Osaka is an eclectic city, best known for its vibrant energy, mouth-watering food scene and sheer variety of things to do and see. From the over-the-top Dotonbori to the buzzing Namba area to the historic and grand Osaka Castle, spending 4 days in Osaka will allow you to immerse yourself in the best this city has to offer.
This 4 day Osaka itinerary is perfect for first-timers, and may even reveal some new ideas for return visitors looking to explore this exciting city further.
Quick Overview of this 4 Days Osaka Itinerary
This is a summary of your 4 day Osaka itinerary. Jump to the detailed day-by-day breakdown below.
- Day 1: Namba Area & Downtown Osaka
- Day 2: Osaka Castle & Umeda Area
- Day 3: Universal Studios Japan
- Day 4: Day Trip to Himeji & Kobe
Getting Around Osaka
I’ve been to Osaka four times, and I’ve always found it easy to get around Osaka by using the fast and efficient metro system.
The red Midosuji Line runs from the north of Osaka to the south of Osaka, cutting through the heart of Osaka’s downtown Namba area, and will get you to almost all of the attractions in this itinerary. For ease of convenience, I recommend booking accommodation on or close to this subway line – keep on reading for my hand-picked recommendations below.
If you’ve come from Tokyo, you can use your Suica card to get around on the Osaka subway system or pick up an Icoca card, which is the Kansai region version of a Suica.
You can purchase an Icoca card from the machines at most JR stations in Osaka.
Timetables are up to date and show live train times in Google Maps (and even extra information like the best car to board, the best exit for your destination and more) so I highly recommend getting an eSim or Japan travel sim to make getting around the city a breeze.
Where to Stay
If you want to stay in the middle of the nightlife and action, I recommend booking accommodation in the Namba area near Dotonbori.
Otherwise if like me, you’d rather stay somewhere a little calmer but still close to the action, look at booking accommodation a few stops away on the Midosuji Line.
- Budget – Hotel Sobial: I stayed in this modern hotel with clean and compact rooms, a 2-minute walk from Daikokucho Station, only one stop from Namba station and the Dotonbori area.
- Mid-Range – Cross Hotel: just a 3-minute walk from the Namba Subway Station, this hotel is in the middle of the action. The rooms are modern and spacious (for Japan’s standards) and offer an inner-city escape from the bustle of Dotonbori.
- Luxury – Swissotel Nankai Osaka: We had a delightful one-night stay here. You can access the hotel lobby directly from inside Namba Station. The rooms are spacious and light-filled, and facilities include an indoor swimming pool, sauna and hot tub.
Browse all Osaka accommodation here
Osaka 4 Days Itinerary
Osaka Itinerary Map
Day 1: Namba Area
Put on your walking shoes, because you’ve got a big day of exploring downtown Osaka and the Namba area today.
Begin your morning at the Namba Yasaka Shrine, worth visiting thanks to its striking lion head. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Namba, this fierce guardian stands over 12 metres high and is said to swallow bad spirits and bring good luck.
Visit early to enjoy the tranquillity of this spot before it gets busy later on in the day. During our visit in April 2023, there were some lovely cherry blossoms on the grounds.
It’s about a 10-minute walk from Namba station, but a worthwhile photo spot as one of the more unique shrines in Japan.
Open: Daily
Entrance: Free
Next on your itinerary is to head over to the hip and vibrant Amerika-mura area.
Spend your time wandering the quirky streets filled with trendy boutiques and uber-cool second-hand stores galore. The area has become known for its unique blend of Japanese and Western cultures.
You’ll find many hip Japanese youths gathering around Triangle Park, in the middle of Amerika-mura which is a great spot for some people watching.
Keep an eye out for the small-scale Statue of Liberty replica on top of one of the buildings!
It’s not open until evening, but you’ll find the quirky Space Station retro gaming bar in this area, a fun place for a few drinks. You get your dose of nostalgia, by playing games on Nintedo64, SNES, Playstation and more.
