Osaka is Japan’s “Nation’s Kitchen,” a merchant city that fed the country during the Edo period and still cooks with swagger. Toyotomi Hideyoshi built Osaka Castle in the 16th century; centuries later, neon and nori share the spotlight along the Dotonbori Canal where the Glico runner sprints eternally above sizzling griddles.

Locals call the city’s culinary zeal kuidaore—“to eat until you drop.” This is the birthplace of takoyaki and a temple for okonomiyaki, kushikatsu, and ramen dens. Neighborhoods like Namba, Shinsekai, Tenma, and Umeda each bring a different flavor: retro, raucous, refined, and everything in between.

Practical notes: Kansai (KIX) is your main gateway; ICOCA transit cards make trains and convenience-store runs simple. Osaka is walkable, safe, and deliciously spontaneous. Carry some cash for mom-and-pop eateries, arrive hungry, and pace yourself—you’ve got six days to savor it.

Osaka

Osaka is a city of appetite and attitude. Dotonbori’s signs—oversized crabs, octopi, and dragons—beckon you into smoky counters and sizzling plates. The skyline frames it all: Umeda Sky Building’s “Floating Garden” and the ferris wheels of the bay gleam over backstreet izakaya.

• Top sights: Osaka Castle and Park, Umeda Sky Building, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku, Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka (Nagai Park), Kuromon Ichiba Market, Amerikamura, Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street.
• Dining highlights: Takoyaki (Aizuya, Kukuru), okonomiyaki (Mizuno, Chibo), kushikatsu (Daruma, Yaekatsu), market-fresh sushi (Endo Sushi), ramen (Hanamaruken Namba, Ichiran), udon (Tsurutontan Soemoncho).
• Fun facts: Osaka dialect (Osaka-ben) is comedy’s lingua franca; local baseball is religion; and the city’s motto might as well be “another round.”

Getting there & around: Fly into KIX via Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. From KIX, Nankai Rapit to Namba takes ~38 minutes (~¥1,450), or the JR Haruka to Tennoji/Shin-Osaka in ~35–50 minutes. For intercity rail in Japan, search schedules on Trip.com trains. The Osaka Metro 1-day pass (Enjoy Eco Card) runs roughly ¥820 weekdays/¥620 weekends—you’ll get your money’s worth.

Where to stay (Osaka):

• Five-star polish on Midosuji: The St. Regis Osaka (walkable to Shinsaibashi and Namba).
• Best-connected for day trips: Swissotel Nankai Osaka (on top of Nankai Namba Station).
• Universal Studios access: Hotel Universal Port or family-friendly Universal Bay Condominium.
• Value pick in Namba: Hotel Sunroute Osaka Namba.
• Shoestring, social vibes: Hotel Taiyo (near Shinsekai and Tennoji).
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com Osaka or apartments on VRBO Osaka.

Day 1: Arrival, Dotonbori Neon, and Your First Street-Food Feast

Afternoon: Land at KIX and ride Nankai Rapit to Namba. Drop bags and shake off jet lag with a gentle stroll along Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street. Coffee at LiLo Coffee Roasters (single-origin pour-overs) or Mel Coffee Roasters (immaculate light roasts).

Evening: Dive into Dotonbori. Start with takoyaki at Aizuya (classic, no sauce needed) versus crispy-saucy balls at Kukuru; compare and pick a side. For okonomiyaki, Mizuno’s griddles sing; Chibo is a roomy alternative with English menus. Cap the night on the 20-minute Tombori River Cruise to see the Glico sign blaze, then a nightcap at standing-bar Tachibana or Craft Beer Works Kamikaze (rotating Japanese taps).

Day 2: Osaka Orientation, Osaka Castle, and Umeda Sky Views

Morning: Get your bearings with a local-led walking tour:

Osaka Kickstart: Hotspots and Hidden Gems Private or Group Tours

Expect backstreets you’d miss on your own, photo stops, and foodie suggestions tailored to your tastes.

Afternoon: Walk Osaka Castle Park to the keep; the museum’s dioramas bring Hideyoshi’s epic to life. Lunch nearby in Kyobashi at Izakaya Toyo (the blowtorch-torched tuna legend from “Street Food: Asia”; go early and be patient), or slurp shoyu ramen at Hanamaruken Namba (slow-braised pork ribs). Head to Umeda; browse Grand Front Osaka, then ride up the Umeda Sky Building’s Floating Garden for sunset panoramas.

Evening: Dinner in the Tenma arcade district: try small-plate hopping at tachinomi (standing) bars like Ajito and Sake no Ana, or book a counter at Harukoma Sushi (Tenjinbashisuji) for generous cuts at friendly prices. Sweet tooth? Grammy pancake stacks at Elk Cafe or warabimochi soft serve at Daimaru Umeda’s depachika.

