Osaka Highlights, Best for the first timer
Joined 2019
There are a lot of places to visit, a lot of things to do in Osaka. From historical sites to food venders hopping. CHOOSE 3-4 places you want to visit from the list below and let me know. I will customize a tour for you.
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 Osaka
Osaka Castle
The main castle building was reconstructed in 1931. There still remains 13 buildings of the Edo Era (16th-19th century). 60-90 minutes
Admission to the mail castle building; JPY1200
Kuromon Market Food Venders Hopping
Local market with a long history. Visited by 18000 people daily. Fish, fruits, drinks, there are 170 stores here and “order to go hopping” available.
Dotombori Streets
This is the busiest area in Osaka. There are a lot of restaurants, shops and entertainment facilities here.
Shin Sekai and Tsutenkaku Tower
Pictures taken in this area sometimes represent the image of Osaka. Tsutenkaku Tower, Blow fish signboard, Billy Ken Deity and more.
Spend time as much as you want.
Nippon-bashi (sub culture center)
Otaku(geek) Road
“Sacred” place for pop culture like amine, manga and figures . Want to visit some of the stores? Spend as much as you want.
Maid Café
Want to visit a maid café? Need some courage? Do not worry. Have a lot of fun at a maid café. Spend time as much as you want. Cost; JPY1000-3500 per person
Shitenoji Temple
This temple was established in 593 and is the first temple established by the Law.
Admission; JPY500
Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine and Local Hankai Tramways
Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine was established in the 7th century to enshrine the deity of the sea.
Four of the shrine buildings are designated as national treasures. Admission free.
Local Tram ride available to and from Tennoji Terminal.
Abeno Harukas
This 300m high building is the tallest building in Japan. You will have a 360degree view of Osaka from the observation deck on the 60th floor. Admission to the observation deck;JPY2,000 per person. Free observation deck on the 19th floor is opened for tourists.
Umeda Sky Building
Admission to the observation deck; JPY2000per person.
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Admission; JPY2300 per person.
Ukiyoe Museum
Tea Ceremony Experince
From JPY3,900
Ask for details
Historic town of Tondabayashi
Tondabayashi is a town that developed centered by a temple in the 17th century.
The good old Japan of from the late 19th century to the early 20th century still remains here. Among them, the former Sugiyama residence is a merchant house built more than 300 years ago, we will visit the inside of it along with the Tanaka family residence, which was a former landlord.
It takes 30 minutes one way to Tondabayashi from city center Tennoji.
JPY500 for former Shugiyama residence
Hiking to Minoo Waterfall
There is a hiking trail in Osaka. Minoh is a 30-minute train ride from city center Umeda. We will hike for 40-minute from the station to Minoo Waterfall in the green with stops at canyons, shrines, and temples.
It takes four hours for a round trip from city center Umeda.
Katsuo-ji, Darma dolls temple
Founded in the 8th century, this temple is famous for its many Dharma dolls dedicated to praying for victory. It is an hour away from Umeda, the center of Osaka, by subway and bus one way. A seven-hour tour is also possible in combination with Minoo Otaki.
TeamLab Botanical Garden
TeamLab Botanical Garden opens at 7:00pm
JPY1,600
Ending Point
TBD
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 Down Town Osaka)
Insurance
Transportation fare for guests and guide
Entrance fees for guestsand guide
Lunch
Drinks
Tour Important Information
As this is a SUBWAY and WALKING tour, comfortable shoes are recommended.
Choose 3-4 places from the list that you want to visit, then I will customize a tour for you.
Tours are NOT covered by insurance.
Transportation fare(subway rides), entrance fees, lunch and drinks for GUESTS and GUIDE are NOT included in the guide fee.
Direct payment for these cost will be occurred in CASH on the spot on the day of the tour.
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 2019
About Tour Guide Hiroyuki T.
Hi!
I had been working for Wakayama Prefectural Government for 38 years, mainly in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations. I am a national certificated English guide and I have a lot of knowledge and experience in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations.
I am very good at cultural heritages.
And Koyasan and Kumano in Wakayama Prefecture are inscribed in the World Heritage List as parts of “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range". I was a project manager of "the Koyasan and Kumano World Heritage Inscription Project” at Wakayama Prefectural Government. I know inside and out of Koyasan, Kumano, Wakayama and other places in the Kansai area.
I have a lot of experience of guiding as I was also in charge of international relations for a long time at the government.
I will be able to provide interpretive guiding service for you around Koyasan, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka and other places as I was a cultural heritage management and international relations professional.
I am sure you will be able to get deeper understandings on Japanese culture and that your trip with me will be memorable one.
If you need a good guide in the Tokyo area, I have a friend on GoWithGuide I can recommend you!
Reviews
Joel G.
“Excellent Guide”
Hiroyuki-san was a patient and thoughtful guide to Kyoto.
Arlene N.
“Osaka Hidden Gem”
This was another memorable day tour with Hiroyuki, and my sister and I had a great time exploring different parts of Osaka. In keeping with his story-telling style, Mr Hiro shared his knowledge of the city, its architecture and its history, adding to the richness of the tour experience. My sister walks with a cane and Mr Hiro took extra care with her while we were navigating through subways and train stations, and along garden paths and old city streets. Thank you for your kindness and patience. We can’t wait to return for more tours with Hiroyuki.
Hiroyuki T.
Yes, same here! I cannot wait to see you again. See you again next year! Hiro
Chris R.
“If you're looking for a deeper, more meaningful way to experience Kyoto, this tour is it.”
To start, Hiroyuki helped us navigate the complexities of Kyoto’s public transit system and translated at ticket counters and restaurants, allowing us to use our time more efficiently and focus less on logistics and more on appreciating Kyoto’s rich culture and beauty. That alone would have made the tour worth it. But what Hiroyuki offered went far beyond that. In just one day, we learned almost as much about Japanese spirituality, culture, and religious history as we would in an introductory college course. He gave us an engaging, accessible introduction to the core philosophies of Shinto, as well as Zen Buddhism, Pureland Buddhism, and their influences from Hinduism. His explanations struck the perfect balance: clear and compelling, full of insight without ever feeling overwhelming or academic. (He even wove in humor and pop culture references that resonated with our teenagers!) Thanks to that, each Shinto shrine, Buddhist temple, and Zen garden we visited carried deeper meaning---we weren’t just seeing beautiful places; we were beginning to understand what they represent. Hiroyuki also went the extra mile, helping us choose restaurants based on our preferences and even adjusting the tour route to end near our evening shopping and dining plans. We left Kyoto with a deeper appreciation of it, thanks to Hiroyuki’s incredible gift for bringing Japan’s history, spirituality, and culture vividly to life.
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for spending time with me in Kyoto. Kyoto is the place! It is always nice to see people from Utah. I have a lot of beautiful memories there. It is good to know that you liked the tour and I like people like you who pay a lot of respect to our cultural and religions. Thank you very much once again, hope to see you again in the future, if I live long.
$279/ per group
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