Southern Osaka covers the southern part of Osaka City as well as the southern part of Osaka Prefecture. The most interesting sights are located in the city of Sakai in southern Osaka Prefecture.
We consider anything south of the Tennoji District to be southern Osaka. Within the city of Osaka, the most important site in the south is Sumiyoshi Taisha, an interesting Shinto shrine. Outside of the city proper, you’ll find the city of Sakai, which is famous for its knife and sword-making traditions. Sakai is also home to Japan’s largest pre-Buddhist burial mound, the Emperor Nintoku Tomb.
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.
Things to See and Do in Southern Osaka
- Sumiyoshi Taisha (Shinto shrine)
This colorful shrine a short journey south of Tennoji is one of the few Shinto shrines in Osaka that was not destroyed by bombing in WWII. It’s dedicated to the sea and sea travel. A visit to this shrine makes a nice addition to a trip to the Tennoji area. The shrine is next to Sumiyoshi-taisha Station on the Nankai main line and Sumiyoshi-tori-mae Station on the Hankai main line. - Emperor Nintoku Tomb (burial mound)
Located near Mozu Station on the JR Hanwa Line (that runs between Osaka and Wakayama), this burial mound (which is known as Daisenryo Kofun in Japanese) is the largest of its kind in Japan. There’s not a heck of a lot to see here other than the greenery-covered mound and the moats around it, but it might be interesting for fans of Japan’s early history. It’s in Sakai, which has some other interesting attractions, including the following. - Sakai City Traditional Crafts Museum (museum)
Located near Myogokujimae Station on the Hankai Line, this small but excellent museum showcases the main product of Sakai city: world-class knives and other cutting tools. If you’re a fan of Japanese knives and swords, don’t miss this place. - Oizumi-Ryokuchi Park (park)
Located in Sakai City, south of Osaka, this massive park is arguably the best-uninterrupted expanse of green lawn in the entire Kansai region. Besides the spacious lawn, there’s also a sheep enclosure and a couple of well-designed playgrounds to keep the kids occupied all day.
Places to Stay in Southern Osaka
- Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
If you’ve ever suffered through an early wake up to catch a flight with children, then we strongly recommend staying your last night at an airport hotel. Early departures from KIX are made easy and pleasant when you stay at Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport! - Star Gate Hotel Kansai Airport
(View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
If you find the rooms booked at the Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport above and you have an early flight out of KIX, then we highly recommend Star Gate Hotel Kansai Airport right across the bridge from the airport.
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