Osaka, a captivating city known
for its blend of historical charm, lively spirit and culinary delights. I've had the chance
to explore Osaka and its many offerings. The city stands as a bustling metropolis that beckons travelers to explore its vibrant streets and
indulge in its famous food offerings. If you're planning to visit Osaka and wondering how to best
approach this city, then let me share with
you my guide to spending 4 days in Osaka. Osaka is located in the heart of Japan. With a population of 2.7 million, the city is a vital
transportation and economic hub. To best explore the city, I recommend
staying near the central area specifically near the famous Dotonbori, known for its neon-lit canal,
the Glico man sign and being home to numerous
restaurants and street food stands. It's also near the busy shopping
district of Shinsaibashi, but more importantly, you'll have access to Namba Station, a major transportation hub in Osaka. You can also find
the famous Kuromon Market, often referred to
as the "Kitchen of Osaka". It's therefore very convenient
staying near Dotonbori as you'll have easy access to
the rest of the city via public transport and there are plenty of restaurants and entertainment
options around the area. On my last trip to Osaka, I stayed at the Hotel The Flag in Shinsaibashi. It's a relatively new hotel that
comes with modern and clean rooms with all the usual amenities but the best part about
the hotel is its location. It's only a 3-minute walk from the
hotel to Shinsaibashi Station and only a 10-minute walk
to Dotonbori which is super convenient. There are many more nearby hotels
you can stay at, but I'll leave links to
hotel recommendations and more in the description box below. For transportation, trains and buses will be your main way of
getting around the city. This is why getting your hands
on an IC card is an absolute must. Either a physical card
or you can add a digital version to your Apple wallet
if you have an iPhone. Simply tap with your phone
while entering a station and tap out when you exit. It's easy to keep track of
your travel expenses and I found that using
the digital card the most convenient as I could top up the card
straight from the phone using a credit card. It may also be worth considering
the Osaka Amazing Pass. It's a special sightseeing and
transportation pass designed for tourists and covers access to various
well-known attractions and includes unlimited use of
trains and buses within the city. You can purchase the Osaka Amazing Pass
at tourist information offices in Osaka or online via Klook which you may find more convenient. More info and links below. On our first day in Osaka,
we'll wake up bright and early and start off our day by
visiting the Namba Yasaka Shrine. The shrine is mostly known
for its large lion head stage, which is said to swallow up
any bad luck or spirits plaguing you. Most of the shrine's original
structures were lost due to air raids and fires, so the buildings you'll encounter here are mostly reconstructions
from the post-war era. As always, it's
customary to clean your hands and pay your respects
when visiting a shrine. Next, we head over to Shinsaibashi and walk through the main shopping street. You'll find hundreds of stores
lining down its 600m long street. You'll find anything
from small cute stores to larger department stores such as
Uniqlo and the Parco Shopping Complex. It's here that we stumble across
this peculiar shop called Fueki which sells a diversity of items
featuring Fueki-kun the official mascot of the brand. We decided to opt for the
doll head soft serve offering. Just your standard vanilla soft serve. Nothing special, but you get
to keep the creepy doll head though. Nice souvenir. From Shinsaibashi, we
make the short walk over to Amerika-mura, also
known as the American Village. It's a lively and trendy district
known for its vibrant atmosphere, fashion-forward shops, and unique blend of
American and Japanese pop culture. Amerika-mura is
especially popular among the youth. You can find plenty
of clothing stores, thrifting stores, and vintage boutiques
catering to different tastes. We then head over to Umeda and make a quick stop
at the Pokemon Center. If you're a fan of Pokemon, then
this is a store that shouldn't be missed. The store is an official Pokemon store and offers a wide range of
Pokemon themed products including exclusive items that
are often only available at Pokemon Centers across Japan. Next, we head to the
Umeda Sky Building, a prominent landmark
and skyscraper located in the Umeda District. The escalator ride up to the
observatory is an experience in itself. Once at the top, you'll be
met with a panoramic view of the city. After a full day of exploring, we
head back to Dotonbori which has now come to life
with neon lights illuminating the iconic entertainment district. Dotonbori is known for its
lively streets and restaurants. It's here you can find some of
Osaka's famous street food offerings, including takoyaki, which are octopus
balls made of flour and pieces of octopus. However, we enjoy getting a taiyaki, which is a fish-shaped cake that usually
comes with red bean filling inside. But for something more filling, we decided to head to one of the best
okonomiyaki shops in the area Ajinoya, a Bib Gourmand - awarded
okonomiyaki restaurant. I highly recommend getting here early,
as the place is quite popular and you'll often find a long
queue outside the restaurant. We ordered the Ajinoya mix okonomiyaki
with some yakisoba on the side. After dinner, we take a quick evening
stroll around the Hozenji Yokocho, a unique and atmospheric alleyway
lined with small bars and eateries. While exploring, we
also come across Hozenji, a small hidden temple dedicated to
one of the five guardians of Buddhism. On our second day in Osaka,
it's another early morning as we make a long journey north
to visit the famous Katsuo-ji temple. The trip involves a
train ride and a bus and takes a good one and a half
hour to reach our destination. Katsuo-ji, also known
as the Temple of Winner's Luck. It's a famous temple
known for its beautiful garden featuring a large pond
filled with koi fish. It's a prime destination for
viewing the autumn colors and many come to spectate the change of seasons
