Top Things To Do In Osaka

Tailoring each tour to your wishes by locals who love their city

Group of tourists standing in front of the Godzilla statue in Osaka with a local guide

Top things to do in Osaka

From exploring cool neighborhoods to eating with the locals to seeing iconic sites, these are some of our favorite experiences

When in Osaka
make sure to try
“kushikatsu”!

See the city like
you would with a friend who lives there

See all

When in Osaka
make sure to try
“kushikatsu”!

See the city like
you would with a friend who lives there

Wondering what to do in Osaka?

Osaka is a city where good times are inevitable. Known for their wicked sense of humor and love of food, the friendly locals have largely shed all sense of Japanese conservatism, making Osaka one of the most entertaining cities in Japan. The atmosphere here is electrifying, and thousands of neon lights shimmer off the waters of the canals, exposing a spectacular array of things to do in Osaka. Whether you get swept up in a whirlwind of chaotic shopping, explore lantern-lit mazes of izakaya bars, or sing your heart out at a karaoke bar in one of the city’s LED-lit entertainment districts, the things to do in Osaka can’t help but leave you dizzy with delight.

Meet some of our Osaka local hosts

Like the people who travel with us, they have different backgrounds and interests – but they’re all so passionate about the place they call home, they choose to spend their free time sharing it with the like-minded travelers matched to them.

We’ve handpicked them and we’ll match you to your perfect one!

Tourist standing in front of an attraction in Osaka on a sunny day

Past meets present

At first glance, Osaka is a city with endless things to do and one foot firmly in the future: buildings are blanketed in dazzling LED screens and neon lights, the colorful cosplay scene covers several square-miles of unique entertainment, and high fashion overflows at gleaming department stores. But in fact, while Osaka has all the attractions of an ultra-modern metropolis, the city still manages to reflect Japan’s history and culture. The best things to do in Osaka span centuries, with ancient temples, shrines, and traditional gardens giving a glimpse into the city’s storied past.

Tourist enjoying a traditional meal with a local guide on a food tour of Osaka

The “Nation’s Kitchen”

Spend time with a local, and you’ll likely hear the city's unofficial slogan, kuidaore – “eat until you drop”. It’s no surprise that some of the best things to do in Osaka revolve around its fantastic food scene. Known as the “Nation’s Kitchen”, Osaka’s culinary culture is famous across Japan. The city’s food – found at its traditional markets, cafés, restaurants, and izakayas – is mind-blowingly delicious. From Okonomiyaki pancakes at a snaking line of street food stalls to a Michelin-starred meal at a high-end eatery, the foodie things to do in Osaka suit every palate (and pocket).

Tourist posing in front of neon lights on a busy street in Osaka

Osaka after sunset

When night falls, the city really starts to show off, and the list of things to do in Osaka gets even longer. Osaka transforms into a kaleidoscope of LED screens, giant billboards, and animatronic signs, and the fun begins. Perhaps you’ll start with a scrub down at a traditional sento before some well-deserved bar- or club-hopping, or maybe you’ll swivel your head between flashing restaurant signs and grab a meal at the one that beckons the brightest. If that’s not your scene, you could even slow things down in the lantern-lit alleys of a traditional entertainment district.

Osaka travel tips and inspiration from our Travel Magazine

Find essential city info, travel tips and the best things to do in Osaka and around the world recommended by our local hosts

Latest reviews from our guests

After the seafood joint, Alex was pressed for time because of my mistakes so he mentioned we can't leave without getting okonomiyaki and takoyaki. We went to a spot nearby that has honestly about 20 types of okonomiyaki including ones without pork for our Halal friend. We got two types of takoyaki for the table and two types of okonomiyaki which we all enjoyed. I preferred the shoyu takoyaki personally but both types were great and the okonomiyaki was a hit all around. Alex then had to say his goodbyes but he did end up hanging with us for just about an extra hour so we ultimately got about 3 hours with him as this tour company promised. He easily could have said his goodbyes after two hours because he was only scheduled from 19:00 to 22:00 but he hung with us until just about 23:00!!! Seriously, I am so glad I met Alex and I strongly recommend anyone who can to PLEASE book with him. He is a wonderful person and I am so thankful to have met him. Alex, if you are reading this, your kindness and spirit convinced us that day to come back to Japan as soon as possible. So if we are in Kyoto or Osaka again, please keep an eye out for my email because I would love to see you again. While your experience may differ, I do not think you can wrong with Alex. PS: Alex knew we were going to Kyoto as well and GENEROUSLY offered to give us some tips of where to go there too. I just needed to email him my questions and he responded in a timely manner. Seriously, love you Alex!

March 2023

Andrew T
TL;DR: Book any Osaka food tour through City Unscripted Osaka you can with Alex as your host! I knew that I had to do a food tour in Osaka because that's just what you do. I selected a later evening time but there was a small hiccup with the booking times. I booked 20:00 but our host, Alex, received 19:00 as the meetup time. Alex definitely communicated this to me but I totally missed it because...well who knows why. Anyway, Alex sent me an email at 6:57 (18:57) that he was in the lobby but I did not see it until 7:45 or so. My heart sank that I may have just spent a decent chunk of change of my and my friends money on a food tour that came and went. BUT, Alex and his incredibly kind heart stayed in our lobby the whole time as I panicked and sprinted downstairs hoping he was still there. Much to my surprise, he was there, with a GORGEOUS sweater, smiling and excited to see me. I am so thankful for this let alone the following experiences. Alex is extremely passionate about showing international travelers such as our group (USA, Socal) around the sights and sounds of Dotonbori / Ura Namba. He was jovial, genuinely excited to talk to us about ourselves and himself, and based on our communications about my groups needs (1 halal person, 2 people who don't really like fish), knew exactly what to do. In the 2 hours we had left due to my complete F*** up, he made sure we still got to see the Glico running man, took pictures of us and our S/O's, and gave us some highlights like the only surviving theater in the area after the war on our way to our destinations. We went to a 24-hour seafood eatery because his primary pick was booked up (again, likely due to my F*** up). This place was awesome and a few blocks away from our hotel in Dotonbori. We never would have stopped in at this place if we casually walked by but I am so glad we went in. Alex assisted with ordering of course and kept the conversation alive asking us questions and we in turn asked him. Talking to Alex felt like I was honestly talking to a friend so conversation just happened naturally. The seafood at this spot was super fresh so even my fiance who NEVER gets fish tried the unagi and a small bite of my sashimi and actually enjoyed it.

March 2023

Andrew T
We thoroughly enjoyed our time together with Miki on our private guided tour of Osaka. She was very responsive to our needs, offered wonderful suggestions and we would not hesitate to recommend to other travellers.

March 2023

Jennifer P
Very friendly and helpful guide. Highly recommended.

March 2023

Jeslyn T