Things to do in Osaka - When you plan to spend a vacation in Japan, you might start to get confused. Which city should you explore in Japan? Tokyo? Or Osaka? Are there any fun things to do in Osaka?

One thing for sure is, there is no way for you to explore all the great cities in Japan in only one visit (unless you plan to stay for a month!). So, you need to pick one. Well, it is hard to choose which one is better between Tokyo and Osaka, but each of them has their own characteristics.

But, we surely suggest that if you only have several days to spend in Japan, you can spend it in Osaka and experience the city wholly. If you have longer days, you can divide your destination into two cities, Tokyo and Osaka. You can take the bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka, so you don’t need to worry about transportation.

Osaka is not as big as Tokyo, that’s why you can explore it in only two or three days. The city is well known as the food capital of Japan, where the street food is famous and the takoyaki and okonomiyaki taste twice better here. The people are known to be so friendly and extroverted. Shopping centres are plenty and the night entertainments are lively too!

Now these are the best things to do in Osaka that we successfully gathered on a list, just for you! Check these out:

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USS Japan, or short from Universal Studio Japan, must be the first one to think about when you plan for all the things to do in Osaka while you’re there. Well, USS Japan is everybody’s favorite. They have all the fun attractions, both for kids and adults. Plus, the cartoon characters that are available in USS Japan won’t only excite kids, but adults too!

Find your favorite attractions in USS Japan. From the fun and cute one to the thrilling one, they have it all! They usually held some events too. This October, you can celebrate Halloween with USS Japan! They will have Halloween Horror Night, making your visit more fun and memorable.

Every attraction has their own requirements, so you need to follow them for the sake of your own safety. Other than all the attractions, you can also shop for merchandise and eat at the restaurants when you’re hungry!

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The next thing to do in Osaka that fits for a family holiday in Japan is visiting Legoland. If you have children that are enthusiastic with legos, think no more, go check out for the tickets immediately!

They have plenty of family attractions that will make your trip fantastic (or, as they said, bricktastic!). Enjoy the 4D cinema, Kingdom Quest Laser Ride, The Great Lego Race, or Master Builder Academy. Don’t worry, all of the attractions and activities here are set as children friendly, so your kids will be playing in a safe environment.

Finishing your Legoland tour? Fill up your hungry tummy by eating at the LEGO Burger, where most of the food has at least one ingredient that is shaped like a lego!

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We say that visiting Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is an obligatory thing to do in Osaka. Seriously, this place is so breathtaking. If you love things that are related to ocean and sea animals, this place is your heaven.

Your visit to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan will be a memorable one. You should definitely bring your children here. For the whole tour of the place, it will take two and a half hours. The place has 15 tanks that will show you the lives of the sea animals from Pacific Rim. More than that, you can get yourself educated with all the knowledge of the sea animals.

If the time matches, you can witness the feeding times. So, are you ready to meet the otters, the jellyfishes, and the whale sharks?

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The next thing to do in Osaka would be the best activity for food lovers. Osaka has Dotonbori, a place with a variety of street food that will make you hungry all the time, only by seeing them when you pass by. Anyway, Japan is so famous for its street food, thus visiting Dotonbori will give more experience to your trip (and appetite!).

You can find so many interesting dishes with delicious taste in Dotonbori. You can even find the best one with a very affordable price too. Some of the foods you will find in Dotonbori probably already sound familiar. These are the foods you will find there and they all taste perfect: takoyaki, okonomiyaki, yakisoba, yakiniku, and of course, ramen! Swear to God, we are drooling right now as we list those foods.

Other than street food, Osaka also has some good restaurants that are worth trying as well. But visiting Dotonbori for street food is mandatory, so don’t ever think to skip it.

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Nature lovers or not, when you hear about a nice beach in a place, it means that you should visit it to make your experience whole. The next thing to do in Osaka is visit Nishiki Beach, or Nishikinohama Beach Park.

Nishiki Beach is full of water sports. So, if you are an adrenaline junkie, well here it’s your time to shine. You can find people doing jet skiing and surfing. If you want, you can rent them. But if you don’t, you can just lay down and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the beach and the sea.

