Rich with culture, history, and flavor, Osaka has a lot to offer travelers, which is why it’s a popular addition to many Japanese sightseeing itineraries. Whether it’s your first visit or a return trip, the city offers endless ways to have fun, from the outstanding food that has given Osaka its reputation as “the kitchen of Japan,” to vibrant shopping districts, and picturesque landmarks perfect for travel photos.
However, with limited time and so much to see, proper planning becomes an essential first step.

Check out our new 3-day Osaka itinerary for some fresh ideas on how to explore the city from north to south, spending each day in a new Osaka neighborhood you won’t want to miss!

Osaka Day 1: The Umeda Area, Northern Osaka

Start your first day in Umeda, the hub of northern Osaka, and a great stop for shopping lovers. Located in Kita Ward, Umeda may not always be the first area that comes to mind when you think of sightseeing in Osaka, but if you want to experience a little of the Osaka lifestyle and see where locals hang out, this is the place to go. The Umeda area is packed with massive shopping facilities, cafes, restaurants, and scenic viewpoints, and it’s easily accessible via multiple train lines, making it one of Osaka’s major transportation hubs.

Grand Front Osaka

Once you’ve got your bearings in Umeda, we recommend starting your trip at Grand Front Osaka, sometimes referred to as the gateway to Osaka, thanks in part to its convenient direct connection to Osaka Station. Inside, you’ll find fashion, places to eat and relax, and even green spaces where you can stretch your legs, thoughtfully integrated throughout the complex. Despite being a large shopping mall in the city center, it’s pleasant to walk around and perfect for easing into your Osaka trip with some light shopping, although serious shoppers will almost certainly leave with bags in hand!

Grand Front Osaka (グランフロント大阪)
4-20 Ofukacho, Kita Ward, Osaka
Hours: shops 11:00 – 21:00 | restaurants 11:00 – 23:00 | hours may vary by store
Directions: about 3~5 min on foot from JR Osaka Station’s North Gate
Official Website (jp)

After a leisurely stroll through the mall, it’s time to refuel!
For our first meal, we’ll be stopping at Sanuki Udon Shabu-Shabu Kumeya, located less than five minutes from Grand Front Osaka.

Sanuki Udon Shabu-Shabu Kumeya

Ready to try some Japanese hot-pot in Japan? This restaurant offers a shabu-shabu and sukiyaki buffet, with Japanese beef and pork served alongside unlimited vegetables, udon noodles, and rice. Its popularity is proven, often found as a top-ranking Osaka shabu-shabu restaurant in international versions of the Tabelog app.

For those looking for lighter options, the restaurant also serves decadent “shokado” bento meals and “gozen” sets, beautifully arranged with seasonal ingredients.
Other menu highlights include rice bowls topped with pork katsu or tempura, hot-pot style “nabeyaki udon,” and other udon noodle dishes with beef or tempura – a wide variety perfect for groups with all kinds of different food preferences.

The restaurant is open from lunchtime until late evening, and while it specializes in shabu-shabu, the lunch menu is especially diverse. The restaurant’s best-selling lunch offering is actually the set that comes with kaisen-don (a seafood bowl) and tempura udon. If you want a quick and tasty lunch, it’s a convenient option, and the restaurant clearly welcomes foreign visitors. There are menus in English and Chinese, and accepted payment methods include UnionPay, Alipay, and WeChat Pay – convenient if you’re not used to carrying around a lot of cash.

Sanuki Udon Shabu-Shabu Kumeya (讃岐うどんとしゃぶしゃぶ 粂屋)
Daimaru Umeda 14F, 
3-1-1 Umeda, Kita Ward, Osaka
Hours: 11:00 – 22:00 (final order 21:30)
Directions: directly connected to JR Osaka Station 

Umeda Sky Building

Once you’ve had your fill at lunch, it’s time to get going, and since if you want to really make the most of your time in Osaka, it would be a shame to only shop while you’re in Umeda! To start the afternoon, it’s time to enjoy the panoramic views of Osaka provided by the Umeda Sky Building.

One of Umeda’s most iconic landmarks, instantly recognizable by its twin skyscraper design, the Umeda Sky Building rises 40 floors (over 173 meters) above the city, topped with an observatory that offers a sweeping, unobstructed view of Osaka far below.

The two towers are connected by a sky bridge on the 40th floor, and when viewed from below, it almost feels like a gateway to the sky.
At the very top, you’ll find a 360-degree open-air observation deck, where Osaka unfolds in even greater clarity. Visiting around sunset is especially magical, as time seems to slow, and the golden-orange light reflecting off the buildings makes it feel like the entire city has been set aglow.

