a half thousand, and the number of introductions – more than 230. One of the most unique specimens is a kiwi bird. There are no others like it in Japan. Even for large animals like hippos or lions, conditions replicating their natural habitat have been created.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Nakanoshima Park

 4.2/5

5418 reviews

It was laid out in 1891 between two rivers – Tosabori and Dojima. The area is about 106,000 m². Later, a rose garden was created right in the centre of Nakanoshima. 310 species of roses grow here, and the number of buds reaches 3700. By the water, the Earl Restaurant, famous for its grilled food and beer, is located within the park. Nearby are the city’s main library and the old Osaka Public Hall.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

 4.4/5

40523 reviews

The eight-storey building was built in 1990. The study of the inhabitants of the underwater world takes place from top to bottom – from the 7th floor to the 4th floor. That is where the aquariums are installed. The main inhabitants are a huge stingray and a tiger shark. The part of the exposition where crabs and jellyfish live has unusual decoration and lighting. The total area of Kaiyukan is more than 26 thousand m², and the largest water tank has a volume of 5400 m³.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM

Universal Studios Japan

 4.5/5

108475 reviews

Opened in 2010 and continues to be updated with new attractions and entertainment areas. Everything here is related to the films released by Universal Studios, including: “Shrek”, “Terminator”, “Back to the Future”, “Jurassic Park”. There is an area for the youngest visitors called “Universal Wonderland”. And in the themed areas stuntmen put on full-scale shows.

Open time