The Ultimate 4-Day Osaka Itinerary for Solo Travellers
Bell | 13 April 25
Osaka is known for its delicious food, vibrant nightlife and fun vibe and it’s certainly not a city to miss when visiting Japan. From incredible day trip options to hidden history and so much street food, Osaka really packs a punch.
While many travellers breeze through Osaka or even skip it altogether, I started my trip in Japan’s second biggest city and have no regrets. Osaka is a lively mix of culture, nightlife and shopping as well as the starting point for some incredible day trips.
I ended up spending four nights in Osaka which equated to roughly four full days and thought this was the perfect amount of time. Most guides will say you need a maximum of two, most even only one, days in Osaka but I disagree. I got to see all of Osaka’s highlights and enjoy its incredible food scene to the fullest and still had time for two of my bucketlist day trips.
Here is the perfect itinerary for a 4-day trip to Osaka:
How to get to Osaka?
Whether you are flying into Osaka or headed there from your previous destination by train/bus, here is exactly how to get to the city center:
Flying into Osaka
There are actually three airports within the vicinity of Osaka: Kansai International Airport, Osaka Itami Airport (Domestic) and Kobe Airport. I am including Kobe airport as the time from it to Osaka city center is just around an hour which is comparable to Kansai Airport.
Itami Airport is only for domestic flights so if you come from say Kyoto, Tokyo or other areas in Japan. I actually flew in from Northern Japan, Sapporo, as I had just finished working my ski season there, however, my flight still went to Kansai Airport.
How to get from the airport to Osaka City Center
This will be different for each airport, but I actually used Google Maps to find the cheapest way to get to my accommodation. I stayed slightly outside the city center so this worked great.
You can either buy single tickets for the train (check Google Maps for the amount it will cost as this is what you need to tell the ticket machine). Otherwise, you can get an IC card. Each major city in Japan has one but they all work across Japan (so you could use Tokyo’s Suica card in Osaka and vice versa). Osaka’s version is called Icoca and you can get it at the vending machines at JR stations.
Kansai Airport:
Kansai Airport has a free shuttle bus connecting terminals. I personally got the local trains into the city centre using Google Maps as this was the cheapest option costing around 970yen ($6.7) to Namba Station and taking 45 minutes. There is also the more luxurious Limited Express Rapi:t train that only takes 34 minutes costing $9.29 or the Airport Limousine Bus that costs around $9.
Itami Airport:
You can get the Itami- Airport Limousine Bus for 730 yen ($5) to Namba Station or the local trains to e.g. Umeda Station (check best route on Google Maps) for just 440 yen ($3). Both will take around 40 minutes.
Kobe Airport:
If you search for the closest airports on Skyscanner for Osaka, you will also get Kobe. You can get to Osaka city center in about an hour for 670 yen ($4.7) by taking the Portliner to Sannomiya Station and then e.g. the Kobe Line to Umeda Station. Google Maps will be your best friend here again.
From Tokyo to Osaka
You have three options to get to Osaka from Tokyo. The quickest is flying and can sometimes even be one of the cheapest, check for flights here.
The second option is the famous Shinkansen which costs around $110 and takes between 2.5 and 3 hours. Make sure to book a seat on the Mt. Fuji side (right side when coming from Toyko and left side when starting in Osaka) for the best views.
The last option is an overnight bus, which saves you a night on accommodation but the standard seats are not that comfortable (speaking from experience). If you book early enough, the sleeper comfort seats can still be cheap though and are well worth it. I personally went with Willer Travel as it is the most well-known, but you can find other options here.
From Kyoto to Osaka
Kyoto and Osaka are actually very close together. A local train takes about 40 minutes and will cost you ~500 yen ($3.5) depending on which station you need to get to. You will likely either get the Hankyu-Kyoto or Tokaido-Sanyo Line.
You can also get the Shinkansen which will only take 12-24 minutes and cost around $11 (for non-reserved seats, double that for reserved).
Where to stay in Osaka?
Osaka is a pretty walkable city with a great public transportation network. Some of the best areas to stay in are Namba, Shinsaibashi, Umeda and America-mura as they are central with good transportation links and lots of attractions nearby.
