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Fifty places to see in Osaka

The sights, streets, shrines, food and day trips that make Osaka worth the trip. Find them on the map, or pick a kind of place below.

The map opens on central Osaka. Zoom out to see the day trips, or tap a pin to jump to its place.

1
Chuo
Osaka Castle
The white-and-green keep above its stone walls and moats is the city's symbol. Inside is a museum of the Toyotomi era, and the top floor looks out over the park.
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2
Namba
Dotonbori
Osaka's neon canal street: giant mechanical signs, street food on every corner, and crowds until late. Come after dark.
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3
Namba
Ebisubashi bridge
The bridge over the Dotonbori canal where everyone stops for a photo under the famous running man sign. Busiest, and best, at night.
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4
Nipponbashi
Kuromon market
A covered market of about 150 stalls, known as Osaka's kitchen. Grilled scallops, wagyu skewers, fresh fruit and sashimi to eat as you walk.
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5
Naniwa
Shinsekai
A retro neighbourhood built in 1912, all bright signs, kushikatsu counters and old-style games, under the steel frame of Tsutenkaku tower.
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6
Shinsekai
Tsutenkaku tower
The 103-metre tower at the heart of Shinsekai, with an observation deck and an outdoor slide that spirals down the side.
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7
Namba
Hozenji temple
A tiny temple a minute from Dotonbori. Its Fudo Myoo statue is covered in thick green moss from visitors splashing it with water for luck.
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8
Namba
Hozenji Yokocho
A stone-paved lane of small restaurants and bars with paper lanterns, the old Osaka that Dotonbori's neon hides.
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9
Umeda
Umeda Sky Building
Two towers joined at the top by the Floating Garden Observatory, open to the air 173 metres up. Sunset here is one of the best views of the city.
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10
Kita
Nakanoshima Park
Osaka's first public park, on a long island between two rivers, with a rose garden and the red-brick Central Public Hall.
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11
Tennoji
Shitennoji temple
Founded in 593, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan, with a five-storey pagoda and a flea market on the 21st and 22nd of each month.
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12
Kita
Tenjinbashisuji shopping street
Japan's longest shopping street, about 2.6 kilometres under one roof, with snack stalls and local shops rather than big brands.
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13
Nipponbashi
National Bunraku Theatre
Osaka is the home of bunraku, Japan's puppet theatre, where three puppeteers work each near life-size figure. English guides are available.
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14
Kita
Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
A full-size Edo-period street built indoors, with shops and houses you can walk into, and kimono to rent for the visit.
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15
Bay area
Universal Studios Japan
The theme park in Osaka Bay, with a whole land of video game worlds and a wizarding village. Buy tickets and timed entry in advance.
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16
Namba
Namba Yasaka shrine
A shrine whose stage is a giant lion's head with its mouth wide open, said to swallow bad luck.
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17
Nipponbashi
Den Den Town
Osaka's electronics and anime district, with retro games, figures, cards and themed cafes along Sakaisuji.
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18
Shinsekai
Spa World
A huge hot spring complex with baths themed on Europe and Asia on different floors, and a rooftop pool.
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19
Bay area
Tempozan Ferris Wheel
A 112-metre Ferris wheel beside the Kaiyukan aquarium, with views across Osaka Bay. Some gondolas have glass floors.
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20
Shinsaibashi
Amerikamura
Osaka's youth district: vintage clothes, street art, cafes and Triangle Park, where everyone meets.
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21
Sumiyoshi
Sumiyoshi Taisha
One of Japan's oldest shrines, with a steeply arched red bridge and halls in a style older than Buddhism's arrival in Japan.
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22
Tennoji
Abeno Harukas
At 300 metres, among the tallest buildings in Japan. The Harukas 300 observatory has floor-to-ceiling glass and an open-air garden.
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23
Ikeda
Cup Noodles Museum
In the town where instant ramen was invented. Design your own cup and choose the fillings, or make chicken ramen from scratch.
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24
