Osaka has been Japan’s mercantile heart since the 16th century, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi built his grand castle and canals filled with rice barges. Today, the “Nation’s Kitchen” is a byword for kuidaore—“eat until you drop”—from sizzling okonomiyaki griddles to lantern-lit izakaya alleys and late-night ramen dens.

Beyond the plate, Osaka flexes with neon riverscapes in Dotonbori, the retro-glow of Shinsekai, cutting-edge digital art at teamLab Botanical Garden, and family-favorite Universal Studios Japan. It’s also the best base for day trips to Kyoto’s shrines and Nara’s bowing deer—all under an hour away.

Practical notes: Kansai International Airport (KIX) connects globally. Osaka Metro is frequent and affordable (a day pass is typically around ¥820 on weekdays, ~¥620 on weekends). Cashless IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are widely accepted. Expect orderly crowds, spotless streets, and an unending parade of snacks.

Osaka

Osaka mixes old-school grit with big-city sparkle. You’ll wander from castle moats to hip roasteries, from covered markets to sleek river walks. Umeda Sky Building gives a 360° sweep of the city, while the Kaiyukan Aquarium circles you through a Pacific Rim odyssey anchored by a massive whale shark tank.

Food is the city’s love language. Try takoyaki (octopus puffs) from stands along Dotonbori, Osaka-style okonomiyaki at cherished counters, and kushikatsu (fried skewers) in Shinsekai. For dessert, join the line for Rikuro Ojisan’s warm jiggly cheesecake or nab matcha treats in Shinsaibashi.

Base yourself in Namba for nightlife and easy Metro access, Umeda for business hubs and trains, or the Bay Area for Universal Studios Japan. With seven days, you’ll taste the neighborhoods and still have time to hop to Kyoto and Nara.

Getting there and around

• Flights to KIX: Search competitive fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. The Nankai Rapi:t from KIX to Namba takes ~40 minutes (~¥1,450); JR Haruka to Tennoji ~35 minutes (~¥1,600).
• Regional trains (Japan): For intercity trains in Asia, see Trip.com trains. Tokyo–Shin-Osaka by shinkansen is ~2.5–3 hours (one-way from ~¥14,000–16,000).

Where to stay (Osaka)

• Swissotel Nankai Osaka (Namba): On top of Nankai Namba Station—arrive from KIX, ride the elevator to check-in. Pool, gym, and a stellar breakfast.
• The St. Regis Osaka (Midosuji): Butler service and refined rooms on Osaka’s “Champs-Élysées.” Great for special occasions.
• Hotel Sunroute Osaka Namba (Namba/Shinsaibashi): Comfortable, value-forward, steps from Dotonbori and Metro.
• Hotel Universal Port (USJ area): Family favorite with playful décor and easy Universal access.
• Universal Bay Condominium (Bay Area): Spacious apartment-style stays ideal for groups near the Aquarium and USJ.
• Hotel Taiyo (Shinsekai/Tennoji): Budget base near Spa World and Tsutenkaku.
• Browse more: Hotels.com Osaka | VRBO Osaka

Day 1: Arrival, Namba Warm-Up, and Dotonbori by Night

Morning: In transit. If you arrive early to KIX, grab an onigiri and bottled green tea before boarding the Nankai Rapi:t to Namba (~40 minutes). Drop bags and freshen up.

Afternoon: Start at Kuromon Ichiba Market for lunch-grazing: charcoal-grilled scallops, fatty tuna, and wagyu skewers from stalls like Marusho and Maguro no Entsu. Coffee at LiLo Coffee Roasters (tiny, passionate, rotating single-origin beans) or Takamura Wine & Coffee Roasters (industrial-chic, excellent espresso) if you’re heading toward Nakanoshima later.

Evening: Walk the neon river of Dotonbori—snap the Glico Running Man and the giant crab at Kani Doraku. For dinner, book Mizuno for Osaka-style okonomiyaki (order the yamaimo-yaki for airy texture), or try Dotonbori Konamon Museum for DIY takoyaki. Nightcap in stone-paved Hozenji Yokocho, where lanterns glow by a mossy temple; pop into a snug izakaya like Yakizen for skewers and sake.

