Just under a month ago, I took the night bus from Tokyo Station all the way to Osaka. Did it get me there in one piece? Yes. Was it an enjoyable experience? Hardly.
Read More →
This is a place consistently ranked as one of the best things to do in Osaka, so I decided to visit it twice to figure out the answer to the question ‘Is Osaka Castle worth visiting?’ Spoiler alert: I don’t think it is, sort of…
While the outside areas of Osaka Castle make this one of the best free things to do in Osaka, the interior was a major letdown and leads me to the conclusion that visiting the castle itself is not worth it. However, make sure you do visit the surrounding grounds, they’re beautiful!
There will be situations in which visiting Osaka Castle is worth it, and we’ll discuss them in due course, but the majority of those reasons won’t typically apply to the average visitor. That said, you’ve found my website, so you may not be the average visitor to Osaka!
Getting to Osaka Castle
I never really know whether to write these bits on articles anymore because we all just use google maps! In any case, Osaka Castle is incredibly central and very easy to get to if you’re staying in Osaka. As you can see from the map below, there are a number of entrances and many more train stations to walk from.
How much does it cost to get into Osaka Castle?
It costs ¥600 to get into the castle itself, but the grounds can be explored for free. You can pay an extra ¥200 to get into Nishinomaru Garden (pictures later in the article), and if you need somewhere to rest and the weather is nice, I highly recommend doing so.
History of Osaka Castle
I can’t really talk about why I do or don’t think Osaka Castle is worth visiting without at least briefly mentioning its fairly important role in the unification of Japan. The castle itself was originally constructed in 1586 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to mark his triumph of accomplishing the unification of Japan he dreamed of.
Believe it or not, the whole building was completed in just 3 years. That probably has something to do with the 100,000 workers that dedicated their time to it. To be honest, the exterior of the building is quite remarkable to see for the first time.
While the castle was certainly a formidable barrier to any attackers, Tokugawa Leyasu was successful on his second attempt in 1615. This marked the start of the 250-year-long rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
After that siege, the castle was destroyed, rebuilt in a new spot, struck by lightning and destroyed again, rebuilt, and burned down during the Meiji restoration. Now we have a reconstruction of what the castle would have looked like that was completed in 1931. Obviously, it can’t be helped, but it was a little bit of a disappointment when I found that out.
Anyway, moving on!
To figure out the question ‘Is it worth visiting Osaka Castle’, you’ll need to answer the following two questions, which also come with a few sub-questions.
1. When do you plan on visiting?
I’ve been to Osaka Castle on two separate occasions, once in the Autumn and once in the Spring. Both of these visits have prompted me to ask a second part to this question which is ‘is Osaka Castle too busy?’. So as you can imagine, the time you visit Osaka Castle is incredibly important to determine whether or not it’s worth visiting. Both times I took a trip over there, the castle was severely overcrowded and far too ‘touristy’ to be enjoyable.
More so in Spring for obvious reasons, but as an ‘attraction’ that’s constantly ranked in the top 5 things to do in Osaka on pretty much every travel website, it’s never going to be empty. Just be aware that you’re likely never going to have the Castle to yourself unless you’re visiting during the off-season. In this case, that’s likely to be the wet months of Summer, and perhaps the cold months of winter. Though, it’s worth remembering that New Year’s is incredibly busy.
2. What are you expecting to find?
One of the most important questions you need to ask yourself before wondering if Osaka Castle is worth visiting is ‘What are you expecting to find’. Obviously ‘A Castle’ is probably going to be your answer, but let’s dig into that a little more.
As we’ve previously discussed, the Osaka Castle you’ll see is just a reconstruction that was finished in the 1930s. For some that will mean it’s not worth visiting, though it’s hardly something that can be helped.
To make things a little easier and to really answer the question of whether Osaka Castle is worth visiting, let’s split it into two separate sections:
Osaka Castle grounds
While I’ve slightly spoiled the conclusion to this article in the introduction, I can safely say that Osaka Castle grounds are well worth a visit in their own right. The sheer expanse of the moat, the exceptional cherry blossom (you’ll have to visit in spring for those, but it’s still beautiful year-round), and the wonderful gardens dotted all around make it one of the best free things to do in Osaka.
