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Best of Osaka with locals: Food, Culture & a few secrets!
I fell in love with Osaka and it's people (I even married a local!), so come with us and see what makes this city so great! I speak English and Japanese, and my husband is a Japanese photographer (with optional portrait souvenirs), so we'll handle the stress for you while we take you on a highlight run, sharing local secrets with you as we go. Our tours are customizable, so you can have the best experience.
Meeting Point
At your hotel or nearest station
Meeting Point: Your hotel or nearest station
We will meet here to start the tour and take the train to our next destination (I will help you figure out the transportation!)
We will take the train to our first stop on the tour.
Tennoji Abeno Harkuas - the tallest building in Japan!
Get a free bird's eye view of the city we are about to explore from Japan's tallest building!
We will stop by a discreet, free viewpoint so you can enjoy the highest view from a building in Japan!
Optional: stop by the Depachika, or boutique supermarket in the basement
Next, we will walk about 15 minutes to our next stop.
Shitennoji - the first Temple in Japan!
Visit the very first temple in all of Japan!
Shitennoji is an ancient temple and the birthplace of Buddhism in Japan. I'll share a little secret about its origins and deep ties to Osaka today.
Optional (included in tour price): visit the inner temple
We will then take the train a bit north for our next stop.
Osaka Castle
Visit the castle that decided the fate of Japan and made Osaka what it is today!
Here at this gorgeous castle, I'll let you in on some little-known history about how this castle came to be, including the rumored ghosts that live in it.
We will visit some little-known photo spots, stop by the shrine and then make our way down through the castle grounds toward our next stop.
(we won't be going inside the castle since it's a modernized building and isn't particularly interesting).
We will then take a very short (3 minute!) train to our next stop!
Tsuruhashi (Crane Bridge) and the diversity of Japan
Slip back in time and meet some of the locals representing the diversity of Japan. We'll explain a bit of how this area came to be and how it is a powerful part of Osaka.
This is a great place to get some small snacks and see Japan's not-so-secret Korean community.
Optional (included in tour price): grab a small street food snack
We will take another very short (3 minute!) train to our next stop!
Shinsekai - The New (old) World
We'll walk 7 minutes from the station into Shinsekai, or the "New World" as former Osakan's imagined it to be.
In this area, we will meet funky characters, get to know the local food culture, and see the beating heart of old Osaka, including some of it's not so polished parts.
Optional (not included in tour price): stop by and eat some local favorites, like kushikatsu (fried and lightly battered skewers) or play some retro games.
We will keep making our way north and walk about 10 minutes to our next stop.
Electric
Enter the Otaku side of Japan, and see all things pop-culture! "DenDen" or Electric Town is Namba's south side and is full of modern game centers, hobby shops etc.
Optional (not included in tour price): stop at a modern game center and/or do Purikura (unique Japanese photo booths)
We will walk 15 minutes north to our next and final two stops.
Hozenji Shrine - a moss-covered gift from ancient times
Come see an ancient moss-covered statue, and, if you'd like, make a wish! This small temple and shrine are a great way to take a moment to refresh amidst the noise and neon of the area and we will chat briefly about what secrets this statue and area have seen.
we will walk a short 3 minutes to our final stop.
Dotonbori - the ridiculously famous riverfront
We'll end our tour here in Osaka's ancient, booming night district. This is a great spot for photos, food and drinks, and we'll talk briefly about how these rivers are the true heart of Osaka, even to this day.
We know where to take a great photo with the Glico sign!
Optional (price not included in tour): eat some local famous food like Okonomiyaki or Takoyaki
We can part ways here or help you get back to your hotel, whichever works best!
We hope you fell in love with the wild city that is Osaka!
At your hotel or nearest station (or wherever you want to end the tour!)
We will finish our tour by making sure you get to where you need to! Whether it's back to your hotel, or on for more fun, let us know and we will assist!
Ending Point
At your hotel or nearest station (or wherever you want to end the tour!)
Want to personalize this tour?
- Our tours can be customized according to your needs and preferences
- Click below to tell us what you are looking for:
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee
Japanese translation services & photography by guide's husband
Entry to Shitennoji main hall
Snack at Tsuruhashi
Transportation fee for trains
Lunch, dinner or meals
5-Yen coins (if doing donations/prayers at shrines or temples)
Game Center fees (for game use)
Purikura fees
Tour Important Information
Reach out to me any time before the tour with any questions or concerns. I'm here to help, whether it's planning what to wear, how to plan for the day, or even how to wash your clothes at the hotel etc.
I'm here to support you so that you can have the travel experience of a lifetime here in Japan!
* All of our tours are customizable, so reach out and send me a message with your interests, hobbies, or questions.
* Please wear appropriate shoes/clothes for walking and the weather
* If possible, please purchase a Suica train pass or a day pass before the tour. If you need assistance, let me know! If needed, we can take brief taxis or adjust the tour to your walking level, however we do not currently offer tours by private car.
* No gratuities needed!
*Professional Japanese Photographer available on weekends only
Important message from the guide
I prefer to work morning and day tours if possible (until early evening is fine).
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
Osaka Tour Reviews
Matthew M.
Best of Osaka with locals: Food, Culture & a few secrets!
“A local look at Osaka ”
We took a tour with Leslie in December 2022. We told her we were interested in some local spots and history. We were wowed by the different spots Leslie showed us and the stories she shared about those places throughout the city. My mom has never been to Japan and found everything fascinating and Leslie gave a clear background for her. For me I am pretty familiar with Osaka but was surprised at the things I didn’t know about areas I have already been too. Especially the Moss shrine in Namba! I never knew about it even though I’ve been to the city so many times. On top of that my mom who has issues walking, but Leslie was very accommodating to those limitations and planned a route with good accessibility. Likewise, she was able to find restaurants that accommodate our diet, I am vegetarian, my mom is allergic to beef and pork, making dining out in Japan a little difficult at times, but Leslie was kindly able to help speak with waiters to make sure we didn’t have any meat in our dishes! Most importantly though she was very flexible and often asked what we were more interested in, giving choices for us along the way. This could best match our interests, and when we weren’t sure she made great choices. We were interested in local history, which Leslie gave many interesting insights for! This is always the mark of a good guide, and a clear sign that she knows the areas she is showing people very well. This made my mom and I feel at ease while traveling. All in all, our tour was great and we felt really comfortable with Leslie. She’s a great guide who is friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable!
Leslie B.
(1 reviews)Thank you both so much for spending the day with me! You both are such bright and funny people and you brought such can-do attitudes to the somewhat challenging aspects and last minute changes due to accessibility. I hope you made wonderful memories together and with me! I know I have good memories to keep!! I also hope your mom’s first trip to Japan was enough to get a taste for the different aspects of Japan. Again, thank you both so much!