Day 2: Osaka Castle, Backstreets, and a Guided City Deep-Dive

Morning: Early stroll through the plum and cherry groves of Osaka Castle Park; tour the keep’s museum for samurai armor and castle-town maps. Light breakfast nearby at Granknot Coffee (velvety lattes, crumbly scones) or grab a melon pan from a bakery cart inside the park.

Afternoon: Join a guided city walk to tie history and neighborhoods together:

Recommended tour: Ultimate Osaka Walking Tour (Castle, Dotonbori) GROUP OR PRIVATE

This award-winning tour connects Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, and hidden alleys with stories you won’t find on plaques. It’s an efficient, fun immersion on Day 2.

Evening: Head to Umeda. Ride up to the Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden for sunset. Dinner in the nearby Shin-Umeda Shokudogai food alley—try Tori Shin for yakitori or Kiji for another spin on okonomiyaki. Craft beer at Minoh Beer the Kitchen or a refined highball at Bar K.

Day 3: Markets, Shinsekai Retro, and Sumo Show

Morning: Dive into Nipponbashi Den Den Town (Osaka’s answer to Akihabara) for gadgets, retro games, and anime merch. Brunch on soufflé pancakes at Gram (flagship origin) or Tokyo-meets-Osaka soufflés at Fuwa Fuwa. If savory calls, slurp shoyu ramen at Ramen Jinsei JET near Fukushima later in the day.

Afternoon: Explore Shinsekai under the shadow of Tsutenkaku Tower—this 1912 neighborhood blends Showa-era nostalgia with lively kushikatsu joints. Pause at Sumiyoshi Taisha, one of Japan’s oldest shrines, crossing the steep Sorihashi Bridge for a photo worth the detour.

Evening: Experience a cultural spectacle in Namba:

Recommended show: Sumo show in Osaka Namba THE SUMO HALL HIRAKUZA OSAKA

Learn rules, rituals, and lore up-close—engaging, photogenic, and family-friendly. Post-show, feast on kushikatsu at Kushikatsu Daruma (dip once—double-dipping is taboo) or try yakisoba at Jyan Jyan Yokocho’s tiny counters.

Day 4: Day Trip to Kyoto & Nara (Temples, Torii, and Deer)

Morning: Depart Osaka around 7:30–8:00. Guided day tours remove the logistics and maximize sights:

Recommended tour: From Kyoto / Osaka: Kyoto Must-see Spots & Nara Park One Day Tour

Expect Fushimi Inari’s vermilion gates, Kiyomizu-dera’s wooden terrace, Arashiyama views or Kinkaku-ji’s golden pavilion, plus Nara Park’s friendly deer and Todaiji’s Great Buddha. It’s a full, rewarding day.

Afternoon: Lunch in Kyoto (tofu cuisine or yuba at Yudofu Sagano near Arashiyama) or street bites around Nara’s Sanjo-dori (kakinoha-zushi—mackerel wrapped in persimmon leaves).

Evening: Return to Osaka (typically by early evening). Light dinner near Namba: Rikuro Ojisan cheesecake as a treat, then a quick bowl at Ichiran Ramen Dotonbori for a signature solo-booth tonkotsu fix.

Day 5: Osaka Bay—Aquarium, Ferris Wheel, and Waterfront Eats

Morning: Head to the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, one of the world’s largest, designed as a spiraling journey from shorelines to the deep ocean. Grab a conbini breakfast en route, or pastries at Boulangerie P & B in Tempozan Market Place.

Afternoon: Ride the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel for harbor panoramas, then stroll the waterfront. If you like offbeat museums, the CupNoodles Museum Ikeda (about 30–40 minutes north of central Osaka) lets you design and seal your own instant noodle cup—kids love it.

Evening: Dinner in Universal CityWalk if you want to be poised for tomorrow—consider Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M (marbled Mie wagyu, order the assorted cuts) or casual izakaya plates at Toraji. Turn in early at Hotel Universal Port or stay central and metro back.

Day 6: Universal Studios Japan—All Day Thrills

Morning: Arrive at park opening to beat queues for SUPER NINTENDO WORLD (Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge) and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Forbidden Journey). Breakfast on the go, or grab themed snacks inside.

Afternoon: Hit Jurassic Park—The Ride, Jaws, and seasonal shows. For lunch, try the Three Broomsticks (roast platters with lake views) or Mario-themed bites at Kinopio’s Cafe.