The garden above was taken in Autumn last year. I visited again in Spring and both times this little hidden gem was almost completely empty (save for a photo spot around the back). The castle has a few of these secret gardens scattered around, so it pays to have enough time over here (if you do decide to visit) to make sure you can explore every little nook and cranny outside. To be honest, secret gardens in Osaka are a lot more frequent than you might think!
Because the perimeter of Osaka Castle is so huge, you’ll more than likely get the impression that there aren’t too many people around, even in peak season. If you make it into the middle, that thought will quickly fade away. It’s still a nice place to come and see the castle up close, but that’s where my joy of the entire area stops.
To get into the castle you’ll have to queue up on the right-hand side (you can just about make it out in the photo above) for a ticket, and that can be a fairly lengthy process depending on when you visit. But hey, what good attractions don’t have queues in Spring? Right?…
The interior of Osaka Castle
After ‘excitedly’ waiting to get into the castle, we were met with what I can only describe as the most uninspiring lobby I’ve ever been into. It’s grey and dull, has a somewhat tacky gift shop, and is stocked with gachapon. Now I love gacha as much as the next person, but this isn’t the place for it. Anyway, let’s climb up those perfectly recreated wooden staircases, shall we?
I understand we need to think about accessibility with an attraction like this, as well as the practicality of having thousands of people trample up and down every day, but this wasn’t something I was expecting to find. If you’re looking for an industrial-looking staircase with glaring metal handrails, your money has been well spent.
For some, the biggest reason to go inside Osaka Castle is to look at the view, and to some degree, this was the best part of it. You’ll get panoramic views around the entire castle and you can see out for miles depending on the conditions.
Call me oblivious, but I didn’t even realize Nishinomaru Garden, pictured below, was attached to the castle. I’ve written an article about the most relaxing places to go in Tokyo, and if I was to do one in Osaka then Nishinomaru garden would absolutely feature. The picture below is taken when I visited in Spring (hence the cherry blossom!) and while the castle grounds were fairly busy, the park is practically empty. A great spot to rest and relax in Osaka!
Unfortunately, the top viewing platform in Osaka Castle isn’t as great as the viewing deck in Tokyo I found, and it’s certainly not this attraction’s saving grace, at least not in peak season.
This picture really doesn’t do any justice to just how busy the top part of the castle was. I was shoulder-to-shoulder with people for pretty much the entire time I could bare to stay out there. The views were great, but in late March – early April, it was just too busy for me to enjoy.
After heading back down the busy and boring, yet practical staircase, I was left feeling like I’d wasted the (admittedly very small) admission payment to get inside.
How long should I spend at Osaka Castle?
That greatly depends on what you want to achieve. If you want enough time to see the inside and outside of Osaka Castle, 3 hours is probably enough so you aren’t rushing. If you only want to visit the outside gardens, 2 hours might be enough. However, if it’s a nice day and you want to take your time, enjoy the weather, and perhaps have a picnic somewhere, you could easily enjoy nature for an entire day. Remember though, these things often take a little longer than you’ve first planned. That’s just part of traveling!
Is it worth visiting Osaka Castle?
As far as I’m concerned, it’s worth visiting the grounds of Osaka Castle, but only worth going inside unless you’re really interested in Japanese history. For the ‘normal’ tourist, I think there are a number of other places that are better given a place on your itinerary than the inside of Osaka Castle. Hiroshima Castle as part of my 2 day Hiroshima Itinerary is one such place!
Flat out I would consider the interior to be the biggest letdown. The museum was nice, but I would rather they housed that in a separate building and allowed us to wander around only specific parts of the castle, or not at all. The grounds, however, were a lovely respite from the hectic nature of Osaka City, and I highly recommend visiting if you like that kind of thing!
If you’re looking for somewhere nearby that I would recommend, Nara is worth visiting even if you only have a morning or an afternoon free. Is there anything better than getting chased by ravenous deer for hours on end?…
You might be interested in
As an Amazon Associate, I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. At no extra cost to you! ^_^
Just under a month ago, I took the night bus from Tokyo Station all the way to Osaka. Did it get me there in one piece? Yes. Was it an enjoyable experience? Hardly.
