The Ultimate Osaka Itinerary: How To Spend Five Days In Japan’s Nightlife Capital
A trip to Japan wouldn’t be complete without a few days in the nightlife capital of Osaka. The bustling city of over 18 million people is the country’s third largest metropolis after Tokyo and Yokohama, with all the vibrancy and excitement on a (slightly) smaller scale.
Known for its futuristic architecture, classic heritage castle, and wide variety of delicious street food, Osaka is also regarded as the 'comedy capital' of Japan. And now it’s easier than ever to access from Australia, with Jetstar flying direct to Osaka from Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney.
But where do you start exploring this vast city? Here’s how to get the most out of your itinerary.
Day One
Check In To Your Digs
You can find many reliable chain hotels in Osaka, from excellent Japanese boutique hotel OMO7, to the luxurious new Four Seasons. But our pick is the Centara Grand Hotel Osaka, a sleek Thai-based chain that recently opened in Namba, one of the key dining and shopping districts.
Stylish high-rise rooms offer stellar views over the concrete jungle below, plus there’s a chic rooftop bar, and an extensive buffet breakfast. It’s reminiscent of the hotel in Lost In Translation, but surprisingly affordable and ideally located to explore the best of the city.
Snack Time
Image credit: Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau | Supplied
Convenience store culture rules in Japan, and no matter the time of day it’s a great place to get anything from a snack to a full meal. There are three main chains located on virtually every street corner—Family Mart, Lawson and 7-Eleven—and while many Japanese people will have a preference, they largely sell the same dazzling array of items.
Don’t leave without trying the viral hit snack: a fillet of fried chicken from the counter inserted into a packaged egg-mayo sandwich on fluffy white bread. It might be the best thing you’ll eat in Osaka, for less than $5.
Wander Hozenji Yokocho Before Dinner
Just a few minutes’ walk from the Glico Man and the chaos of Dotonbori is Hozenji Yokocho—a narrow, lantern-lit stone alley that feels like a time warp. It’s tiny, atmospheric and the perfect way to get your bearings without committing to a long walk on your first night.
At the centre sits Hozenji Temple, home to a moss-covered Fudo Myoo statue that locals splash with water for good fortune. It’s peaceful, compact and easy to loop through before dinner. From here, you can duck into one of the intimate izakayas lining the alley for yakitori and cold beer, or simply use it as a calm reset before diving headfirst into Dotonbori’s neon madness.
Day Two
Start With Coffee In Nakanoshima
Before navigating train lines, fuel up properly. Nakanoshima—an island district sandwiched between two rivers—is home to some of Osaka’s best specialty coffee and is easy to access via Yodoyabashi Station.
Brooklyn Roasting Company serves excellent flat whites in a light-filled warehouse space, while Lilo Coffee Roasters in nearby Shinsaibashi is a favourite for serious beans. Grab a pastry, map out your transit route for the day, and ease into Osaka life before heading towards Osakako Station for the aquarium.
Osaka Aquarium
Master the trains in Osaka and you can get anywhere you need to go, but be warned: they can be confusing for first-timers. There are several different lines, including the Osaka Loop Line, and the regional JR lines. Our top tip? Download a digital transit pass (such as an Icoca card) on your phone so you can move through the turnstiles with ease.
About a five-minute walk from Osakako Station is the famous Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, one of the city’s most popular attractions. It bills itself as the largest aquarium in the world with 30,000 creatures across 620 species splashing in over 5 million litres of water. Trust us when we say you should book your ticket in advance. Huge lines are a regular thing (though they move swiftly).
Tsutenkaku Tower Tour
Image credit: Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau | Supplied
Tsutenkaku Tower is the best-known landmark of Osaka, originally built in 1912 and loosely modelled on the Eiffel Tower. The current 103-metre version was rebuilt in the 1950s in the centre of Shinsekai (meaning 'New World'), a whacky and retro maze of dive bars and cheap eats that’s a must-visit.
Visitors can climb to an observation deck (mostly via a lift) to take in stunning 360-degree views of the city, a dense metropolis of concrete and glass stretching to the horizon. There’s also an oversized slide to spin you around a portion of the tower if you’re feeling brave. Expect lots of gift shops and photo opportunities on your way out.
Have Dinner In Dotonburi
Dotonburi is Osaka’s chaotic nightlife and restaurant district—think Times Square, Japanese style. It’s alight with colourful signs, hectic crowds and cool fibreglass structures advertising specialty restaurant dishes. Crabs! Dumplings! Sushi! It sits on the banks of the Dotonbori canal (which you can take a cruise on), and has been the city’s entertainment hub for over 400 years.
Start at the “Glico Man”—a giant neon billboard in the heart of the action—and wander through the narrow streets and arcades jammed with drinking and dining stops. Don’t miss the most iconic dish, an okonomiyaki pancake (okonimi means ‘as you like’, and yaki means ‘grilled’). Your choice of meat, seafood and vegetables are cooked ‘teppanyaki-style’ in batter on an open hotplate. We liked the delicious ones at Chibo, a sprawling venue with English-friendly service.
Day Three
Osaka Castle
Image credit: Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau | Supplied
Now it’s time to take in some history. This epic castle surrounded by imposing stone moats and 15 acres of spectacular parklands feels a little bit Game of Thrones, a little bit Super Mario Brothers. It began construction in 1583 and was destroyed several times before the existing building was erected in the 1930s.
