Experience the Birth and Growth of Osaka
Joined 2024
Visit the temple and castle on the hill. Osaka began around the 7th century when the Shitennoji Temple was built on the hill. In the Middle Ages, aristocrats believed that the paradise (Pure Land of Buddha) of the afterlife was beyond the setting sun, and Shitennoji Temple was regarded as the east gate of the paradise. Osaka Castle and large-scale Castletown were built 1000 years later. Osaka Castle and Castle Park with cherry blossoms have been popular with locals and tourists.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel
- At your hotel or any convenient place in Osaka City center.
Osaka Castle Main Tower
>Osaka Castle Main Tower/original one (40m high) built in the 16th century, and present one (55m high) built in 1931
#Kisyu Palace/the Tower is reflected in the pond
#Hokoku-jinjya Shrine dedicated to the Castle’s founder has a stunning garden designed by pioneering landscape architect
Osaka Castle Park
>Osaka Castle Park(105ha)/ enjoy plum, peach, and cherry blossoms in their respective seasons
Shitennoji Temple
>Shitennoji Temple/the oldest official temple considered to be the “East Gate of Pure Land”
#Garden of Buddhist paradise/a garden that embodies an imaginary paradise with 2 streams and 2 ponds introducing natural spring water
Ending Point
At your hotel or any convenient place in Osaka City center
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
>guide fee, hotel pick up in Osaka City center
>transportation fee (you and guide)/ subway and train (some 2000JPY per person, T.B.D.)
>admission fee (you and guide)/Osaka Castle Tower (1200JPY per person), Shiennoji Temple (600JPY per person)
>short break/lunch /dinner
Tour Important Information
>Please wear comfortable shoes for walking
>Please be aware that during the cherry blossom viewing season, transportation and tourist facilities will be crowded, which may take longer than expected, and some of the facilities on the itinerary may not be accessible
>This tour is not covered by insurance.
>The above extra fees are often asked with CASH on the spots, so please bring some JPY.
Important message from the supplier
>I can work only during the day, from about 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.
> If you want a customized tour, please message me in advance. I will confirm facility availability in the itinerary dates: opening dates/hours, need a reservation or not.
>Please note that my tours are leisurely, on foot and by public transport
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2024
About Tour Guide Yosshi S.
Thank you for visiting my page.
I will guide you to the ancient capital cities with 1000 years of urban development and 100 years of filming and screening history.
I grew up in Osaka, studied in Kyoto, and worked for 20 years as an urban planning expert for the national and local governments. During this time, I surveyed many community development sites throughout Japan. I welcomed business leaders to encourage investment in the cities.
After quitting my career, I became a film-loving professional engineer. I visited unique cities in foreign countries to see urban planning and locations that appeared in picturesque film scenes and posted photos on social media (90 cities in 30 countries up to now). The more I saw foreign cities, the more I loved my hometown. I wanted to know about the travel industry and got a national license as a Guide-Interpreter and Travel Service Manager. I have started guiding based in the old capital cities.
The entire area of old Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara has been a Metropolitan area centered on the Imperial Palace, and the actual location of the Palace has changed 15 times since the 7th century. This area has many historical spots and hidden attractions in different times and places: the townscape, temples, shrines, landscaped gardens, and historical drama locations (SAMURAI drama).
I will create your favorite tour using my list, and guide you leisurely. I look forward to hearing from you.
Reviews
Sofia B.
“Extremely kind guide with lots of knowledge!”
We had the absolute best experience with Yosshi-san! He’s incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, polite and went above and beyond to make sure we had an amazing day. He answered every question we had, kept everything organised, and even created a customised itinerary just for us. We visited beautiful historical sites, discovered hidden gems we’d never have found on our own, and even popped into a charming toy shop with traditional Edo-style toys. My family and I had such a wonderful time - we can’t recommend Yosshi-san highly enough!
Yosshi S.
Dear Sofia, I am glad to see your heartwarming review. During the tour, I felt I was part of your family with the deer in Nara Park. However, there are too many deer to be part of your family. We chatted about the types of cherry blossoms, different languages, daily life, and more. When I visited your country 10 years ago, I had a fulfilling trip with the help of the local people. I hope that yesterday's tour could help you and your family experience the charm of Nara, which has a long history. Best regards. Yosshi
Mary W.
“Great day in Osaka”
Yosshi is a knowledgeable guide for Osaka. His English is very good. He tailored the trip to my interests: temples, fish market, cherry blossoms, gardens. He even got my first temple stamp for my souvenier Goshuin stamp book.
Yosshi S.
