Visiting Japan as a family with kids is a part of most people’s bucket list. Imagine the amusement parks, natural sceneries, tasty food, cute and colorful pop culture, and the beautiful cherry blossoms in spring, promising the unforgettable holidays ahead.

Besides Tokyo, you might want to consider Osaka as one of the cities to visit. The second-largest metropolitan area, renowned as the nation's culinary capital and a vibrant port city, let us introduce you to Osaka’s top 8 things to do with kids!

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These are the top 8 recommendation of places to visit and things to do in Osaka:

Both kids and adults will immediately be transported into the fantasy world of their favorite characters in this theme park. Spanning in the whooping of 54 hectares areas, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World, and Minion Park are some of the most visited areas in this USJ. 

Dressed in cute and comfortable clothes and footwear, be ready to spend a day filled with magic in USJ. Come as early as 8.30 AM to join the morning crowd and plan ahead to make sure you and your family make it to all the areas and rides you’ve been eyeing. Avoid weekends and public holiday to minimize the surge of visitors. 

Go “underwater” and explore the world's largest aquarium at Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. The Pacific Ocean Tank, a massive 5,400-ton central tank which is nine meters deep, serving as a habitat for whale sharks, rays, and massive schools of fish. You will be in awe observing more than 30,000 marine creatures, from Arctic seals to jellyfish.

A fun and educational trip to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan will evoke the love of the ocean and the longing to take care of marine lives. Overall, there are over 15 massive tanks recreating specific regions, such as; the Japan Forest, the icy Antarctica Zone for penguins, and the Monterey Bay. There’s a tier ticket pricing for kids, based on Age 3-6 and Age 7-15, whereas 16 years and older age ranges share the same adult price. 

Do you know that Osaka is home to some of the best animal cafes in Japan? So putting one or two of these cafes in your itinerary could be an idea to spend time in Osaka. Animal would be the most famous one on the list. Open daily from 12.00 - 7.00 PM, you’d get to meet the viral capybara in person, as well as a binturong, porcupines, lizards, geckos, and owls there.

There are several other cafes specializing in different animals such as shiba inu dogs or ragdoll cats, also cafes that housed rescued homeless dogs. Please follow the guidelines and keep the children under supervision when visiting, to make sure the safety for both the animals and your children. 

Kids Plaza Osaka is Japan’s first full-fledged children’s museum, blending hands-on science exhibits, educational workshops, and a massive indoor playground. Expect to spend at least 2-3 hours to visit and enjoy all 5 floors available to explore. 

The highlight areas would be:

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For dinner, why not join the crowd and try Kansai’s best local flavors at the vibrant Dotonbori street? Let the kids view takoyaki balls being made and nimble hands preparing their okonomiyaki. Along the streets, there are many more snacks, food, and drinks that would definitely fill them with curiosity.

Not to forget, the giant, bizarre, and unique signage displays along the streets. Got to the Dotonbori canal to view the boats passing and of course taking pictures in front of the giant Glico "Running Man" billboard.

A popular place during spring for cherry blossom viewing, Osaka Castle, a grand and handsome castle with the iconic green roofs, is worth visiting at every season. An entry to the castle tower and Toyotomi Stone Wall Museum are included in the admission ticket. You could book the ticket via Traveloka beforehand to avoid the rush of visitors and the long queue. 

The entire Osaka Castle Park covers about two square kilometers with lots of green space, sport facilities, a multi-purpose arena (Osakajo Hall) and a shrine. You could also find several food stalls in the area, especially during festivals/public holidays. 

Tempozan Ferris Wheel, a giant ride reaching a height of 112 meters, offers incredible views of the Bay Area, Osaka, and Kobe. The ticket costs ¥900 for all riders aged three and older for a 15 minute ride. Children under elementary school age must be accompanied by an admission paid guardian 16 years of age or older. 

This ferris wheel ride is a more fun alternative to enjoy the city view from above as compared to the usual towers/viewing decks. Take some pictures inside the cabin and well as after riding, with the ferris wheel as your background. 

If your family, including the children, are big fans of instant noodles, in specific, instant cup noodles, then a trip to get in depth experience at the Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda is a must! Here, you can learn about the inventor of cup noodles, Momofuku Ando, viewing exhibitions about instant noodles, but the most interesting activity would be joining the workshop!

Join the cup noodle and chicken ramen experiences to create your very own personalized cup noodle, watch the packing process, and bring it home as a souvenir. Be sure to book the chicken ramen experience in advance, as the slots are limited daily. 

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Vibrant and colorful Osaka is a great place to visit with your family. With solid choices of places to visit and things to do, your Osaka itinerary would be jam packed, so plan wisely. Which activities to prioritize, be it Universal Studio Japan, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Kids Plaza Osaka, or all of the above, the holidays would be super exciting!

Plan the family holiday in Osaka with Traveloka, the #1 All-in-one Travel App in SEA. Book flights, hotels, and attractions in one place with the best price guarantee. With over 300 airline partners, 2 millions hotels, apartments, resorts & villas, and more than 90.000 attractions & tours in more than 100 countries, Traveloka would be your best travel partner.