Osaka is loud, friendly and obsessed with food: takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu in Dotonbori, plus Osaka Castle and Universal Studios Japan. Nara's deer park and Himeji Castle are easy day trips. March to May and October to November are ideal.
Good to know
- Get an ICOCA card or the Kansai Thru Pass for trains and buses.
- Eat early at popular spots like Dotonbori; lines build in the evening.
- Book Universal Studios Express Passes ahead for busy days.
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Neon canal strip with the Glico sign and endless food stalls and izakayas.
Savory pancake grilled at the table with bonito flakes and sauce.
Reconstructed 16th-century castle with a museum and cherry blossoms in spring.
Seafood, wagyu skewers and fruit in the 'Kitchen of Osaka'.
Super Nintendo World, Harry Potter and thrill rides; buy timed passes.
Friendly bowing deer, a giant bronze Buddha and Kasuga Taisha lanterns.
Japan's best-preserved white feudal castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Giant tank with whale sharks and a Pacific Ocean-themed route.
Floating garden observatory with a 360-degree city view.
Retro district known for kushikatsu and Showa-era atmosphere.
Make your own cup ramen at the museum honoring Momofuku Ando.
One of Japan's oldest shrines, with an arched red bridge.