Dear Mary I am thrilled to receive such a thoughtful review from you. We talked about classical movies, pilgrimage routes, Bunraku, and more on the tour. I was honored to help you get your first Goshuin stamp at Shitennoji Temple, the oldest temple in Japan. In your Goshuin book, three Kanji of Dai-Hi-Den are written in ink. It refers to Kannon Bodhisattva, who has a heart of great compassion. These Kanji fit you, please continue your journey with the Bodhisattva. Best wishes, Yosshi
$192/ per group
More tours by Yosshi S.
Spiritual Tour in Temple Town, Osaka
Visit an image of paradise in this world and the afterlife. Osaka began around the 7th century when the Imperial Palace and the Temple were built on the hill. In the Middle Ages, aristocrats believed that the paradise (Pure Land of Buddha) of the afterlife was beyond the setting sun, and built hermitages for Sunset Meditation. Time passed, and merchants enjoyed the performing arts in a paradise-like entertainment zone below the hill. Movie Palace was also built, and the slopes became locations.
Mixed Scenery with Towns and Temples, Nara
Enjoy the beauty of the temples in rural scenery and old townscapes. Ikaruga is Japan's oldest temple town, dating back to the 7th century. Even today, the pagodas from that time rise and create a beautiful rural landscape surrounded by mountains. Naramachi is within the grounds of a temple built near the Imperial Palace in the 8th century. Commercial and industrial houses lined its grounds from the Middle Ages, and the temples blended into the traditional townscape.
Short Hike in a Peaceful Temple and Forest in Eastern Kyoto
Experience the charm of tranquility in a mountain temple. Seikanji is a temple in Mt. Kiyomizu (242m high), which enables us to look down a fan-shaped view of the Kyoto area from the temple grounds covered with green moss. The temple retains such anecdotes as the emperor’s tragic love and the Waka poem composed by the incarnation of Buddha. We hike along a path at the mountain's edge from the less crowded tiny Seikanji temple to the heavily crowded huge Kiyomizu-Dera temple.
Stroll through Nara Park stopping here and there
Experience the unique charm of the old capital. Nara was the capital in the 8th century and was marked by splendid cultural assets. In the 19th century, its heart area and surrounding hills were developed into Nara Park. It has been a fabulous place among locals, tourists, and deer with religious rituals, a giant Buddha statue representing the emperor’s and people's wishes, chill out with divine messengers of deity, and a conventional townhouse renovated into a museum, gallery, and café.
Other Popular Art, Culture, & Historical Tours in Osaka
Spiritual Tour in Temple Town, Osaka
Visit an image of paradise in this world and the afterlife. Osaka began around the 7th century when the Imperial Palace and the Temple were built on the hill. In the Middle Ages, aristocrats believed that the paradise (Pure Land of Buddha) of the afterlife was beyond the setting sun, and built hermitages for Sunset Meditation. Time passed, and merchants enjoyed the performing arts in a paradise-like entertainment zone below the hill. Movie Palace was also built, and the slopes became locations.
Tour of Osaka-jo Castle
(Highlights) The present castle building looks beautiful, powerful and in perfect harmony with the surrounding environment. However, it was the venue of hegemony, bloody conflicts and natural disasters for many centuries. Once you visit the castle, you will be amazed at the magnificent structures, huge moats and the beautiful natural environment. The view from the top of the eight-storied donjon is splendid. You can reach there either by going up the steep stairways or taking an elevator ride. The castle is in the heart and the landmark of Osaka city, where many modern buildings stand. (How to enjoy) You can enjoy a leisurely walk along the one-kilometer road leading to the castle after you get off the train and, once inside the precincts, you cannot spare even a moment without marveling at the sight of an ancient technology and human wisdom, as well as the huge rocks building up the protection walls. Not only seeing the buildings, you can also sit on the grass and enjoy having lunch with your family members or friends. (Others) The entrance fee is 600 yen per person and the JR Osaka Loop Line train fare is 300 yen for the ride from Osaka to Osaka-jo-koen station. The fare for the ride between Kyoto and Osaka, meanwhile, is 510 yen.
Osaka : OLD & NEW Tour 6 hours
Firstly, you will visit Osaka Castle. The castle was built in the late16th century during the medieval ages. After learning about the Warring State Times in Japan, you will visit The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living to see and feel how the people in Osaka lived in the 1830s. On the contrary to visiting a few historic places besides Tenmangu Shrine as “Old”, we will visit Dotonbori Area, as “New”, representing modern times in the Southern part of Osaka.
Perfect Trip in Osaka
There are many interesting and exciting places to visit in Osaka. But it might take at least a few days to visit all the popular places. So I chose the best places to visit in Osaka and I will take you to all in 1 day!! You will enjoy the culture and history and food of Osaka. And I'm sure that you will be in love with Osaka by the end of the tour ;)
