3 Days in OKASA, Japan: An Itinerary to Remember
1 cities |
8 attraction(s) |
total distance 26
km
TIPS
Day1
Day2
Day3
Day1: Osaka
2 attraction(s) ·
4 km
1
Osaka Castle is a famous scenic spot located in Osaka Castle Park in Chuo Ward, Osaka City, and is one of Japan's three famous castles in history. It was the residence of Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Momoyama Period, and was therefore also known as the "Golden Castle" or the "Castle of Brocade". After experiencing two battles at Osaka, Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated the Toyotomi family and Osaka Castle became an important stronghold for the Tokugawa shogunate to control western Japan. The fortress and the surrounding town of Osaka Castle have a total length of about 7.8 kilometers, which is comparable to the size of the inner castle of Edo Castle in its early period. In the late Edo period, including the outer castle town, the circumference was about 15.8 kilometers, similar in size to the Old Shanghai County City and Suzhou Prefecture.
4
km
2
The Umeda Sky Building, located in the northern part of Osaka Station, is a high-rise interconnected building with 40 above-ground floors and 2 underground floors. Composed of Tower East and Tower West, the top is connected by a circular sky garden, making it one of the few buildings in Japan with a 360-degree open rooftop observatory. It is not only a popular viewing spot for one of Japan's "100 Sunset Views," but also a great place to enjoy the bustling night view of Osaka after dark. The observatory has special seats designed for couples and an aerial courtyard grand shrine where people can pray for love. The fluorescent stone floor on the rooftop creates a romantic and mysterious atmosphere, making it a popular dating spot for travelers and couples.
Day2: Osaka
4 attraction(s) ·
3 km
2
Shinsekai is a bustling commercial district in the center of Osaka, adjacent to the west side of Tennoji Park. The most famous attraction here is the 103-meter tall Tsutenkaku Tower, resembling the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Surrounding the tower are many entertainment venues, popular restaurants, and small alleys. From the 92-meter high observation deck of Tsutenkaku Tower, you can overlook the entire city of Osaka. At the entrance of the observation deck, there is also a Statue of Liberty, which is said to bring good luck when making a wish. In addition, there is a small alley called "Kan-kan-yokocho" in Shinsekai, which used to be a gathering place for workers in the post-World War II period. Now, this alley still retains the shops from that time, as well as many casual dining establishments. On the north side of JR Shinkamiya Station, there is a amusement facility called "Kiseki no Omon" with a theme of an underwater city. It includes shopping floors, movie theaters, and entertainment venues, making it another famous attraction in the Shinsekai area. Next to Kiseki no Omon, there is a urban hot spring leisure spot called "Onsen World".
1
km
3
Tsutenkaku is a high-rise building that leads to the sky, inspired by the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It was the tallest building in Japan at the time of its completion and is one of Osaka's iconic buildings, like Osaka Castle. On the top floor's observation deck, visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding area. On the fifth floor, there is a statue called "Fukusenzo" that is believed to bring good luck when you touch the soles of its feet. The neon lights on the top indicate the weather forecast, with white for sunny, orange for cloudy, blue for rain, and pink for snow.
The area near Tsutenkaku, called Shinsekai, is a paradise for local food in Osaka. Here, you can find a variety of specialty foods, including takoyaki, kushikatsu, motsunabe, and the more expensive fugu cuisine. These foods are all must-tries.
2
km
4
どうとんぼり
Dotonbori is Osaka's most bustling district and also the local food center. It is the birthplace of Osaka's food culture and attracts many travelers who come to taste the cuisine. From takoyaki, teppanyaki, yakiniku, kushikatsu, revolving sushi to fugu cuisine, it covers almost all of Osaka's characteristic cuisine, even inconspicuous small shops can serve delicious food. This longing food culture fully demonstrates the appetite of the people of Osaka, and it's not uncommon to eat until bankrupt.
If you want to recommend a few stores, it is recommended to try the “Kinryu Ramen” with always-long queues in front of the store, the teppanyaki original “Botechu” and the famous store “Konamon Museum”, where you can experience the experience of tasting and making takoyaki. In addition, “Osaka Ohsho” and “Kani Douraku” are also worth trying. The most authentic taste of these two nationally known chains is in their main stores.
In addition to food, you can also visit Hozenji Temple, go to the Matsuzakaza to enjoy Kabuki performances, take a walk along Dotonbori River at night, enjoy the colorful neon lights, and experience the feel of the Edo period.
Day3: Osaka
2 attraction(s) ·
6 km
1
USJ, or Universal Studios Japan, is a super popular theme park among travelers in Japan, just like Tokyo Disneyland. If you are traveling to the Kansai region, you shouldn't miss this place. Besides enjoying the beautiful scenery of Osaka, coming to Universal Studios to experience a unique thrill and joy is also a great choice. Here, you can participate in various exciting entertainment facilities themed around Hollywood movies, such as watching Spider-Man swinging around, avoiding the jaws of a giant shark, witnessing roaming dinosaurs, and experiencing the danger of being chased by zombies in Resident Evil. The park also offers various interesting themed restaurants and mesmerizing nighttime parade performances.
The Harry Potter-themed area, which opened in July 2014, is loved by visitors. It not only highly recreates the scenes from the original works but also sells a large number of exquisite merchandise. The park is conveniently located and close to Osaka Station, and the waiting time for rides is much shorter compared to Disneyland. The opening and closing times vary daily, so travelers who want to see the nighttime parade should check the official website in advance and plan accordingly. UnionPay cards starting with 62 can be conveniently used for payment and cash withdrawal here, and most ATMs also provide Chinese interfaces, making it more convenient for visitors to enjoy the park.
6
km
2
Namba Hachimangu Shrine, located in the Naniwa area, is an ancient shrine. The main deities enshrined here include Susano-no-Mikoto, Kunitokotachi-no-Mikoto, and Yakishidami-no-Mikoto. The shrine's famous performance is the lion dance, which attracts attention due to the large lion head used in the performance.