The escalator tunnel connecting floors 35 to 39 is one of the most popular places to take photos (do be careful!), as you slide through the air and look out on the wild views outside. If you want to take some great photos to remember your time in Osaka, or just want to see this spectacular city view, this spot is worth a visit.

Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル)
1-1-88 Oyodonaka, Kita Ward, Osaka
Hours: 9:30 – 22:30
Directions: 7 min from JR Osaka Station / 9 min from Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station or Osaka Metro Umeda Station
Official Website (en)

Ohatsu Tenjin Shrine (Tsuyuno Tenjinsha)

Before dinner time, let’s make a quick stop at Ohatsu Tenjin Shrine, known in the Umeda area as a spot that might help you fulfill your dreams of love and romance.

Ohatsu Tenjin is a small, tranquil shrine nestled amid a lively area full of bars and restaurants. It’s famous as the setting of a legendary love story – the tragic romance of the courtesan Ohatsu and her star-crossed lover Tokubei, the nephew of a wealthy merchant. Forbidden from being together, the two chose to end their lives at this very shrine rather than be separated.
It may not have much of a happy ending, but due to that 18th century urban legend, many people visit the shrine to pray for love, hoping their relationships will be as strong and enduring as that of Ohatsu and Tokubei. (If you’re curious whether it really works, you’ll have to visit and try for yourself!)

Ohatsu Tenjin Shrine (Tsuyuno Tenjinsha) (露天神社 お初天神)
2-5-4 Sonezaki, Kita Ward, Osaka
Hours: 6:00 – 23:00
Directions: 10 min from JR Osaka Station / 5 min from Osaka Metro Higashi-Umeda Station / 8 min from Osaka Metro Umeda Station
Official Website (jp)

Yakiniku Rikimaru – Ohatsu Tenjin Branch

After a full day of sightseeing and shopping, it’s time for dinner, and when it comes to the perfect evening meal in Japan, many locals would agree on one answer: yakiniku barbecue.
To round out your first day in Osaka, head to Yakiniku Rikimaru – the Ohatsu Tenjin branch is just a 2-minute walk from the shrine.

Yakiniku Rikimaru is an obvious choice when you’re looking for yakiniku that’s delicious, convenient, and a good value, too. The restaurant is famous for its all-you-can-eat wagyu beef buffet, which even includes specialty items like wagyu beef sushi, but what truly sets this place apart for the connoisseurs is its commitment to fresh ingredients. The restaurant does not use frozen or processed meat, carefully preparing each and every bite to ensure diners can fully savor the natural flavor and freshness of Japan’s high-quality beef!

Some of the most popular items on the menu include the beef tongue and the four-cut assorted meat set, both of which are served in thick, satisfying slices. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also use this trip to Japan to branch out and try the “Sakura Yukke,” made with fresh horse meat, offering a clean flavor that carnivores will love.

The restaurant is open from 11:30 until midnight, making it a convenient option even if you’re out late. If you need a spot to really recharge your batteries during a busy Osaka trip, Yakiniku Rikimaru will not only leave you full and satisfied, but also let you get back to sightseeing as soon as you’re ready. If you’re a wagyu enthusiast, or just love a good buffet, this restaurant is a must on your Osaka itinerary.

Yakiniku Rikimaru Ohatsu Tenjin Branch (焼肉力丸 お初天神店)
Hachiko Building
B1, 2-8-9 Sonezaki, Kita Ward, Osaka
Hours: Tue~Sun 11:30 – 24:00 | Mon 16:00 – 24:00 | closed for the New Year’s holidays (12/31~1/2, 2026)
Directions: 4 min from Higashi-Umeda Station Exit 7 / 8 min from Umeda Station
Official Website (jp)

Osaka Day 2: The Namba Area, Southern Osaka

After checking out the northern part of Osaka, for day two, it’s time to head south to spend some time exploring the lively streets of Namba! This urban city center is bursting with color and nonstop energy, with everything from major commercial streets (especially along Shinsaibashi) to iconic sightseeing spots like Dotonbori, filled with dazzling neon signs and famous eateries. The neighborhood is busy and full of fun, no matter the hour, day or night.

Shinsaibashi Shopping

Start the day in Shinsaibashi, one of Osaka’s most famous shopping destinations, where shops line both sides of the Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street for over 600 meters, featuring everything from well-known apparel brands and shoe stores to cosmetics shops and souvenirs.

Although you’ll also find a selection of big shopping facilities in the area, and a line of designer boutiques along Midosuji-dori Street, many visitors flock to the covered Shinsaibashi-suji shopping arcade to enjoy the full shopping experience without worrying about the weather. With a mix of luxury brands, street fashion, and everything in between, travelers of all ages are bound to find something they like.

Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street (心斎橋筋商店街)
Chuo Ward, Osaka
Hours: hours vary, but most shops open around 10 or 11 am and close around 8 or 9 pm, while
restaurants generally open and close an hour or two later – please check individual shop hours before visiting
Directions: directly outside of Shinsaibashi Station Exit 1 or 2 / 10~12 min from Namba Station Exit 14

Dotonbori

Just a short walk from Shinsaibashi is the Dotonbori Canal and the busy surrounding streets, which together make up a small neighborhood with so much going on, that the whole area has become an iconic Osaka landmark – especially after dark. There’s a lot to see, but for many visitors the highlight is the Glico running man sign, now a symbol of Osaka. This may be one of the few places in the world where people raising their arms in the air and bending one leg at the knee for photos feels completely normal.

Dotonbori is already impressive during the day, but at night, when the neon signs light up and the street food smells waft through the air, the atmosphere is unforgettable. The glowing signs, which first became a local trend in the 1930s, feel deeply nostalgic and uniquely modern at the same time.

Of course, day or night, after you’ve taken your fill of pictures you’ll want to fill your stomach. Dotonbori is a hub for Osaka street food, including local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu! Plus, with so many shops to browse and so much to see, you can spend hours here without getting bored.

Dotonbori (道頓堀)
1 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka
Hours: hours vary, but the area is lively from mid-morning until late at night
Directions: 5~7 min from Namba Station Exit 14 or 15 (Namba Walk) / 7~10 min from Shinsaibashi Station Exit 6 or 7

Edion – Namba Main Store

After enjoying the lively rush of shopping outdoors, you can head inside and take your time at Edion’s Namba Main Store, an enormous, full-service electronics retailer located in the heart of Namba! Edion is known for electronics, but this store in particular has a lot more to offer, with shopping, dining, and even a little sightseeing entertainment all in one building.

The building’s layout is simple, and many shoppers start by stopping by the 4th floor, where you’ll find luggage storage and a genuine powder room (for women only), so you can start your shopping trip feeling fresh and ready. The 6th floor features a food area with a selection of Japanese food and snacks, including traditional Osaka-style sweets and sake. The 8th floor is where you’ll find the “Ninja Trick House,” where you can meet ninjas, and then try becoming one yourself, before checking out the gift shop for ninja-themed merch (like stainless steel water bottles)! Finally, the 9th floor’s Ramen Ichiza area features branches of famous ramen restaurants from around Japan, offering a convenient opportunity to try a selection of different ramen types in one place.

On top of all the food and fun, Edion’s main branch in Namba sells everything from home appliances and cosmetics to food and other daily necessities, making it a good place to get a lot of shopping done at once. With free wi-fi available throughout the building, tax-free procedures available at the service counter, and multilingual support, even travelers new to Japan will find a hassle-free shopping experience.

*Ninja costumes are based on historical records depicting traditional ninja imagery.

Edion Namba Main Store (エディオン なんば本店)
3-2-18 Namba, Chuo Ward, Osaka
Hours:
　Floors 1~6: 10:00 – 21:00
　Floors 7~8: 10:00 – 22:00
　Floor 9 (Restaurants): 11:00 – 23:00 (final order 22:30)
Directions: 2 min from Osaka Metro Namba Station Exit 1
Official Website (en)

Namba Yasaka Shrine

Once you’ve got all your shopping done, it’s time to seek out some good fortune and traditional Japanese vibes. Not far from the hustle and bustle of Shinsaibashi and Namba, you’ll find a quiet hidden gem – Namba Yasaka Shrine – considered on of Osaka’s spiritual “power spots.”

The focal point of this compact shrine is undoubtedly the enormous lion-dog head, which towers over visitors at a whopping 12 meters in height. With its mouth wide open at the center of the grounds, the view is striking even before you step inside! Lion-dogs are often placed as guardians on either side of a shrine, but this giant lion-dog head is believed to devour misfortune and bring good luck and success in its place. Of course, the impressive visual presence means that many visitors come not just for a blessing, but also to take some great travel photos. If you’re visiting Osaka and looking for a beautiful location that will also give you a boost of good luck, this shrine won’t disappoint.

Namba Yasaka Shrine (難波八阪神社)
2-9-19 Motomachi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka
Hours: 6:30 – 17:00
Directions: 10 min from Namba Station, 12 min from Shinsaibashi Station

Ebi Sin

When you’re ready for dinner in the Namba-Shinsaibashi area, it’s time to indulge in a sinfully delicious bowl of ramen that’s not only rare, but truly one of a kind, at Ebi Sin. Seafood lovers will be happy to hear that what makes this place truly special is its use of lobster (a variety the Japanese refer to using the French word “homard”), as the delicious crustacean is used as the main ingredient for both the broth and toppings.

