Osaka 3 day Itinerary: What to do in Osaka + Epic Day Trips

Glittering streets, mouth-watering street food, unique vibe, Osaka deserves a spot on any first-time trip to Japan. After cultural immersion in Kyoto, we were ready to hit the bustling city life in Osaka. And the city known for its street food, lively streets, night life and friendly locals, did not disappoint. 

Its major historical and cultural sites can be visited in one day, so you may wonder – why a 3-day Osaka itinerary? Osaka is well positioned to take several day trips and hence we ended up spending 4 nights here. 

After spending 3 days exploring Kyoto, we took an evening train to transfer from Kyoto to Osaka. We explored Hiroshima / Miyajima Island and Himeji castle as separate day trips from Osaka. Plus used the remaining time to do shopping, wandering around different neighbourhoods, people-watching, and eating in Osaka. 3 days in Osaka flew by!

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Best Time to visit Osaka

For most of central Japan, the best time to visit is spring (March until May) or autumn (October, November) and Osaka is no different. Very likely, a trip to Osaka is a part of your overall trip to Japan so weather conditions, peak crowds and hotel prices in other parts matter as much.

Osaka is ok to visit for most part of the year because the weather is temperate. Early April is cherry blossom season and do expect Osaka to be packed with massive crowds at this time. Fall season is better to visit for pleasant weather, fall foliage and lesser crowds (as compared to spring time). The summer months of July and August are avoidable because of high heat and humidity. Winter months are cold and low season (December until February).

How many days to spend in Osaka

As such, 1 or 2 days are good to take in Osaka’s delights. Couple of days are good to wander around Namba, Dotonbori, Shinkesai, Den Den town, sample different food stalls, do soome shopping in and around Shinsaibashi-suji and take in the lively night life.

The reason is to stay more in Osaka is because of its central location and ease of doing day trips. During our 3 days in Osaka, we did a full day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island and another half-day trip to Himeji. Really happy about this as we didn’t manage any of the popular day trips from Tokyo in the last leg of our Japan triip. A day trip to Nara is equally popular which we didn’t manage as well. But Nara would be easy to fit in a Osaka Japan itinerary for 4 days. Or you can do a day trip to Koyasan from Osaka.

Theme park enthusiasts make time for Universal Studios and that is manageable with several day trips in a Osaka 5 day trip. Many folks who go for a short time end up staying in Osaka city and doing day trips to visit Kyoto.

Osaka Japan Itinerary Overview

Day 1 of Itinerary: Full day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island

• Early morning Shinkansen to reach Hiroshima
• Sightseeing at Hiroshima for 2/3 hours and brunch
• Ferry to reach Miyajima Island
• Explore the island for about 3 hours
• Ferry back to Hiroshima and train back to Osaka

Day 2: Half-day trip to Himeji and evening in Namba area

• Morning train to Himeji to view Himeji Castle
• Evening spent shopping in Shinsaibashi-suji
• People watching in Dotonbori / Namba

Day 3 in Osaka: Leisurely lunch and evening in Shinsekai / Den Den Town

• Lazy morning for relaxation
• Teppanyaki Lunch
• Evening wandering around Shinsekai area, Den Den town and then to Namba

Day 1: Full day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island

Hiroshima and Miyajima Island have enough to explore to justify an overnight trip, but we were happy with a long and packed day trip from Osaka. This full-day trip to Hiroshima & Miyajima turned out to be the highlight of our Osaka 3-day trip, so I highly recommend it.

A sobering morning at Hiroshima

An early morning shinkansen got us from Osaka to Hiroshima station and then an uber to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. We spent an hour strolling around the park, it is a great spot for reflection. As we all know, the park is in memory of the victims of the nuclear attack on August 6, 1945, in which the United States dropped an atomic bomb on this Japanese city. The vast grounds of the park have some amazing sculptures and installations, each representing the cost of war and importance of peace.

But even more fascinating is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial (also named Atomic Bomb Dome), the only structure left standing in the area where the atomic bomb exploded. This is on the other side of the river bank, opposite the park. It was decided by the city administration to leave the destroyed structure of the (earlier) Hiroshima Industrial Promotion Hall as is, as a stark reminder of the most destructive force ever created by humankind. 

