Things to do in Osaka

1. Go for an Osaka River Cruise: One of the best and most unique things to do in Osaka includes exploring the city via its rivers and streams. You can sign up for an Osaka River Cruise in places like the Tosabori River or the Okawa River and sail along the banks where you can pass by important tourist attractions. You can also book interesting concept cruises such as the Ninja Cruise on the Higashi Yokobori River. A cruise on the traditional Ofune Camome – a small and compact boat that is just a little taller than the surface of the water, is ideal for exploring the natural beauty of the city.

Location: Higashi Yokobori river, Tosabori River, Dojima River, Okawa River, etc.

Price: 1,000-4,500 yen

2. Visit Osaka Castle: If you are looking for culturally significant things to do in Osaka, a visit to the famous Osaka Castle is a must. It is one of the most prominent landmarks in Japan, with political and cultural history. A pathway lined with over 600 cherry blossom trees leads to this beautiful building, which has an elevator that leads to the castle tower. You can learn about the history of the castle from the in-house museum that is open to visitors. You can also enjoy picnics in the castle grounds.

Location: 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0002, Japan

Price: 600 yen

3. Explore Osaka Shochikuza: Catching a classical Kabuki Drama in the historical Osaka Shochikuza theatre is one of the most enthralling things to do in Osaka. Modelled after the Milanese theatre of Teatro alla Scala in Italy, this theatre has been showcasing world-famous productions as well as ancient traditional performances since its inception in 1923. You can catch operas, musicals, comedies and of course, the traditional Kabuki dramas that are performed here.

Location: 1 Chome-9-19 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071, Japan

Price: 4,000-13,000 yen

4. Visit Tempozan Ferris Wheel: Amongst some of the best things to do in Osaka is a ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel, located in Tempozan Harbour Village in Osaka. The Ferris wheel is 100 metres wide, and apart from the sprawling panoramic view that the ride offers of the city, it is also popular because of its quirky illumination. During your 15-minutes ride on the Ferris wheel, you can see famous landmarks such as the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Mount Ikoma, the Rokko Mountains and the Kansai International Airport.

Location: 1 Chome-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato Ward, Osaka, 552-0022, Japan

Price: 800 yen

5. Enjoy water activities at Spa World: If you are looking for things to do in Osaka with your kids, you should definitely check out Spa World, a massive theme park with all water-related activities to keep you relaxed and entertained. Facilities at Spa World include hot spring baths, saunas, water slides and rides for kids, a designated kids’ play area, a tanning salon, a fully equipped gym, swimming pools, massage services and much more. All the areas and facilities are international grade, offering a premium experience to all visitors.

Location: 3 Chome-4-24 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0002, Japan

Price: 1,500 yen

6. Discover Sea World at Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan: One of the largest public aquariums in the world can be found in Osaka, in Minato. Exploring the marine life of the Pacific Rim that has been housed in the Kaiyukan Aquarium is one of the most fascinating things to do in Osaka. The aquarium also has provisions for you to feed the animals, interact with creatures such as sharks and stingrays and go on a virtual tour of the underwater world of the Pacific Ocean.

Location: 1 Chome-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato Ward, Osaka, 552-0022, Japan

Price: 2,550 yen for adults, 1,300 yen for adults

7. Have delicious food at a ramen shop: You can’t visit Japan and Osaka without sampling some authentic, fresh and hand-made ramen. One of the oldest and most authentic ramen shops in the city is Kadoya Shokudo, where you can try a range of different kinds of ramen. However, the most recommended dish here is the Wonton Men, a simple ramen dish made with soya sauce. When compiling a list of activities to do in Osaka, you should definitely keep a visit to Kadoya Shokudo in mind, for a traditional and delicious ramen experience.

Location: 4 Chome-16-13 Shinmachi, Nishi Ward, Osaka, 550-0013, Japan

Price: 1,130 yen approx.

8. Visit Universal Studios: An itinerary for activities to do in Osaka is incomplete without exploring the incredible Universal Studios, one of the 6 such theme parks that exist all over the world. Here, you can eat delicious food and go on rides such as Hollywood Dream, The Flying Dinosaur, Space Fantasy, Wand Magic and much more.The entire park is divided into 9 distinct and exciting zones, including Hollywood, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Amity Village, Universal Wonderland, Waterworld, San Francisco, New York, Minion Park and Jurassic Park. This ensures that you enjoy every single moment you are at Universal Studios.

Location: 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, 554-0031, Japan

Price: For one day - 7,315 yen for adults, 5,000 yen for children

9. Visit Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine: Amongst some of the most exciting things to do in Osaka includes a trip to the Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, one of the oldest shrines in all of Japan. The shrine was constructed in the 3rd century and is the main Sumiyoshi shrine in Japan. The best time to visit the shrine is during the New Year, which consists of a 3-day celebration on the temple grounds. The cherry blossom trees are in full bloom and the property is decked with lanterns and traditional decorations. You can also take a walk on the Sorihashi Bridge which is a photogenic spot near the shrine.

Location: 2 Chome-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka, 558-0045, Japan

10. Visit the Mint Museum: One of the most interesting things to do in Osaka is visiting the Mint Museum in the city. This is the place where Japanese coins are minted and gives visitors a unique insight into the money-making process. It also has a section on the premises where you can learn about the history of the Japanese currency. People are also drawn to the grounds on which the museum exists, which is filled with picturesque cherry blossom trees that make for a beautiful picnic spot.

Location: 1 Chome-1-79 Tenma, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0043, Japan

By Flight: Osaka has its own airport called the Osaka Itami Airport which has a limited number of flights going in and out of the country and is better connected via domestic flights. The best way to travel to Osaka is by taking a flight to Tokyo and then booking a bus or a car to take you to Osaka.

By Train: The complex and well-connected Japanese subway system ensures that you can travel to Osaka by train from almost all Japanese cities. It is best to carry a map in order to understand the various routes and lines.

By Road: Osaka has a well-connected bus service that has buses plying from all over the country to and from the city. You can also travel to Osaka by road from cities like Kyoto and Tokyo via highways.

Osaka is a year-round destination and each season offers unique and enthralling things to do in Osaka. You can visit the city during the spring season from March to May to witness the beautiful cherry blossoms. You can visit it during the fall season from September to November to enjoy the wonderful weather and colorful foliage.

Summer months from June to August are a great time to participate in lively festivals like Tenjin Matsuri, Aizen Festival, and Sumiyoshi Festival. Winter (December to February) is the off-peak season and offers fewer crowds. You can also experience local winter festivals such as the Osaka Light Festival.