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Osaka, Experience the Old and New Gourmet Towns
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Joined 2024
The town development that continues to this day began with the construction of Osaka Castle and the castle town in the 17th century. Osaka had a well-developed waterway network connecting the rest of Japan. Local specialties were brought to the city by ship. To sell/buy these products, the Osaka merchant set up markets for each item. The interactions between shop owners and customers at the market nurtured Osaka’s rich diet and strictness regarding tastes and prices.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel or any convenient place in Osaka City.
Osaka Castle Park (105ha/260 acres)
>Osaka Castle Tower/originally built in 1585 by a feudal lord, TOYOTOMI, who tried to make it the center of a unified Japan
>The Garden of the former Kisyu Palace/the beautiful Castle Tower, can be seen from here
>Hokoku Jinja Shrine/dedicated to TOYOTOMI, built by order of the emperor to honor a great feudal lord who contributed to the unification of the country
Temma-ichiba & Tenjinbashi-suji
>Temma-ichiba market/a vegetable market, was settled on the Okawa River when Osaka Castle was built
>Tenjinbashi-suji shopping street/ 2.6km (1.6 miles) long shopping street with 600 shops on the approach to the Osaka Temman-gu Shrine
Osaka Temman-gu Shrine & Nakanoshima Park
>Osaka Temman-gu Shrine/dedicated to a great intellectual, SUGAWARA, in the 9th century, who referred to the Tenjin (God of Thunder/Sky), the guardian deity of local merchants
>Nakanoshima Park (10.6ha/26 acres)/Osaka's first modern urban park in the right heart of the city, sandwiched between two rivers, comprising the public hall, library, and rose gardens with 300 varieties
Kuromon-Ichiba & Doguya-suji
>Kuromon-Ichiba market/fresh seafood market with 170 shops around the former site of a black gate (Kuromon in Japanese)
>Doguya-suji (literally means tools)/shopping street with 50 shops selling chef essentials: cooking utensils, tableware, food samples, advertising signs, etc.
Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi-suji
>Dotonbori shopping street/a bustling shopping street on the canal with flashy signs of 140 shops, including local food places such as Takoyaki, Yakitori, Ramen, Sushi, etc.
>Sinsaibashi-suji/Osaka merchants long to set up their shops here, a place that sets fashion trends, 180 shops (580m long)
Ending Point
At your hotel or any convenient place in Osaka City
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
>Transportation fee (you and guide/per adult)/subway (some 1500JPY), taxi(undecided)
>Admission fee (you/per adult)/Osaka Castle Tower(1200JPY)
>short break/lunch/dinner
Tour Important Information
>Please wear comfortable shoes.
>There are stairs to climb and descend at the Osaka Castle Tower
>The above extra fees are often asked with CASH, so please bring some JPY.
>This tour is not insured, so I hope you get travel insurance.
Important message from the supplier
>If you'd like to take a listed or customized tour, please send me a message in advance. I will check the availability of the facilities listed on my itinerary (opening days/hours, reservation requirements, etc.).
>The tour schedule may change if public transportation or tourist attractions experience high demand.
>To ensure a relaxed and easy-going tour, I combine trains, subways, trams, buses, walking, and taxis (for small groups).
>The tour is not insured, so I hope you get travel insurance
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'd love to guide you to three ancient capital cities, each with a 1,000-year history of urban development and a 100-year history of filmmaking. I grew up in OSAKA and earned a Master's Degree in Engineering in KYOTO. I worked for 20 years as an urban planning expert for national and local governments in TOKYO and OSAKA, dedicated to creating cities that were safe and comfortable for residents and attractive for visitors.
Then I became a freelance urban planner with a Nationally Licensed Professional Engineer. I've visited urban development sites and filming locations in 90 cities in 30 countries, sharing the unique cityscapes of these cities on social media.
OSAKA, KYOTO, and NARA established a metropolitan area centered around the Imperial Palace with political, economic, and cultural hubs from the 7th to 19th centuries. Even today, locals continue to maintain beautiful cityscapes, preserve historical heritage, and celebrate traditional events. Many travelers visit these three cities to experience them in person.
The three cities are all within a one-hour ride by intercity train. The cities have an extensive subway, tram, and bus network, allowing you to access many tourist spots in a short amount of time. I am also a Nationally Licensed Guide Interpreter and Certified General Travel Service Manager, and I will create a memorable travel plan comprising places and stories based on your requests. I will also ensure that you get around efficiently using the appropriate means of transportation within the limited time you have. Please feel free to contact me.
Reviews
James S.
“Great Guide!”
Yosshi was a great guide. He had vast knowledge of the sights we visited. Very friendly and payed attention to our needs as we explored. I would book with him again. Thank you Yosshi.
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Yosshi S.
Dear James San. Thank you for your review. I was happy to share my experience with you as you have an interest in Osaka's history. Hearing about your hometown has added to my bucket list. The day was sunny, the autumn leaves were beautiful, and there weren't many tourists, so I was able to show you ancient, medieval, and early modern sites. We were also able to go up the Osaka Castle Tower and the Tsutenkaku Tower for a bird's-eye view of Osaka's topography. Osaka's long history has been supported by its citizens. Next time, I'd like to guide you to markets and theaters where we can experience the vitality of its citizens. Thank you for yesterday. Yosshi
Drew B.
“Cultural tour of Kawachi/Osaka ”
Yosshi san created a unique tour to introduce us to the history of Kofun burial mounds and Haniwa clay pottery. We had an amazing day despite the weather visiting Shin-ike Haniwa Factory Park and the Imashirozuka Museum. Yosshi san has amazing knowledge & excellent English and was a pleasure to spend the day with. Also Yosshi san is a master of navigating Osaka transport, very impressed!! Thank you again Yosshi san for looking after us so well, Drew & Annie.
