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.
Read More
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
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.
Kyoto Travel Guide
image © Jeffrey Friedl
Find Kyoto’s best attractions on my companion website InsideKyoto.com Read More
Tokyo Travel Guide
image © Truly Tokyo
Find Tokyo’s best attractions on my companion website TrulyTokyo.com Read More
Nara Travel Guide
image © Damien Douxchamps
Nara is a spectacular contrast to Kyoto – and only half an hour away by express train Read More
Kanazawa Travel Guide
image © _yuki_k_
Sometimes called “Little Kyoto,” Kanazawa is a superb destination in its own right. Read More
Hiroshima And Miyajima
images © globalismpictures and xiquinho
Hiroshima and the nearby island of Miyajima provide some of Japan’s most memorable sights
Read More
Takayama Travel Guide
image © eugen_o
Takayama is a great stopover between Tokyo and Kyoto with its own distinct cultural heritage
Read More
New And Updated On Inside Osaka 2026
- NEW Canopy by Hilton Osaka Umeda – The Canopy by Hilton Osaka Umeda is a fantastic new mid-range hotel in the Kita district of Osaka. Located in a tower about 12 minutes’ walk from Osaka Station, it’s arguably the best value mid-range hotel in the city and we highly recommend it. Read More
- NEW The Osaka Station Hotel, Autograph Collection – The Osaka Station Hotel, a Marriot Autograph Collection hotel, is a new luxury hotel located right at Osaka Station in the heart of the Kita district. The views from the upper floor rooms and the lobby are amazing and the rates here are at the lower end of the luxury bracket. Read More
- NEW DoubleTree by Hilton Osaka Castle – The DoubleTree by Hilton Osaka Castle is a solid hotel in a quiet area with great views of Osaka Castle and rates that are surprisingly low for a hotel of this class. I consider this one of the best mid-range hotel values in the city and I highly recommend it. Read More
- NEW Voco Osaka Central – Located in the heart of central Osaka, the Voco Osaka Central is a clean, well-run hotel with rates that hover on the border of budget and mid-range. It’s one of the better values in this price range and we recommend it. Read More
- NEW Four Seasons Hotel Osaka – The Four Seasons Osaka is a gorgeous luxury hotel in the Dojima area of the Kita District. The rooms here are among the best in the city and the restaurants, lobby, spa and fitness center are beautiful. If you’re looking for a luxury hotel in Osaka, give the Four Seasons a close look. Read More
- NEW Hotel Resol Trinity Osaka – I love this new hotel in the central Osaka district: It’s arguably the best budget hotel in the city. It’s a beautiful and comfortable hotel that gets everything right and I highly recommend it. Read More
- NEW Hotel The Flag Shinsaibashi – Hotel The Flag Shinsaibashi is a smart and stylish budget/mid-range hotel literally in the heart of Osaka. We have no idea how they manage to offer this quality at these rates, but they do. It’s highly recommended. Read More
- NEW Patina Osaka – Patina Osaka is a gorgeous luxury hotel overlooking Osaka Castle. It’s beautiful from top to bottom and it’s great for people who want to escape the crowds of the busier districts. Read More
- NEW Waldorf Astoria Osaka – The Waldorf Astoria is an elegant luxury hotel directly connected to Osaka Station. It’s got some of the best views of any hotel in the city and the rooms are sumptuous. For those who can afford it, it’s a great choice if you want to be in the Kita district. Read More
- NEW &Here Osaka Namba – &Here Osaka Namba is a mid-range hotel on the west edge of the Minami district that offers great family rooms with simple kitchens, dining areas and bunk beds for the kids. It’s cheaper than some other family-oriented hotels with rates in the lower end of the mid-range. Read More
- UPDATED Best Osaka Budget Hotels 2026 – Believe it or not, you can easily get a hotel in central Osaka for less than US$130 per night! Here are the best Osaka hotels in the budget category. Read More
- UPDATED Universal Studios Japan Guide – Osaka’s Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is a must-see attraction for many visitors to Japan. Here is our full guide, with transport information, ticket information and insider tips to skipping lines and getting the most out of your visit. Read More
Where Are These Places Located?
- 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
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