In Nishiki Beach Park, you can have barbeque too. Also, the facilities there are very useful for all the visitors, like the wash area and shower room. You can use them before you go straight home to the hotel where you stay.

Exploring Japanese villages is an interesting activity. So, another thing to do in Osaka is checking out the Hattori Ryokuchi Park. It is actually a place for so many activities, but it is the most famous for its historical architecture and Open Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses. The museum displays traditional Japanese houses. For tourists, the place can give new knowledge about Japan.

Anyway, it is a beautiful park indeed. Aside from checking out the museum, Hattori Ryokuchi Park is a place for concerts, sports, gardens, ponds, playground, horse riding and more. Children will love spending time here, especially with the large playground. During summer, you can enjoy the water parks. Oh, and you can have a picnic too!

The outdoor music hall is magnificent as well. Even better, you can search for a music event before you visit the park, just so you can feel how fun it is to enjoy good music outdoors.

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The next thing to do in Osaka would be knowing the symbol of it: Osaka Castle Park. Whatever season it is, you can enjoy the magnificent historical site.

The castle is, of course, rich with history. Back then, it was a home to a military leader (shogun). It took them 16 years to build this castle to finish. Unfortunately, the castle was burned down, so the castle that you see right now is a recreated version.

Today, when you enter the castle, you can enjoy the museum consisting of old documents, artifacts, armors and more. The castle also has an observation platform on its 8th floor. From up there, you can enjoy the view of Osaka and actually feel how big the castle is.

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Kuromon Market is another place where you can hunt down the best street food in the city. Not only that, if you plan to cook, you can find fresh meats and seafood. They sell both small and big portions, so a homeowner and a restaurant owner can shop at Kuromon Market.

There are so many delicious street foods that you can find here, so it is a thing to do in Osaka that should not be forgotten at all. You can start with takoyaki, move to a seafood grill, onigiri and many more!

Kuromon Market is people’s favorite, especially with the increase of street food, cafes, and restaurants in and around the market. So, don’t be surprised when you find the place is a little bit crowded.

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You can’t have a full experience of spending the holiday in Osaka without visiting Minami. It is located in the south of Osaka, and the famous place in Minami is Namba.

Namba is a very lively place that should be on your list of things to do in Osaka. If you are looking for a full entertainment area, then Namba is the right destination for you.

So, what can you do in Namba, Minami? You can visit their shopping mall, Namba Hips, and check out their bars, cafes, restaurants, and karaokes. For art and culture lovers, Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum is heaven for you. Temples and shrines are available here too. And, don’t forget that the Dotonbori Street Market is in Minami.

See? There are so many reasons why you should get to Minami!

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This is probably the most unique thing to do in Osaka. Have you ever thought of trying to go kart-ing in the city? In a foreign city, where you can also wear a cartoon character costume and enjoy it throughout the city tour? Well, maybe you can do it ONLY in Osaka!

They call it Street Kart, and it is so much inspired by the Nintendo games. That is why it is also known as Mario Kart. You can rent the go kart, but you can’t rent the costume. So, you need to prepare it by yourselves so you are matching with your go kart.

Be prepared that everybody will see you while you drive it, but don’t let it make you stop from trying the go kart. Don’t forget to prepare your stamina, your costume, use sunglasses, and enjoy Osaka with a go kart.

Anyway, if you don’t like being under the sun for too long, you can choose to do the evening tour. The view will be more mesmerizing as well.

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The last, but not least, thing to do in Osaka is visit the Osaka Science Museum. The place is open from 9.30 AM to 5 PM. Your children will be excited to visit the museum. Also, it will be educating for both children and adults.

The museum’s building has 4 floors. Inside, you will learn a lot about electricity, energy, chemistry, and the universe. As an additional exhibition and with an extra fee, you can enjoy the museum’s planetarium. The additional fee for the planetarium is ¥600, while the admission fee to the museum itself is only ¥400. But of course, your visit will be worth it.

Science Shows are also available to make your visit more fun. They will have different themes and different schedules for the Science Show.

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So, have you written down your best Osaka itinerary and add your favorite things to do in Osaka from above? Before we end this, we want to wish you a happy holiday in Japan! Have a fun time planning all the things you want to do there!