while enjoying the temple facilities. The temple is also
known for housing hundreds, if not thousands, of Daruma dolls all
scattered around the temple grounds. The doll symbolizes
perseverance and good luck, and you can even purchase one as a
small souvenir to bring home with you. Just remember there's
a small fortune note inside. We return to Osaka
and make a lunch stop at Izakaya Toyo, famous
for its flame-wielding owner. This standing Izakaya is nestled away
in a residential area near Kyobashi Station. The highlight is obviously to watch the owner Toyo
as he prepares his signature dish. There aren't many items on the menu,
but I recommend getting a set menu of fresh sashimi and of course
the flame broiled tuna cheek. After a nice lunch,
head over to Osaka Castle A historic and iconic landmark. It stands as a symbol of Osaka's rich
history and cultural heritage. Take your time to explore
the five-story castle and the surrounding castle grounds. As evening arrives, head to
Shinsekai, a neon-lit retro district. The name Shinsekai
translates to "the new world". The area was developed in
the early 20th century to be a futuristic entertainment district. While the area has had its
fair share of challenges over the years, it has retained its distinctive charm. Now it's home to many restaurants, quirky shops, retro arcades and
most famously the Tsutenkaku tower. Our final agenda for today is to pay a visit to
the TeamLab Botanical Garden. This permanent outdoor exhibition
is only open during the evening. When night falls, the garden
comes to life with bright colors and sounds, immersing you in a surreal
but mesmerizing experience. You can easily spend more than two
hours exploring the different displays. If you're interested in visiting, make sure to book your tickets
a few days beforehand as they tend to get sold out. On our third day
in Osaka, start the day by visiting the most
iconic market in the city, Kuromon Market. Kuromon's history
dates back to the Edo period and has become a popular
destination for locals and tourists alike. The market is often
referred to as Osaka's kitchen due to its wide range of
fresh produce, seafood and street food. I decided to sample some sushi, so we found this small store,
right in the market and got some pieces of tuna After Kuromon, we head south to
Nipponbashi, also known as Den Den Town. It's known as the city's
electronics and otaku culture hub. This area is similar to Tokyo's Akihabara and is a haven for anyone who's
into anime, manga, gaming or electronics. You can find several
stores dedicated to anime collectibles such as Kotobukiya
and the popular Animate store. There's also
arcades in the area where you can try your luck
with the different machines or pass the time with some video games. After Den Den Town, we
head west and visit the Kaiyukan one of Japan's most
famous and impressive aquariums. The aquarium is located in the
Tempozan Harbor Village along Osaka's waterfront. It's known for housing one of
the largest marine tanks in the world and it's a great
place for families to explore with its many themed
zones and varied marine life. After finishing with the aquarium,
you can head next door and take a short ride on the Tempozan Ferris Wheel
as it lights up during the evening. It gives an excellent view of
the Osaka Bay and the surrounding area. On our final day in Osaka, we decide to dedicate the day to
Universal Studios Japan. The theme park is mostly known
for its wild rides and themed areas. Specifically the Wizarding
World of Harry Potter Minion Park Jurassic Park and the latest
Super Nintendo World. If your aim is not to try
every ride and you're just here for the atmosphere, then
go with the 1 day studio pass. However, if your aim is to
visit every area of the park and try every ride, then the
express pass is an absolute must. As some areas such as the Super Nintendo
World requires an area-timed ticket to enter, which is
included with the express pass. In addition, you can significantly
reduce the waiting times for rides. If you decide to
visit, here are some basic tips. Buy your tickets in
advance and make sure to download the USJ app to gain
access to many of the park's features, such as being able to see wait times
for rides and reserving area-timed tickets. Show up at least one hour or
earlier before the official opening hours. And if you didn't purchase an
express pass, then make sure to get
the area-timed tickets either via the app or the
physical ticket machines inside the park. And finally, avoid
the weekends if possible. After Universal Studios,
we make a final trip back to Dotonbori to grab some dinner
and do some last minute shopping. We start off by visiting the Donguri store. The official Studio Ghibli
store in Namba. A must visit if you're a Studio Ghibli fan, as you can get a picture with No-Face and Totoro while
browsing the store's many goods. You may also consider visiting
the large Don Quijote store in Dotonbori. The store is filled
with all sorts of items and makes it the perfect spot
for some last minute souvenirs. After all that
shopping, take a ride on its famous Ferris wheel
for a last bit of amusement. For dinner, I recommend
swinging by Yakiniku M located in Hozenji Yokocho. They serve delicious cuts of meat
and it's the perfect way to end the trip. If you're looking for
a couple of extra things to do or just alternatives,
here's a short list. Shitennoji and Sumiyasha Taisha, if you're looking for more
temples or shrines to visit. There's also Abeno Harukas,
the tallest building in Japan, and finally the Osaka Expo Park
for a little side trip out of the city. And that's it for
this 4 days guide to Osaka. If you intend to follow this itinerary,
then it will run you about $938 US dollars. You can always find cheaper or more
expensive accommodations depending on your budget, as well as food costs
will vary depending on the type of restaurants
you intend to visit. But this should give you a good
idea of the expenses involved in such a trip. Alright, so hopefully that helps
with the planning of your trip to Osaka. If you have any questions,
leave them in the comments below. More info and links can be found in
the description box, so do check that out. My name is Allan,
thank you for watching this video, and I'll see you guys
in the next one.
