Places To Visit In Osaka

Osaka Castle is one of the best places to visit in Osaka. Locally known as Ōsaka-jō, the castle dates back to the year 1586 when it was built by the famous Japanese warrior Toyotomi Hideyoshi, making it the largest castle in the country of that time. The castle is made entirely of stones and was destroyed in 1615. It was then rebuilt in 1931, with attractions like the 42-metre tall main tower which has five storeys and is home to a museum, as well as the Osaka Castle Park, which is where you can find the famous Hokoku Shrine.

Location: 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 540-0002, JapanTimings: 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.

Shitennō-ji is amongst the best temples and most famous places to visit in Osaka. Its history can be traced back to as early as 59 AD. In addition to being the first Buddhist temple in the country, Shitennō-ji Temple also ranks as the oldest religious site of its kind in Japan. During a visit to the stunning Shitennō-ji Temple, you can marvel at its five-storey high pagoda, or admire the other ornately decorated buildings here, such as the Golden Pavilion or Kondō, the Lecture Hall or Kōdō, and a beautiful corridor which links three gates of this site.

Location: 1-11-18 Shitennoji, Tennoji Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 543-0051, JapanTimings: 08:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m.

One of the most fun-filled places to visit in Osaka is the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, which is also one of the biggest aquariums in the whole world. It is here where you can take a walk through a wide array of different marine habitats, from the Pacific Ocean and Antarctica to the Great Barrier Reef as well as the Monterey Bay, to name a few. You can also find several indigenous Japanese marine species in the aquarium, ranging from native reptiles and mammals to freshwater species like manta rays and sharks as well.

Location: Chome 1-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 552-0022, JapanTimings: 10:30 a.m. to 07:00 p.m.

Dotonbori is one of the best places to visit in Osaka, especially if you wish to experience the city’s nightlife and street food scene. This famous Osaka district is not only beautiful but is also famous all over the country for its stunning bridges and walkways. Also doubling up as an entertainment hotspot, Dotonbori dates all the way back to the 1600s and is the place related to the origin of many Japanese theatres.

Location: Dotonbori, Namba, Chuo-ku Osaka, 542-0071, JapanTimings: Open 24 hours

Amongst the most famous places to visit in Osaka is the magnificent Namba Yasaka Shrine, which is also one of the most unique places to go to in all of Japan. During your visit to the shrine, you can see a huge stage here, which has been shaped like a lion’s head, with all of its teeth completely bare, thereby making for a phenomenal sight. The shrine is also worshipped as the tutelary shrine of the region of Namba in Osaka and is considered religiously significant.

Location: 2-9-19, Motomachi, Naniwa-Ku Osaka 556-0016, JapanTimings: 06:30 a.m. to 05:00 p.m

Ranked as one of the oldest places to visit in Osaka is the Tsūtenkaku Tower, located in the heart of the city, and one of its most famous landmarks. The tower is said to have been built on the site of an Eiffel Tower replica from 1912 and was completed in the year 1956. The Tsūtenkaku Tower is particularly famous for offering some of the most spectacular views of the city of Osaka, especially from its fifth-floor Observation Deck, which is also home to a shrine of the God of Happiness.

Location: *Chrome-18-6 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0002, Japan*Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 08:00 p.m.

Also known as NMAP, the National Museum of Art is one of the most famous places to visit in Osaka. This is an underground art museum located on the island of Nakanoshima and opened in the city in 1977. It is in the National Museum of Art where you can discover an extensive collection of artworks by famous Japanese as well as international artists, from Picasso and Cézanne to Kuniyoshi, Foujita and others.

Location: 4 Chome-2-55 Nakanoshima, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0005, JapanTimings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.

Considered to be one of the most beautiful places to visit in Osaka, the Tennōji Park and Zoo is also the city’s largest green space, known particularly for its stunning flower beds, green shrubs as well as cherry blossoms in the spring season. The park also consists of several ponds, bridges and beautiful sculptures, in addition to the Osaka Tennōji Zoo, which opened in 1915. Inside the zoo, you can catch sights of animals like giraffes, lions as well as elephants, in addition to numerous reptiles and hippos.

Location: 1-108 Chausuyamacho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka, Japan Timings: 07:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Osaka Science Museum is one of the most famous places to visit in Osaka, especially with family and little children. Built-in the shape of a ship’s bridge, the museum is located along the waterside, and first opened in the year 1989. You can find a wide array of intriguing interactive exhibits here, which are based on themes related to astronomy, energy sources and more. The museum is also home to the first planetarium in the country.

Location: 4 Chome-2-1 Nakanoshima, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0005, JapanTimings: 09:30 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. (Closed on Monday)

When looking for places to visit in Osaka, head over to explore the Umeda Sky Building, which is best known as a modern architectural wonder of the city. Also known as Umeda Suki Biru, the Umeda Sky Building is a popular landmark in Osaka, which has two office towers joined at the top via a platform. With a stunning network of bridges as well as an escalator that joins the towers, the building also boasts of the Floating Garden Observatory, from where you can soak in some of the most stunning views of the city.

Location: 1 Chome-1-88 Oyodonaka, Kita Ward, Osaka, 531-6023, JapanTimings: 09:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Amongst the best places to visit in Osaka for a day out, Universal Studios Osaka is one of the only four Universal Studios-themed parks in the whole world, in addition to being the home to the first ever Super Nintendo World across the globe. It is here where you can enjoy more than 60 attractions and rides on different themes, from the Spiderman movies to the world of Minions as well as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, anime and more.

Location: 1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka Prefecture 554-0031, Japan Timings: 08:30 a.m. to 09:00 p.m.

The Tenmangu Shrine is another one of the most popular places to visit in Osaka, in addition to being the site of the ancient Tenjin Festival which is held in the city annually. The shrine is dedicated to the God of Scholarship and offers visitors a chance to gain insights into the local customs and traditions, in addition to the heritage of the city. You can also indulge in souvenir shopping around the shrine during your visit.

Location: 2 Chome-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0041, Japan Timings: 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.