The park is accessed via Tanimachi Yonchome Station, and is worth putting aside a few hours to explore. The main castle structure requires a 600 yen entrance fee and is often features long lines of schoolkids, but you can easily skip that part as the best views are from the ground. The scenery is ever-changing, with cherry blossom season (late March–early April) one of the best times to visit.
Cruise The Okawa River
If you’re visiting in cherry blossom season, this is non-negotiable. But even outside sakura time, a short river cruise along the Okawa offers a different perspective on the city. Boats depart from near Osaka Castle Park and loop past leafy riverbanks, modern architecture and historic bridges.
It’s an easy, low-effort way to rest your feet after exploring the castle grounds. Cruises typically run for 20–25 minutes and don’t require heavy planning—just check times on arrival and hop on the next departure.
Shop ‘Til You Drop
Leave some room in your suitcase, or consider buying a new one for the journey home. There is so much great stuff to buy in Osaka, from vintage clothing to the latest designer gear.
Good places to start? Umeda in the north and Namba in the south have every fabulous store you can think of. Doguya-suji is known as the chef’s district for Japanese homewares, while Nipponbashi's Den Den Town is dedicated to electronics and games. Did we mention the exchange rate is good?
Go On A Food Tour
With so much incredible food and so many restaurants, it helps to have a guide. Andy Marsden is a charming Japanese-Australian who has lived in the city for 14 years. He started his business Osaka Food Tours by taking visiting friends around the city for drinks and snacks. Word spread, and he now has over a dozen guides working for him every night of the week.
There are five tours on offer, but we tried the “Deep Osaka” street food tour, which navigates the retro alleys of Shinsekai and Nishinari sampling delicacies such as tonpeiyaki (pork omelette), takoyaki (octopus balls) and nikudofu (beef and tofu stew) from hole-in-the-wall, hard-to-find spots.
You might also like:
Day Four
Take A Day Trip
Image credit: David Emrich | Unsplash
Osaka is well-located for day trips, with some excellent single-serving adventures to be found on the doorstep. The legendary Shinkansen bullet train can get you to Kyoto Station in 15 minutes at a speed of 285 km/h. Phew. Once you’re there, the city of Kyoto is a wonderful contrast, full of gurgling streams, cobbled lanes and significant shrines (including Fushimi Inari Taisha, the one on the cover of every Japanese guide book).
Another popular excursion is to Nara, a temple-studded park about 35 minutes from from Osaka-Namba station, which is famously home to around 1000 sacred deer. Warning: they are mostly placid, but can get hangry when being fed the traditional crackers on sale throughout the park.
Slow Down At Kuromon Market
If you’re staying in Namba, Kuromon Ichiba Market is an easy pre- or post-day-trip stop. Often referred to as “Osaka’s kitchen,” this covered market stretches for 600 metres and has been feeding locals for over 190 years.
Think grilled scallops torched in front of you, wagyu skewers, fresh uni, tamagoyaki on sticks and strawberries the size of golf balls. It’s more curated than chaotic, and ideal for a DIY late lunch (closes at 6pm) before heading back out for more sightseeing.
Chck Out The Pokemon Cafe
Osaka has plenty of weird and wonderful themed venues, including bars where you can throw full-sized axes at targets while sipping cocktails (find them in the Shinsekai district). It’s also the home of Pokemon, and the original theme café in Shinsaibashi is one of the city’s most popular attractions.
There are cheeky performances from a life-sized Pikachu and plenty of kawaii (that’s cute) dishes in elaborate designs such as Snorlax's Tummy Filling Nap Lunch Plate served with a side of merch from the gift shop for dessert. Reservations are a must, but you can get lucky by showing up and nabbing a spot from any no-show visitors.
Day Five
Universal Studios
Save the best ‘til last? Another must see in Osaka is Universal Studios. It’s is one of six Universal theme parks worldwide and has eight zones, including Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Minion Park, Water World, Jurassic Park, and homages to New York, Hollywood and San Francisco. Sound intense? It is. But like everything in Japan, it’s extremely well organised and well maintained.
Adult single day passes start at 8600 yen (with express passes to skip tedious ride queues), and it’s about 15 minutes from Osaka Station on the JR Yumesaki Line. Tips: book ahead, arrive early, and hit up Nintendo and Harry Potter worlds first, as they are the most in-demand.
Wind Down At Spa World
After a full day at Universal Studios, your legs will need mercy. Conveniently located in Shinsekai near Dobutsuen-mae Station, Spa World is a multi-level onsen complex with themed bathing zones from around the globe—Roman baths, Finnish saunas, even a Mediterranean-inspired pool area.
It’s gender-separated in traditional Japanese style (yes, that means nude in the onsen areas), but there’s also a family-friendly swimsuit zone if you’d prefer. Entry is affordable, towels are available for hire, and it’s the ultimate way to reset before your final dinner.
Slurp Up A Bowl Of Ramen
Have you had your fill of the wonderful and wildly affordable Japanese cuisine? Odds on you won’t have scratched the surface of delicious meals just yet. Why not end with a bowl of the best ramen on earth?
Torisoba Zagin Niboshi in the stylish fashion district of Minamisemba specialises in creamy chicken broth and springy soba noodles as well as Tan Tan Men, a chilli-spiked spicy soup. There are just a dozen seats around a low counter at this much-loved and often-packed spot. The line outside moves quickly, overseen by an efficient hostess, with customers purchasing tickets from a cash-only vending machine at the sliding doorway.
The writer visited Osaka as a guest of Jetstar. Book your flight to Osaka here.
Expanding your itinerary? Here's some more Japan recs:
Image credit: Abe Na | Unsplash
Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.