Dotombori, Shinsaibashi, Universal Studios Japan,... (4 days)
[Guides-Japan.com Recommend]
Route Osaka DotomboriShinsaibashiUniversal Studios JapanTempozan MarketplaceAmerica MuraOsaka Castle Keep (4 days,3 nights)
Airport/Sta. (Arrival/Departure) Osaka International Airport / Osaka International Airport
1st day
Arrival
Osaka International Airport
about 14.8kmGoogle Transit
SightseeeDotombori
4.9
Osaka is known as the city of "kuidaore" which translates as eating oneself to financial ruins. You will find this mantra really true in Dotombori. There are stalls serving hot steaming takoyaki an...
X14Osaka is known as the city of "kuidaore" which translates as eating oneself to financial ruins. You will find this mantra really true in Dotombori. There are stalls serving hot steaming takoyaki and restaurants with colorful neon lights that allure you to Osakan treats such as okonomiyaki (grilled savory pancake), kushikatsu (deep fried skewers), fugu (puffy fish) and kani (crab).
This gourmet strip is easy to spot as the over-the-top, 3-D signs including Glico Running Man and Kani Doraku Crab welcome you at the south entrance. The walkways along a canal (Dotombori-gawa) that runs parallel to the street is a good place to stroll after dinner.
Dotombori is one of the most well-known spots where the typicl local foods are available at the reasonable costs, and it is always crowded not only with the tourists but also with the local people.
For instance, the gigantic crab model which operates mechanically will motivate you to enjoy a variety of crab dishes. Please enjoy the authentic Osaka specialities in Dotombori.
This place is most famous bustling area in Osaka.Since I was born and grew up in Osaka, I know this area too much.I can show you many interesting spots in this area.
If you want to enjoy Osaka's local food, this is the right place for you to be. In Osaka, Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki and Udon noodle are must. You can enjoy them here and you can also enjoy big signs which are worth seeing.
There is a nice shopping arcade near by , where you can find lots of interesting and unique goods. Let us find a new world visiting here.
I grew up in this unique and one of a kind city. As the review explains, Osaka(locals call "Minami") offers a wide variety of tasty cuisines that will satisfy your palate. The city also boasts many historical sites such as Osaka castle(one of the largest in Japan), Sumiyoshi shrine, Shitennouji temple and so on. You will surly be impressed by their appearances and significant values. Its easy access to Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe(roughly within an hour) attracts so many tourists as well. I will be glad to show you around this lovely city.
We guide this spot.
We guide Osaka.





























about 0.7kmGoogle Transit
StayShinsaibashi
4.7
Shinsaibashi is a premier shopping arcade running north-south in the Minami district, one of Osaka's two major retail centers. About 600m long, this pedestrian street provides a wide selection of c...
X19Shinsaibashi is a premier shopping arcade running north-south in the Minami district, one of Osaka's two major retail centers. About 600m long, this pedestrian street provides a wide selection of choices from high-end department stores, both international and Japanese brands such as H&M and Uniqlo, chain stores, kimono shops, boutiques, the 100-yen shop, pharmacies, restaurants, cafes and fresh-from-the-griddle crepes.
As this strip is sheltered from the elements, it is a great escape from a rainy day or a scorching summer day. The southern end meets the Dotonbori River, Osaka's well-known gourmand area. It is recommended that you get off at Namba Station, walk northward through this arcade, and take the train at Shinsaibashi Station instead of walking all the way back.
Since I was born and grew up in Osaka, I know this spot well.
By the way, there are many other tourists spots in Osaka City, such as Dotombori, Osaka castle and Umeda Sky Building. I can also guide these spots.
Please visit Osaka!
Shopping ! Shopping! Shopping! You can get a lot of things in good quality at a lower price. Just enjoy walking though long shopping arcades. You will find something you really want to get.
We guide this spot.
We guide Osaka.





























2nd day
about 6.3kmGoogle Transit
4.8
Universal Studios Japan (USJ) , located in the Osaka Bay Area, is a theme park featuring a variety of movie-related rides and shows. Opened in March 2001, USJ attracted ten million visitors faster ...
X38Universal Studios Japan (USJ) , located in the Osaka Bay Area, is a theme park featuring a variety of movie-related rides and shows. Opened in March 2001, USJ attracted ten million visitors faster than any other theme park in the world.
The theme park offers exciting rides about Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, Jaws, Spider Man and other blockbuster Hollywood movies. The attractions also include characters from Sesame Street, Snoopy (Peanuts) and Peter Pan, and you will definitely meet the friendly Woodpecker couple and Pink Panther wandering around as main costumed characters. This spot is popular with both adults and children.
USJ is one of the most famous themed parks around the world. People of all age groups can enjoy here. Now, new Harry Potter's attraction is coming very soon. Let's enjoy Harry Potter's world.
Let us go enjoy this fantastic place. You can recall back your precious memory in your youth , and once agin you would have the same feeling. Trains are pretty! Rides there is fun, but food costs a lot.
We guide this spot.
We guide Osaka.





























