How to Spend 4 Days in Osaka - A Travel Itinerary

Osaka, a captivating city known for its blend of historical charm, lively spirit and culinary delights. I've had the chance to explore Osaka and its many offerings. The city stands as a bustling metropolis that beckons travelers to explore its vibrant streets and indulge in its famous food offerings. If you're planning to visit Osaka and wondering how to best approach this city, then let me share with you my guide to spending 4 days in Osaka. Osaka is located in the heart of Japan. With a po

pulation of 2.7 million, the city is a vital transportation and economic hub. To best explore the city, I recommend staying near the central area specifically near the famous Dotonbori, known for its neon-lit canal, the Glico man sign and being home to numerous restaurants and street food stands. It's also near the busy shopping district of Shinsaibashi, but more importantly, you'll have access to Namba Station, a major transportation hub in Osaka. You can also find the famous Kuromon Market, o

ften referred to as the "Kitchen of Osaka". It's therefore very convenient staying near Dotonbori as you'll have easy access to the rest of the city via public transport and there are plenty of restaurants and entertainment options around the area. On my last trip to Osaka, I stayed at the Hotel The Flag in Shinsaibashi. It's a relatively new hotel that comes with modern and clean rooms with all the usual amenities but the best part about the hotel is its location. It's only a 3-minute walk fro

m the hotel to Shinsaibashi Station and only a 10-minute walk to Dotonbori which is super convenient. There are many more nearby hotels you can stay at, but I'll leave links to hotel recommendations and more in the description box below. For transportation, trains and buses will be your main way of getting around the city. This is why getting your hands on an IC card is an absolute must. Either a physical card or you can add a digital version to your Apple wallet if you have an iPhone. Simp

ly tap with your phone while entering a station and tap out when you exit. It's easy to keep track of your travel expenses and I found that using the digital card the most convenient as I could top up the card straight from the phone using a credit card. It may also be worth considering the Osaka Amazing Pass. It's a special sightseeing and transportation pass designed for tourists and covers access to various well-known attractions and includes unlimited use of trains and buses within the c

ity. You can purchase the Osaka Amazing Pass at tourist information offices in Osaka or online via Klook which you may find more convenient. More info and links below. On our first day in Osaka, we'll wake up bright and early and start off our day by visiting the Namba Yasaka Shrine. The shrine is mostly known for its large lion head stage, which is said to swallow up any bad luck or spirits plaguing you. Most of the shrine's original structures were lost due to air raids and fires, so the bu

ildings you'll encounter here are mostly reconstructions from the post-war era. As always, it's customary to clean your hands and pay your respects when visiting a shrine. Next, we head over to Shinsaibashi and walk through the main shopping street. You'll find hundreds of stores lining down its 600m long street. You'll find anything from small cute stores to larger department stores such as Uniqlo and the Parco Shopping Complex. It's here that we stumble across this peculiar shop called Fuek

i which sells a diversity of items featuring Fueki-kun the official mascot of the brand. We decided to opt for the doll head soft serve offering. Just your standard vanilla soft serve. Nothing special, but you get to keep the creepy doll head though. Nice souvenir. From Shinsaibashi, we make the short walk over to Amerika-mura, also known as the American Village. It's a lively and trendy district known for its vibrant atmosphere, fashion-forward shops, and unique blend of American and Japanese

pop culture. Amerika-mura is especially popular among the youth. You can find plenty of clothing stores, thrifting stores, and vintage boutiques catering to different tastes. We then head over to Umeda and make a quick stop at the Pokemon Center. If you're a fan of Pokemon, then this is a store that shouldn't be missed. The store is an official Pokemon store and offers a wide range of Pokemon themed products including exclusive items that are often only available at Pokemon Centers across Ja

pan. Next, we head to the Umeda Sky Building, a prominent landmark and skyscraper located in the Umeda District. The escalator ride up to the observatory is an experience in itself. Once at the top, you'll be met with a panoramic view of the city. After a full day of exploring, we head back to Dotonbori which has now come to life with neon lights illuminating the iconic entertainment district. Dotonbori is known for its lively streets and restaurants. It's here you can find some of Osaka's fam

ous street food offerings, including takoyaki, which are octopus balls made of flour and pieces of octopus. However, we enjoy getting a taiyaki, which is a fish-shaped cake that usually comes with red bean filling inside. But for something more filling, we decided to head to one of the best okonomiyaki shops in the area Ajinoya, a Bib Gourmand - awarded okonomiyaki restaurant. I highly recommend getting here early, as the place is quite popular and you'll often find a long queue outside the r

estaurant. We ordered the Ajinoya mix okonomiyaki with some yakisoba on the side. After dinner, we take a quick evening stroll around the Hozenji Yokocho, a unique and atmospheric alleyway lined with small bars and eateries. While exploring, we also come across Hozenji, a small hidden temple dedicated to one of the five guardians of Buddhism. On our second day in Osaka, it's another early morning as we make a long journey north to visit the famous Katsuo-ji temple. The trip involves a train r

ide and a bus and takes a good one and a half hour to reach our destination. Katsuo-ji, also known as the Temple of Winner's Luck. It's a famous temple known for its beautiful garden featuring a large pond filled with koi fish. It's a prime destination for viewing the autumn colors and many come to spectate the change of seasons while enjoying the temple facilities. The temple is also known for housing hundreds, if not thousands, of Daruma dolls all scattered around the temple grounds. The do