Best hostels in Osaka for backpackers:
Imano Osaka Shinsaibashi Hostel – great affordable hostel in central location with a girls only floor
Hotel J-ship Osaka Namba – capsule style dorm in super central location
Namba Guesthouse HIVE – right by Namba with beautiful dorms
& AND HOSTEL SHINSAIBASHI EAST – great location for sightseeing
Best hotels in Osaka:
$ Kaneyoshi Ryokan – extremely centrally located and traditional Japanese style rooms at a great price
$$ Hotel Keihan Namba Grande – right in central Namba with nice rooms and amenities
$$$ Centara Grand Hotel Osaka – this hotel is luxury pure with a stunning view over Osaka and all the amenities you could want.
How to get around Osaka using public transport?
Osaka’s public transportation network is extensive and pretty efficient. You can either buy single trip tickets at the ticket machines each time or use an IC card. An IC card is a prepaid card that you can use for transportation or even the convenience stores, lockers and many more things around Japan.
Osaka’s version is called ICOCA but you can also use Tokyo’s Suica card or any other. Prices start at ¥1000 including a 500yen deposit that is refundable at the end of your holiday. The other 500yen are loaded onto the card. You can buy the ICOCA at JR stations or Kansai airport and top it up at any train/subway station and most convenience stores.
I used Google Maps to get around Osaka and navigate the subway system and found it pretty easy. It will tell you where to get on and off and even which exit to best take (stations in Japan have MANY exits so getting the right one will save a lot of time).
Ultimate 4-Day Osaka Itinerary
Here is everything I would do if I had 4 days in Osaka, including two day trips to Himeji Castle and Nara.
I will not be including Universal Studios in this particular guide, though this is certainly a highlight of Osaka. Add an extra day if you are planning to head to Universal and make sure to pre-book your express passes to skip the insane crowds.
Day 1: Explore Central Osaka
Start with the famous Glico Man sign in Dotonbori
The perfect way to start exploring Osaka is by heading straight to its heart, aka the famous Glico Man sign in Dotonbori. Dotonbori itself is like Osaka’s Times Square, an explosion of billboards and tourists.
The entire area is lively, full of bars, restaurants, live music, street food and shops, such as the huge Don Quijote with the Ferris Wheel on top. It is also famous for its nightlife, where the neon billboards only add to the buzz. I would recommend seeing the area during the day at first to really experience the hustle and bustle, and then heading back at night if you have the energy.
As for food, make sure to get a crab bun from the famous Kani Doraku restaurant as well as some Takoyaki (grilled Octopus balls) from one of the many street vendors.
Explore the seemingly endless Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street
Right by Dotonbori, you will find the famous Shinsabashi-suji shopping street which is a 600m long arcade filled with fashion, cosmetics, souvenirs and more. The street itself is connected to even more side streets with even more shopping. A dream for anyone looking to fill that second suitcase they brought to Japan 😉
Some of my favourite shops are Daiso (for affordable goodies), GU (Uniqlo’s cheaper sister company), the many drugstores (often cheaper than Don Quijote) and the Onitsuka Tiger shop (cool shoes).
Dive into the vibrant atmosphere of America-mura
America-mura is one of my favourite areas in Osaka. It is vibrant, artsy and has lots of unique clothing shops, including thrift stores and vintage American shops. It is just west of Shinsaibashi and has a welcome change in pace with a younger crowd and more hip cafes and restaurants.
I would recommend grabbing lunch here and really taking in the trendy atmosphere.
Marvel at the unique Namba Yasaka Shrine
Namba Yasaka Shrine is only a 20-minute walk or short ride on the subway from America-mura and well worth a visit (free to enter). It is certainly the most unique shrine I’ve seen in Japan, famous for the open-mouthed lion stage that is said to “eat” evil spirits.
My favourite part of the shrine was the “ema” plaques you find at most temples, here they were small wooden plates, where anyone can write their wishes and prayers. I saw so many different languages and wishes, it felt very special.
Finish the day at Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku Tower
Another very vibrant area of Osaka is Shinsekai, well-known for the many restaurants and food stalls you can find here. Here you will also get some cool photos of Tsutenkaku Tower, which is one of Osaka’s famous landmarks and markers of innovation, and features a 100m high observation platform (book tickets here).
I loved strolling through this area and taking in the neon lights, game arcades and many local delicacies on sale at food stalls. Look out for Billiken, the god of good fortune at Tsutenkaku Tower. You will see the funny-looking mascot everywhere here and there even is a shrine.
I would highly recommend getting dinner here, the choice of restaurants is unbeatable.