Day 3: Osaka Bay, Shinsekai Retro, and teamLab Night Garden

Morning: Breakfast toast at LeBRESSO (thick-cut shokupan, honey-lemon butter) or a kissaten set at Komeda’s Coffee. Then to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, one of the world’s largest—watch manta rays and whale sharks loop around a multi-story tank. Ride the Santa Maria cruise from Tempozan Harbor and pop into the retro food hall Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho for snacks (takoyaki, yakisoba, croquettes).

Afternoon: Tram or subway to Shinsekai. Take in Tsutenkaku Tower and feast on kushikatsu—Daruma for the classic breadcrumb crunch, or Yaekatsu for a homier vibe. Spa World’s onsen floors are a quirky, relaxing add-on if you brought a towel and extra time.

Evening: Head to Nagai Park for teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka. The illuminated, interactive art among camphor trees feels surreal; buy timed-entry tickets in advance. Dinner nearby in Abeno: try yakitori at Torikizoku Abeno (budget, lively) or refined tempura at Tempura Kurokawa Tennoji. Rooftop views from Abeno Harukas’ dining floors are an easy digestif.

Day 4: Kyoto Day Trip — Temples, Gates, and Geisha Alleys

Morning train from Osaka to Kyoto (JR Special Rapid: ~30 minutes, ~¥1,070; from Shin-Osaka by Shinkansen: ~14 minutes). Join a comprehensive coach tour to hit marquee sights without the transit puzzle:

PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour

Expect Kiyomizu-dera’s veranda views, Fushimi Inari’s red torii tunnels, and time for shopping in Higashiyama. For dinner, stay in central Kyoto: noodles at Omen near Ginkakuji, conveyor-belt fun at Musashi Sushi (downtown), or yakitori along Pontocho Alley.

As night falls, explore the storied lanes of Gion with a guide:

Kyoto Gion Geisha District Walking Tour - The Stories of Geisha

Return to Osaka by JR after the tour (~30–45 minutes). If you decide to overnight, browse Hotels.com Kyoto or VRBO Kyoto.

Day 5: Universal Studios Japan — A Playful Day by the Bay

Morning: Early start to maximize rides. Date-based tickets (~¥8,600–¥11,400) and Express Passes sell out; buy in advance and arrive before gates open. Race to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World; timed-entry area tickets may be required—grab them upon entry if you don’t have Express.

Afternoon: Lunch at Kinopio’s Café (mushroom-themed whimsy) or Mel’s Drive-In (classic burgers). Beat queues with single-rider lines where available. If you’re not a coaster fan, shows like WaterWorld and parades deliver plenty of fun.

Evening: Dinner at Universal CityWalk Takoyaki Park to sample multiple regional styles in one go. If you want to stay close, consider Hotel Universal Port or Universal Bay Condominium. Otherwise, unwind back in Namba with handmade udon at Tsurutontan Soemoncho and a riverfront stroll.

Day 6: Markets, Museums, Shopping — and a Farewell Feast

Morning: Step into old Osaka at the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living; rent a yukata for photos on the recreated Edo streets. Coffee at Takamura Wine & Coffee Roasters (warehouse-chic, competition-grade beans), then wander Tenjinbashisuji—the longest shopping street in Japan.

Afternoon: Lunch at Endo Sushi (Osaka Central Wholesale Market; counter-only omakase plates—go early) or head to Kuromon Ichiba Market for grilled scallops, fresh uni, and wagyu skewers (try Maguroya Kurogin for tuna cuts). Shop Shinsaibashi-suji and Amerikamura for vintage tees, streetwear, and quirky souvenirs; knife nerds can detour to Sakai by Nankai train (~20–25 minutes) for artisan blades.

Evening: Send off your trip with an award-winning local-led food crawl in retro Shinsekai:

Hungry Osaka Street Food Tour: 15 Dishes & 3 Drinks—Like a Local

Expect kushikatsu, doteyaki, yakiniku bites, and neighborhood stories with stops you’d never find alone. If you still have room, finish with cheese tarts at PABLO or a custard-filled taiyaki from a street stall.

Practical Add-Ons

• Arrival logistics: Search flights to KIX on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Trains across Japan: Trip.com trains.
• Money & tickets: Load an ICOCA card for transit and vending machines. Popular attractions (USJ, teamLab) use date/time slots—reserve as early as you can.
• Seasonal tips: Cherry blossoms late Mar–early Apr; summer festivals (Tenjin Matsuri in July); vivid maples mid–late Nov. Pack layers; Osaka’s bay breezes can be cooler at night.

Optional tours you can swap in or add:

Shinsekai Foodie Tour (evening) already included on Day 6. Prefer a daytime culinary deep-dive? Consider this alternative in central Osaka:

Osaka Food Tour - 13 Delicious Dishes at 5 Local Eateries

Six days in Osaka will make you a believer: a city where every block offers a snack, a story, or a skyline surprise. With a Kyoto day trip woven in, you’ll taste Kansai’s full spectrum—from lantern-lit alleys to futuristic art gardens. Come hungry, leave inspired.