Planning a quick trip to Osaka, Japan? After exploring numerous cities in Japan, Osaka comes on top as my favorite. This Osaka itinerary covers how to best spend 2 days in the city, as well as the top things to do, what to eat, and where to stay in 2024.
Last Updated: May 7, 2024
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General Tips for Your Osaka Itinerary
Before I get into the Osaka itinerary, here is some important information and tips that every tourist should be aware of!
- Osaka is nicknamed Japan’s Kitchen, so make sure to come with a big appetite. It’s the city of kuidaore, which is interpreted as “eat until you go broke”!
- Osaka is a HUGE city with over 19 million inhabitants. The biggest tourist attraction is the downtown area of Dotonbori, where you’ll likely be spending most of your time.
- At the stores/food stalls/stores, pay close attention to the signage. Many vendors don’t allow pictures or videos!
- When eating street food, don’t walk around and eat. It’s considered rude in Japan. The polite thing to do is stand/sit somewhere until you finish eating.
Where to Stay in Osaka
For only two days in Osaka, the Minami district (including Dotonbori, Amerika-Mura, and its surrounding areas), are the best places to stay. You’ll be a short walking distance from all the city’s shopping, activities, and nightlife.
Getting Around Osaka
While in the Minami region, all the tourist areas are within a 10 or 15-minute walking distance. To get to other areas of the city, Osaka has an efficient subway system. I recommend buying an Osaka JR Pass.
Day 1 of the 2 Day Osaka Itinerary
The first day of the Osaka 2 Day itinerary is to explore Osaka’s most famous neighborhoods. You’ll be spending most of your time in the Minami area, which is one of Osaka’s two downtowns. For each place I mention, you can easily spend 2-5 hours exploring.
Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Arcade
Start your 2 day Osaka itinerary at one of the city’s most famous shopping hubs! The shopping arcade spans 8 blocks (600 meters) and is located just steps away from Dotonbori. There’s plenty of tax and duty-free shopping including kitchenware, cosmetics, fashion and clothing, character shops, and department stores.
I don’t even enjoy shopping much, but I easily found myself strolling and exploring the streets for hours. There’s something for everyone. It’s also the perfect activity for rainy weather since there’s a giant roof covering the pedestrian-only streets.
Don’t worry if you start to feel hungry, because the area has plenty of cafes, bars, restaurants, and street food.
Amerika Mura
Located just west of the shopping arcades, Amerika Mura (AKA Ame-mura) is a trendy area that’s popular among the youth. If the name wasn’t already a giveaway, this is Osaka’s version of “America Town”. The neighborhood has over 2,000 restaurants, stores, bars, and cafes.
There’s an emphasis on second-hand shops, Western-owned shops, and urban street style centered around bomber jackets, band tees, and Hawaiian shirts. I also found it especially interesting that they had “Wild West-Themed” bars.
While you’re in the area, stop into Streamer Coffee for a coffee. The iced caramel latte from Streamer was the BEST I had in all of Japan! The inside of the coffee shop is decked out with vintage skateboards along the walls, a row of outdoor seating, and bagels. (Another incredible cafe is LiLo.)
Or, have a drink at one of the neighborhood’s many foreigner-friendly bars.
Optional: Namba Yasaka Shrine
Only about a 10-minute walk from Amerika-Mura is one of Japan’s coolest shrines. It has a unique, grand lion head statue where the shrine itself is in the lion’s mouth! You’ll find many tourists taking a picture in front of it. Do remember, though, that all in all, it’s a real shrine and not a tourist attraction, so it’s up to you whether you think it’s worth adding to your Osaka itinerary.
Traveling to Kyoto, too? Check out my Ultimate First Timer’s Guide to Kyoto, Japan!
Dotonbori
No Osaka itinerary is complete without a visit to the iconic Dotonbori neighborhood! It’s best known for its extravagant colorful billboards and the wide variety of street foods. The area is characterized by the Dotonbori Canal and its surrounding streets.
While you’re here, you may notice many tourists with their hands in the air. Make sure to take a picture in front of the famous Glico Man advertisement. It’s one of the most photographed areas of Osaka and is a must-do for any tourist. Depending if there’s a special event going on, you may see different renditions of the sign.
Another fun thing to do in Dotonburi is to take a 20-minute Tombori river cruise down the Dotonbori canal. It departs from the Tazaemonbashi Bridge Boat dock.
For anyone in the mood to shop, there’s a HUGE Don Quijote that spans 6 stories and is easy to spot with a bright yellow Ferris wheel with views over the Dotonbori Canal. For anyone who doesn’t know what Don Quijote (people also call it “Donki”), it’s a national department store chain with discount prices. You’ll find everything from household goods to groceries.
Travel Tip: Don Quijote has a tax-free counter for tourists, so I recommend getting your souvenirs here.
Eat Street Food!
The streets of Dotonburi have HUNDREDS of street food stalls and restaurants, so come with an appetite. Especially at night, the streets are lit up with larger-than-life street food replicas above restaurants.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the street food options, but a good rule of thumb is to line up wherever you see a big line! Listed are some must-try street foods to eat while in Osaka.