Plus, as a Japankuru reader, you can even order a Special Lobster Ramen, a truly impressive 10,000 yen bowl made with an enormous lobster three times the size of their usual lobsters – only available while supplies last.
(Preparation takes about 20~30 minutes, so just make sure you have plenty of time in your schedule to enjoy it.)

If you’re more of a sashimi person, the restaurant also serves an authentic Japanese-style Maguro Rice Bowl, featuring generous portions and multiple cuts of fresh, and melt-in-your-mouth tuna.

Whether you order lobster, tuna, or anything else, the restaurant is passionate about their premium ingredients sourced from across Japan, and the chefs craft each dish with great attention to detail. Their commitment to quality has earned Ebi Sin a strong following among both tourists and locals, making it well worth a taste when in Osaka.

Ebi Sin (ゑび真)
Ameson Square, 2-8-33 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka
Hours: lunch 11:30 – 15:00 | dinner 17:30 – 23:30
Directions: 5 min from Namba Station / 7~8 min from Shinsaibashi Station

Osaka Day 3: Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan is a must on many people’s Osaka itineraries, and we get it – you’ve come all this way, how could you skip a trip to the famous “USJ”? For your third day in Osaka, dive into a full day of excitement, and enjoy the park’s roller coasters, collab areas, and the wide variety of attractions.

The Universal Studios Japan theme park is truly a magnet for visitors from around Japan as well as international travelers, and a lot of that is thanks to all the immersive fun. The park invites you to experience Hollywood hits for yourself, or enter new worlds you’ve only seen on screens! These days, that includes beloved Japanese creations – enter the park’s Super Nintendo World and you find yourself dropped inside the rich universe of Nintendo video games, ready to experience it all yourself through all the different attractions!

Universal Studios Japan (ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン)
2-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka
Hours: hours vary, see the official website for details
Directions: 5 min from Universal City Station
Official Website (en)

© Nintendo
Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2025 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.

Hotel Universal Port

Aegean Deluxe Room / Vita Deluxe Twin Room

After spending all day rushing from one attraction to another, making the most of every moment at the amusement park, wouldn’t it be amazing if you could get straight to your hotel instead of dealing with the long trip home?
If you’ve ever had that thought, you’ll want to consider Hotel Universal Port and Hotel Universal Port Vita. These neighboring sister hotels are both official partner hotels of Universal Studios Japan, and they’re less than 5 minutes from the theme park. Book your stay here to beat the early-morning rush, or get back to your room in no time, even after a very full day of fun!

The guest rooms are decorated with bright, playful colors to match the theme park atmosphere, but the Aegean Deluxe Room’s design – inspired by the Aegean Sea – still feels like a relaxing oasis. Larger families and friends traveling together will also be happy to see that connecting rooms are available, making it simple for guests traveling together to stay close by.
Another option is the Vita Deluxe Twin Room, which offers 35~37 square meters of space to accommodate up to four guests.

The hotels offer a full-scale breakfast buffet, served in restaurants with a whimsical “Treasure Hunting” design, including plenty of sailing and island decor.
Guests staying at either Hotel Universal Port or Hotel Universal Port Vita are also free to have breakfast at either one, so even during longer stays, breakfast won’t get boring. Fill up on the most important meal of the day, and you’ll be ready to take on another busy morning at the theme park.

Hotel Universal Port (ホテル ユニバーサル ポート)
1-1-111 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka
Check-in: 15:00 – 23:59 | Check-out: ~11:00
Directions: 4 min from JR Universal-City Station
Official Website (en)

Hotel Universal Port Vita (ホテル ユニバーサル ポート ヴィータ)
6-1-16 Shimaya, Konohana Ward, Osaka
Check-in: 15:00 – 23:59 | Check-out: ~11:00
Directions: 2 min from JR Universal-City Station
Official Website (jp)

Start Planning Your 3-Day Osaka Itinerary to Enjoy Your Trip to the Fullest

Osaka is a big city with deep history and culture to entertain you for a lifetime, but with this simple three-day itinerary, you’ll get a good first look! From the bustling, cutting-edge shopping of Umeda in the north, to the fun, photo spots, and flavors of Namba in the south – Osaka is packed with shopping, culinary culture, and so much entertainment. Add these three areas to your Osaka travel plans, and you’ll leave with memories to last a lifetime!

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