Today, I’m going to run through what we did, where we booked our tickets, and why I think you probably shouldn’t take the night bus. But, we’re also going to talk about the main reasons you should take it, and how to make your journey as painless as possible.
Is the Tokyo – Osaka Bus the Cheapest Option?
Making the journey from Tokyo to Osaka is an incredibly popular one with both domestic travelers and international ones. It’s normally followed by a trip to Nara or Kyoto, and perhaps even Hiroshima for those who want to travel out a bit further. As such, it means you need to budget accordingly if you’re on vacation to Japan. So what are your options?
Train
The most expensive of the lot, but the Japanese Shinkansen gets you directly from Tokyo Station to Osaka Station in 2 hours and 40 minutes. That’s absolutely wild. But at over $100 we decided it was far too expensive for our little weekly getaway. If only we had known about Platt Kodama!
Hint: Going slightly further than Osaka? I chose to ride Japan’s last sleeper train from Okayama to Tokyo, and it was absolutely worth it!
Bus
The cheapest of all of them at around $40 each way depending on the bus you chose. You can opt for the day bus which gets you to your destination in the evening or the night bus which gets you there in the morning.
Perfect! We’ll grab the night bus, won’t have to pay for accommodation that night, and we’ll be ready to go and explore the day after! Oh, how wrong we were… More on that later.
Car
Technically the easiest and perhaps cheapest in terms of fuel only, if you’ve got a car, especially with more than one passenger. It means you won’t even have to go to the train station and can ride straight from your hotel/Airbnb in Tokyo to the one in Osaka. Of course, the big issue is actually having a car and that’s not usually something I’d recommend to prospective holiday goers, especially if it’s your first time in Japan.
It also takes 6 and a half hours to drive, but I suppose you could stop along the way which might turn into quite a nice road trip. But if you’ve only got a Kei car, I wouldn’t recommend i!
Plane
Getting to Japan can be expensive if you don’t know how to get 90% off your flights. Depending on which airline you go with, flying internally in Japan can either be relatively cheap, or too expensive to bother with.
In terms of actual flight time, it’s pretty fast, but the problem is the transfers and getting to the airport several hours beforehand. As well as getting through security, it’s a 50-minute train journey from Kansai Airport to central Osaka.
I’ve already given my opinion on the Shinkansen vs flying debate, so check that out if you’re interested!
Peach Airways and other budget airlines in Japan probably provide some good deals from time to time on this route, so it’s definitely worth considering if it lines up with your itinerary. I’m not saying I’m the biggest fan of peach airways, but it’s definitely worth taking a look at.
What Website should you book your Tokyo to Osaka Night Bus on?
Willer Express
Willer Express is the website I usually use, and I’d definitely recommend it to everyone else. You’re presented with a month view calendar which, if your dates are flexible, allows you to see the cheapest options out of the entire month.
Your confirmation for almost any bus will arrive via email. That means you can book your tickets while you’re still at home and just show the bus driver your email on your phone when you get to Japan. If you’re after a specific bus or are traveling at a peak time, make sure you book in advance!
Tokyo to Osaka night bus – The Experience
I won’t lie to you, I’m a complete nerd when it comes to transport, so the thought of going on my very first-night bus in Japan was damn exciting!
On the night of the journey, we packed our bags and headed to Tokyo Station to get ready for the 21:35 Jam Jam Liner to Osaka. And before you ask, yes you’re correct it is the greatest name for a bus in the history of mankind.
We were far too early, so grabbed a ridiculously tasty dinner at Ts Tan Tan (Highly recommended if you can find it in the station) and then took a slow walk to the mini terminal. When I say terminal, it’s just an underground area where all the buses come along, with a couple of staff members making sure everyone gets on the right bus.
As with most things in Tokyo, it was incredibly clean and more than comfortable enough to sit there for a few hours. We got there at about 7 so there was a 2-hour wait until our bus left. If you’ve got spare time on your trip, you could always look around the connected shopping mall, but I decided to spend the majority of my time on the Miyoo Mini 2, perhaps the world’s greatest gaming travel companion!
