Inside Osaka - Your Osaka Travel Guide

Make the most of your trip to Osaka with our comprehensive Osaka itineraries, our recommendations of the best places to eat in Osaka and rundowns of essential attractions in each of Osaka’s fascinating districts

Osaka Itineraries

Make the most of your time in Osaka with my carefully planned itineraries for trips from 1 to 5 days. Read More

Osaka Restaurants

Here is our list of the best restaurants in Osaka, divided by type of cuisine, with location and price range too. Read More

Osaka Hotels

Osaka has great hotels in all budget classes. Here are the best Osaka hotels in each budget class, all personally inspected. Read More

Osaka Ryokan

Osaka has few true ryokan (traditional Japanese inns), so here are our Kyoto and Nara picks.
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Where To Stay In Osaka

Our guide on where to stay in Osaka to maximise your time, with our recommended picks for the best accommodation. Read More

Packing List For Japan

Use my comprehensive packing list to ensure you’ve got everything you need to make your Japan trip hassle free. Read More

First Time In Osaka

Planning a trip to Osaka? This is the place to start. I’ll take you through the big questions: when, where, why, and how much. Read More

Osaka Districts

Discover the best of Osaka’s different areas to decide where you want to explore. Here’s my guide to Osaka’s 10 major districts. Read More

Things To Do In Osaka

Our comprehensive list of the best things to do in Osaka will help you make the most of your time in the city. Read More

Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo Itineraries

Here’s a comprehensive Osaka/Kyoto/Tokyo itinerary that will allow you to see the best places efficiently and easily. Read More

Best Time To Go To Osaka

Discover the best time of year to visit Osaka, get a sense of Osaka weather month by month, and the dates of Osaka’s best festivals. Read More

SIM Cards in Osaka

Yes, you can buy a prepaid data-only SIM cards in Japan. Here are the best deals, based on actual experiences. Read More

How To Get To Osaka

Osaka is served by two airports - Kansai for international flights and Itami for domestic. Here are all the details. Read More

Getting Around Osaka

Osaka covers a huge area, but it’s all connected by a superb public transport system. Here’s how to get around the city easily. Read More

Eat Like A Local In Osaka

Want to eat where Osaka locals actually eat? Then check out our guide to some of Osaka’s best local restaurants. Read More

What To Eat In Osaka

Osaka is famous throughout Japan for its cheap, hearty and delicious food. We introduce the specialties and where to eat them. Read More

Destination

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Japan Travel Guides

There are several must-see destinations in Japan within easy reach of Osaka. They all make great additions to any Osaka itinerary. These concise guides provide details about what to see and do.

New And Updated On Inside Osaka 2025

UPDATED Best New Osaka Hotels 2025 – Several great new hotels have opened in Osaka in the past few years. The luxury hotel market has seen the biggest growth with brands like Four Seasons and Autograph Collection making their Osaka debut. Here are my favorite new Osaka hotels in all budget categories as of July 2025. Read More
NEW Food Courts, Restaurant Floors, and Dining Neighborhoods – Longtime resident, writer, and food lover Angelino Donnachaidh offers an introduction to some epicurean epicenters of the city affectionately known as “Japan’s Kitchen.” Read More
NEW Best Osaka Restaurants for Families with Young Children – Planning a trip with a young child can be daunting – especially when it comes to dining. But finding a place for you and your little one to eat or just relax with a cuppa can be more doable – and more fun – than you might think. Read More
UPDATED Best Osaka Restaurants 2025 – Here is our list of the best restaurants in Osaka, divided by type of cuisine, with location and price range indicated to make it easy to choose. Read More
NEW Ikeda-cho / Ura-Tenma – Ura-Tenma in Ikeda-cho is a back alley warren of varied restaurants, izakaya pubs, and food stalls, sandwiched perfectly just between Osaka’s JR Tenma and Tenroku Stations. Read More
NEW Osaka Vegan & Vegetarian Dining – an Insider’s Guide – Longtime resident, writer, and foodie Angelino Donnachaidh offers a shortlist of vetted, varied vegetarian and vegan options for those looking to grab some tasty bites sans meat or animal products. Read More

Where Are These Places Located?

See these places on the Inside Osaka Google map:

Open the Osaka map
You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
If you’re using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.

Osaka Vacation Checklist

ESSENTIALS – For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Osaka guide
HOTELS – Check Osaka accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
WHERE TO STAY – Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Osaka
BULLET TRAIN – You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Osaka, Osaka to Kyoto and Osaka to Tokyo
SIM CARDS – You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo’s Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
PACKING LIST – View my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
FLIGHTS – Compare flight prices and timings to find the best Japan flight deals
JAPAN RAIL PASS – If you’re visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it’s worth it for you
TRAVEL INSURANCE – World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
WANT HELP? – Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help

Osaka District Map

Click an Osaka district for detailed info on attractions, places to eat and accommodation

Your Osaka Travel Guide