Osaka Street Guide

 

The itinerary I made was to enter via Tokyo Haneda and return via Osaka Kansai Airport, so the city of Osaka was my last city before returning to my country

For information, you can use Osaka as a base to explore surrounding areas such as Kyoto, Inari, Nara, Arashiyama, even Kobe. Transportation between cities is very plentiful and efficient so there is no need to change hotels, just a day trip.

Itinerary in Osaka

To explore Osaka you need at least 2 days, this is just Osaka, not the surrounding cities. Below I write about the tourist attractions that are a 'must have' if you come to Osaka.

*Osaka Castle

*Dotonbori

*Shinsekai

*Ikeda Instant Ramen Museum

An explanation of each place is below, after I explain transportation and logistics.

I skipped playing at Universal Studio Japan in Osaka, because I've already been to the ones in Singapore and Orlando, so mostly all the rides have already been tried. If you want to play at Universal Studio Osaka, I recommend buying tickets online to avoid queues (dates may be open), you can buy USJ tickets online via Voyagin.

Transportation within Osaka

There are 9 subway lines in Osaka and they are spread evenly so you can choose which hotel you want to stay in according to your budget. The grid shape of the city makes navigation a bit dizzying because almost all corners of the city are similar.

Buy an Icoca prepaid card that can be loaded with a certain value, so that every time you take the subway you just tap on the gate, as well as when taking the bus, this card is very helpful. If you have a Pasmo or Suica Card from Tokyo, you can also use it in Osaka.

The busy center and tourist area is around Osaka Station and Namba Station. These two stations are quite extensive underground, so make sure that when looking for directions you know the exit number. Meanwhile, if you take the Shinkansen from Tokyo-Nagoya-Kyoto, you will arrive at Shin-Osaka Station (remember, it's different from Osaka Station), so you have to continue by subway if you want to go to Osaka Station.

What makes you tired on the Osaka subway is the transfer line which requires walking quite far or having to go up and down stairs. Feel the difference from Tokyo which only requires tap-in tap-out, transferring at Osaka Station or Namba is quite tiring.

Train to/from Kansai Airport

Kansai International Airport (KIX) is one of the largest airports in Japan, built on a reclaimed island to serve the Kansai area: Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and surrounding areas. So if you arrive/depart in Osaka you will go through this airport.

Osaka itself has a closer airport, namely Osaka Itami, but this is more for domestic flights.

If you arrive at Kansai Airport and want to go to Osaka (and vice versa), there are several train options that we can use, depending on budget, destination and travel time.

The fastest is the Rapi:t Kansai to Osaka Namba train operated by Nankai Electric Railways. There are 2 types of trains depending on the schedule: Rapid α only 34 minutes and Rapi:t β 39 minutes, one way ticket is ¥1,130. This Neat Train:t model is really cool, the head just looks like a robot. Slightly slower is the Airport Express Train, ￥920 for a 43 minute journey.

You can buy Yokoso package tickets! Osaka Ticket costs ¥1500, in the form of a one-way ticket with the Rapi:t Train plus a 1-day pass for the Osaka subway/bus. This ticket can be purchased at Kansai Airport station. There is another package ticket for ¥1000 for the one-way Airport Express Train plus one trip on the Osaka subway from any station.

If your destination is Osaka Station, Shin-Osaka Station, Kobe, or Kyoto then it is better to take the JR train from Kansai Airport. Airport Rapid Train to Osaka station takes 70 minutes and is ¥1190, and Tenoji Station is ¥1060.

Why do you need to worry about choosing a train to Osaka? Apart from the price, because the train transfer at Namba or Osaka stations is very tiring if you carry heavy suitcases. As much as possible, look for the one with the fewest transfers.

Rinku Premium Outlet

If you have a stopover or transit time in Osaka of more than 3 hours, also consider spending time (and money) at Rinku Premium Outlet. The location is in Rinku Town, not far from Osaka Airport. To get here from Kansai Airport you can use the shuttle bus (the queue can be long) or use the Nankai train or JR Airport Train ¥370, the journey only takes 1 stop.

This Premium Outlet has quite complete contents: from Adidas Outlet, Under Armour, to luxury brands such as Coach, Bally, Armani, Furla, etc. What is certain is that all purchases are tax-free by showing your passport. The important thing is to set a timer on your cellphone as a reminder of when to return to Kansai Airport.

Hotels in Osaka

I had the opportunity to try 2 different hotels in Osaka, the luxury St Regis Hotel and the budget Daiwa Roynet Uehonmachi.

I have reviewed the St Regis Hotel in a previous article, in essence I think this hotel from the Starwood chain is the best I have ever stayed in Asia in terms of comfort and service, and of course Japan is a tipping-free country. Top! Located on Midosuji Avenue, right above Hommachi Station (Modosuji Line), going to Dotonbori or Umeda you don't need to change train lines anymore.

Daiwa Roynet Uehonmachi is located 10 minutes from the Tanimachi-9-chome station exit or 3 minutes from Kintetsu Uehonmachi Station. The rooms are clean although not too big, basically okay for a budget hotel.

Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle (大坂城) is one of the nicest castles in Japan, located in the middle of Castle Park, and the size of this park is enough to make your legs shake when you walk, so I'll give you some info: it's best to come here first thing in the morning before going to other places.

Access to the station can be from JR Osakajo-Koen Station, or if you use the Osaka Subway, get off at Tanimachi-9-chome or Morinomiya stations. From this station, expect to walk for around 10-15 minutes before arriving in front of Osaka Castle.

Even though it is no longer original (it is the result of restoration and reproduction), what can we see? Enter and climb into the Osaka Castle tower which functions as a museum. For a ticket of ¥600/person we can see artifacts and dioramas of shoguns and wars according to the era starting from the 16th century. At the top of the tower is an observatory so we can see and take photos around Castle Park.

Dotonbori

A place that is a must... a must... must visit if you go to Osaka, the most must... if you haven't come here, you haven't been to Osaka, that's Dotonbori.

Dotonbori is the name of the long canal that divides this area, actually the name of this area is Namba. You take the subway and get off at Namba.

This is a special pedestrian area, filled with seafood restaurants with eye-catching ornaments, as well as trendy shops.

One thing that people say you shouldn't miss is the photo in front of the Glico Man billboard, also in this area right in the canal area. Please search!

You can walk and shop all day here, you can walk north (across from the canal) along the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade to Shinsaibashi station.

Sidetrip: Instant Ramen Museum in Ikeda

We also have to visit the instant noodle museum, if we have time, hehehe. Located in Ikeda city, a 20-minute Hankyu train ride from Osaka Umeda Station. Arriving at Ikeda Station, just go to the tourist office in front of the station to get directions. The museum is located about 5-10 minutes walk from Ikeda Station.

This museum tells the history of the first instant noodles in the world in 1958 by Momofuku Ando. He was the founder of the instant noodle company that still exists today: Nissin.

We also have the opportunity to make cup noodles with whatever toppings we like, then they will be sealed Pop-Mie style, so we can take them home as a souvenir