One Day In Osaka: The PERFECT Osaka 1-Day Itinerary!

Wondering how to spend one day in Osaka? You’ve come to the right place! 

This one-day Osaka itinerary covers all the city’s highlights and most popular attractions, taking you through lush green parks to old temples and to the city’s most significant neighbourhoods. 

I loved my time in Osaka, and couldn’t help writing this 1-day Osaka itinerary after my visit. It includes a breakdown of how long you need in the city and the best ways to get around. 

Osaka is a vibrant and fascinating city, famous for its “crazy” Dotonbori neighbourhood, its street food, it’s beautiful castle and so much more.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive into this Osaka 1-day itinerary!

Want to see more of Osaka? Check out my YouTube video about it!

Best Things To Do In Osaka In One Day

Osaka Castle

The Osaka Castle was built in a traditional Japanese style, a lot like the temples and pagodas spread across the country. Its construction began in 1583 on the former site of the Ishiyama Honganji Temple. 

Over the centuries it has been attacked by invaders and the main castle tower was even struck by lighting in 1665! It’s now a mix of the features from the original castle and modern elements that have been added since. 

Built in the middle of the Nishinomaru Garden, the grounds surrounding the castle are especially pretty in spring when the 600 or so cherry blossoms in the park come into bloom, and in autumn when all the leaves turn golden and red.

Click here to book your guided tour of Osaka Castle!

On the grounds there is also a shrine dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and a vast lawn you can relax and picnic on. 

You can also go inside the castle, where you will find various interesting displays about its history, samurai traditions, and Japanese culture. There are also great views looking out over Osaka.

To ensure you make the most of your visit to Osaka Castle, I recommend doing a guided tour, so that you can have a local guide to tell you interesting things about the castle’s and city’s history.

Click here to book your guided tour of Osaka Castle!

Shitennō-ji Temple

This iconic temple was founded in 593 by Prince Shotoku. It is one of the oldest temples in the country, and the first to be built by the state and not a religious group.

Built as part of the prince’s scheme to introduce Buddhism into Japan, it is a historically significant relic of Japan’s early religious history.

I loved the facade, which is decorated in whites and reds. There’s a giant five-storey pagoda erected by the side of the main temple building that’s also very impressive. 

Like the Osaka Castle, the structure standing there today has been rebuilt several times and undergone lots of maintenance. But they’ve tried to keep it as similar to the original 5th-century temple as possible. 

Surrounding the temple there is a large park and picturesque gardens. The Gokuraku-jodo Garden by the castle was designed to resemble the Western Paradise of the Amida Buddha.

There are water features and a pebble stone path that weaves through the garden’s trees. 

It’s a great place to escape to if you want to get away from the city noise. Alongside the gardens and temple, there is a treasure house with paintings and scriptures that were found in the temple. 

The temple grounds are free to enter, but you’ll have to pay a small admission fee to go to the Gokuraku-jodo Garden, treasure house, and inside the inner precinct courtyard.

Click here to book an Osaka walking tour, which includes a visit to Shittenoji Temple!

Shinsekai Market

Shinsekai is a vibrant and quirky market district. At the heart of the neighbourhood stands the Tsutenkaku Tower, which is the most recognisable feature of the district. 

Once neglected, the neighbourhood rose to its current glory after the 1903 National Industrial Exposition which brought in flocks of tourists to the area.

Like lots of Osaka, the neighbourhood was pretty much destroyed during WWII but reconstructed in 1956. One cool thing about the Shinsekai Market district is that its northern area was modeled after Paris!  

Click here to book a food tour in Shinsekai, Osaka!

The iconic Tsutenkaku Tower is even a take on the more well-known Eiffel Tower.

There’s an observatory at the top of the 103-meter tall tower you can visit if you want to take snaps of the best panoramic views of the city.

The southern portion of the neighbourhood was built in a Coney Island New York style. 

Lit up with bright lights and cool shop facades, the neighbourhood is famous as a spot for retail therapy and great food. You have to try the local specialty, kushikatsu, whilst you’re there! 

Check out prices & availability for a food tour in Shinsekai, Osaka!

Dotonbori

You can end your day in Osaka at Dotonbori, the most unique and recognisable sight in Osaka.

Dotonbori is the neighbourhood to head to if you’re looking for a lively night out. There are endless bars, clubs, and restaurants in the district. 

The neighbourhood began as a humble entertainment area in the 1600s that had a few puppet theaters. Today, it’s Osaka’s main entertainment hub.