The bus arrived at Toyko Yaesu Underground Terminal
I’m sure you won’t be surprised, the bus arrived and left bang on time. Perfect! We were on a bus that had three seats in a row rather than the normal 4 which meant extra legroom, and a slightly wider seat. We did pay more for it, and there are a number of cheaper and less “luxury” bus models to choose from but I thought it was still fair value.
The Jam Jam liner Tokyo to Osaka night bus also had a toilet on it which is also a rare thing apparently. I didn’t realize that until I started researching potential options on Willer Express, but there we go!
Anyway, there were around 10 of us that got on the bus at Tokyo Yaesu, though the bus soon filled up to capacity over the next few stops before we were on our way to Osaka for the night. The last stop was at Hachioji, a place I’d probably only recommend visiting for one thing.
What I’m about to say next probably won’t be a problem for 99% of you, but it was a little annoying to me. Obviously, at night people want to sleep so there are curtains on the windows, but being the child I am, I wanted to look out from time to time. Sadly the curtains were securely attached to the window which didn’t give me a chance to do so, even before the bus filled up.
The Journey from Tokyo to Osaka
Ok first off, no one used the toilet. I don’t know if it was broken or if Japanese people don’t tend to use the toilets on buses out of respect, but either way, it was very confusing. So don’t put too much emphasis on whether your coach has a toilet or not during the booking stage.
That brings me to the second and most annoying part of this journey. About 20 minutes after we made our final pickup of the evening (I think that was around midnight?) I managed to get to sleep. Perfect! I rarely wake up for the toilet anyway, so I was expecting a pretty restful night all things considered.
I’d say maybe an hour or so into the journey, a voice blares the speakers announces the first of many toilet stops and the lights flash on. Believe it or not, it’s not the easiest thing in the world to get to sleep when tired, zombie-like people are attempting to walk past your chair but end up accidentally falling into your lap.
So after about 5 stops along the way, and someone’s cockerel alarm clock going off at about 4 in the morning, it’s safe to say I didn’t exactly have the best night’s sleep. Granted, this could just be a one-off experience, but it doesn’t fill me will confidence that’s for sure. In all honesty, I had better sleep on the plane coming over to Japan, and that had way less seat space. I think the main problem was being woken up so frequently which never gave us a chance to get into any deep or meaningful sleep.
I’d be very interested to know if you’ve been on this route via night bus and whether it’s stopped at service stations along the way, despite having a toilet? If it’s only this bus company that does it, then maybe i’ll change my tune!
Who Should & Who Shouldn’t Book the Night Bus from Tokyo – Osaka?
If you don’t have to get on one, I would say it probably isn’t worth it. That said, there definitely are a few types of people that getting the night bus from Tokyo to Osaka would be worth it.
For those on a budget
I understand this review might come across as a particularly negative attack against the Tokyo to Osaka Japanese night bus, but I do think that it’s the right choice for a couple of people. The first type of person is someone who absolutely cannot afford to get to Osaka any other way. As I look now, the cheapest way to get from Tokyo to Osaka is ¥2,800 (just over $20) and that’s by bus. None of the other transport modes even come close to offering such a good deal. Granted, that is in the most bog standard bus, and I can’t vouch for how comfortable your trip will be, but for that price, if you’re willing to risk it, it’s a great saving.
If your itinerary syncs up correctly
Getting the saving of a cheap bus & having your “accommodation” included in that fee as well is pretty fantastic. In theory, it means you can get a restful night’s sleep on the coach, and continue your exploration the day after. No need to worry about your baggage either because you can store it at pretty much any Japanese train station for a very small fee.
In theory, this is a fantastic idea, and it’s the one I thought would be perfect for our situation when I booked the overnight bus to Osaka. Unfortunately, it didn’t really plan out that way. Instead, we got a relatively cheap mode of transport to Osaka, got woken up several times in the night, and were both grumpy and tired for the entirety of the next day.
That said, that’s not too much of a problem if you can check into your hotel as soon as possible (and don’t mind wasting a day), but for anyone who has a later check-in, you’ll be left wandering around not knowing what to do with yourself. Too tired to go out and explore, but not able to sleep. So, double-check your check-in times, and don’t just assume the night bus is a free night’s accommodation!
