Osaka, the second largest city in Japan after Tokyo, is a living-friendly city filled with great energy and lively atmosphere.
This article is to introduce the best 3-day’s trip to Osaka for those who are visiting for the first time and want to see as much as they can.
-INDEX-
Day1: Sightseeing Spots in Osaka City
Osaka Umeda Area
Shinsaibashi·Namba Area
Tennoji, Shinsekai Area
Osaka Bay Area
Other Interesting Places in Osaka City Center
Food in Osaka
Day2: Popular attractions in North Osaka. Ikeda & Minoh
The Must-go City Ikeda
The Magnificent Minoh Waterfall
Other Interesting Places in North Osaka
The Last Night in Osaka
Day3: Shopping Day in Osaka Umeda Area
Recommendations for 3 days in Osaka: A day trip from Osaka to the suburbs
Hotel to stay: Which area is the most convenient?
Transportation and access connecting Osaka Umeda and major stations in Kansai
How to transfer at Osaka Umeda Station
How to go to Kansai Airport from Osaka Umeda Station
Day1: Sightseeing Spots in Osaka City
For the first day in Osaka, we recommend Osaka City center which is easily accessible. The following are the main sightseeing areas and you may pick one or two areas to visit in one day.
Osaka Umeda Area
・Umeda Sky Building
・HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel
・Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
・Nakazaki-cho Area
When it comes to the landmark of Osaka, Umeda Sky Building and HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel will occur. Umeda Sky Building offers you the chance to take in the Osaka cityscape with a bird’s-eye view from the 360-degree open air rooftop. Going to the observation facility connecting the Tower East and Tower West is also a thrilling challenge. HEP FIVE has terrific red construction which is very photogenic.
If you want to visit a shrine nearby, go to Osaka Tenmangu Shrine. This is a famous shrine where the Tenjin Festival, one of Japan’s three major shrine festivals, is held, and is loved by local residents.
Also, the nearby Nakazaki-cho area is popular with its photogenic cafes and grocery shops which were renovated from traditional houses.
▼Click here▼
Shinsaibashi·Namba Area
・Dotonbori
・Amerika-Mura (America Village Osaka)
・Namba Yasaka Shrine
・Nipponbashi DenDen Town
・THE SUMO HALL HIRAKUZA OSAKA
Shinsaibashi and Namba area is where you can feel the liveliness of Osaka. Dotonbori, with its shining neon lights, is one of Osaka’s most representative streets! We recommend you to take photos from Ebisu Bridge. Another young culture is rooted from Amerika-Mura or say America Village Osaka, where colorful creative graffiti lights up the street. Also, you may find a lot of vintage stores around this area.
Namba Yasaka Shrine is famous for its Shishi-den, where a lion widely opens its eyes and big mouth. For Anime lovers, Nipponbashi DenDen Town is where you can find animation related goods.
Moreover, a sumo entertainment hall called THE SUMO HALL HIRAKUZA OSAKA is newly opened in spring of 2024. It is an entertainment facility focusing on Japan’s national sport sumo. Former sumo wrestlers will perform in a full-sized sumo ring while English commentary of sumo’s history and rules is provided in a comic way at the same time.
▼Click here▼
Tennoji・Shinsekai Area
・Shinsekai
・Tsutenkaku Tower
Shinsekai area is next to Namba area and is filled with Osaka local style food such as skewers and Okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese-style pancake. Large signboards of the restaurants together with Tsutenkaku Tower forms a harmonious Japanese-style street which is a popular photo spot. The God who represents happiness called Billiken is in Tsutenkaku and revenue is said to come by touching the bottom of its feet.
Osaka Bay Area
・Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
・Tempozan
A large ferris wheel is a landmark of the area facing the ocean. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, one of the world’s largest aquariums, lies here, together with many commercial facilities and hotels. Mount Tenpo, although it is only 4.5m above sea level, has a splendid history and is known as the lowest mountain in Japan.
Other Interesting Places in Osaka City Center
・Osaka Castle
・Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
Osaka Castle was built in 1583 and the current main castle keep was reconstructed in 1931. Inside the castle keep is a museum that contains valuable materials about the history of the Sengoku period. Besides, the Gozabune boat is high-recommended to go around Osaka Castle and feel the ancient atmosphere.
Sumiyoshi Taisha, lying in the south of Tennoji area, is the headquarter of Sumiyoshi Shrines nationwide. A lot of people visit there to wish for a prosperous business.
・Relax by a day trip of hot spring
The best way of relieving the tiredness of traveling is to enjoy a hot spring on a day trip.
▼Click here▼
・An exemplary one-day trip course to visit Osaka
Are you still wondering how to plan your day in Osaka? We have prepared an exemplary one-day route for you including most popular attractions and the must-goes. Please check the following article.
▼Click here▼
Osaka-1 Day Trip｜Perfect Guide! Most Popular Spots to the Latest Popular Gourmet!
Food in Osaka
One of the fun parts of traveling is tasting the unique and delicious food of the certain country. For those who want to try Sushi, ramen and other tasty traditional Japanese food in Osaka, the following article may help you.