The early morning start got us quite hungry early in the day. So we walked to Eggs ‘n Things close by to have a delicious brunch, also a much required break from reading so much about the nuclear bomb at the A-bomb site.

The last spot was the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, you can easily spend a couple of hours here. It is full of artefacts and stories of Hiroshima prior to, during, and after the atomic bomb. The museum collects and displays belongings left by the victims, photos, and other materials that convey the horror of that event. If there was ever a sobering display of the cost of war, this is it. You may want to skip the museum depending on the age of your kids, though we did several school kids’ groups.

Beautiful Miyajima Island

To change the mood, we then took a ferry (close to the A-bomb site) to Miyajima Island. It turned out to be an excellent decision. We packed quite a lot in the next 3 hours. What a joy to see free roaming deer as we walked from the ferry towards the Itsukushima Shrine. This Shinto shrine is famous for its floating torii gate. It was low tide so we could walk upto it. At high tide, the gate appears to be floating in water.

There was a local wedding on and it was fun to watch that. We walked behind the wedding procession until they went to the main shrine complex. We had limited time on the island so skipped this complex and the 5-storey pagoda. Instead, we walked further to take the Miyajima Ropeway to the top of Mt Misen, the highest peak on the island. If you are travelling with kids, I do recommend the ropeway experience. The views were well worth the trip and the cable car ride was great fun with my daughter.

And then it was time to take the ferry back to Hiroshima and the train back to Osaka. Dinner was at a Japanese food joint in JP Tower to sample tempura meal.

Day 2: Himeji + Evening in Osaka’s lively areas

It had been an enjoyable but long day to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island. And on the very next day, we were off to Himeji town to visit Japan’s most spectacular surviving feudal castle. You can easily swap the half day trip to Himeji on Day 3 of the Osaka itinerary to get a break in between.

Half day trip to Himeji Castle

Osaka city itself has a famous castle, but we thought the half day trip to Himeji castle was well worth it. For those interested in an authentic castle experience and architectural detail, Himeji is delightful. You have to take a local train from Osaka to reach Himeji town. The Castle looms over the city and is walkable from the train station or you can take an uber. It is also known as White Heron castle due to its brilliant white walled exterior and elegant bird-like structure. 

I had booked a volunteer guide from a local club, Himeji Goodwill (listed on the JNTO website) to meet us at the castle main entry point and take us through it. There are several folks who provide walking tours to foreigners for a voluntery donation. But do note that their historical knowledge may not be as much as a professional guide.

After viewing the castle grounds, don’t miss out on the lovely Koko-en gardens. This complex of 9 traditional Japanese gardens designed in the Edo period style is delightful.

We had lunch at a tiny restaurant walking to the station, Vin Vin Curry, they only serve pork curry and rice. You will find plenty of food options in and around the station. 

Alternative: Osaka Castle

If you would rather stay in the city and visit Osaka Castle, then buy the 1-day or 2-day Osaka Pass. The Osaka Amazing pass gives unlimited use of the Osaka subway, bus network and private railways plus entry to dozens of Osaka’s top tourist attractions like Osaka Castle.

Osaka Castle has a powerful appearance, and is a modern recreation with museum-like exhibits. Himeji offers a more traditional castle experience, while Osaka provides a glimpse into the life of a shogun. Osaka Castle after its destruction has been completely rebuilt. Even if you don’t go inside, its worth a view from outside.

Osaka comes alive in the evening

It was late afternoon by the time we reached back to the city from Himeji. A bit of rest and then we left to see the city come alive in the evening! 

Our plan was to do some shopping on the second evening of Osaka 3-day itinerary. What better place than the kilometer-long Shinsaibashi-suji shopping street. We took the subway to reach here. Do note that this covered shopping street full of fashion boutiques, expensive department stores, and food stalls is packed with people. And the crowd only rises as the evening progresses.

After enjoying an early dinner at Shake Shack, we then walked towards Dotonbori. This vibrant street is part of Namba area, which is known for its shopping, dining, and entertainment. It runs parallel to Dotonbori canal, and you can spot the iconic Ebisu Bridge, giant neon signs here. 