Tips if you do book the night bus
If it seems like your best option is going to be the night bus then there are a few things you can do to make your trip a little more successful than mine. First up, let’s talk a little bit about travel accessories.
My backpack is normally stocked with a myriad of different things to help make even the worst journeys more bearable. Granted, the majority of space is given to my camera and lens collection but I’d rather have the 35mm 1.8 than another clean pair of socks!
Top 4 Things to Buy for the Tokyo – Osaka Night Bus
1. Manta Sleep Mask
Perhaps the most important product you could buy to make your night bus journey a better experience is a sleep mask. In fact, I’d strongly consider trying the exact same route again if I had a sleep mask like the Manta.
With 100% blackout, moveable eyecups that won’t pressure your nose, I doubt you’ll find anything better than the extremely popular Manta Sleep Mask. Most of the ones I’ve tried have either been bad quality or dug into my face making it an uncomfortable experience. From the reviews left on amazon, this product seriously changes the game!
No more getting woken up for toilet stops on the Tokyo – Osaka night bus!
2. Sony WF-1000XM4 Noise-Cancelling Earphones
Most of you will probably have a set of earphones, probably some AirPods right? If you’re looking to make your Japan night bus trip even better then I highly recommend purchasing some of these Sony WF-1000XM4‘s. I stupidly left mine in my backpack (which was placed in the hold of the Jam Jam liner bus) which meant I couldn’t benefit from their incredible noise-canceling abilities.
They specialize in being able to block out background noise like engines (think bus, plane, car, train), and general background noise, perfect for getting a moment of quiet in noisy environments. While I use these earphones in noise-canceling mode extensively around Japan, I also make use of the ambient sound function. This allows me to listen to music at a normal volume whilst happily communicating with those around me. It’s a really great idea to stay safe if you enjoy listening to music while you walk.
3. Kindle Oasis
I love books, and I really don’t know what I would do without my Kindle Oasis. It’s a little on the pricey side, but I can categorically tell you that it’s been the absolute best digital/tech purchase I’ve made in the last 5 years. I can carry around thousands of books with me, listen to them on audible with the earphones I’ve linked above, and fill any amount of time I need with a high fantasy novel or a boring (but not to me!) digital marketing book.
I could write an entire article on how this thing has changed my life while I travel, but that’s something that would fit a little better over at my digital nomad website “Your Office Sucks!“
4. Miyoo Mini
As a travel content creator, I’m constantly working on the go. Whether that’s writing a new article for this website, pitching to travel magazines, or posting a new video to youtube, it sometimes seems like the list of things to do is never-ending.
That’s why gaming on the go is such a fun way to decompress. I don’t like anything that connects to the internet (way more fun to disconnect from everything for a few hours), but I also wanted the flexibility to have any number of retro games I wanted.
The Miyoo Mini V2 fit my criteria perfectly. It’s tiny, can hold loads of games, doesn’t connect to the internet, and can emulate everything up to PS1 games. Playing Tony Hawks Pro Skater on a Japanese night bus was honestly one of the coolest, most surreal things I’ve done. Highly recommended purchase to make your journey a little less boring!
5. Snacks
No long journey in Japan would be complete without a load of tasty food! Pop to 7-Eleven or any other Konbini to grab a few bits before you depart. Japan seems to do cakes and pastries exceptionally well even in convenience stores, so grab a few of those if you want to treat yourself.
I wrote an article a while ago on the best Japanese snacks, so take look over there if you need some inspiration! ^_^
Pick the Right Bus
The final tip I have for you if you still want to get the night bus from Tokyo to Osaka is to pick the right bus.
If you can afford it, there are two buses I would recommend that I believe will give you the most comfortable and pleasant journey between the two cities
Dream Sleeper
While it is a little pricey, you cannot get a more comfortable journey between the two cities. With only 11 separate compartments, you’ll get plenty of space and truly understand what Japanese luxury is all about. Click around on the link above to see just how incredible this hotel on wheels actually is.
I haven’t been on this yet but I’m planning to in March of 2023, so stay tuned for the review!