Day 2: Daytrip to Himeji Castle
Visit Himeji Castle, also called Japan’s White Heron
You cannot visit Osaka without heading to Himeji Castle, nicknamed the White Heron Castle. It is considered one of Japan’s most spectacular castles and for good reason: its sheer size, it is well preserved and the castle grounds are extensive and beautiful. Some say it was never destroyed in the war like so many others because it was painted black to protect it, in stark contrast to the shining white it is known for now.
Getting to Himeji takes around an hour on a local JR train (1460yen) or 30 minutes on the Shinkansen (3500yen). From there, it is around a 20-minute walk to the castle’s gates.
If you want to see the inside, I would recommend coming early to avoid queuing for hours in the narrow, wooden staircases that snake up the six floors. The views from inside are stunning and there is a lot of history attached to it. Entry is 1000 yen or 50 yen more for the combined ticket with Kokoen Garden, which I’d HIGHLY recommend. Entry to the castle is even worth it if you choose not to queue for the inside, as the extensive castle grounds provide unique angles of the beautiful castle.
Stroll through Kokoen Garden
Don’t miss Kokoen Garden when heading to Himeji. It is a traditional Japanese style garden with lots of different areas such as a Garden of Pine Trees, Garden of Bamboo and Garden of Flowers. Walking through this garden was extremely peaceful and beautiful.
Check out the Soji-an Tea House, where for just 700 yen you can experience a traditional tea ceremony.
Explore Himeji and eat some delicious pudding
I found Himeji a cute town with lots of interesting shops and even a local market when I went.
Don’t miss
Make sure to head to the Himeji Castle specialty Shiro pudding store, just outside the castle walls. The puddings are silky smooth and feature local flavours. I tried the pudding with crunchy meringue which was delicious, but I have heard the other flavours are just as amazing!
End the day with unforgettable night views of Osaka at Umeda Sky
A lot of the trains to Himeji will stop at Osaka station, from where it is only a 10-minute walk to Umeda Sky Building. This building is famous for its 360 views over Osaka and a beautiful way to end the day.
I queued for about half an hour for the glass lift and escalators (which are free) as I didn’t want to buy the actual tickets and still get some of the views, but if you get the tickets there is a normal lift which you can ask the staff about with no wait time. I’d say the tickets are worth it as I thought I’d be able to see more from the souvenir shop at the top, but they have now covered most of the windows. You can still get glimpses of the cityscape and see the inside of the “donut” that is Umeda sky.
Day 3: Daytrip to Nara
Feed the bowing deer of Nara Deer Park
Nara is another must-do day trip from Osaka and only around 45 minutes by train from e.g. Namba (680yen/$4.75). While there are more things there to do than you may think, it is famous for the bowing deer and that is the best place to start your day.
A word of warning here – the deer, especially the ones right at the entrance of Nara Park where the little shops are, can get aggressive. They are used to getting fed so if they bow and you don’t immediately give them a cracker, they bite or run after you. My biggest tip would be to stay calm and NOT PURCHASE CRACKERS until you have cleared that initial park area. That is where most people stay and feed the deer, so it is the most chaotic and you are making yourself a target if you purchase the crackers (they can smell them even in a bag).
So, head past that area, even just a little bit towards the pond areas or even further to where the temples are and get crackers there. The deer are much more calm and it will be a more relaxed and enjoyable experience. That being said, bowing to a deer and having it bow back is an epic experience so don’t be too worried!
Marvel at the stunning Todai-ji Temple
Once you have fed some deer and gotten the iconic bowing video, head to Todai-ji Temple which is a landmark of Nara. The Buddhist temple itself is very influential in Japan and is home to one of Japan’s largest bronze statues of Buddha.
The temple is very impressive in person with tons of detail and stunning statues inside.
Enjoy the views from Todai-ji Nigatsu-do Temple
After, make your way up to Todai-ji Nigatsu-do Temple, possibly my favourite temple in Nara. Not only is the temple stunning with its countless hanging lanterns, it also gives you stunning views over Nara and its surroundings.
Must-Eats
There are quite a few Matcha ice cream places around that are well worth a visit. On the way to the next stop, consider heading to Mizuya Chaya for lunch. The udon noodles are fresh and delicious.