Evening: Catch the night parade if running. Dine back in the city: in Kitashinchi, reserve Honkogetsu (kappo-style, refined seasonal courses) or go casual with Torame Yokocho—a lively food hall of gyoza, yakitori, and sake bars under one roof.

Day 7: Art, Gardens, Shopping—Then Sayonara

Morning: Slow coffee at LiLo Coffee Roasters (second visit encouraged) or Metrò Coffee near Shinsaibashi. Explore Nakazakicho, a pocket of vintage shops and converted machiya cafés. Alternatively, soak at Spa World (multi-floor themed baths) near Shinsekai if you want a pre-flight onsen-style reset.

Afternoon: Wander Shinsaibashi-suji arcade for last-minute gifts—kitkat flavors, ceramics, tenugui cloths. If you prefer greenery and tech art, head to teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka in Nagai Park; by day it’s serene, and at night it transforms into illuminated installations amid flora.

Evening: One last food flourish with an expert-led feast:

Recommended tour: Hungry Osaka Street Food Tour:15 Tastings & 3 Drinks-Like a Local

Award-winning, insider-only tastings across Shinsekai’s retro lanes—kushikatsu, doteyaki, oden, and more. If you prefer a quieter send-off, book a short tea ceremony in Dotonbori earlier in the day, then savor sushi at Endo Sushi (Osaka Central Market original) before your afternoon/late-night departure tomorrow.

Optional add-on for Day 1 or Day 2: Osaka Orientation Walk

If you want a quick “city decoder” to start your week, consider:

Recommended tour: Osaka Kickstart: Hotspots and Hidden Gems Private or Group Tours

Featured on British TV, this lively walk helps you navigate neighborhoods, transit, and food culture from the get-go.

DIY dining & café cheat sheet (save for the week)

• Okonomiyaki: Mizuno (Dotonbori), Kiji (Umeda) — cabbage-rich, pork/shrimp add-ins, brushed with tangy sauce.
• Takoyaki: Creo-ru, Wanaka — molten centers; try negi (scallion) topping.
• Kushikatsu: Daruma (Shinsekai) — crisp panko coating; remember “no double dip.”
• Sushi: Endo Sushi — classic market-style nigiri; fatty tuna and anago are standouts.
• Ramen: Ramen Jinsei JET (shoyu), Hanamaruken (pork rib ramen), Ichiran (tonkotsu, solo booths).
• Cafés: LiLo Coffee Roasters, Takamura Wine & Coffee Roasters, Granknot Coffee.
• Sweets: Rikuro Ojisan cheesecake, Pablo cheese tarts, matcha soft serve across Shinsaibashi.

Where to sleep each night

• Nights 1–4: Base in Namba for markets, Dotonbori, and easy day-trip departures: Swissotel Nankai Osaka or Hotel Sunroute Osaka Namba.
• Nights 5–6: Consider Hotel Universal Port or Universal Bay Condominium for USJ/Aquarium access.
• Night 7: Splurge send-off on Midosuji at The St. Regis Osaka, or browse more options on Hotels.com Osaka or VRBO Osaka.

Cost and time notes (approximate, March 2025)

• Osaka Metro rides: ~¥200–280 per trip depending on distance; day pass around ¥820 weekdays/~¥620 weekends.
• KIX–Namba: ~40 minutes by Nankai Rapi:t (~¥1,450). KIX–Tennoji by JR Haruka ~35 minutes (~¥1,600).
• Shin-Osaka–Kyoto: ~15 minutes by shinkansen (~¥3,000). Osaka–Nara: ~40–50 minutes by Kintetsu/JR (~¥570–¥920).

Alternate evening (swap any night): Tea & Traditions

Prefer something serene? Try a hands-on tea ceremony in Dotonbori before dinner:

Recommended experience: Tea Ceremony Experience in Osaka Doutonbori

Pro tips

• Reserve USJ timed-entry for SUPER NINTENDO WORLD as early as possible (on-site or via pass options) and arrive before rope drop.
• Many popular eateries use ticket machines or same-day lists; go early or plan for a short wait—often part of the fun.
• Carry a small coin pouch; markets and mom-and-pop shops may be cash-preferred.

Osaka rewards curiosity—duck into alleys, follow sizzling aromas, and linger on bridges as riverboats glide under neon. With castles and street food one day, deer and shrines the next, your week balances culture, thrills, and plate-licking good eats. You’ll leave plotting your return—and your next okonomiyaki order.