ReBorn
If your budget can’t stretch to the sometimes ¥20,000 one-way ticket of the Dream Sleeper, Willer Express provides a night bus that goes from Tokyo to Osaka (and back) called the ReBorn. While passengers don’t get their own compartments, they do get their own pod-like seats which are easily the most spacious and private out of all the ‘standard’ buses on offer. It costs around ¥12,000 one way depending on the time of year you book for.
So, while I wasn’t a great fan of the night bus from Tokyo to Osaka, it’s clear that in the right circumstances, they can be a great alternative to the train and plane.
Picture this: you’ve just had an incredible time exploring the bustling city of Osaka and soaking up all the amazing sights and sounds. Now, it’s time to make your way back to Tokyo, but the idea of another long bus ride just doesn’t seem appealing.
Well, what if I told you there’s a better way? Japan’s last sleeper train could be just what you need to make your journey back a comfortable and memorable experience. But before you hop on board, make sure to check out my article “13 Things You Need to Know Before Boarding Japan’s Last Sleeper Train” for all the insider tips and tricks. Trust me, you won’t want to miss out on this potentially limited travel experience!
You might be interested in
Japan is a flipping cool country. Whether you’re here for the food, the scenery, the pop culture, or any number of other things, we all share a love of this place together. You’ll probably agree with me then when I say it’s sometimes a little too easy to spend a lot of money over here, even if you haven’t planned to.
If you’re on a strict budget, I feel you! So, I’ve put together a list of 7 cheap (or free!) things to do in and around Osaka. It’s time to make that last ¥10,000 stretch as far as it can!
1. Visit a Japanese Garden
When in doubt, visit a Japanese garden! It’s a failsafe plan when you’re running out of Yen, and a lot of gardens will even have an indoor area in case it rains. It’s worth doing a little bit of research to find one that’s closest to you and ideally one that isn’t too expensive or busy, but to be honest you can’t really go wrong with any that are cheap. Or most in Japan for that matter… But who knows, maybe I’m just easily pleased!
I recently wrote a blog post on what I consider to be the best garden in Osaka, so if you can’t be bothered to do your own research, let me do it for you! Or, if you’re based in America and can’t get over here just yet, I’ve got an article for you as well!
2. Visit Dontonburi
Dontonbori is perhaps one of the most recognizable areas of Osaka. That giant Ferris wheel stuck onto Don Quijote seems to be in more pictures than Mount Fuji, but at ¥600 for a 2-minute ride, it doesn’t make the cut for this list.
What does make the cut is wandering along the Dontonbori canal and looking at some of the craziest buildings and advertising you’ve likely ever seen. I’m not talking about the famous running Glico man, I’m talking about giant crabs, massive faces, and terrifyingly big food. Take a look!
If you’re trying to find a bit of that famous “Hyper” Japan, this is a great place to come. You can pop into any of the shops if it starts raining, and walking along the street is of course completely free. It’s long enough to easily take an hour or so to get around, and there are plenty more streets nearby to continue onto if you choose.
3. Explore Japanese Second-Hand Shops
I love second-hand browsing in Japan so much. Browsing is the keyword of course. There’s something so fun about wandering through decades of old stuff, especially when it’s from an entirely different country to the one you grew up in. My personal favorite, and probably that of everyone else who likes second-hand shopping in Japan are the ‘Off’ stores. Sound weird? If you read that article, I guarantee your days in Japan will be filled trawling through Hard Off Junk boxes trying to find some treasure!
All you have to do is type “off store” into google maps and it should bring up the closest ones to you. Failing that, type in “second-hand store” or “Recycle store” and you should find a wealth of places nearby that can satisfy your cultural curiosity without spending a penny! This wouldn’t be on the list of cheapest things to do in Osaka if you actually buy anything though, so be good and just look!
4. Visit Osaka Castle Grounds
Smack bang in the middle of Osaka is the Osaka castle. It’s huge, beautiful, and well worth the visit. With its convenient location, that shouldn’t be a problem! However, the one problem we do have is the price. ¥600 for adults, unless visiting a museum is going to be a memory you’ll hold onto for a lifetime, that’s too expensive to go on this list! That said, technically it’s actually very cheap but if anything costs money on this list, it better be spectacular.