Kushikatsu → This is a street food that’s primarily found in Osaka. It includes deep-fried meat and vegetables on skewers. You then dip it into a savory, Worcestershire and soy sauce-based sauce. It’s far from healthy but is super indulgent and delicious.
Okonomiyaki → a Japanese savory pancake similar to a frittata, often made with cabbage, eggs, tempura scraps, and pork belly. The sauce is often a mix of mayo and okonomiyaki sauce. The great thing about this dish is it’s super customizable. I got mine topped with beef and cheese.
Takoyaki → These are round, fried balls made with a thick, gooey batter. Inside is a chewy cut-up octopus, green onions, ginger, and other spices. It’s often served with bonito flakes on top, which are fermented tuna.
I also tried some ramen from Kinryu, a famous (and touristy) Osaka ramen shop. The eye-catching restaurant is known for its giant dragon signage. You order the ramen ticket from a vending machine and give it to the chef to make. Then, there’s a topping station with green onions, garlic, and spice to customize.
The shop has mixed reviews as it’s not as authentic or tasty as other ramen in the city. However, I still think it’s a great spot for a quick, easy meal to fit into this packed 2 days in Osaka itinerary.
Optional: Hozenji Yokocho
If you’re keen to drink, head just two blocks south of Dotonbori to Hozenji Yokocho, a narrow alleyway with around 60 local businesses. The alleyway gives Edo-period Japan vibes, with moss-covered statues and stone floors.
A recommended izakaya (Japanese bar) is Robatayaki Mizukake Chaya. The izakaya serves food robata style, meaning it’s grilled BBQ. You’ll be able to get your typical skewered meats, grilled seafood, and giant beer glasses. It’s also very reasonably priced.
Day 2 of 2 Day Osaka Itinerary
The second day of this 2 day in Osaka Itinerary has some more flexibility outside of the Minami neighborhood to see historic sites and observatories. (That is if you’re not done shopping!)
Visit the Osaka Castle
Wake up early to get to the Osaka Castle in the Chuo Ward when it opens at 9 AM. It’s recommended that you enter through Osaka Castle Park’s corner at the Otemon Gate. It’s available on the JR Line at the Osakajokokoen Station.
The castle was built in 1583 as a display of power by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a samurai warlord and ruler. Since then, it’s been burned and rebuilt several times, with the current castle’s most recent reconstruction in 1931.
The entrance fee is 600 yen and is free for anyone under the age of 15. The inside of the castle also has a museum with over 10,000 artifacts!
While you’re in the area, you can also check out the Osaka Museum of History and Mint Museum Osaka.
Kuromon Market
Located just off the Nippombashi station, Kuromon Market is one of the city’s most iconic markets. It dates back to the 19th century and currently has around 150 shops that specialize in fresh seafood, veggies, fruits, and street foods. It got nicknamed “Osaka’s Kitchen” since it’s where many chefs get their supplies.
The small market is only a small alley long, so it’s not too overwhelming to explore. Some must-try foods include oysters, fatty and melt-in-your-mouth toro tuna, and fresh sea urchins.
Den Den Town
If you love everything cameras, games, anime, and pop culture, you NEED to add Den Den Town to your Osaka itinerary. The neighborhood is just a 10-15 minute walk from the market. For anime fans, there’s a multi-level Animate store with plenty of merch. If you like claw machines and arcade games, head to Taito Station or SEGA Arcade.
Taito Station has over 4 stories of games. The first floor is mainly dedicated to addictive claw games and cute stuffed animal prizes. Further up, there are floors dedicated to fighting games, music/rhythm games, and more. I particularly enjoy the claw machines. They’re designed so that you actually have a chance to win. Not only that, they have cool prizes like anime merch and snacks!
Another wildly popular activity is the maid cafes.
Inside Osaka wrote a fantastic full guide to the Den Den Town neighborhood!
Abeno Harukas
Enjoy the best views of Osaka from above at the Abeno Harukas, one of the tallest skyscrapers in all of Japan. All within the building, there’s a department store, art museum, and hotel.
On the 16th floor, you’ll be able to access the art museum and free rooftop garden with city views. The 16th floor is also where you get tickets to the Abeno Harukas Observatory located on the 60th floor. Once up there, you can get a 360-degree view of the city and its landmarks.
Also located in Abeno Harukas are the Shop Harukas 300 for gifts on the 59th floor, Garden of the Sky on the 58th floor (open wooden deck space), and bar/dining at the Sky Garden 300.
Nearest train: JR and Osaka Metro Tennoji Station and Kintetsu Minami Osaka Line Osaka Abenobashi Station.
Dinner in Minami
Honestly, I think it’d be best to end your Osaka itinerary right where you started! Dotonbori is so big that just one night exploring the neighborhood just isn’t enough. I recommend spending your last hours in the city taking it all in. For Michelin-guide Tonkatsu, I HIGHLY recommend getting a table at Tonkatsu Daiki (see next section)!