Shinsaibashi
Shinsaibashi-suji
About 600 metres of covered shopping street running up from Dotonbori, with department stores, fashion and drugstores.
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25
Namba
Sennichimae Doguyasuji
The kitchenware arcade: knives, plastic food models, takoyaki pans and noren curtains. The best souvenir street in the city.
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26
Minoh
Minoo Park
A forest valley north of the city with a walk of about 3 kilometres to a 33-metre waterfall. Try the maple leaf tempura on the way.
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27
Suita
Expo '70 Commemorative Park
The site of the 1970 World Expo, now a vast park with gardens and Taro Okamoto's Tower of the Sun, which you can enter.
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28
Nakanoshima
Osaka Science Museum
Hands-on science over four floors, with one of the largest planetarium domes in Japan.
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29
Chuo
Osaka Museum of History
Osaka's story from the ancient Naniwa palace to the 20th century, with a view of the castle from the upper floors.
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30
Tennoji
Isshinji temple
A temple unlike any other: its Buddha statues are made from the ashes of people interred here, and its modern gate is guarded by bronze figures.
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31
Higashisumiyoshi
Nagai Botanical Garden
Gardens through every season, and in the evening the teamLab Botanical Garden turns them into a walk of light and sound.
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32
Nakanoshima
National Museum of Art, Osaka
A contemporary art museum built almost entirely underground, under a sculpture of steel tubes like a reed in the wind.
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33
Namba
Namba Parks
A shopping centre that climbs in terraces of rooftop gardens, with trees and quiet seats above the station.
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34
Nishi
Utsubo Park
A long green park in the city centre with a rose garden and calm cafes around it. A good break from the shopping streets.
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35
Miyakojima
Kema Sakuranomiya Park
About 4 kilometres of riverbank planted with some 4,800 cherry trees. At its best in early April.
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36
Kita
Osaka Tenmangu
The shrine to the god of learning, and the home of the Tenjin Matsuri every July. Students come to pray before exams.
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37
Umeda
Osaka Station City
Osaka's main station is a sight in itself, with a vast glass roof, rooftop gardens and department stores stacked around it.
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38
Umeda
Pokémon Center Osaka
The big Pokémon shop in Daimaru Umeda, with Osaka-only merchandise and a cafe nearby that needs booking.
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39
Sennichimae
Round1 Stadium
Floors of arcade games, karaoke and bowling. Fun on a rainy evening.
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40
Namba and Umeda
Capsule toy shops
Whole shops of capsule toy machines, hundreds of them, each a coin or two. A cheap and very Japanese souvenir.
41
All over Osaka
Takoyaki
Osaka's own street snack: batter balls with octopus, turned in iron pans, then sauce, mayonnaise and bonito flakes.
42
All over Osaka
Okonomiyaki
The savoury pancake of cabbage and batter, cooked on a griddle at your table. Some places let you make it yourself.
43
Shinsekai
Kushikatsu
Skewers of meat and vegetables, breaded and deep-fried, dipped once in the shared sauce. Never twice.
44
All over Osaka
Conveyor-belt sushi
Plates of sushi going round on a belt, or ordered on a tablet and delivered by rail. Quick, cheap and good.
45
Namba
Tombori River Cruise
A 20-minute boat ride along the Dotonbori canal, under the bridges and past the signs. Best in the evening.
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46
Various
Japanese cooking class
Learn to make ramen, gyoza or sushi with a local cook. A good way to spend a rainy afternoon.
47
Various
Go-karting on city streets
Drive a go-kart through Osaka's streets in costume with a guide. You need an international driving permit.
48
Nara
Nara
Under an hour away: the great bronze Buddha of Todaiji, lantern-lined Kasuga Taisha, and hundreds of deer that bow for crackers.
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49
Kyoto
Kyoto
About half an hour by train: temples, gardens, the bamboo grove and the old streets of Gion.
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50
Kobe
Kobe
About 20 minutes by train: the harbour, Chinatown, the cable car to the herb gardens, and Kobe beef for lunch.
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51
Shimamoto
Suntory Yamazaki Distillery
Japan's first malt whisky distillery, between Osaka and Kyoto. Tours and the tasting counter need booking well ahead.
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