Thanks to the lit up, bright-neon walls of the building’s facades the whole neighbourhood feels like a futuristic city. It has the vibe of a Japanese Times Square. 

One popular thing to do here (apart from party) is take pictures under the city’s unofficial mascot, the Glico Man. The large neon sign features him running and is positioned above the Dotonbori Bridge.

It’s been there since 1935! This iconic symbol of the city is the most Instagrammable spot in town.

I loved spending my evenings in Dotonbori, and I felt the whole neighbourhood showcased Japan’s futuristic, metropolitan vibe.

While you can enjoy a night out in Dotonbori alone, I really think that doing a pub crawl or cooking class with a local guide will really make it more enjoyable. After all, the locals know where to go for good food and a good time!

Check out prices & availability for your Namba Pub Crawl or Dotonbori Cooking Class here!

Is 1 Day In Osaka Enough?

If you’re just hoping to tick off all the city’s main attractions and experience its vibrant market district, then a day in Osaka is enough.

You’ll have enough time to hop around the city center and get a sense of the city’s unique atmosphere. 

That said, I think the city is a great base for exploring Japan, as it’s cheaper than destinations like Tokyo and there are loads of amazing, nearby day trips you can go on from Osaka. 

For example, you can base yourself in Osaka, see all the highlights in one day, and then spend a few more days visiting Nara, Kyoto, Universal Studios Japan, Himeji, and even Hiroshima (and the beautiful Miyajima island right in front of it).

The city has a really vibrant nightlife, and neighbourhoods like Dotonbori are full of cool bars and restaurants, so having more than one night in Osaka would be great fun. 

Basically you could spend a big chunk of your Japan 2-week itinerary based in Osaka, and tick off quite a lot of Japan bucket list destinations from there, even if you only spend one day exploring the city itself.

As for travellers who are tight on time, one day in Osaka is still worth the trip.

How To Get Around Osaka

Like most Japanese cities, the public transport in Osaka is excellent. There are links between all the neighbourhoods and everything runs on schedule. 

Their public transport system can be a little overwhelming at first, but if you stick to following the signs at the stations you’ll soon get the hang of it.  

Using the train and metro lines is the most convenient and affordable way to get around the city. It’s worth noting that you’ll need a Metro or Suica Card to use them.

If you have a JR Pass, some of the journeys inside Osaka will be covered. There’s even a train line that takes you to Kansai Airport, the nearest airport for flight connections. 

Another great thing about getting around Japan is that Google Maps is super up-to-date. It has reliable travel times and lets you know if there are any traffic delays or problems on the road.

Where to stay in Osaka

There are loads of cool places to stay in Osaka, and you’ll find they’re all fairly affordable compared to other Japanese destinations, as well as each neighbourhood having its own distinctive vibe. Here are some great places to stay for all budgets.

Budget: If you don’t want to break the bank, the APA Hotel & Resort is a great option. This tower-style hotel even has a swimming pool and a spa center, and is located right by the JR Namba Station. 

Click here to book your stay at the APA Hotel & Resort in Osaka!

Midrange: If you’re travelling as a group of friends or a family, then the cute and simple hotel apartments at Apartment Hotel 11 Namba are perfect for you! Affordable, cozy, and you even get your own kitchen!

Click here to see prices & availability at the Apartment Hotel 11 Namba in Osaka!

Luxury: Known internationally for its elegant hotels, DoubleTree by Hilton is a go-to for luxury. As well as exquisite rooms, there’s a swimming pool, fitness center, and room service! 

Check out prices & availability for your stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Osaka Castle here!

Final Thoughts On My Osaka 1 Day Itinerary

I hope this one-day Osaka itinerary has inspired you to visit Japan and venture to this vibrant city. 

It’s not as popular as Tokyo, but it’s worth visiting and is a great travel destination for those who want to get a sense of Japan’s quirky metropolitan culture without venturing to the capital.

This one-day in Osaka itinerary will have you hopping between temples and noisy markets, quiet gardens, and karaoke bars! 

It’s a small sample itinerary for Osaka, as there’s loads more to do in the city if you have some extra time to spare. If your Japan itinerary allows it, make sure to go beyond the cities like Tokyo and Osaka, and venture to the Japanese countryside and seaside.

While I enjoyed exploring Osaka, my personal favourite was Mount Fuji, where we went glamping and exploring beautiful waterfalls, and the ancient Nakasendo samurai trail we did in Nagano.

Have you been to Osaka before? Are you planning to go? Let me know in the comments below!

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