ll symbolizes perseverance and good luck, and you can even purchase one as a small souvenir to bring home with you. Just remember there's a small fortune note inside. We return to Osaka and make a lunch stop at Izakaya Toyo, famous for its flame-wielding owner. This standing Izakaya is nestled away in a residential area near Kyobashi Station. The highlight is obviously to watch the owner Toyo as he prepares his signature dish. There aren't many items on the menu, but I recommend getting a set m

enu of fresh sashimi and of course the flame broiled tuna cheek. After a nice lunch, head over to Osaka Castle A historic and iconic landmark. It stands as a symbol of Osaka's rich history and cultural heritage. Take your time to explore the five-story castle and the surrounding castle grounds. As evening arrives, head to Shinsekai, a neon-lit retro district. The name Shinsekai translates to "the new world". The area was developed in the early 20th century to be a futuristic entertainment di

strict. While the area has had its fair share of challenges over the years, it has retained its distinctive charm. Now it's home to many restaurants, quirky shops, retro arcades and most famously the Tsutenkaku tower. Our final agenda for today is to pay a visit to the TeamLab Botanical Garden. This permanent outdoor exhibition is only open during the evening. When night falls, the garden comes to life with bright colors and sounds, immersing you in a surreal but mesmerizing experience. You ca

n easily spend more than two hours exploring the different displays. If you're interested in visiting, make sure to book your tickets a few days beforehand as they tend to get sold out. On our third day in Osaka, start the day by visiting the most iconic market in the city, Kuromon Market. Kuromon's history dates back to the Edo period and has become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The market is often referred to as Osaka's kitchen due to its wide range of fresh produce, sea

food and street food. I decided to sample some sushi, so we found this small store, right in the market and got some pieces of tuna After Kuromon, we head south to Nipponbashi, also known as Den Den Town. It's known as the city's electronics and otaku culture hub. This area is similar to Tokyo's Akihabara and is a haven for anyone who's into anime, manga, gaming or electronics. You can find several stores dedicated to anime collectibles such as Kotobukiya and the popular Animate store. There's

also arcades in the area where you can try your luck with the different machines or pass the time with some video games. After Den Den Town, we head west and visit the Kaiyukan one of Japan's most famous and impressive aquariums. The aquarium is located in the Tempozan Harbor Village along Osaka's waterfront. It's known for housing one of the largest marine tanks in the world and it's a great place for families to explore with its many themed zones and varied marine life. After finishing with th

e aquarium, you can head next door and take a short ride on the Tempozan Ferris Wheel as it lights up during the evening. It gives an excellent view of the Osaka Bay and the surrounding area. On our final day in Osaka, we decide to dedicate the day to Universal Studios Japan. The theme park is mostly known for its wild rides and themed areas. Specifically the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Minion Park Jurassic Park and the latest Super Nintendo World. If your aim is not to try every ride and y

ou're just here for the atmosphere, then go with the 1 day studio pass. However, if your aim is to visit every area of the park and try every ride, then the express pass is an absolute must. As some areas such as the Super Nintendo World requires an area-timed ticket to enter, which is included with the express pass. In addition, you can significantly reduce the waiting times for rides. If you decide to visit, here are some basic tips. Buy your tickets in advance and make sure to download the

USJ app to gain access to many of the park's features, such as being able to see wait times for rides and reserving area-timed tickets. Show up at least one hour or earlier before the official opening hours. And if you didn't purchase an express pass, then make sure to get the area-timed tickets either via the app or the physical ticket machines inside the park. And finally, avoid the weekends if possible. After Universal Studios, we make a final trip back to Dotonbori to grab some dinner and

do some last minute shopping. We start off by visiting the Donguri store. The official Studio Ghibli store in Namba. A must visit if you're a Studio Ghibli fan, as you can get a picture with No-Face and Totoro while browsing the store's many goods. You may also consider visiting the large Don Quijote store in Dotonbori. The store is filled with all sorts of items and makes it the perfect spot for some last minute souvenirs. After all that shopping, take a ride on its famous Ferris wheel for a l

ast bit of amusement. For dinner, I recommend swinging by Yakiniku M located in Hozenji Yokocho. They serve delicious cuts of meat and it's the perfect way to end the trip. If you're looking for a couple of extra things to do or just alternatives, here's a short list. Shitennoji and Sumiyasha Taisha, if you're looking for more temples or shrines to visit. There's also Abeno Harukas, the tallest building in Japan, and finally the Osaka Expo Park for a little side trip out of the city. And tha

t's it for this 4 days guide to Osaka. If you intend to follow this itinerary, then it will run you about $938 US dollars. You can always find cheaper or more expensive accommodations depending on your budget, as well as food costs will vary depending on the type of restaurants you intend to visit. But this should give you a good idea of the expenses involved in such a trip. Alright, so hopefully that helps with the planning of your trip to Osaka. If you have any questions, leave them in the

comments below. More info and links can be found in the description box, so do check that out. My name is Allan, thank you for watching this video, and I'll see you guys in the next one.