However, one thing we absolutely can do is visit the gardens and surrounding area. The moat and accompanying walk will take you a pretty long time, and much to my surprise you can actually get right up to the castle before having to pay. Of course, if you’re there and you can spare ¥600 per person then go for it, but if not you’ll still have a fantastic time exploring around the edges.
5. Window Shop at Tenjinbashisuji
Other than second-hand goods, I’m not really one for shopping. That’s either because I don’t have too much money, or I’d prefer to be exploring. That said, walking the entire 2.6km long tenjinbashisuji is quite the experience. Plus, right at the end, you’ll find Dontonbori so it’s a great way to combine the two together. Window shopping is the cheapest way to go shopping in Osaka, that’s for sure!
Be warned, you’ll likely find a huge amount of people here no matter the day or season you’re traveling. You could go a little later or early, but you won’t gain much from it. In fact, it’s actually quite interesting to see an entire river of people funneled into one area.
6. Have Fun at the Shinsekai District
This was one of my favorite areas in Osaka, and I’m really glad I went at night. I mean, just look at those light sculptures… things… Ok, I don’t know what they are, but I’m pretty sure they look better at night than they do in the daytime.
This neighborhood is full of old-fashioned arcades, Japanese carnival games, and cheap places to eat. Sadly the main branch of Zuboraya which had the famous puffer fish hanging outside had to close down because of certain events… Very sad, I was hoping to see it, but even still Shinsekai is still very much worth the visit.
7. Bow to the deer in Nara park
Okay, it’s time for the biggest spend on this list… ¥600
Yep, I know I boohooed a few others at the same price, but this one is highly worth it if you’ve only visited Osaka and not yet ventured out. From central Osaka to Nara Kintetsu (the station you want to get off at) it takes around 45 minutes and costs about ¥600 depending on the trains you take.
At about $4.50, I promise this will be worth the money! I don’t really want to ruin all the surprises (or talk about it in too much detail here), but if you love animals, this one’s going to be a memory for life.
Last time we went over to Nara, we were going to get lunch at a cafe but as we were on a tight budget we instead opted for a single roasted sweet potato from a street vendor that cost a few hundred yen. It might sound odd, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!
If you want to feed the deer you’ll need ¥200 for deer snacks, but that’s not a requirement. They’ll get plenty close enough without them.
There will be a full-length article at some point about the absolute best ways to get the most out of your trip to Nara, but for now, you’ll have to go it alone!
8. Get Lost in the Back Streets of Osaka
If all else fails, and you really have no idea what to do with your time, just get lost! I genuinely mean it, just pick a direction and start walking. This works a little better downtown where it’s full of old streets with power line cables hanging overhead, but it can honestly work wherever you are.
I’m a big fan of doing this in every city I visit in Japan. Public transport is so frequent and well-integrated that it really doesn’t matter where I end up, I’ll always be able to get the train back. And with a ridiculous amount of vending machines, I’ll be able to eat and drink to my heart’s content!
Osaka is full of fun and exciting things to do, but sadly some of those do cost a bit of money. The 7 things I’ve listed here today are more than enough to keep you busy for a few days, and shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg in the process!
You might be interested in
Osaka is an incredible city and one that should be on any first-time visitors’ itinerary. The atmosphere is laid back, the small backstreets are heaven for the intrepid explorer, and the whole place (especially Dontonbori) is a visual feast for the eyes!
Sometimes I love throwing myself in the deep end of all Japan has to offer: the bright lights, the busy streets, it’s all part of the fun. But sometimes it just gets too much and I need to step away for a moment. Thankfully, all of Japan’s cities have one main thing in common: an abundance of green spaces.
Today I want to talk to you about one of my favorite green spaces in Osaka, perfect to rest your tired traveler’s legs, or simply take a moment out of the noise. Welcome to Keitakuen Garden.
Where is Keitakuen Garden?
One of my favorite things about this park in Osaka is its location. Set within the larger Tenoji Park, Keitakuen Garden is smack bang in the middle of this trendy city. That means that you can take advantage of it at almost any point during your trip!