3rd day
about 1.1kmGoogle Transit
SightseeeTempozan Marketplace
3.9
Located next to the Osaka Aquarium, this three-story complex accommodates a diversity of shops, restaurants and amusement facilities. Among the most popular is the Naniwa Kuishimbo Yokocho ('Osaka ...
Read More informationLocated next to the Osaka Aquarium, this three-story complex accommodates a diversity of shops, restaurants and amusement facilities. Among the most popular is the Naniwa Kuishimbo Yokocho ('Osaka gourmand alley'), a retro-looking 1960s-1970s food mall serving takoyaki, okonomiyaki, grilled squids, cutlet skewers and other Osaka treats. For those with kids, a pool with large slides and a pet garden featuring dogs, cats and rabbits are a pleasant experience. Cruise boats looping around the bay depart at a nearby pier.
We guide Osaka.






























about 6.5kmGoogle Transit
SightseeeAmerica Mura
4.4
America Mura, also know as Ame-Mura, is a youth-focused retail and entertainment area near Shinsaibashi in the Minami district of Osaka. In 1970s, the blocks formerly bristled with warehouses turne...
X27America Mura, also know as Ame-Mura, is a youth-focused retail and entertainment area near Shinsaibashi in the Minami district of Osaka. In 1970s, the blocks formerly bristled with warehouses turned into a retail center of second-hand clothes, records and accessories imported from the US west coast and Hawaii, thus called "America Village" by mass media.
In addition to hip, offbeat shops with unique merchandising, this retail space is a good spot to observe the latest fads of Japanese teens, as well as pleasant monuments and artistic objects. A sleepless haunt of youngsters, Ame-Mura is busy with bars and nightclubs, attracting hordes of wannabe musicians, designers and dancers at night.
Americamura(American village) is a shopping district close to dotonbori where you can buy vintage clothes, jeans, accessories, second-hand records. There are so many unique clothing stores, small accessories shops, and flea markets in the area so that the area is always crowded with young people. You can appreciate “Osaka’s” hip and trendy fashion by observing young people. Also, at Americamura, you experience “Takoyaki” and other local tasty cuisines. Let’s enjoy studying “Osaka’s” latest fashion while nibbling delicious “Takoyaki” with me.
We guide this spot.
We guide Osaka.






























about 3kmGoogle Transit
4.5
This castle was originally built in 1583 for Toyotomi Hideyoshi as a symbol of unification of Japan and was the largest castle at the time. In the 1620s, the ruling Tokugawa family reconstructed th...
X8This castle was originally built in 1583 for Toyotomi Hideyoshi as a symbol of unification of Japan and was the largest castle at the time. In the 1620s, the ruling Tokugawa family reconstructed the castle and added watch towers and stone walls. The present reinforced concrete structure of the castle keep dates back to 1931 and miraculously survived the WWII air raids.
The castle keep is similar in design to that of Himeji Castle and surrounded by a huge garden area with expansive moats. The entrance level floor now has a threater that plays videos about the history. The top floor offers a panoramic view of the city. The illumination of the castle is also stunning after dark. It is warned that you can take an elevator to the 6th floor but have to climb stairs down all the way.
Osaka castle is one of the biggest and well-known castles in Japan. It sits on the hill of "houenzaka" and attracts so many visitors from all over the world because of its magnificent size and beauty. The inside of the main tower has been completely renovated and turned into a museum where historically valuable items are exhibited. You can learn the history of the castle and appreciate its presence. During the cherry blossom season(usually early April), you can see the castle from the osakajou park(Osaka castle park) where over 200 cherry trees are in full blossom.
Since I was born and grew up near the Osaka castle, I know this spot well.
The castle surrounded by big stone wall and moat is one of the biggest castle in Japan.
By the way,there are many other tourists spots in Osaka City, such as Dotombori, Shinsaibashi and Umeda Sky building. I can also guide these spots.
Please visit Osaka!!
Osaka castle was the impregnable fortress, but surrendered to the Tokugawa Shogunate. The various miniature models and documents on dislay inside the castle tower serve to help us understand how suplended and gigantic the castle was.
大阪城可以说我们大阪人的骄傲。
出生于贫穷农民家的丰臣秀吉统一天下后,在大阪建的当时规模最大的城堡,就是大阪城。
现在可以参观的天守阁虽然后来重新建的,但是我们可以感觉到大阪城的悠久历史。
如果你对大阪的历史没有兴趣也没问题。
整个大阪城现在已成为一个很大的公园,里面拥有桃花园和梅花林,还有好多颗樱花树。
走走公园里也很舒服!
We guide this spot.
We guide Osaka.






























4th day
about 14kmGoogle Transit
Departure
Osaka International Airport