What is Osaka known for?

Osaka is the largest city in the Kansai region of Japan that also includes Kyoto and Nara. It is perhaps the only city in Japan that can compete with Tokyo in terms of its contribution to modern Japanese culture. Osaka is famous for its delicious and affordable food, its buzzing atmosphere and its friendly people. Osaka people also have their own dialect, Osaka-ben, which they are not afraid to use. Osaka is also the center of two types of traditional Japanese entertainment, rakugo and manzai. I…

Osaka is an area in OSAKA, Japan.

What are the best places to visit in Osaka?

WOW U lists 34 spots in Osaka. Popular spots include Japan Mint, Taragawa Brewery, Yodoyabashi Bridge, Osaka Suijo Bus Aqua-Liner, Kansai International Airport.

Can I book a guided tour in Osaka?

Yes. WOW U lists activities in Osaka hosted by Locals, the local guides who live in the area. You book, message your Locals host and pay on WOW U.

Can I visit a Japanese family's home near Osaka?

Yes. WOW U lists home visits in OSAKA, where a local host welcomes you into their own home.

WOW U is a booking platform that connects travellers directly with local guides in Japan, called Locals. You book, message your Locals host and pay on WOW U, and every experience can be reviewed afterwards. More than 6,100 Locals are registered on WOW U. Reviews left by travellers average 4.7 out of 5.

Osaka

Spots in this area(34)

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Entertainment Food & Drink Art & Architecture Shopping History Beautiful Scenery Trendy Places Outdoor Activities Onsen(Hot Springs)Insta-worthy

Osaka

Japan Mint

Watch yen coins stamped into life inside a Meiji brick powerhouse.

Art & ArchitectureHistory

Osaka

Taragawa Brewery

Aged awamori sleeps in a hidden cave beside a sacred forest.

Food & Drink

Osaka

Yodoyabashi Bridge

A 1935 bridge named for the merchant clan who built Osaka's markets.

Art & Architecture

Osaka

Osaka Suijo Bus Aqua-Liner

Drift past castle walls and cherry trees on Osaka's slow river.

Beautiful SceneryEntertainmentOutdoor Activities

Osaka

Kansai International Airport

A whole airport floating on the sea — your runway to western Japan.

Food & DrinkShopping

Osaka

Spa World

Roman baths to Turkish hammams — all under one Osaka roof.

EntertainmentOnsen(Hot Springs)Food & Drink

Osaka

Hanazono Rugby Stadium

Japan's oldest rugby ground, where the scrum has been set since 1929.

Entertainment

Osaka

4.0(1)

Hep Five

A red Ferris wheel crowns the roof, spinning 106 m above Osaka.

Food & DrinkShoppingEntertainment

Osaka

Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts

8,400 works of Eastern art, rooted in a tycoon's lost estate.

Umeda Sky Building Kuchu Teien Observatory

Osaka

5.0(1)

Umeda Sky Building Kuchu Teien Observatory

Walk the open-air rooftop ring, 170 m above Osaka's grid.

Insta-worthyBeautiful Scenery

Osaka

5.0(1)

Osaka Museum of History

Ten floors down through time, with Osaka Castle framed at every turn.

Art & Architecture

Osaka

Tonbori River Cruise

Neon bleeds into the canal as your boat drifts under Ebisubashi.

Beautiful SceneryEntertainment

Osaka

Solaniwa Onsen Osaka Bay Tower

Soak in Momoyama-era Japan, then eat, shop, and repeat.

EntertainmentFood & DrinkInsta-worthy+3

Osaka

Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park

A windmill, a glass greenhouse, and blooms that shift with each season.

Outdoor Activities

Osaka

Kuromon Ichiba Market

Raw fish, open flames, 190 years of Osaka appetite — eat as you walk.

Food & DrinkShopping

Osaka

Sennichi Doguya-suji Shopping Street

Where Osaka's chefs hunt for that one perfect knife.

Shopping

Osaka

Open-air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses

Twelve Edo-era farmhouses, each shaped by a different climate and craft.

Art & ArchitectureHistory

Osaka

Shinsekai

Neon-lit streets, cold beer, and sizzling kushikatsu skewers.

Food & DrinkShopping

Osaka

EXPOCITY

Japan's tallest Ferris wheel, a TV game show arena, fish eye to eye.

EntertainmentFood & DrinkShopping+1

Osaka

Cupnoodles Museum

Hand-craft your own Cup Noodles in the inventor's backyard shed replica.

Entertainment

Osaka

Expo Commemoration Park

Taro Okamoto's sun-faced colossus still roars over Osaka's lawns.

Art & ArchitectureBeautiful SceneryEntertainment+1

Osaka

Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

Japan's purest shrine style, unchanged since the third century.

Art & ArchitectureHistory

Osaka

Abeno Harukas

On clear days, Kobe floats in the haze 300 meters below your feet.

Food & DrinkShoppingTrendy Places

Osaka

Senkoji Temple (Osaka)

Walk through Buddhist hell, then heaven, in two side-by-side rooms.