In need of a coffee stop? Specialty coffee lovers like me won’t mind the short 5-minute walk one block over to GranKnot Coffee for your fix.
Are you ready to try one of Osaka’s food specialties, okonomiyaki (savoury Japanese pancake)?
We also had one of my favourite lunches in Osaka at Kuishinbo. This tiny, locals-only hole in a wall okonomiyaki joint seats no more than 12. Most seats are at the counter where you watch your okonomiyaki being cooked right in front of you by the chef as his wife and son work behind the counter with him at this family-run business.
Since you’re in the food capital of Japan, why not learn how to cook a Japanese staple for yourself? This highly-rated Ramen Cooking Class will have you hands deep in making the ramen from scratch, beginning all the way from the noodles!
Passing through the Shinsaibashi Suji shopping street, catch the subway to Kuromon Ichiba Market.
This fresh food and seafood specialty market has become quite touristy, but I still enjoy strolling through the covered street market, admiring at all the different foods on display and trying some fresh grilled seafood.
Open: Daily
Entrance: Free
Continue on foot to Sennichimae Doguyasuji Street, a shopping street teeming with shops packed to the brim with kitchen wares including knives, tea pots, sake sets, and other goodies.
Continuing southbound, you’ll reach Nipponbashi DenDen town, Osaka’s electric town. Similar to Tokyo’s Akihabara, DenDen town is the spot to go for electronic shops, manga, anime and other Japanese pop culture.
If you’ve just come from Tokyo, I do think Akihabara has a lot more to offer than DenDen Town, so you could always skip this unless it is of particular interest.
Instead, head to the Shinsekai area a 10-15 minute walk away. This retro district is iconic for its large blowfish sign, bright lights, game arcades and the Tsutenkaku tower.
You can head to the panoramic observation deck at the top of the tower. There is a fee for this, and you can pay extra to slide down a 60m tall slide from the observation deck!
Open: Daily 10 am – 8 pm
Entrance: ¥900
You’ll be spending your evening exploring the neon-lit and lively Dotonbori.
As the sun sets, the vibrant district of Dotonbori and its larger-than-life giant neon food signs come to life. As famous as the giant crab, octopus, gyoza and other whacky food signs is the iconic Glico man sign brightly lit over the Dotonbori canal.
Along Dotonbori you can sample many of the regional specialties, from okonomiyaki to takoyaki. Many of the restaurants have takeaway stalls out the front of the restaurant, so we chose to sample a few different items on the go instead of sitting down for dinner.
Join a food tour with a local guide for a deeper exploration of Osaka’s buzzing food scene. This tour is highly recommended. It includes tasting over 10 local dishes, exploring off the beaten path local izakayas and food stalls away from the tourist traps and has excellent reviews.
The backstreet alleyways running parallel to Dotonbori are a hub of izakaya and yakiniku joints. Wander along Hozenji Yokocho, you’ll find the largest concentration of these.
Continue down this alleyway and you’ll come across the tucked away Hozenji Temple, with its moss-covered statue and brightly lit lanterns covering the temple.
That wraps up your big first day exploring the vibrant and buzzing Namba area and downtown Osaka.
There are two ethical cat cafes in the Namba area: Neco Republic and Shelter Cat & vegan cafe “neu.” Both of these cafes are rescue shelters and a great place to relax and rest your feet with all the walking!
Day 2: Osaka Castle & Umeda area
Today you’ll be exploring one of my favourite attractions in Osaka, the magnificent Osaka Castle!
One of Osaka’s landmark attractions, the Osaka Castle stands out with its white walls, green shingled roof and eye-catching architecture amongst the neighbouring skyscrapers.
Almost as impressive as the castle itself are the vast grounds surrounding it, with moats, stone bridges and extensive gardens. While it’s worth visiting at any time of the year, my most recent visit in April during cherry blossom season was simply spectacular.
The central tower of the castle is eight stories high and is worth purchasing tickets to enter. The central tower has been turned into a museum with exhibits on each floor that showcase artefacts and history about the castle, and you can head up to the top floor for a panoramic view across the city.
