Exploring Osaka
8,000 years ago, Osaka slept under a large seashore lake. This city of lake later turned to a city of smoke and eventually grew into the 2nd key international city after Tokyo. Birth place of industry in Japan, such as bank, insurance, steel, machinery, spinning, medicine, ship building, electrical appliance, etc. Touching days of Osaka ,Then and Now.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel in Kansai District (Kansai = City of Osaka, Kyoto, Nara or Kobe)
To meet you at your hotel lobby, with Gowithguide welcome sign board your name on. Followed after brief tour orientation, we start the tour of the day
We take you to Osaka METRO station or JR, private railway station whichever the station closer to your hotel. We will arrive at Osaka castle park in 30 min by Osaka METRO or JR railway.
Osaka castle … Landmark of Osaka, with the castle keep set up as history museum.
We walk through Otemon gate and Sakuramon gate or Aoyamon Gate and Gokuraku-bashi bridge to lead us Main Tower of Osaka castle. At Main Tower, we go up at first 8F observation deck by elevator so you enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of Osaka city from 50m above the ground, thereafter to down to 7F to 1F by stairs. 7th floor the life of Hideyoshi Toyotomi who built Osaka castle and succeeded in unifying the entire nation in 16th century, 5 floor Scenes from "The Summer War in Osaka" folding screen to visualize with images and miniature figures, 4th floor Hideyoshi Toyotomi and his area with various displays asssociated with Hideyoshi Toyotomi and other artifacts, records of the Sengoku are (the age of provincial wars), 3rd floor exhibits of historical artifact selections, full-scale replica of the Golden Tea Room, Osaka Castle History at a Glance, exhibition catalogue shop, 2nd floor displays panels about Osaka castle, replica of the SHACHI (a gargoyle, legendary dolphin-shaped fish) and FUSETORA (crouching tiger), 1st floor information counter and museum shop
Umeda Sky Building … The 40th storey 173 m skyscraper and you can enjoy open-air walk & paramount 360 degree view of Osaka at the top of the building.
To visit a spectacular high rise building, a landmark known as a spot of floating-garden, sky walk observatory deck on the 39th floor that offers a spectacular paranomatic view in the expansive Yodo River, a beautiful sunset, or the nightscape of Osaka. Open to the air atop of the building, the circular corridor, mid-air escalator offer you an unforgetable experience. Umeda Sky Building consists of two main towers which are connected each other like a Giant Gantry. In 2008, the British paper The Times called it Japan's only architectural structure that is one of the Top 20 Building around the world. A replica of a Japanese street of the early Showa Period (1930s) named Takino-Koji (side street) is also worth visiting on the first basement floor of Umeda Sky Building.
Shin-sekai ... It means “New World”, entertainment spot then named “NEW”. You can visit the
Shin-sekai's northern half was designed copied after Paris, a district that was developped before the world war II. Tsutenkaku tower, built in 1912 after Paris' Eiffle Tower, then the hightest landmark in Osaka, is a nostalgia envoking symbol of Shin-sekai. The current tower is 103m high, with the main observatory at a height of 91 meters.
Kuromon-market & Doton-bori area ... Opened in 1822. You can take a quick bite for today’s catch or fresh fruits over small fishery, food shops
To end this day tour at your hotel. Will arrive later if you stay in Kyoto or Nara.
Ending Point
At your hotel in Kansai District (Kansai = City of Osaka, Kyoto, Nara or Kobe)
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included:
*Travel expense as required for the guide to travel with customers by means of public transportation such as train, subway, bus.
Travel expenses for the guide included herein are limited within Kansai district (Kansai district = City of Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Kobe)
*Admission fees, tickets for the guide as might be incurred at Umeda Sky Building, castles, temples, shrines or the like.
*Meals, drinks or the like for the guide during the tour
*Any tax or the like as might be incurred by the guide in Japan
*Gratuity
Not included:
*Fees to cruise river or sea or the like for the guide
*Tickets for Universal Studio Japan, museum or the like for the guide as might be required at private or public
entertainment facilities.
Tour Important Information
Numerous bridges, avenues, streets in Osaka were named after those people who contributed communities through their businesses, such as Yodoya-bashi bridge, Doton-bori steet etc. Sometimes you might be lost in a huge maze in underground shops, restaurants which were constructed deep under the ground in central Osaka. You can enjoy the dynamism of city of water, Osaka in this tour, then and now on.
Suggest purchasing a day pass "Enjoy-Echo-Card" on sale at every subway, bus station for this tour
- IMPORTANT -
Not suitable for tours with infants, children, senior people, wheelchairs and strollers.
