7-8 hour quick tour to cover "must-see" sites in Osaka!
After learning a bit about the history of Osaka during Osaka castle visit, you will visit nostalgic street of Shinsekai, Japanese subculture mecca and gadget paradise of Nipponbashi street, gourmand street of Kuromon Market, and Dotonbori street with glittering signs.
At your hotel or JR Osaka station
Osaka castle (Optional: Museum on the main tower @ 600 yen)
Optional: Osaka Museum of Housing & Living @600 yen + 500 yen for kimono experience (closed on Tuesdays)
Shinsekai & Osaka's local lunch
Optional: Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine via Hankai Tram
Nipponbashi (gadget, Japanese pop culture, toys etc.)
Kuromon Market for food stands and local specialties
Dotonbori (street with 3D & glittering signs)
Optional: Umeda Sky Building floating garden @1350 yen (with subway one-day pass discount)
Flexible
You will enjoy seeing the both historical and urban sides of Osaka during the tour.
While visiting some popular spots mainly in Minami area, you can try Osaka local foods and sweets on the street.
I will also try to show you many "photogenic spots" and hidden streets during the tour.
This tour is particularly good for people with limited time (like cruise ship travelers) and also for your first day of Osaka to get an idea of what the city is like and transportation system so that you can stroll around by yourself after Day 2!
Guide fee, hotel pick-up in Kyoto and Osaka
Transportation fee during the tour, lunch (1000-1500 yen per person),
*both for you and guide
Entrance fee
You will be walking a lot during the tour, so please wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes and bring an umbrella or poncho in case of rain.
Transportation fee for the day will be 800-1,500 yen per person depending on your itinerary and hotel location. Please bring enough cash for the fare.
Please choose one of the below options (except for those meeting up in Kyoto):
1. River boat from Osaka castle to Dotonbori @1,200 yen (only available on weekends in spring-fall, free for the guide)
2. River boat ride in Dotombori @900 yen - see the Dotonbori street from the boat (may be a long waiting time during the peak season)
3. Umeda Sky Building "Floating Garden" at the end of the tour @1350 yen (with subway pass discount) for the sunset/night view of Osaka
It was selected as one of the "Top 20 Buildings around the World" by Times along with Taji-Mahal and Sagrada Familia.
4. Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine by Hankai Tram - if you are interested in a beautiful local shrine and Osaka's only Tram ride thru suburban areas.
5. Osaka Museum of Housing & Living @600 yen- learn about the city's history of life style and traditional Japanese housing (extra 600 yen for kimono experience)
We have engaged Seiko san for 2 days tour to Osaka and Kyoto. We have had an enjoyable trip where Seiko san was a fantastic guide. She is so knowledgeable and cater to our needs and requirement. She knows all the in and out of Osaka and Kyoto and meetings all our needs in food, tour requirement and timing. One word to summarise - Outstanding!
We love how attentive and accommodating Seiko is. My children adore her for being funny and friendly. Also, she knows her way around. Worth your every penny. We will definitely book her again.
Seiko is an excellent knowledgeable guide with great English skills and attentive, intuitive sense of what we were interested in and spent more time guiding and explaining the historical and cultural significance of them. We had an optional day planned for Nara but learned from her about the islands in the Seto Inland Sea. She noted that we enjoyed the arts and suggested it as another option. A bonus from a professional that really knows the country!
My sister, niece and I spent three amazing days with Seiko. We had so much fun, we wanted to have more days! She is so full of knowledge about Japanese culture, food, history, and art. She navigated us swiftly and effortless around Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka, and showed us many hidden jewels we would have missed if we had been on our own. She is also super sweet, a great conversationalist, and a lot of fun. After Day 1, she already felt like a old family friend. We hope to see her again!!
Thanks Chris, you guys were amazing! I had such a great time in the 3-day tour especially showing different kinds of sake and some of my favorite dishes to the gourmet family:) 3 days were not enough for me to accommodate your kind of people, so please come back and let me show you more! Thanks again! Seiko