Osaka itinerary
7 days, hour by hour · JapanOctober–May
- Days
- 7
- Stops
- 32
- Per day
- ≈ ¥12,450
- First stop
- 07:30
Short answer
The TripWalkers Osaka itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 32 stops, hour by hour, for October–May. The first three days:
- Day 1 Osaka Castle and Dotonbori
- Day 2 Shinsekai and Tennoji
- Day 3 Nara
Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Days 3, 5 and 6 are day trips out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about ¥12,450 a day (excluding accommodation and flights).
Day 1 · 09:00–20:30
Osaka Castle and Dotonbori
Culture
Osaka Castle
Toyotomi's castle: views from the 8th floor, a quiet park in the morning, cherry blossom in April.
≈ ¥600 per personNature
Osaka Castle Park
Parkland and moats around the castle, plus a plum grove.
Free- 45 min · travel, break, free time
Food
Kuromon Ichiba Market
Osaka's kitchen: tuna from the stall, wagyu skewers and strawberries, all eaten standing up.
≈ ¥2,500 per personShopping
Shinsaibashi-suji
A 600 m covered arcade with Don Quijote and drugstores and cosmetics.
Free- 2 h 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Dotonbori
The Glico running man and neon lights; try takoyaki (Wanaka) and Mizuno okonomiyaki, with crowds all along the canal.
≈ ¥1,500 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Mizuno OkonomiyakiA Bib Gourmand okonomiyaki (savoury pancake) in Dotonbori, made with a yam batter.
- Tombori River CruiseA 20-minute canal boat ride past the neon.
Day 2 · 09:00–16:00
Shinsekai and Tennoji
Culture
Shitennoji Temple
Japan's oldest Buddhist temple (593), with a pagoda and garden.
≈ ¥300 per personLandmark
Shinsekai
A retro entertainment district with Tsutenkaku Tower and the Billiken statue.
FreeLandmark
Tsutenkaku Tower
A tower from 1912 with an observation deck and a slide.
≈ ¥900 per personFood
Kushikatsu Daruma Shinsekai
Deep-fried skewers; double-dipping in the sauce is forbidden.
≈ ¥1,500 per person- 1 h · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Abeno Harukas 300
The observation deck of Japan's tallest building, with views over Osaka and the sea.
≈ ¥1,500 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Yakko KushikatsuIf Daruma is full, it is on the same street.
- Tennoji Park & ZooA park and zoo, as an alternative to Harukas.
Day 3 · 09:00–15:00Day trip
Nara
Nature
Nara Park
40 minutes from Osaka by Kintetsu; 1,200 free-roaming deer, crackers 200 JPY, quiet in the morning.
FreeCulture
Todai-ji
A 15 m Buddha inside the world's largest wooden building; crawl through the hole in the pillar.
≈ ¥800 per personCulture
Kasuga Taisha
A Shinto shrine with 3,000 stone lanterns, reached by a forest path.
≈ ¥500 per personFood
Nakatanidou Mochi
A show of high-speed mochi pounding; try the fresh yomogi (mugwort) mochi.
≈ ¥200 per personLandmark
Naramachi
A district of old merchant houses with cafés and crafts, Nara's quiet side.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Kamameshi Shizuka NaraRice cooked in an iron pot; a hot lunch.
- Kofuku-jiA five-storey pagoda, as an alternative to Naramachi.
Day 4 · 09:30–16:30
Umeda and Nakanoshima
Landmark
Umeda Sky Building
The Floating Garden Observatory: clear in the morning, among the best views in Kansai.
≈ ¥2,000 per personNature
Nakanoshima Park
A park on an island between two rivers, with a rose garden and the city hall.
FreeCulture
Osaka Nakanoshima Museum of Art
A museum in a black cube, with Modigliani and Osaka art.
≈ ¥1,800 per personFood
Tenma Kisaburo
A local restaurant in Tenma serving a daily teishoku (set meal).
≈ ¥1,200 per personShopping
Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street
Japan's longest covered shopping street (2.6 km), full of local shops.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Hanshin Department Store Snack ParkA standing-room food floor in Umeda; try ikayaki (grilled squid).
- Osaka Museum of Housing and LivingA re-created Edo-period street, with kimono rental.