Be quiet and respectful in Temples and Shrines complex
Remove hats and sunglasses in front of main sanctuary in Temples, Shrines
Not to touch old buildings, old remains and objects
Not to take pictures where prohibited in Temples and Shrnes complex
Take your shoes off before stepping on tatami
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
About Tour Guide Masahisa M.
Lived in Chicago (5 years), Toronto (1 year), Singapore (2 years), Indonesia (4 years) and Birmingham, UK (11 years) to construct business platform, now retired after 40
years employment in Japan. Dynamic tour guide who develops many different ways along with rich experience overseas to entertain large or small tour groups. Enjoys the interaction with tour groups, very strong group presentation and communication skills, finds each guest question as an opportunity to learn anything new. Constantly learning information about each tour spot to enhance tours. Guided 9,618 guests all over the world across Japan as of September 30, 2026 since Feb 2015.
Reviews
Carly A.
“Osaka tour with Masahisa”
*****An Unforgettable Osaka Experience with Masahisa!** Our tour with Masahisa was absolutely fantastic and one of the highlights of our time in Osaka. From the very start, he tailored the day to our interests and showed us parts of the city we would never have discovered on our own. His knowledge of Osaka’s history, culture, and traditions was incredible. Every location came alive with fascinating stories and insights that gave us a much deeper appreciation of the city. Masahisa truly takes the time to show you the “real” Osaka, far beyond the typical tourist attractions. What impressed us most was his expertise navigating the city. We travelled by train throughout the day, and he seemed to know every station, platform, and exit by heart without ever needing to stop and check directions! His organisation made the day seamless and stress-free. Masahisa was warm, friendly, patient, and genuinely passionate about sharing his city with us. Just be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes because you’ll be exploring plenty and making the most of every moment! Thank you, Masahisa-san, for an amazing day and unforgettable memories. **Arigatou gozaimasu, Masahisa-san! We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Osaka.
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Masahisa M.
Carly It was my great pleasure to show you a different side of Osaka as per your request, especially its traditional shopping arcades that fortunately survived the air raids of World War II. I imagine you all must be quite tired after walking through so many shopping streets over such a long day, especially while still adjusting to the time difference. Please take good care of yourselves and make sure to get enough rest as you continue exploring Kyoto and the other destinations in Japan. I sincerely hope you all enjoy every remaining moment of your journey in Japan and return home safely with many happy and unforgettable memories. Thank you again for visiting us from afar. Thanks Masahisa
Carmen R.
“A perfect day with Masahisa. ”
Masahisa really went out of his way to show us some beautiful sites away from the touristy route and spent over his time schedule to show us more interesting areas of the city and to pass on to us his love and knowledge of the country. He was very energetic, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. We throughly recomend booking with Masahisa.
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Masahisa M.
Carmen Thank you for coming all the way to Kyoto from so far away, and it was truly my pleasure to share Kyoto with you. The Rakusai area still preserves, albeit only in small traces, the refined court culture of the Imperial Family and the aristocracy of old Japan. I hope you were able to catch a glimpse of its elegant atmosphere and feel a little of its lingering spirit. I also hope you enjoyed experiencing the contrast between European stone culture and Japanese wooden culture. While European beauty is often found in grand, solid, symmetrical and seemingly eternal structures, Japanese aesthetics traditionally find beauty in simplicity, imperfection, asymmetry, fragility and the transience of life. These are, in many ways, two very different ways of appreciating beauty. As you continue your journey through Nara and Osaka before returning home, I sincerely wish you all a safe and memorable trip, and hope you all return home safely with wonderful memories of Japan. Thanks Masahisa
Jonathan Y.
“Wonderful Time Exploring Kyoto with Masahisa”
My wife and I, from the Chicago area, spent nearly two wonderful days exploring Kyoto with Masahisa M., and we highly recommend him. Masahisa is knowledgeable, energetic, and genuinely enjoys sharing Japan's history and culture. We visited famous sites such as Fushimi Inari, Tenryu-ji, and Katsura Imperial Villa, as well as several beautiful and meaningful places that are less known to tourists. His explanations added so much depth to what we were seeing, and he also gave us great suggestions for places to visit independently. He keeps a brisk pace and knows how to navigate Kyoto efficiently, which allowed us to see far more than we could have managed by ourselves. He also took us to an authentic local restaurant that we would never have found on our own. Masahisa is friendly, personable, and fun to spend time with. We enjoyed hearing his perspectives on Japanese culture and even talking a little about the Chicago Bears. As we got accustomed to each other's speaking styles, Masahisa was always patient and happy to repeat information or jot down notes when helpful. We especially appreciated his thoughtfulness. He took photos of us throughout the tour and later surprised us with printed copies, a gesture that perfectly reflects the extra care he shows his guests. Masahisa is a true gentleman who goes the extra mile to make sure his guests have a memorable experience. Thanks to him, our time in Kyoto was one of the highlights of our trip to Japan.
