Make the most of your time in Osaka with my carefully planned itineraries for trips from 1 to 5 days. Or use one of my special interest itineraries. And don’t miss my Osaka-Kyoto and Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo combination itineraries.
Osaka Castle in spring
The Itineraries
Click any itinerary below to read the full itinerary.
Osaka Holiday Essentials
- Where To Stay In Osaka: See our guide to the best areas and the best hotels to stay in Osaka.
- Things To Do In Osaka: Check this overview of Osaka activities with links to all the key information.
- Flights To Osaka: Find the cheapest flights to Osaka and flight times from scores of airlines with Skyscanner.
- Osaka Packing List: Don’t forget to take any of the essentials with our comprehensive Packing List For Japan.
- Travel Insurance: World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Claim online anywhere in the world.
Time-Based Itineraries
- 1-Day Osaka Itinerary
Even 1 day is enough to get a good taste of Osaka. I’ve put together the perfect 1-day itinerary to help you get the most out of one full day in Osaka. - Must See 1-Day Osaka Itinerary
If you’re in a hurry and want to see the really important parts of Osaka, our Must-See Osaka 1-Day Itinerary is for you. It’s the most efficient way to see the city fast. - 2-Day Osaka Itinerary
Two days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Osaka. This 2-day itinerary allows you to get the best of the city without tiring yourself out. - 3-Day Osaka Itinerary
If you have three days, you can really explore the different districts of Osaka. Our 3-day Osaka itinerary allows you to see the best sights efficiently and easily.
Recommended Osaka Hotels
Special Interest Itineraries
- Osaka 1-Day Cherry Blossom Itinerary
Osaka might not be as famous as nearby Kyoto for cherry blossoms, but there are actually plenty of good cherry blossom spots in the city. Here's a 1-day Osaka cherry blossom itinerary, plus a few tips to make the most of your time here without stressing out. - Osaka Shopping Itinerary
Osaka is a shopper’s paradise, but it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices. This 1-day Osaka Shopping Itinerary will help you make the most of your time. - Osaka 1-Day Itinerary with Children
Osaka is a great place to travel with children with some of Japan’s best child-friendly attractions. Here’s the perfect 1-day itinerary for families with children. - Osaka 2-Day Itinerary with Children
Osaka is full of great child-friendly attractions. This itinerary is the best way to sample the best of them during a 2-day visit.
Osaka-Kyoto Itineraries
- Osaka-Kyoto 1-Week Itinerary
If you’ve got one week in Japan and don’t want to travel much, an Osaka-Kyoto itinerary is a great way to see both modern and traditional Japan. Here’s how to do it. - Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo 10-Day Itinerary
Ten days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Japan. Here’s a great Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka itinerary that will allow you to see the best places efficiently and easily.
Top Activities In Osaka
Japan Itineraries
To fully plan your trip to Japan, see my comprehensive Japan itineraries which guide you to the best locations and map out each day for you.
- Japan Itineraries Overview
- 1 Week Japan Itinerary: Tokyo and Kyoto
- 10 Day Japan Itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto and Kanazawa
- 10 Day Japan Itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto and Takayama
- 2 Week Japan Itinerary: The Grand Tour
- 7 to 10 Day Japan Itinerary: Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Hiroshima
- Japan With Children Itinerary
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
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Osaka guide
- Check Osaka accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Osaka
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Osaka, Osaka to Kyoto and Osaka to Tokyo
- 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
- View my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare flight prices and timings to find the best Japan flight deals
- 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
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