Yosshi S.
Dear Drew & Annie san Thank you so much for sending me your generous review. You read the explanations, took photos, and asked questions to the museum guide during the tour. I was impressed by your deep interest and knowledge, and it was a great honor to guide you. However, it's unfortunate that today's tour didn't go as planned due to the heavy rain all day. Here is the only imperial mausoleum in Japan that we can enter, so if we have another opportunity, I'd like to stroll around the 350-meter burial mound on a sunny day and discuss the Kofun age with you. Thank you so much for today. Regard Yosshi
James K.
“Nara park and Todai-Temple Tour”
Wonderful tour with Yosshi. Really enjoyed both Nara Park and the Todai-ji Temple. Yosshi customized the tour for our needs, and made the travel to and from Kyoto seamless.
Yosshi S.
Hello James san Thank you for your heartwarming review. I was so happy to see you and your mother enjoying the deer in Nara Park. I was also touched by how much you always cherish your mother, and I learned a lot from you. I'm glad I was able to show you around Nara Park and the Great Buddha Hall. On the train ride there and back, you and your mother told me stories about your town and asked me many questions, which broadened my horizons. I hope you and your mother are in good health. I look forward to seeing you again. Thank you. Yosshi
$217/ per group
More tours by Yosshi S.
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Osaka, Spiritual Tour in the Temple Town
Osaka dates back to the 6th century, when the first official temple was built on the hilltop. In the Middle Ages, the emperor’s family and aristocrats believed that the Pure Land of Buddha was beyond the sunset and meditated in hermitages on the hill while watching the sun sink into the sea. Locals walked up(temples) and down (residences) regularly, enjoying life in this world and praying for a place in the Pure Land in the next life.
Osaka, Spiritual Tour in the Temple Town
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Nara, Stroll through Nara Park led by the Deer
We go around a must-visit temple and shrine in Nara Park. In the 8th century, the emperor built a new capital (Heijo-Palace) and the Statue of the Great Buddha. A powerful aristocracy built a shrine adjacent to the Palace. They prayed for the Buddha to bring stability to the country and peace to the people. In the 19th century, their vast grounds were incorporated into Nara Park, creating a unique space where residents and tourists can freely interact with the sacred deer.
Nara, Stroll through Nara Park led by the Deer
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Nara, Mixed Scenery with Temples and Mountains
The poem in the 8th century wrote that NARA is a province with supreme beauty enclosed by mountains. IKARUGA began as the temple town of Japan's oldest temple, Horyu-ji Temple, and preserves a rural landscape surrounded by mountains. NARAMACHI was a post town on the grounds of Gangoji Temple in the 18th century. Locals continue to make efforts to preserve the old townscape now. We feel the quiet and rich charm while strolling through the old town area.
Nara, Mixed Scenery with Temples and Mountains
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Osaka, Experience the Birth and Growth of the Urban Development Area
The development of Osaka began in the 16th century when Osaka Castle and the castle town were built on a hilltop. In the 19th century, some railway lines were constructed in the city. Houses, commerce, and entertainment functions necessary for a big city have been provided around the railway stations. Thanks to the convenient location, new high-rise buildings and old wooden houses are used for shops, galleries, and cafes, and attract locals and visitors.
Osaka, Experience the Birth and Growth of the Urban Development Area
Other Popular Off the Beaten Path Tours in Osaka
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The Hidden Gem of Osaka: Nakazaki-cho & Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street
Discover a hidden side of Osaka that most tourists miss! In this walking tour, we'll explore the nostalgic and artsy neighborhood of Nakazaki-cho, filled with retro cafes and unique vintage shops. Then, we'll stroll through Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street, the longest shopping street in Japan, where you can enjoy authentic local foods and lively market vibes. Finally, we'll visit Osaka Temmangu Shrine, known for its deep history and as the home of the famous Tenjin Festival.
The Hidden Gem of Osaka: Nakazaki-cho & Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street
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Osaka JR Fukuchiyama Abandoned Line Hike
The Fukuchiyama Abandoned Railway Hike is one of the hiking course that uses the abandoned railway line between Namase Station and Takedao Station on former Japan National Railways Fukuchiyama Line, was closed in 1986. Stretching for about 4.7km along the valley, the remains of the railway including 6 tunnels and 3 bridges from when locomotive once ran remain intact. The trail is easy enough for even beginners to hike and can be completed in about 2-3 hours at an average walking pace.
Osaka JR Fukuchiyama Abandoned Line Hike
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The Visit to the Memorial Spots in Summer War of Osaka
I would like to introduce to you the temple town in the south of Osaka. The town is mixed with old-fashioned and modern Osaka. I take you to the the memorial spots in the summer war of Osaka between Toyotomi and Tokugawa during Warry States Period.
The Visit to the Memorial Spots in Summer War of Osaka
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Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine, the Largest Burial Mounds in Japan
The Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine was founded in 211 and is dedicated to the sea gods which are the Sumiyoshi Sanjin (Sumiyoshi three gods) and the Empress Jingu. It's the headquarters of the approximately 2,300 Sumiyoshi shrines nationwide. About 2.35 million people visited the shrine during the first three days of the New Year in 2013. Then we'll move to Sakai-higashi Station by train. You can see a panoramic view of Osaka city including Abeno Harukas.
Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine, the Largest Burial Mounds in Japan