Osaka
Osaka is Japan's third-largest city, on Osaka Bay in the Kansai region, with Osaka Castle, the Dotonbori entertainment district and Universal Studios Japan.
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Where to stay, by what matters to you
- Places to stay with a level walk to the beach in Osaka
- Places to stay in Osaka that work without a car
- Quiet places to stay in Osaka: few bars nearby
- Lively places to stay in Osaka: bars and clubs close by
- Within 30 minutes by car of Osaka Castle
- Within 30 minutes by car of Universal Studios Japan
- Within 30 minutes by car of Kobe (day trip)
- Within 30 minutes by car of Nara: Tōdai-ji and Nara Park (day trip)
- Within 20 minutes of Dōtonbori
- Within 20 minutes of Shinsekai and Tsūtenkaku
- Within 20 minutes of Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Best things to do in Osaka
The one thing not to miss
Make a day trip to Kyoto, which was Japan's imperial capital from 794 to 1869, and climb through Fushimi Inari-taisha's roughly 10,000 torii gates. Both are the most-read sights near Osaka.
Kyoto and Fushimi Inari-taisha (day trip)1. Kyoto and Fushimi Inari-taisha (day trip)
Kyoto was chosen as the imperial court's seat in 794 and kept it until 1869, and it was spared large-scale destruction in World War II. Fushimi Inari-taisha is the head shrine of Inari, with roughly 10,000 torii and trails of 4 km up the mountain that take about 2 hours to walk.
We have not confirmed opening hours or ticketing from an official source; check before you go.
66,918 readers a month
2. Himeji Castle (day trip)
A hilltop castle complex in Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, with a network of 83 structures. It became one of Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1993, and reopened after restoration in March 2015.
We have not confirmed opening hours or ticketing from an official source; check before you go.
20,339 readers a month
3. Kobe (day trip)
A port city and the capital of Hyōgo Prefecture, with about 1.5 million people. Its centre is about 35 km west of Osaka, on the north shore of Osaka Bay.
19,319 readers a month
Sources
4. Osaka Castle
One of Japan's most famous landmarks, which played a major role in the unification of Japan in the 16th century. The keep, built in 1931 of ferroconcrete and restored in 1997, is a reproduction that now houses a museum. It sits on two raised platforms overlooking moats.
The official site says admission tickets can be bought in advance on its reservation website. Hours are not listed on the page we reached; check them first.
18,106 readers a month
5. Nara: Tōdai-ji and Nara Park (day trip)
Nara Park, founded in 1880, is one of Japan's oldest parks, with over 1,200 free-roaming sika deer. Tōdai-ji, founded in 738 and opened in 752, stands on its edge and was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples.
We have not confirmed opening hours or ticketing from an official source; check before you go.
14,392 readers a month
6. Universal Studios Japan
A theme park in Osaka that opened on 31 March 2001, the first Universal park outside the United States. It had 16 million visitors in 2024, the third-most of any theme park in the world.
We have not confirmed ticket rules or opening hours from an official source; check before you go.
12,173 readers a month
7. Dōtonbori
A canal-side district in Osaka's Namba area, historic since 1612 and now a popular nightlife and entertainment area known for large illuminated signboards, including the Glico Man billboard.
7,760 readers a month
Sources
8. Shinsekai and Tsūtenkaku
A neighbourhood created in 1912 with New York's Coney Island and Paris as models, next to the Minami area. Its centrepiece is the 108 m Tsūtenkaku tower, whose main observation deck is at 91 m.
We have not confirmed tower hours or tickets from an official source; check before you go.
5,099 readers a month
9. Mount Kōya (day trip)
A temple settlement in Wakayama Prefecture, south of Osaka, first settled in 819 by the monk Kūkai. It is the world headquarters of the Kōyasan Shingon sect, with a religious-studies university and 120 sub-temples, many offering lodging to pilgrims.
We have not confirmed opening hours or ticketing from an official source; check before you go.
3,273 readers a month
Sources
10. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
An aquarium in Minato ward near Osaka Bay, the largest public aquarium in the world when it opened in 1990. It is about a five-minute walk from Osakako Station and next to the Tempozan Ferris Wheel.
We have not confirmed ticket rules or opening hours from an official source; check before you go.
3,062 readers a month
Just missed the list: Shitennō-ji (11th by readers; an old Buddhist temple in Osaka); Umeda Sky Building (12th by readers; a skyscraper in Osaka with a viewing deck)
How we ranked these
By how many people read about each place on English Wikipedia in a typical month, measured October 2026. It is a popularity measure, not our opinion. Kyoto and Fushimi Inari-taisha (day trip) leads with about 66,918 readers a month. Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; the author and licence are on each photo.
Research required. Area notes for this destination are not written yet. The top 10 above is sourced; the rest of this page is an outline.
Affiliate disclosure: Booking links on this site are partner links. Once our partnership is active we earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. How this works.