▼Check this article▼
5 Best Ramen in Osaka Umeda! How to Order, The Side Menu and More!
Enjoy Northern Japan (Hokkaido, Tohoku) Local Gourmet in Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe!
【Day2】Popular attractions in North Osaka. Ikeda & Minoh
Now comes the second day and we plan to go outside of Osaka city to enjoy a different atmosphere.
The Must-go City Ikeda
Ikeda has the famous “Cup Noodle Museum” which is only 20 minutes away from Osaka Umeda by railway. There you can choose any ingredient you like and make your own original cup noodles. This quirky museum is loved by both tourists and locals so going in the morning would be a better choice.
▼Check this article▼
3 restaurants where you can eat plant-based food near CUPNOODLES MUSEUM in Osaka Ikeda
The Magnificent Minoh Waterfall
After Cup Noodle Museum Ikeda, take 15-minute’s railway and now we are in Minoh City, popular for its magnificent Japanese top100 Minoh Waterfall, which is in Minoh Park.
Minoh park’s entrance is right beside the railway station. While walking along the well-paved walking route, the sound of birds and falls, the touch of the breeze, the environment filled with rich nature all shows you a totally different charm from the modern city.
▼Click here▼
Photo provided by Osaka Prefecture
Other Interesting Places in North Osaka
In the north part of Osaka, a huge park called Expo’70 Commemorative Park was built on the site of the Japan World Exposition 1970. Standing 70 meters tall, the symbolic Tower of the Sun is a massive piece and now provides an inside view tour to the public. Take your time to look around and there are Japanese gardens and cultural institutions waiting for you to explore.
▼Click here▼
Expo ’70 Commemorative Park is a great place to visit in Osaka! Highlights Explained!
Enjoy the last night in Osaka!
At night, there are a lot of bars and cafes where you can enjoy the terrific night view of Osaka while dining. For beer lovers, we find many tasty craft beer bars around Osaka Umeda. Please check the following article.
▼Click here▼
7 Osaka Umeda Night Activities. Enjoy the night in the city with bars, cafes and night views!
【Day3】Shopping Day in Osaka Umeda Area
Here comes the last day in Osaka and time for shopping and buying souvenirs!
In Osaka Umeda area, there is the biggest department store in western Japan called Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store. Go to Hanshin Department Store Umeda Main Store if you want to have delicious food. HEP FIVE is popular for its stylish fashion stores which young people love. If you want to shop for luxury brands, HERBIS PLAZA is where you may like.
▼Click here▼
For Visitors to Japan. Highlights of the Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store!
Hanshin Department Store Umeda Main Store- Best Place to Enjoy Japan’s Food Culture!
The Best Currency Exchange Machine Guide in Umeda, Osaka!
▼Check this article to get more info about Umeda▼
Osaka-Umeda-1Day-Course | Sightseeing! Shopping! Gourmet! Enjoy Osaka Umeda to the fullest!
Recommendations for 3 days in Osaka: A day trip from Osaka to the suburbs
Are you thinking of going to scenic spots outside of Osaka? Or wondering if there are any good places that are less crowded? Actually, besides Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Biwako Lake and other cities nearby are all worth visiting on a day trip. You may find more detail in the following article.
Hotel to stay: Which area is the most convenient?
When it comes to accommodation’s location, Osaka Umeda, Namba and Tennoji area will be good choices since they are connected by important railways which makes it easier to go to any sightseeing spot.
If you plan to go to Nara or Wakayama direction, Namba and Tennoji area have more direct railways.
Hotels nearby Osaka Umeda station are highly recommended if you are visiting itineraries introduced in this article. Umeda is the biggest terminal station and it is directly connected with either Kobe or Kyoto direction. Also, it is the terminal station of many expressway buses heading to the suburbs. Either Ikeda or Minoh is accessible from Umeda station by Hankyu railway without transferring.
▼Check this article▼
Stay Time is also fulfilled! Recommended hotels to enjoy Osaka more!
Transportation and access time from Osaka Umeda to major stations in Kansai
The following article is about the transportation and travel time from Osaka Umeda station to other main terminal stations of western Japan. Please refer to this article for your travel planning.
▼Click here▼
Osaka Umeda and major stations in Kansai Access Summary
How to transfer at Osaka Umeda Station
Osaka Umeda station is a terminal station for Hankyu Railway, Hanshin Railway, JR, and Osaka Metro. Besides, the underground walking street is quite complicated, making it easy for visitors to get lost. Thus, check the following article and try not to get lost.
▼Click here▼
How to go to Kansai Airport from Osaka Umeda Station
Now the 3 days’ trip has come to an end. Please check the following articles for more information about transportation between Umeda and Kansai International Airport. Expressway bus may be a better choice if you depart from Umeda station.
▼Osaka Umeda Station⇒KIX▼
▼KIX⇒Osaka Umeda Station▼
Although this article listed the highlights of 3 Days in Osaka, it is not enough to know all the charm of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. Come and experience the amazing beauty of western Japan.
Hope you will have a great time and a wonderful trip!
Close