There can be long entrance lines, so I recommend purchasing tickets online beforehand so you can skip the queue but the price is the same.
Open: Daily 9 am – 5 pm
Entrance: ¥600, purchase online here to skip the line
I recommend heading straight to the Castle first and then spending your time exploring the grounds and Castle Park afterwards. Food stalls around the grounds serve local snacks if you get peckish.
Combine a visit to the Castle Grounds with some of Osaka’s other main sights and lesser-known attractions on a guided small-group tour with an English-speaking guide.
From here, catch the subway to Hankyu Umeda station, where you’ll find one of the best department stores in Osaka. We came here because we heard the basement-level food court was a sight worth seeing in its own right, and it didn’t disappoint.
If you aren’t familiar with this concept, Japanese department store basements usually consist of large food halls, known as “depachika” – a mash-up of the Japanese words “depato” (department store) and “chika” (basement).
They are a unique and quintessential part of Japanese food culture and offer an extensive range of food, from fresh produce, meats, seafood, delicatessen, sweet treats, baked goods and ready to eat meals. They are known for their high-quality and premium offerings, and many stalls offer tastings and samples.
You’ll find yourself in foodie paradise at Hankyu Umeda’s depachika! After having lunch here, we spent some time exploring the maze of shops in the area. Umeda is one of the two biggest shopping districts in Osaka along with Namba.
You might want to check out HEP Five – this fashion mall stands out thanks to the giant Ferris wheel on the roof! Inside you’ll also find a giant red whale hanging in the main lobby,
We also made sure to check out Uniqlo’s flagship store in Umeda. Besides being one of the largest stores in Japan, they also have a huge range of anime collaboration t-shirts and other collaboration products that we didn’t see in other stores.
The last major sightseeing stop for today is the Umeda Sky Building. We timed our visit for sunset, but it’s pretty spectacular at any time of the day. This unique building consists of two 40-storey towers that are connected at the top via a bridge and an open-air observation deck, the Floating Garden Observatory.
Standing over 170 metres tall, this is one of Osaka’s best viewpoints with 360-degree panoramic views across the city. Even entering the building is a thrilling experience, as you ascend to the observatory through a long, steep escalator enclosed in a glass tunnel.
There is a small cafe at the top-selling food and drinks. You can purchase tickets on the day, otherwise Klook offers tickets online for the same price.
Open: Daily 9 am – 5 pm
Entrance: ¥1,500, purchase online here to avoid long lines
Day 3: Universal Studios Japan
Universal Studios Japan will blow your mind. Full stop.
Even on my second visit in 2023, I am still so impressed by this theme park. Plan to spend all day here, because trust me, you will need it to explore every nook and cranny and cram in all the fun rides.
USJ has numerous themed areas, some of which include Jurassic Park, Minion Park, New York, Hollywood and the incredibly popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the new Super Nintendo World.
Like other theme parks, there are a range of rides from family-friendly attractions to exhilarating roller coasters. There are also themed parades and shows during the day, and unique movie-themed restaurants and cafes.
I’ll be writing a detailed guide (coming soon) with all my personal tips and tricks on making the most of your day at USJ, but here are some quick tips.
- Try to plan your visit for a weekday. Everyday is extremely busy, but weekends and holiday days are more so.
- Buy your tickets ahead of time. You can easily purchase tickets here with Klook that you simply scan at the entrance gates and save lining up for a ticket
- If they are available for your date, consider buying an express pass on top of your normal entrance ticket to be able to join a shorter line for rides.
- Download the Universal Studios Japan app to check wait times for rides on the day. Plan to visit the most popular rides in the park at the start of the day.
- Entry to Super Nintendo World requires a timed entry ticket, which is bookable with an express pass or via the USJ app on the day.