History

Activities in Osaka

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( Family Day Trip Osaka) Explore the Beautiful Mountain Village with Kids!

by Lisa Watanabe

Osaka

( Family Day Trip Osaka) Explore the Beautiful Mountain Village with Kids!

Approx. ¥35,500 / guest

A Day Trip from Osaka to 800 Year Old Pottery Village -- Meet a Beautiful Scenery and Folk Art --

by Lisa Watanabe

Osaka

A Day Trip from Osaka to 800 Year Old Pottery Village -- Meet a Beautiful Scenery and Folk Art --

Approx. ¥35,500 / guest

Sakagura (Sake) Tourism ~Yamano Brewery in Katano city (about 50 minutes from JR Osaka Station)~

by Kingo Iida

Osaka

Sakagura (Sake) Tourism ~Yamano Brewery in Katano city (about 50 minutes from JR Osaka Station)~

Approx. ¥9,500 / guest

Discover the Craftsmanship of Japanese Knives in Osaka - Let's Explore the world of Japanese Knives, Walking Tour with Local -

by Lisa Watanabe

Osaka

Discover the Craftsmanship of Japanese Knives in Osaka - Let's Explore the world of Japanese Knives, Walking Tour with Local -

Approx. ¥32,500 / guest

Local traditional sake brewery :Yamano shuzou, and cuisine

by Kaori Kuzuhara

Osaka

Local traditional sake brewery :Yamano shuzou, and cuisine

Approx. ¥25,000 / guest

Yamano Sake Brewery in Osaka & Hirakata city walk

by Yuki Fujisawa

Osaka

Yamano Sake Brewery in Osaka & Hirakata city walk

Approx. ¥20,000 / guest

Home Visits in OSAKA

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War,Samurai go to battle! RealSword cutting & Armor shooting

by Samurai Honor

OSAKA

War,Samurai go to battle! RealSword cutting & Armor shooting

Approx. ¥16,500 / guest

Samurai Calligraphy Final brushstrokes of a lifetime

by Samurai Honor

OSAKA

Samurai Calligraphy Final brushstrokes of a lifetime

Approx. ¥9,900 / guest

Treasuring Honor the deep of Samurai way of life Bushido

by Samurai Honor

OSAKA

Treasuring Honor the deep of Samurai way of life Bushido

Approx. ¥27,500 / guest

Learning Japanese Zen Calligraphy in Kimono by Osaka Castle

by Samurai Honor

OSAKA

Learning Japanese Zen Calligraphy in Kimono by Osaka Castle

Approx. ¥6,600 / guest

Trial slashing in Bushido with Samurai Sword real sharpnes 【Osaka Castle】

by Samurai Honor

OSAKA

Trial slashing in Bushido with Samurai Sword real sharpnes 【Osaka Castle】

Approx. ¥11,000 / guest

Locals in OSAKA

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English / French +1

OSAKA

Cristina Martin Huidobro

MusicMoviesHistory+6

Japanese

OSAKA

Megumi Ohnuki

Anime･MangaSakeSports

Licensed Guide

English

OSAKA

Sachiko Minamino

MoviesHistorySake+6

Licensed Guide

Japanese / English

OSAKA

Masahiko Tokushige

HistoryCultureGourmet+1

Licensed Guide

Japanese

OSAKA

Taku Kobayashi

SakeSports

Licensed Guide

English

OSAKA

Lisa Watanabe

HistoryAnime･MangaCulture+4

Licensed Guide

Japanese / English +2

OSAKA

Yuki Fujisawa

HistorySakeNature+2

Licensed Guide

Japanese / English +1

OSAKA

Asae Hirao

MoviesHistoryCulture+3

Frequently asked questions

What is Osaka known for?: Osaka is the largest city in the Kansai region of Japan that also includes Kyoto and Nara. It is perhaps the only city in Japan that can compete with Tokyo in terms of its contribution to modern Japanese culture. Osaka is famous for its delicious and affordable food, its buzzing atmosphere and its friendly people. Osaka people also have their own dialect, Osaka-ben, which they are not afraid to use. Osaka is also the center of two types of traditional Japanese entertainment, rakugo and manzai. I…
Where is Osaka?: Osaka is an area in OSAKA, Japan.
What are the best places to visit in Osaka?: WOW U lists 34 spots in Osaka. Popular spots include Japan Mint, Taragawa Brewery, Yodoyabashi Bridge, Osaka Suijo Bus Aqua-Liner, Kansai International Airport.
Can I book a guided tour in Osaka?: Yes. WOW U lists activities in Osaka hosted by Locals, the local guides who live in the area. You book, message your Locals host and pay on WOW U.
Can I visit a Japanese family's home near Osaka?: Yes. WOW U lists home visits in OSAKA, where a local host welcomes you into their own home.
What is WOW U?: WOW U is a booking platform that connects travellers directly with local guides in Japan, called Locals. You book, message your Locals host and pay on WOW U, and every experience can be reviewed afterwards. More than 6,100 Locals are registered on WOW U. Reviews left by travellers average 4.7 out of 5.