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Masahisa M.
Jonathan I truly enjoyed spending those two wonderful days with you in Kyoto. It was especially enjoyable for me to meet a couple from the Windy City, where I once lived, and to share memories of the golden era of the Chicago Bears. Sadly, Mike Ditka passed away this year, and there have also been some upsetting reports that the Chicago Bears might eventually become the Hammond Bears. Although much of Kyoto's traditional atmosphere has unfortunately been lost through commercialization and modern tourism, I was very happy that I could introduce you to a few special places where the elegance and tranquility of Kyoto's imperial court culture have been carefully preserved, thanks in part to the efforts of the Japanese government. It was a real pleasure and an honor to share some of Kyoto's history and culture with you. Thank again for visiting Kyoto all the way from Wilmette. Thanks Masahisa
$284/ per group
More tours by Masahisa M.
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Exploring Kyoto in Rakutou (East) and Rakuchu (Central)
Kyoto is known as exotic sightseeing places and numerous historic, quaint old monuments are seen all over the town. This tour covers part of Rakutou (East district) and Central district. Visiting Rakutou, Gion, Yasaka-jinja shrine, Kodai-ji temple, Kiyomizu-dera temple are the most famous sightseeing spots in Kyoto. Particularly well known for the deity of love and marriage in Rakutou area.
Exploring Kyoto in Rakutou (East) and Rakuchu (Central)
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Exploring Kyoto in Rakusai (West) and Rakuchu (Central)
Kyoto is known as exotic sightseeing places and numerous historic, quaint old monuments are seen all over the town. This tour covers part of Rakusai (West district) and Central district. Visiting Rakusai , Tenryu-ji temple represents the Kitayama culture. Nijyo-jo castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace in Rakuchu (Central district) are the cultural center during Heian, Momoyama and Edo periods.
Exploring Kyoto in Rakusai (West) and Rakuchu (Central)
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Exploring Nara, Nara Pref
Nara is ideal for those who wish to see not only numerous historical structures but also to touch, feed wild deers roaming freely around in the Nara Park. There are 8 UNESCO heritages in Nara spotted sparsely in the historic regions which have full of rich tales in Nara period (from 710 to 794). Visiting 4 UNESCO heritages (3 temples and 1 shrine) in this tour in addition to one Japanese garden.
Exploring Nara, Nara Pref
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Exploring Kobe, Hyogo
Kobe come to a vital life again from intense earthquake that hit on Jan 17, 1995. Kobe always creates us a resplendent, exotic mood that the cosmopolitan city has. The old foreign settlement where sophisticated modern architecture still remains upper town must be the reason to ferment that atmosphere and give the period of cosmopolitan flavor. At Meriken Wharf, you can hear the whistles of ships and touch cultural history in this city.
Exploring Kobe, Hyogo
Other Popular Day Trip Tours in Osaka
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Visiting Nara from Osaka ~truly the must-see place in Japan~
Nara: the must-see place in Japan. Nara was the capital of ancient Japan before Kyoto became the capital. In the Nara era, Buddhism played an important role in stabilizing the country. So you can see many big old temples there. Many of these are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and are concentrated in a small area. So, if you have only one free day to spend in the Kansai area, I highly recommend visiting Nara.
Visiting Nara from Osaka ~truly the must-see place in Japan~
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Osaka All-in-One: Castle, Street Food, Markets and Hidden Alleys
Experience the full depth of Osaka in one day — from the grandeur of its most iconic castle to the lively canal-side streets of Dotonbori, the freshest bites at Kuromon Market, and the retro charm of Shinsekai.
Osaka All-in-One: Castle, Street Food, Markets and Hidden Alleys
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Customized Private Tour in Osaka
This is customized private tour in Osaka which guest can make easily by selecting any spots from a list of recommended tourist spots. The list consists of 17 tourist destinations divided by 3 area,North, South and Bay area that are popular among foreign tourists. After the guest's selection guide will arrange best itinerary with cost and feedback the guest proper offer for formal booking.
Customized Private Tour in Osaka
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Osaka Deep Dive Full-Day Tour – Classic Meets Local Life
Step into the vibrant energy of Osaka on this full-day walking tour! From historic castles to lantern-lit alleys, sizzling street food to pop culture hotspots, you’ll explore both iconic sights and hidden local gems. We’ll walk and use Osaka’s easy train system. Whether you're into history, food, temples, anime, or photography—this tour is fully customizable to match your pace and interests.
Osaka Deep Dive Full-Day Tour – Classic Meets Local Life
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