Restaurants to Visit in Osaka
While Osaka’s street food is great, don’t skip out on the other high-quality meals you can get. To help navigate dining in Japan, use Tabelog. It’s Japan’s version of Yelp/Tripadvisor. As a general guideline, anything above a 3.50-star rating on Tabelog is considered 5 stars on Yelp/Tripadvisor.
Watanabe Curry → This Michelin-guide curry is the best I had on the entire trip! The owner had coined the dish as “curry you want to eat every day”. The curry at Watanabe blends Sri Lankan spices with sea bream and chicken broth.
While many Japanese curries are on the sweeter side, the curry here has a more authentic, South Asian kick. I highly recommend ordering yours with crisp-battered and juicy tonkatsu (pork tenderloin).
Kitatake Udon → Located on a side street of Den Den town, Kitatake is an authentic, Michelin-guide udon shop that gets super busy around lunchtime. The udon is thin and the broth is light. The chicken tempura is juicy on the inside and doesn’t taste too oily or heavy. It’s my favorite restaurant on this Osaka itinerary.
Tonkatsu Daiki → This eatery is just steps away from Dotonburi and is one of the best-rated tonkatsu in the city with a 3.58-star rating on Tabelog. The pork katsu is perfectly crunchy on the outside from the panko and comes with 3 dipping sauces. It’s a small space with only around 10 seats. I had to wait over an hour to eat, so line up right before opening to avoid my mistake!
Akinoya → This is a Bib Gourmand restaurant that’s a fan-favorite for okonomiyaki. You choose what toppings you want – squid, beef, cheese, etc – and the staff will cook it on the grill in front of you. They then top it with okonomiyaki sauce, kewpie mayo, dried seaweed, and bonito flakes.
More Fun Activities for Your Osaka Itinerary
If you happen to have an extra day in Osaka, here are some other fun things to do in the city.
- Universal Studios Japan –> Especially if you’re with kids, Universal Studios is a fun activity to add to your Osaka itinerary. Tickets are only around $60 USD (give or take), and there are plenty of Japan-exclusive attractions like the Jujutsu-Kaisen 4D experience and Doraemon XR Ride.
- Osaka TeamLab Botanical Garden –> Opened in 1974, this open-air botanical garden combines nature, art, and technology in an immersive viewing experience.
- Osaka Aquarium –> The Kaiyukan is one of the largest aquariums in Japan, as well as the world! General ticket pricing (as of July 2023) is 2,700 yen for ages 16 and older and 1,400 yen for ages 7-15.
- Umeda Sky Building –> Umeda Sky Building is an alternative to the Abeno Harukas for overhead views of the city. It’s two 40-story buildings connected by a bridge. Visitors can travel to the observatory up top. Given its unique structure, it’s a must for anyone with an appreciation for architecture!
- Shinsekai –> This neighborhood has plenty of vintage restaurants, alleyways, and arcades. It’s well-known for its kushi-katsu restaurants. Check out this popular food tour to try 10 different dishes in the neighborhood.
- Cup Noodles Museum –> Located in Ikeda, Osaka, this museum is an ode to instant noodles and its founder Momofuku Ando. Exhibits include the chicken ramen factory where you can make ramen by hand, the cup noodles factory to design your own noodle packaging, and the instant noodles tunnel with over 800 noodle packages along the walls.
- Street Go Kart Experience (10K+ Booked!) –> Go-kart through the popular sightseeing areas of Osaka. Sure, it’s touristy, but a unique activity for your Osaka itinerary.
- National Bunraku Theater –> See a traditional Japanese puppet theater experience!
Day Trips for Osaka Itinerary
Last, for day trips to go on after this Osaka itinerary, here are some nearby cities available by the bullet train:
- Nara –> about 45 minutes away. Check out the famous Nara deer park!
- Kyoto –> about 15 minutes away. Once the capital of Japan, this city is a must to see traditional shrines, temples, and palaces.
- Tokyo –> about 2.5 hours away. The capital of Japan. I have a full Tokyo itinerary on my website (see summary below)
- Kobe –> about 15 minutes away. The home place of Kobe beef!
- Kanazawa –> about 2.5 hours away. A must-do is to check out the Kenroku-en, a beautiful park/garden.
- Himeji –> about 1.5 hours away. The biggest attraction is the Himeji Castle, which is the largest castle in all of Japan.
Packing List for 2 Day Osaka Itinerary
Listed are some packing essentials that I found particularly helpful not only for an Osaka itinerary, but any trip to Japan.
- Coin Purse – While Japan is known for its technological advancements, it’s still a cash-based economy. You’ll be receiving a LOT of coin change throughout your time here, and a coin purse is the best way to store them.
- Compact Travel Umbrella – I found that a compact umbrella is a game changer while traveling. There are even compact umbrellas that come with cases so you can put it in your bag once inside.
- Waterproof Passport Holder – to keep your passport in its best condition.
Summary: 2 Day Osaka Itinerary
This wraps up my 2 Day Osaka Itinerary! If you found this Osaka travel guide helpful, please share it with friends!
Check out my detailed Tokyo 5 Day Itinerary & Travel Guide if you’re traveling there, too.
Also, check out my other city itineraries:
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