If you have time, you can visit the Namba Yasaka Shrine. After our Kyoto trip, we were quite done with temples and shrines for a while, but this one is quirky and different from other shrines in Japan. The shrine itself is a very unusual looking huge lion head with an open mouth that is actually a stage for performances!

Day 3: Teppanyaki meal + Shinsekai and Den Den Town

Morning downtime

You will be surprised how tiring can city sightseeing, walking, shopping, train travel be in Japan. Don’t get me wrong! It’s just that you will start with packed list of things to do and then end up taking off some things. That’s totally fine. An important travel tip for Japan is to plan one or two main activities each day preferably in same area of the city. After the 2 day trips, we needed some downtime.

The past 2 days caught up with us and we relaxed the entire morning at the hotel. We hadn’t had time to enjoy the lovely Osaka Station Hotel, which we had booked for our entire stay in Osaka. Besides its central location, the views are to die for! We got stunning views from both our room and the hotel lobby. If not for this hotel stay, I would have made time for visiting Umeda Sky Building. You can book ticket to the 170-metre-high observatory to take in 360 views of the city. The golden hour serves the best light.

Teppanyaki Lunch

Osaka is not named Japan’s kitchen for nothing. We had booked a street food tour but cancelled it last minute thinking it will be too adventurous for our palette. Instead, we asked the hotel concierge to suggest and book a teppanyaki restaurant for a leisurely lunch. And Rio Osaka certainly delivered!

Exploring Shinsekai and Den Den Town

We wanted to explore different neighbourhoods on our last evening of 3-day Osaka itinerary. Post lunch and some relaxation at the hotel, we took the metro to reach Tennoji station, and then made our way via Tennoji Park to Shinsekai. I love this about Japan cities, you find these large, peaceful green parks in between all the hustle and bustle of the city.

Shinsekai besides street food is full of retro-themed stores. You will find Tsutenkaku Tower here, a prominent landmark of Osaka. You can go up to the observation deck to get panoramic city views. We just loved the unique, nostalgic atmosphere, quirky shops, and vintage feel of Shinsekai.

We then walked across Nipponbashi Den Den Town. Den Den town is Osaka’s answer to Tokyo’s Akhirabara. We crossed numerous stores for electronics, anime, manga, gaming, and collectibles. 

Dinner was an Italian meal at Sant Angelo in Namba district.

What to do in Osaka with kids

If you are travelling to Osaka with kids, the number one spot is Universal Studios. This thrill-packed theme park featuring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World, Minions, epic rides is a must for families. Look up all the package options for Universal Studios here. We gave this a miss in favour of Tokyo DisneySea on our Japan itinerary.

Another point of interest is the Osaka Aquarium, one of the largest in the world. Your kids can see manta rays, jellyfish, otters and more.

Where to stay in Osaka

Osaka isn’t as large as Tokyo but it is certainly spread out. So you do need to put some thought into where to stay in the city. Obviously, access to a well-connected subway line matters for both moving within the city and for doing all the day trips easily. That was the reason for us to choose prime city location at Osaka Station Hotel in Kita, next to Osaka station. Choosing the right neighbourhood and hotel in Japan that matches your budget and itinerary is hugely important.

Kita is convenient to stay in as it has transit options out of Osaka station and the adjacent Osaka Umeda station. Kita has both luxury and mid-range hotel options. It also has Grand Front Osaka – over 260 stores for all your shopping and numerous restaurants across several buildings. But walking across the streets will feel like you are in the business district.

The other popular choice first-time travellers to Osaka is Minami area. You will be close to all the major attractions, shopping, street food and night life of Namba, Dotonbari, Shinsaibashi. Within Minami, proximity to Namba station will help access to train travel. But note that being in the heart of Osaka’s neon-lit districts comes with crowds, noise and bright streets.

Planning a trip to Japan? Check out –

Start with Essential Travel Tips For Japan and Japan Two Week Itinerary

City Itineraries: 5 days in Tokyo Japan, 3 Days in Kyoto Itinerary

Day Trips: Best day trips from Osaka, Best day trips around Tokyo, Hiroshima & Miyajima Island Day Trip Itinerary, An Unique Temple Stay at Koyasan, Ultimate Guide to Tokyo DisneySea

And finally, Japan’s 4 Luxury Hotels

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