It’s also about 5 minute walk from the nearest station, and being in the middle of a city it’s surrounded by convenience stores and other possible food options. We went to the local tenōji station and grabbed a sweet potato roll from one of the bakeries inside. It was flipping incredible, but don’t let our unnatural love for 焼き芋 sway you from all the other options around here.
Why Should You Visit Keitakuen Garden?
There are points in any trip where I find myself looking for a garden similar to this one, and all these points hold true to most of those ones as well. Here are four reasons why you should consider visiting Keitakuen Garden on your trip to Osaka:
1. A slice of zen in a busy city
If you’re looking for the zen parks Osaka has to offer, Keitakuen Garden should be near the top of your list. Keitakuen is a Japanese stroll garden, very similar to the ones we discussed here where you’ll walk around a constructed path that helps you see the garden in the best way possible.
On the way, you’ll have to navigate stepping stones, jump past waterfalls, and meander around ancient trees. There’s even an old Japanese tea house that’s been converted into a viewing area. A perfect place to get out of the sun for a few minutes and ground yourself in the moment. Sadly it doesn’t sell tea, but there are plenty of places that do, dotted around Tennoji park
2. You’ve got spare time
Keitakuen Garden’s location makes it ideal to visit when you’ve got some time to ‘waste’ before check-in, or perhaps you’re waiting for your train to take you to the next part of your journey. As I said above there’s even an indoor tea house if starts raining or if the sun gets too hot, so you won’t have to worry about the weather.
You can walk around the garden as quickly as 10 minutes, or take your time and make it as long as you want. Also if you do have the time, I’d advise you to walk around it more than once because they’ll definitely be places you’ve missed along the way!
For instance, I saw a Heron making itself at home on the lake in the middle of the park so most of my attention was on the middle. When I walked around again I noticed a number of things I was seemingly oblivious to on the first time around. I think that’s the whole point though, go where your eyes take you, and if you’ve missed bits, just slowly wander around again.
3. You’re looking for something cheap to do
As we’re living in Japan and not on holiday, our budget is definitely on the tighter side. Unfortunately I can no longer justify popping to 7-Eleven whenever I feel like it! Our budget also affects what we do when we travel, so I was looking for a number of cheap things to do in Osaka on this trip.
At ¥150 each, entry into the garden costs just over a dollar. For a place you could easily spend 2 or more hours at (if the weather is nice), that’s what I call a cheap park in Osaka!
That said, I’m getting way too much garden inspiration for my future house. Not sure my future bank account is going to thank me for that, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, haha!
4. You’re in the area
This is such a nice park that I would highly recommend coming here if it’s either on your route, or you’re near the area. As I’ve said before it’s right next to Tenōji train station which means if you’re exploring any of central Osaka, this should be on your list.
Even if you haven’t come to Japan to experience its stunning natural beauty, this park is so effortless to get to that it truly makes sense to pop in.
5. You’re Looking for something to do outdoors
During our trip to Osaka, I must have typed “things to do outdoors in Osaka” into google at least 10 times. It’s the start of Winter in Japan now, so you can only imagine how frequently I’ll be typing in similar things during Spring and Summer.
Lots of Japanese itineraries frequently suggest tourist attractions and “must-see” areas. Many of those places are well worth a visit too (like Sapporo!), but lots of them tend to be busy in high season. Our recent trip to Kyoto was one such place – Beautiful but busy!
Keitakuen Garden is still relatively unknown which makes it the perfect place to retreat to from the hustle and bustle of Osaka, while still bathing yourself in Japanese culture. I’d say there was a maximum of 10 people in the park when we went and that was Saturday at midday. I find this to be the case with a lot of parks – Shukkeien is one I visited during my 2 day trip to Hiroshima, and it was incredibly relaxing.
I would personally consider Keitakuen Garden to be the best park in Osaka. It’s cheap, easily accessible, and stunningly beautiful in all seasons. Sure, there might be bigger gardens but they’ll cost more or take longer to get to. This one is in such a perfect location and due to its cheap price you can add it onto pretty much any itinerary you’ve got! No excuses, people!
You might be interested in