Explore Kasugataisha Shrine and the beautiful surrounds
After you have fuelled up with some food, it is time for another shrine. It is worth heading to this one too though as the walk up to it is beautiful. You are led through a forest and paths lined by traditional Japanese lanterns all the way to the red gates of Kasugataisha Shrine. Here, you will find a collection of red shrines and many, many more lanterns which are donated by worshippers.
The shrine has possibly the most beautiful location and is surrounded by nature, so would really recommend finishing off your tour of Nara Park and its shrines here.
Walk through Nara and experience traditional Mochi pounding
Walk back to Nara city centre via Kataoka Bairin to see the beautiful views over Sagi Pond. This is especially stunning during cherry blossom season as the whole area is full of pastel-coloured trees.
Make sure to check out Higashimuki Shopping St for some local shops and delicious treats and then make your way to Nakatanidou. I actually stumbled upon the shop by accident and was confused by the crowds but bought one of the mochi balls that was handed out in the crowds when all of a sudden, everyone got their cameras out.
Why? Well, at Nakatanidou you can watch live mochi-pounding and it is one of those must-do experiences. I’m not sure how often they do the pounding, but it didn’t seem like the wait was too long. And the result are those delicious, fresh mochi balls filled with red bean paste. 10/10!
Day 4: Osaka history and nature
Start the day at Shitennoji Temple, one of Japan’s oldest temples
This temple is located in the Tennoji Ward of Osaka and features a stunning five-story pagoda. It is one of Japan’s earliest temples, founded in 593 by the prince Shotoku Taishi. The whole complex is quite big and a beautiful walk in the morning.
See Osaka’s most famous landmark, Osaka Castle
Next, head up via the Tanimachi Line to what is often considered Osaka’s most famous landmark, Osaka castle. It is built on a big complex featuring a moat, shrines, a museum, a shopping mall, street food carts and a garden. I really enjoyed exploring the entire area.
The castle itself is stunning from the outside with graceful architecture and vibrant colours. The inside has been remodelled into a museum so I chose not to visit it, especially as I had already seen Himeji castle.
Soak in nature at Old Fujita house garden and Kema Sakuranomiya Park
If you are up for a bit more nature and beautiful, Japanese gardens, head up to Old Fujita House Garden. It is around a 20-minute walk from the castle and features some beautiful flower displays, even outside of cherry blossom season.
If it is cherry blossom season, make sure to continue on to Kema Sakuranomiya Park for an insanely beautiful display of Japan’s famous cherry blossom trees. This is the perfect area for a picnic, so stop at a conbini on the way and grab those beloved onigiris!
Visit the famous Daruma dolls at Katsuō-ji temple
This temple is an hour outside of Osaka, so a little bit of a trek, however well worth it if you have the time. It is famous for being covered in the red Daruma dolls, signifiers of good luck in Japan. The temple itself is picturesque and in a beautiful location and the dolls only add to the experience (and unique photos).
You also get an empty frame when purchasing a ticket that you can fill with stamps while perusing the grounds. In the end, you will have a totally unique stamp of the temple and Daruma dolls as a souvenir,
How many days in Osaka is enough?
I would say you need 4 days if you want to include the most important day trips (Nara and Himeji) and 5 days if you are including Universal Studios on your trip.
You can see the main sights of Osaka in just 2 days, however I would highly recommend adding those extra days for Nara, Himeji Castle and Universal Studios.
What is Osaka best known for?
Osaka is known for its food, especially street food such as Takoyaki, vibrant atmosphere and nigthlife as well as its history.
Key places of interest include Dotonbori for the Glico running man and nightlife, Osaka castle to learn about its culture and history, America-mura and Shinsaibashi for shopping and Shinsekai again for its food.
Is Nara closer to Osaka or Kyoto?
Osaka is a little closer to Nara than Kyoto and I decided to do my day trip from Osaka as accommodation there is a little cheaper than in Kyoto. However, you can easily visit Nara from both cities in under an hour.
Hi, I'm Bell
My blog is here to show you that there isn’t one correct way to travel the world. Together, we can figure out what that means for you. Learn more about me here!
Grab my Ultimate FREE Packing Guide
Travel Off Script contains affiliate links to support the running of the blog. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you.
2 Comments
We are planning to head to Osaka later this year as part of our 2-week Japan trip and found this super helpful, thank you!
this is very insightful.. im preparing our itinerary for summer and i just cant wait to visit these places! thank you so much!