A three-day and two-night free travel guide to Osaka, a new way to enjoy the food of the hipsters!
#OsakaTravel #100WaysToTravel
Sharing a 23-day solo travel itinerary to Japan from May to June 2024. I departed from Taoyuan Airport, entered from Kansai Airport, took a limousine bus into Osaka city, stayed in Osaka for three days and two nights, and then went to Nara, Kyoto, and Tokyo.
The itinerary for the three-day and two-night trip to Osaka is as follows:
Day 1: Taipei - Kansai Airport - Meander Osaka Hotel - Namba Yasaka Shrine - Osaka Station Space Square - Shinsaibashi - Dotonbori
Day 2: Kuromon Market-Nakanoshima Museum of Art-Tsutenkaku & Shinsekai
Day 3: Osaka Castle - Nishinomaru Gardens - Osaka Museum of History - Nara
【Must-see attractions】
1. #NambaYasakaJinja: If you want to pick the most representative shrine in Osaka, the NambaYasakaJinja with the shape of a lion with a big open mouth is definitely not to be missed! The shape is unique and imposing. There are not many shrines with such a cool shape in Japan. It is also close to the subway station and can be easily reached on foot. It is a great place to take beautiful photos for the Internet.
✓Opening hours: 0600-1700
✓ Admission: Free
2. #中之島博物馆: Nakanoshima is a very leisurely area, which can be easily reached by subway. There are not many tourists here, but there are many buildings worth seeing, which is very suitable for a walk. The exterior of the Nakanoshima Art Museum is an ultra-avant-garde black box, and the interior design is also very cool, like the layered and intertwined movie dream space, and you can also take photos with the space cats.
✓Opening hours: 1000-1700
✓Special exhibition ticket: ¥1800
3. #OsakaHistoryMuseum: After visiting Osaka Castle, you can go to the Osaka History Museum next to it. It is a very educational and entertaining route suitable for parent-child itineraries. The exhibition hall is very large and introduces the historical evolution of Osaka in layers. There are many interactive facilities and restored models, which is quite fun! The air conditioning is cool, and there is an observation deck where you can overlook the entire Osaka Castle, with an excellent view.
✓ Opening hours: 0930-1700
✓Entrance fee: ¥600
【Must-eat food】
1. #はまぐり院: A very special clam specialty meal, which the store claims is the first of its kind in Kansai, and the entire menu is themed around clams. The restaurant is located on the 28th floor of the Hankyu Grand Building in Osaka, with an excellent view from the high floors.
✓Must-try dish: Clam ramen. The soup has absorbed the essence of clams and is full of the delicious sweetness of the sea. It can be paired with grilled large clams, which are grilled to the perfect size and have a wonderful taste.
✓Opening hours: 1100-2300
2. #Charcoal-roasted-coffee-Asuka: In the alley next to the Kuromon Market, there is a retro and cute Showa-style coffee shop. The owner is an old barista. There is soft music playing, which makes the place look very old-fashioned and antique.
✓Must-try dishes: Traditional Western breakfast. Order a drink for 400-500 yen, including freshly brewed coffee, black tea, milk tea, juice, etc., and they will treat you to toast, boiled eggs, bananas and coffee candy. How kind!
✓Opening hours: 0730-1700
3. #饺子の太志: Local Chinese cuisine near JR Namba Station, specializing in fried dumplings, mapo tofu, dandan noodles, etc. It has a very local flavor and the atmosphere of a hot pot restaurant, which is very suitable for a beer.
✓Must-try dish: Pork bone mapo noodles, prepared with Lao Gan Ma's mapo sauce, which captures the essence of spicy and numbing peppercorns. It is slightly less spicy, but has a more prominent Japanese salty taste. It goes well with rice and is easily satisfied when paired with chewy thin yellow noodles and tofu.
✓Opening hours: 1700-0400
【Accommodation recommendation】
The first choice for accommodation in Osaka is #Namba, which is close to the tourists' favorite Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi business districts, and is also within walking distance of Kuromon Market and Namba Yasaka Shrine. It has an excellent geographical location. You can take the Nankai Railway or the Rimozu Bus to Kansai Airport, which is extremely convenient.
✓Hotel name: #Meander Osaka #漫步大坂
✓Hotel address: 1 Chome-5-16 Motomachi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0016 Japan
【Photography check-in area】
1. #GlicoRunner: Osaka’s most iconic landmark, this is located on the shopping street on the Ebisu Bridge side. It is bustling with people coming and going. The giant billboard, which was set up in 1935, is the signature advertisement of the candy company Glico, symbolizing the enthusiasm of the vibrant Osaka people. Rong Bridge is even more charming at night, with colorful neon lights, various restaurants, drugstores, and handbag shops everywhere, which is quite fun to visit and take pictures.
✓Address: 1 Chome-10-4 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071 Japan
2. #Tsutenkaku: Located in the Shinsekai Honmachi shopping street where old and new cultures blend together, Tsutenkaku looks like a crown when viewed from the archway at the entrance of the shopping street, which is a very special viewing angle. Tsutenkaku is an observation tower on the Shinsekai shopping street in Osaka's Hayami district. The Tembo Park on the top floor offers a bird's-eye view of the city, as well as a giant slide, the Tower Slider, and a bungee jump. It's well worth a visit and taking photos.
✓Address: 1 Chome-18-6 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0002 Japan
3. #大坂城: Osaka’s most representative city landmark, symbolizing Osaka’s history and status. Although Osaka Castle Tenkatsukaku was rebuilt later, the iconic white triangular roof is so beautiful no matter how you photograph it! Recommended best viewing location: The square at the entrance of Tenkōkaku has the best frontal view, but the disadvantage is that there are too many people. Another recommended angle is at the Nishinomaru Gardens, where you can take in Osaka Castle, the walls, and the moat all at once. If you’re lucky, you can even take a photo of the yellow cruise ship!
✓Address: 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0002 Japan
【Tips】
1. Osaka Station and Umeda are emerging areas with many beautiful buildings and shops. Locals in Osaka prefer to visit these areas, while tourists prefer Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi.
2. Osaka is very close to Nara and Kyoto. We strongly recommend planning a day trip or staying there for a few nights to experience the beauty and tranquility of the ancient capital.
3. For transportation, just swipe your IC card without any hassle.
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