GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
GoWithGuide
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!

Osaka 1 Day Highlights Tour

Luke Kinsella

by GoWithGuide travel specialist:Luke Kinsella

Last updated : Apr 28, 20224 min read

Itinerary Ideas

We introduce the most popular itineraries amongst our customers who choose tours on GoWithGuide. We hope it helps you to plan your perfect itinerary during your trip to Japan. In our ninth post of the series, we focus on the best full day tour of Osaka.

In this eight hour long packed itinerary, we visit the highlights of Osaka including the observation deck at Abeno Harukas, the famous Osaka Castle, the main shrine of Sumiyoshi with its rainbow shaped bridge, Shinsekai, a nostalgic shopping area, and finally, Shitenno-ji, the oldest temple in Japan.

1. Osaka Castle

A symbol of Osaka that is full of history, the castle is situated in the enormous Osaka Castle Park, a place teeming with nature, including Nishinomaru Garden, which includes a plum grove and over three hundred cherry blossom trees. The highlight, however, is the Osaka Castle Tower Museum, which contains a wealth of historic displays and information about the castle.

Click here for more information. 

2. Abeno Harukas

blog image

(image by ja.wikipedia.org)

Abeno Harukas contains a mix of hotels, shops, restaurants, cafes, art galleries, and an incredible viewing platform that has become popular with tourists since the huge multi-purpose complex opened in 2014. The highlight of Abeno Harukas are the washrooms on the 58th floor, that offer a glass wall that allows you to see stunning views of Osaka, as you wash your hands.

Click here for more information.

3. Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

blog image

(image by ja.wikipedia.org)

At Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, the Taiko-bashi Bridge connects the world of the living with the spirtual phenomena worshipped by the Shinto religion. Crossing the bridge is said to cleanse people of all of their sins as they approach the gods, and the bridge itself is arched like a rainbow, to better prevent evil from entering the main complex of Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

Click here for more information.

4. Shinsekai

blog image

(image by flickr.com)

Travel back to 1960s Osaka at Shinsekai. The area is known for numerous restaurants selling skewers of meat, along with some shops selling various goods. The area itself is often busy, with its close proximity to Tennoji Zoo and Spa World. The zoo itself can be seen from Tsutenkaku, a tower at the center of the Shinsekai area. Not impressively tall, but offering nice views of the surrounding area.

Click here for more information.

5. Shitenno-ji Temple

blog image

Shitenno-ji is the oldest temple in Japan, worth visiting simply for this fact. Inside the temple grounds you can see an impressive five-storey pagoda that becomes illuminated at night, a beautiful Japanese garden, and learn all about Prince Shotoku, who is enshrined inside the main hall.

Click here for more information.

Need help planning your 1 day Osaka Itinerary?

If you are traveling to Osaka for the first time and/or are intimidated by the cultural/language barriers that come with traveling, you should definitely check out GoWithGuide, as they work with 1,000+ professional tour guides in Japan to help you plan your perfect trip. In addition, if you are looking for a private guide or would like to join a private tour group in Osaka, feel free to take a look at the list of tours that are available in the city and send a message to any of the Osaka tour guides for a personalized itinerary and a price quotation. Some of the tours include wonderful cultural experiences, which you should certainly check out if you are looking to enrich your experience in Osaka with more activities other than trying the popular foods. It's great to have a guide as you may want to eliminate the risk of wasting time by getting lost or not knowing what the right food items to order as many Japanese menus are displayed in one language. Lastly, if you prefer to travel by car as opposed to public transportation, take a look at the various private vehicles that can take you on your tour of Osaka.

blog image

Blogs About Osaka

Top 5 Things to do in Osaka on TripAdvisor

6 Amazing Places to Shop in Osaka

Traveling from Kyoto to Osaka: 1 Day Trip

Japan Travel - 7 Days Itinerary Around Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka

Written by Luke Kinsella

blog writer avatar

GoWithGuide’s writers are passionate travel specialists sharing unique tips and essential information for global explorers.

Kyoto Tour Guide - Toshiyo O.

Toshiyo O.

4.68 / 5
(246 reviews)
Japan

I was born and raised in Kyoto.Kyoto has a lot of things to see and experience. Kyoto is an ancient city with a lot of world heritage. I am happy to show you both traditonal aspects of Japan and modern things. I use public transportation and I am good at walking. Also I am very flexible.                                                                                                                                  

Kyoto Tour Guide - Yoshihisa T.

Yoshihisa T.

4.97 / 5
(222 reviews)
Japan

Hi. My name is Yoshihisa. Call me "Yoshie", please. It means good or O.K. in Japanese. I live in Joyo City, Kyoto Prefecture, located just in between Kyoto and Nara. I was born and raised in Iga, Mie Prefecture. Iga is a birthplace of ninja and a renowned haiku poet, Matsuo Basho. I might be a descendant of ninja. I aim at becoming a linguistic ninja, following a part of Basho's lifestyle with the incorporation of seasonal changes into my tours. In addition to visiting famous temples and shrines, I invite you to lesser-known places of historic interest. Once in a month I go hiking or mountain climbing with some friends mainly in mountains surrounding Kyoto and Nara basins. Recently I have got intrigued by the charms of Buddhist statues, which are manifestations of people's wishes and prayers. I also like izakaya (Japanese-style taverns) hopping, tasting delicious dishes and locally brewed sake at reasonable prices. Especially I like communicating with people from home and abroad, talking face to face. Some of the above-mentioned elements are included in my walking tours. I hope you will discover new aspects of cultural and natural beauty in Kansai area through one of my tours which you could never gain otherwise. One of my favorite phrases that come from Zen Buddhism is Ichigo Ichie or this meeting-but only once in a lifetime. My interpretation goes this way: This place and this moment never cross again. Each and every good encounter, however, lingers on like the sound of a temple bell. Won't you explore a deeper world of Japanese culture in Kyoto, Nara and Osaka with me?                                                                                                                                  

Shiga Tour Guide - Kazuhiko G.

Kazuhiko G.

4.77 / 5
(184 reviews)
Japan

Hello, I’m Kazuhiko. Please call me “Kazu”. I'm a national-licensed tour guide. I have a wife and 4 children. I was born in Osaka city near Kyoto, although I have lived in many places across Japan. I used to work for multinational electric company and I traveled to many countries (U.S., Thailand, Hong Kong etc.) on business. I have enjoyed guiding many foreign tourists in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima, Tokyo, Mt. Fuji etc. for many years. During your tour, you can discover a rich Japanese history spanning about 2,000 years, learn about and experience profound Japanese arts (tea ceremony, flower arrangement etc.), feel the spiritual atmosphere of Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines, see a breathtakingly beautiful scenery of Mt. Fuji, bamboo forest, Japanese gardens etc.. Moreover, you can taste Japanese cuisine that each season has to offer (Sushi, Tempura, Soba or ramen noodle etc.). You can get close to nature and feed wild deer or monkeys or even a build snowman in winter. I’m sure that I can provide a splendid tour of Japan that will be a lasting memory for you to treasure. Experience the mysteries of Japan with 5 senses !! Your memorable tour awaits you. Please feel free to contact me!!                                                                                                                                 

Plan your trip to Osaka

Chat with a local tour guide who can help organize your trip.

Get Started