Food & Drink

Discover the best things to see and do in Japan's monopolis, Osaka, on the island of Honshu, famous for Universal Studios Japan, Osaka Castle, and Abeno Harukas, the tallest tower in Japan. All hotels bookable through Culture Trip.

Japan

Osaka

The Best Tourist Attractions in Osaka, Japan

From historic castles and Buddhist temples to kabuki theatres, fresh seafood and the flashing lights of Dotonbori, Culture Trip explores the best things to do in Osaka.

The 10 Best Things to Do in Osaka

Take a stroll through one of Osaka's fastest growing neighborhoods, where community, independent shops, and outdoor markets thrive.

The Best Things to See and Do in Ashiharabashi, Osaka

Explore the attractions of the Kansai region with these ten destinations accessible from Osaka.

The Top 10 Day Trips from Osaka

Experience the less busy and cosier side of Osaka in Nakazakicho with a nice cuppa. Here’s Culture Trip’s pick of the district’s best cafés.

The Best Cafés in Nakazakicho, Osaka

Featured Articles

Osaka, the third largest city in Japan, may not be as pretty as its contemporaries – but it is more fun. The unofficial motto here seems to be: eat, drink, have a good time, and maybe do some sightseeing – if you feel like it.

The Insider Guide to Osaka

From 683CE to 745CE, Osaka served as the capital of Japan, but ever since this short-lived stint it hasn’t quite kept up with its showier (and stuffier) counterparts – Tokyo and Kyoto.. The merchant city vs the political and imperial, Osaka has always had a bit more of a playful, fun attitude. It offers a very different taste of Japan – more down to earth, where people are more chilled and where street food consistently ranks among this foodie city’s top dishes.

While there is plenty to see from old Osaka, such as Osaka Castle, Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine and Shitennō-ji – the latter is thought to be the first Buddhist temple in Japan – most have been rebuilt over the years. They’re still worth visiting though, especially when the cherry blossom season is in full swing and in autumn when the leaves are bright and fiery. One of the best places in Japan for viewing the sakura (cherry blossom), Osaka seems to blossom then too – with Osaka Mint Bureau and Nishinomaru Park two top hanami (cherry-blossom viewing) spots.

Other favourites are the old neighbourhood of Shikensai – styled on Paris and New York’s Coney Island circa 1912 – and Tsutenkaku Tower, which offers views over the city. After dark, Dōtonbori is where it’s at – with neon signs and people-watching opportunities galore. If culture is more your scene, check out the Abeno Harukas Art Museum, while those who love slightly odd modern architecture won’t want to miss the Umeda Sky Building next to Osaka Station.

Saying all that, Osaka’s best attractions are probably its people and cuisine, which makes Kuromon Market another must-see – it has some of Japan’s best food, fresh fish and awesome photo opportunities.

And if all that isn’t quite enough, you’ll find family-friendly fun and adrenaline at Universal Studios Japan. Keen to find out more? Read on to delve deeper into all the things that make Osaka special.


The Main Attractions

Oran

Setif

Algeria

Luanda

Angola

Cotonou

Porto-novo

Benin

Botswana

Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Tonga

Yaounde

Bamenda

Cameroon

Cape Verde

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Kinshasa

Lubumbashi

Congo

Abidjan

Cote Divoire

Florentin

Dijibouti

Djibouti

Cairo

Alexandria

Sharm El-sheikh

Egypt

Equatorial Guinea

Asmara

Eritrea

Addis Ababa

Lalibela

Ethiopia

Gambia

Accra

Kumasi

Cape Coast

Ghana

Guinea-bissau

Nairobi

Mombasa

Malindi

Kenya

Lesotho

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Libya

Antananarivo

Antsirabe

Madagascar

Blantyre

Malawi

Bamako

Timbuktu

Mali

Mauritania

Port Louis

Mauritius

Casablanca

Marrakech

Sale

Morocco

Maputo

Mozambique

Swakopmund

Windhoek

Namibia

Lagos

Abuja

Ibadan

Nigeria

Pointe-noire

Republic Of The Congo

Kigali

Musanze

Butare

Rwanda

Dakar

Touba

Senegal

Seychelles

Freetown

Sierra Leone

Cape Town

Durban

Johannesburg

South Africa

South Sudan

Khartoum

Sudan

Mbabane

Manzini

Swaziland

Zanzibar

Arusha

Dar Es Salaam

Tanzania

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Tozeur

Tunisia

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Uganda

Western Sahara

Lusaka

Zambia

Harare

Bulawayo

Zimbabwe

Africa

Antarctica

Kabul

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Dhaka

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China

East Timor

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Bali

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Israel

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Guide to Food & Drink in Osaka, Japan | Culture Trip

Great Eats & Drinks

Discover the best spots for good food & good vibes

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Bars We Love

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Bars & cafes

The 10 Best Bars in Minami and Namba, Osaka

Bars & cafes

The 10 Best Bars In Umeda, Osaka

See & Do

Alternative Bars You Should Try in Osaka

Bars & cafes

The Best Bars for Craft Beer in Osaka

Bars & cafes

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Bars & cafes

The Top Video Game Bars in Osaka

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The 10 Best Bars In Kyobashi, Osaka

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Breakfast

A collection of our favourite morning and brunch spots

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The 10 Best Brunch Spots In Namba, Osaka

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Food & Drink

The Best Brunch Spots in Minami and Namba, Osaka

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The 10 Best Breakfast And Brunch Spots In Osaka, Japan

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The 10 Best Brunch Spots In Dōtonbori, Osaka

Food & Drink

The 8 Best Brunches In Shinsaibashi, Osaka

Food & Drink

The Best Brunch Spots In Midosuji, Osaka

Food & Drink

The 10 Best Brunch Spots In Umeda, Japan

Food & Drink

The Best Brunch Spots In Kyobashi, Osaka

Veggie Delights

The top places to eat well when looking for veggie-options

Restaurants

The 10 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Osaka

Restaurants

The Best Vegan Restaurants in Osaka

Music

A Guide To Being A Vegetarian In Osaka

Coffee

Bars & cafes

The Coolest Cafés in Osaka

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Where To Find The Best Coffee In Osaka, Japan

Fancy Food

A collection of the best high-quality and Michelin-starred restaurants

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The Top 10 Michelin-Starred Restaurants In Osaka

Restaurants

Osaka's 10 Best Local Restaurants | Tradition vs. Innovation

Restaurants

The Best Sushi Restaurants in Osaka