Osaka, Japan: things to do, prices and tips 2026

Things to do in Osaka (Japan): Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market, Shinsekai & Tsutenkaku Tower. Prices, opening times and the author’s tips.

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What to see

🦀Dotonbori

A neon street by the canal with a giant mechanical crab, the Glico running man and Japan's best street food: takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu.

Price Takoyaki ¥500–800

Insider tip Come after sunset when the signs are lit. Osaka's motto is "kuidaore" — "eat till you drop". Try a little in lots of places.

🏯Osaka Castle

A white castle with golden fish on the roof, surrounded by moats and stone walls. Inside are a museum and an observation deck.

Price Tower about ¥1,200, park free

Insider tip The castle is best from the outside: walk around the park and look at it from across the moat. Inside is a modern museum with a lift — you can skip it.

🐟Kuromon Market

"Osaka's kitchen": grilled seafood, marbled wagyu on skewers, and strawberries and fruit of unbelievable size.

Price Wagyu skewer ¥1,500–3,000

Insider tip Prices are touristy — it's a show, not a cheap market. To save money, eat at a nearby supermarket or department store food halls.

🗼Shinsekai & Tsutenkaku Tower

A retro quarter from the 1910s: Tsutenkaku Tower, loud signs and the birthplace of kushikatsu, deep-fried skewers.

Price Kushikatsu ¥100–250 per skewer

Insider tip The golden rule: dip your skewer in the shared sauce only once — no double dipping. For more sauce, scoop it with a piece of cabbage.

🍄Universal Studios Japan

A theme park with Super Nintendo World, where you can literally hit a coin block, and a big Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Price Tickets from ¥8,600, Express Pass extra

Insider tip Book tickets and your Nintendo area entry time on the official website. Arrive at opening and go straight to Super Nintendo World — later the queues reach 2 hours.

🌃Umeda Sky Building

A circular open-air deck between two towers, 173 metres up.

Secret spot: details and the map pin are in the full guide

🏰Himeji Castle

Japan's most beautiful original castle — 40 minutes from Osaka by shinkansen.

Secret spot: details and the map pin are in the full guide

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