Must-see & do Attractions in Osaka

Osaka is full of fun things to see and do, but if you don’t have time to do everything on your list, consider this list of the top must see attractions.

1. Dotonbori: The lively entertainment area of Dotonbori is Osaka’s most famous tourist destination and renowned for its gaudy neon lights, extravagant signage, and the enormous variety of restaurants and bars.
The name “Dotonbori” generally refers both to the Dotonbori Canal and to Dotonbori Street which runs parallel to the canal’s southern bank. It is one of the most colorful areas in Osaka and an absolute must-visit location when traveling through Kansai region.

2. Kuromon Market: Kuromon Ichiba is a lively covered market which stretches for 580 meters in Osaka’s Chuo Ward. Nicknamed “Osaka’s kitchen” because both local homeowners and restaurant chefs get their supplies here, the market is famous for its fresh seafood and has recently become a popular tourist location. As a result it can get quite crowded.
In 2015 the market was visited by an average of 23,000 people a day, but that figure is most probably higher now. One reason for the market’s popularity is that many stalls will prepare, cook and serve their food to you right on the spot. This makes it an excellent venue for strolling, sampling, and snacking on a delicious variety of fresh market foods.

3. Osaka Castle: Osaka Castle is a Japanese castle in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan. The castle is one of Japan’s most famous landmarks and it played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
Once the largest castle in Japan when originally built in the 1580s, this castle has an observation platform with city views and a history museum that uses holograms, 3D pictures and other technologies to describe the history of the castle and the period during which it was built.

4. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan: Kaiyukan is one of Japan’s most spectacular aquariums, world-renowned for its innovative presentation. Kaiyukan shows the aquatic animals of the Pacific Rim at their most vibrant and dynamic, by recreating the natural environment of their habitats.
At Kaiyukan there are over 15 large tanks, each recreating a specific region of the Pacific Rim, taking visitors on a virtual tour of the Pacific Ocean. The tanks include, “Japan Forest,” which recreates a sunlit, beautiful Japanese forest; the icy, snow-clad “Antarctica;” and the centerpiece of the aquarium, “Pacific Ocean,” a 9 m deep, 34 m long tank containing 5,400 tons of water, serving as the home of whale sharks, the largest fish species in the world.
To enjoy the roughly two-and-a-half-hour trip around the Pacific, take the spiral ramp all the way from the 8th floor to the 4th floor, leaving the land of terrestrial animals to find yourself stepping into the sea all the way to the ocean floor, discovering marine life from a multitude of perspectives, from huge schools of fish to the wonderfully strange world of the deep sea. If you are lucky enough to be there during feeding times, you can also watch the captivating behavior of marine animals as they engage in unique training sessions designed to help them stay healthy.

5. Universal Studios Japan: This extremely popular theme park is equivalent to the Universal Studios in Hollywood and Orlando, and features shows, rides and restaurants based on famous movie themes, like Jaws, Back to the Future and Terminator.
If you love amusement parks or have kids that do, you should definitely visit Osaka’s Universal Studios Japan (USJ). The combination of Universal Studios magic and Japanese efficiency makes it one of the most enjoyable amusement parks anywhere. But it’s busy all year round, so you really have to plan carefully and buy tickets and Express Passes in advance to make the most of a visit. Here, we give you all the information you need to skip lines, ride the most rides, and have the most fun.

6. Kuchuteien Observatory: Contemporary indoor/outdoor observation deck with panoramic city views, an eatery, cafe & gift shop.
The observation platform of this observatory is a bridge connecting the two towers of the Umeda Sky Building, whose roof features a doughnut shape that provides an unobstructed 360-degree view. While enjoying the breathtaking sights you can also directly feel the wind―which at 170 meters off the ground can get quite strong. From this observatory you can not only see all of Osaka but as far away as Awaji Island. The basement of the building houses the Takimi-Koji gourmet street with old fashioned images of Osaka from the 1920s.