Day 5 · 07:30–18:00Day trip
Kyoto
Culture
Fushimi Inari Taisha
45 minutes from Osaka by JR; 10,000 red torii gates, empty at 07:30, so climb halfway up the mountain.
Free- 45 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Kiyomizu-dera
A temple with a wooden terrace, views over Kyoto and the streets of Higashiyama.
≈ ¥500 per person- 45 min · travel, break, free time
Food
Nishiki Market
Kyoto's kitchen: tsukemono (pickles) and tamagoyaki (rolled omelette), eaten standing up.
≈ ¥1,500 per person- 45 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Gion
The geisha district, with Hanamikoji Street and Yasaka Shrine.
Free- 1 h · travel, break, free time
Nature
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
A bamboo tunnel; the crowds thin out in the late afternoon. Cross Togetsukyo Bridge.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Kyoto Gogyo RamenBurnt miso ramen, near Nishiki.
- Kinkaku-jiThe Golden Pavilion, as an alternative to Arashiyama.
Day 6 · 08:30–20:30Day trip
Universal Studios Japan
Culture
Universal Studios Japan
Super Nintendo World (area tickets run out in the morning) and Harry Potter; 1-Day Pass about 8,900 JPY, Express Pass is worth it in crowds, queue before the 08:30 opening.
≈ ¥8,900 per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Food
Universal CityWalk Osaka
Restaurants by the park exit, plus a takoyaki museum.
≈ ¥1,500 per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Tempozan Ferris Wheel
A Ferris wheel on Osaka Bay with night lights, 10 minutes from USJ.
≈ ¥900 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Kaiyukan AquariumAn aquarium with a whale shark, as an alternative to USJ.
- Osaka Bay Okonomiyaki ChiboAn okonomiyaki chain.
Day 7 · 09:00–13:00
Namba morning and a gentle farewell
Culture
Namba Yasaka Shrine
A shrine with a stage shaped like a giant lion's head; good for photos.
FreeLandmark
Hozenji Yokocho
Pour water over the moss-covered Fudo statue; a stone-paved lane.
FreeFood
Wanaka Takoyaki Sennichimae
Osaka's classic takoyaki for a farewell.
≈ ¥600 per personShopping
Namba Parks
A canyon-shaped mall with a rooftop garden; Kansai Airport is 40 minutes away by Nankai.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Ichiran NambaRamen, as an alternative to takoyaki.
- Kuromon Ichiba Morning TourThe market at its morning best; good for souvenirs.
Getting around: get an ICOCA
It works on the Osaka Metro, JR and Hankyu, and uses the same system as Suica.
Good to know: 6 things that make an Osaka trip easier
- An ICOCA card works on all trains. Kansai Airport is 40 minutes away on the Nankai Rapi:t. Nara and Kyoto are 45 minutes by Kintetsu or JR.
- November brings momiji (autumn leaves) in Kyoto and April brings cherry blossom. Winter is dry at 5-10°C and uncrowded, and it is kani (crab) season.
- Osaka is all about kuidaore (eat until you drop): takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu cost 500-1,500 JPY. Go to Kuromon in the morning.
- For the USJ Nintendo area, book an area ticket in the app when the park opens. Express Pass costs 10,000+ JPY.
- Cash still matters; use the 7-Eleven ATMs. There is no tipping, and people queue quietly.
- Fushimi Inari is empty at 07:30; tour buses arrive after 09:00.
Spending: ≈ ¥87,000 per person for 7 days
- Food¥48,000
- Entry and tours¥22,000
- Local transport¥9,000
- Other¥8,000
Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.
On world lists: 1 place in this city
We did the planning. You just pick the dates.
TripWalkers rebuilds this route around your number of days, budget and pace — on a map, day by day, in your pocket.
Download on the App StoreFor iPhone · English and Turkish · Free to download
Your next trip
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Osaka?
This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 3, 5 and 6; skip it on a short stay.
How much does a day in Osaka cost?
In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about ¥12,450 per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.
What time should you start the day in Osaka?
The first stop is at 07:30. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.
Which season is this itinerary for?
This page covers October–May. There is a separate plan for June–September: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.