Osaka Travel Guide: Things To Do For First Time Visitors

A great place to go exploring whilst in Osaka is the Shinsekai district located in the south. It’s an area of the city that was developed before the war and then neglected in the decades that followed. The northern area of Shinsekai was designed to look like Paris while its southern counterpart was modeled on New York’s Coney Island. The Tsutenkaku Tower, constructed in 1912 to look like the Eiffel Tower, suffered a fire during the war but was later rebuilt and now stands at 103 meters high and boasts an open-air observatory deck since 2015. Although Shinsekai is steadily being modernized, it stills retains its dark and dirty character which is reminiscent of the city’s unique past. Shinsekai presents a huge contrast to the glitz and glamour of the more modern uptown area and provides an insight into the city’s history, its cultural identity, and its vision of the rest of the world. Its ‘in-between’ style accommodates a quirky atmosphere that is hard to explain to those who haven’t experienced it. You’ll see people singing karaoke in the morning as others make their way to work, you’ll run into pop up carnival games that look out of place and you’ll find people eating kushikatsu, Shinsekai’s specialty food, on the side of the street at all hours. Shinsekai shows another side to Osaka that shouldn’t be missed by first time visitors.

Osaka Castle is the city’s crown jewel. Originally constructed in the late 1500s, the castle is one of the most historically significant sites in Japan. Since it was destroyed in the Second World War, the castle has been reconstructed and modernised inside and while the castle may have lost some of its authenticity, it remains one of the best things to see in Osaka for those wanting to get an understanding of the city’s history and cultural identity. The castle is home to a history museum that uses holograms, 3D pictures and other technologies to educate visitors on the castle’s history and the period in which it was built. Perhaps the best feature of this popular attraction are its beautiful gardens which covers 15 acres and is free to enter. If visiting in late winter or early springtime, you’ll have the pleasure of seeing the castle grounds inundated with a sea of pretty pink and white plum blossom followed by Japan’s famous cherry blossom later in the year. Be sure to take your camera, the sight of the gardens in full bloom against the spectacular backdrop of the Castle is one you'll want to remember forever. And for those visiting Osaka in winter, don’t miss the city’s famous Osaka Castle Winter Illumination at 5:30pm every day from the 1st December to the 3rd of March.

Den Den Town, or Nipponbashi, is a lively part of town tucked away in a small corner of southern Osaka famous for its display of Japanese otaku culture. This entertainment hotspot is home to an array of unique stores selling and showcasing anime and manga memorabilia as well as many electronic shops and other gaming stores. This place is heaven on earth for all anime-lovers and cosplay enthusiasts out there! With so much to see and do you you’ll be able to spend hours geeking out and delving deep into the world of Japan’s world famous animation phenomenon. This truly is one the most unique things to do in Osaka and must see for first time visitors to the city.

An essential part of Osaka culture is food! Osaka boasts a wide range of amazing restaurants serving both international food and traditional Japanese dishes, but it must be said that the star of the show is Osaka’s street food. From crispy deep fried dumplings to Japanese-style pizzas and juicy skewered meats, Osaka’s street food will have foodies from around the world licking their lips. There are countless street foods stores throughout the city waiting to welcome you in for a quick bite to eat. Try Osaka’s famous savoury pancake, okonomiyaki, made with flour, eggs, shredded cabbage and finished off with your choice of toppings and condiments. Try it at Chibo in Dotonbori, where you can watch the chefs cook your Okonomiyaki right in front of you. Stick to classic toppings like pork belly or experiment with crazy combinations like kimchi and cheese! Takoyaki, deep fried balls typically filled with octopus, and yakitori, grilled chicken skewers, are both also very popular street foods in Osaka. Many of these dishes actually originated in Osaka and form an important part of the city’s food culture. Be sure to give everything a try, you won’t regret it! Tip: Most eateries don’t take card so having cash is essential.