Open: Daily, hours vary so check beforehand
Entrance: From ¥8,900, purchase entry tickets here and express passes here
Day 4: Day Trip to Himeji and Kobe
Osaka makes for a convenient base for a day trip with easy access to the Shinkansen and other local train lines. Popular day trips from Osaka include Nara, Koyasan (although I recommend an overnight temple stay for this!), Himeji and Kobe.
On my most recent trip to Japan in April 2023, I ventured on a combined day trip to Himeji and Kobe, which ended up being a great day out and one of the highlights of our time in Osaka.
The main drawcard of Himeji is the spectacular Himeji Castle, also known as the “White Heron” castle due to its bright white exterior. It draws visitors from across the world as it’s considered one of Japan’s most well-preserved feudal castles, and is one of the 12 original Japanese castles and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To get to Himeji, you can either get the local JR trains or the faster, but more expensive Shinkansen.
- Slower, but cheaper: Catch the Special Rapid Himeji train from Osaka station or Shin-Osaka Station to Himeji Station (1520 Yen, 60 minutes)
- Faster, but more expensive: Catch the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Himeji Station (from 3620 Yen, 30 minutes).
Once you reach Himeji, it’s an easy 20-minute stroll directly north from the station. You’ll cross the impressive large moat before entering the castle grounds.
Whilst there were some redevelopment works in progress during my visit, the grounds were still stunning, especially with the cherry blossoms in bloom. It takes at least 1 – 2 hours to explore the castle, which includes a walk through the castle grounds with informational plaques as well as the interiors of the castle.
To walk inside the wooden floors of the castle, you’ll need to remove your shoes and walk around in socks.
Some steep wooden staircases will lead you higher and higher until you reach the top floor which offers a panoramic view across Himeji and surrounds. After touring the castle, we headed to the Nishinomaru Gardens and the prior residence of the famous Princess Sen. This was an interesting detour and provided another beautiful vantage point to photograph Himeji Castle.
Open: Daily 9 am – 4 pm
Entrance: ¥1,000
There are limited English guided tours available, however, we found exploring the castle at our own pace and reading the information plaques sufficient.
You can also opt for a combo ticket that includes entrance to the Koko-en Gardens for only an additional 50 yen, and this is well worth doing as these gardens were spectacular.
At this point, our stomachs were rumbling so we went off in search of a lunch stop near the castle.
We had an easy and delicious Japanese lunch across the road at Tamagoya and headed back to the station to catch the train to Kobe for an afternoon of exploring.
Our main goal for visiting the portside town of Kobe was to finally sample the famous Kobe beef for ourselves, but we ended up having a really fun afternoon exploring the Kobe Herb Gardens and hiking to a hidden waterfall.
We finished off a full day of adventure by sampling Kobe beef at Steak Land before jumping on the train back to Osaka.
Where to Eat During 4 Days in Osaka
These are some of my favourite spots when dining and drinking in Osaka.
- Okonomiyaki Teppanyaki Tougi: small restaurant opposite Namba station serving up a few styles of okonomiyaki which you grill yourself on hot plates at your table
- Sake Bar Shiki: head upstairs to this tucked-away sake bar right near Dotonbori with a large range of sakes and small bites served by the friendly owner.
- Yakitori Gappo: Tasty yakitori joint near Dotonbori.
- Ikkaku: with a store in Namba and one in Umeda, this old-school restaurant serves up the juiciest and tastiest barbeque chicken.
- Mel Coffee Roasters: Tiny hole-in-the-wall specialty coffee roasters
- Craft Beer Works Kamikaze: Great range of craft beers and tasty food options. We also like Beer Belly, but the food is more akin to beer snacks.
Final Thoughts – Osaka 4 Day Itinerary
That wraps up our 4 days in Osaka, offering a great introduction to exploring this city rich in culture, history and culinary delights. From the majestic Osaka castle, to the vibrant Dotonbori and an interesting day trip to Himeji and Kobe, this 4 day Osaka Itinerary allows you to experience Osaka’s diverse and unique attractions. Whether you’re a first-timer or a returning visitor, Osaka continually reveals new layers to explore.
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