Exploring Osaka in 3 days
- Anju Chandna
- Dec 15, 2025
- 5 min read
Osaka can be a great starting point for your trip to Japan.
It's lively but not as crowded as Tokyo; it has many shrines but not as many as in Kyoto; it's less expensive and more friendly, making it an ideal option to ease into your Japanese vacation.
When I say ease, I mean that visiting Kyoto and Tokyo literally sent our senses reeling...in a good way, of course! There is so much to do in these cities that, despite having 4 and 5 days respectively in each of them, we were running from point to point to see it all.
But Osaka can be more relaxed, for sure! You can spend an evening loitering around the Dotonbori Street and Canal and savour its many yummy treats!
We had 3 days in Osaka, so our itinerary featured most of the not-to-miss sights that Osaka has to offer.
# Day One
Namba District
Dotonbori Canal and District
Tombori Riverfront
Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Arcade
Savouring street food
Hozen-ji Temple
We reached Osaka by midday, so on Day One, we decided to spend the evening at the famous Namba District of Osaka, known for its vibrant nightlife and street food outlets.
Namba lies in the Minami area, where you will also find the famous Dotonbori Riverside Promenade that runs along the Dotonbori Canal.
Interestingly, Dotonbori is a man-made canal, bori meaning canal in Japanese. This canal is also nicknamed the Tombori Riverfront, where you can step onto a canal cruise and see the sights from the water.
You will see neon-lit signs on both sides of the canal and the streets leading up to the Dotonbori area.
Osaka has earned the nickname 'Japan's kitchen', owing to its rocking street food culture. The areas of Namba and Dotonbori are laden with shops serving authentic Japanese fare like Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki at reasonable prices. Another speciality is a slice of melon bread filled with an ice cream slice of your choice.
One of the popular tourist attractions in Namba is the 600-metre-long covered shopping arcade, Shinsaibashi-suji. You will find an interesting mix of street food outlets, local tailors, and small boutiques lining the street.
Just a few meters away from the Dotonbori area is a small Buddhist Temple called Hozen-ji Temple. A small cobblestone pathway will lead you to this charming temple, where you will see a moss-covered statue of Mizikake Fudo, a revered deity believed to dispel ignorance and evil. It's considered sacred to splash water on the deity to bring good luck.
My Tip
Namba is a must-visit place in Osaka; you will get an instant taste of Japan, its cuisine and culture on your visit. Must try the amazing street food, especially the melon bread filled with ice cream!
# Day Two
Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
Osaka Castle
Tempozan Giant Wheel
Osaka Aquarium - Kaiyukan
Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
After a relaxed Day One that we had spent sauntering around the streets of Osaka, we decided to cover major ground on Day Two.
We started our day early with a visit to the Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine.
Sumiyoshi Taisha is the head of over 2000 Sumiyoshi shrines across Japan and is one of the most famous Shinto shrines.
Read more about this shrine by clicking on the link below
Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle is Japan's most famous landmark.
Read more about this castle by clicking on the link below
Tempozan Giant Wheel
How does it feel to sit atop the world's largest giant wheel?
That's Tempozan for you!
The Tempozan is a whopping 369 feet high and 330 feet in diameter. 60 closed cabins take about 15 minutes to go around in one rotation, and when you reach the top, you get stunning views of the Osaka skyline and the Osaka Bay with Rokko Mountains to the north and Mount Ikoma to the east.
My Tip
The Tempozan is a must-visit attraction; you will find a massive queue leading to the wheel, so try to reach early.
The wheel goes around very slowly owing to its mammoth size, but the thrill of watching great scenic views from the top is worth the wait.
Tempozan is very close to the Osaka Aquarium; if you plan to do both, then keep aside at least 3 to 4 hours. The aquarium is a very busy place; one is required to buy a ticket, and then you are allocated a slot to enter.
So, you should buy your aquarium tickets first and then go to the Tempozan. We did not know about this and had to wait for almost 2 hours to enter the aquarium after finishing our ride on the Tempozan.
Kaiyukan - Osaka Aquarium
Kaiyukan is one of the largest aquariums in the world, and its spectacular Pacific Tank with its massive whale sharks will blow your mind.
Learn everything you wish to know about Kaiyukan by clicking on the link below
# Day 3
Shitennoji Temple
Shinsekai District and Tsutenkaku Tower with its Tower Slider
Last evening at Dotonbori District
Shitennoji Temple
This was our last day in Osaka. We set out to visit the Shitennoji Temple, which is claimed to be the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan, founded in 593 by Prince Shotoku, a revered figure who dedicated his life to spreading Buddhism in Japan.
The most notable feature of the temple is its symmetrical layout, serene park and the beautiful five-storey pagoda.
The temple was burnt and destroyed multiple times throughout history, so what we see now are fairly new constructions built as early as the 1960s and 70s.
My Tip
The temple is a 15-minute walk from the Tenno-ji Station. The area around the temple is very serene, and we spent a quiet morning there. The most notable feature is that the temple is located right in the middle of a very densely populated urban residential area and still looks like an oasis of calm.
The park around the temple is free to visit; it's a great place to take photos. Photography inside the temple is strictly prohibited.
If you wish to see the pagoda from inside, then the entry ticket is 500 yen.
Shinsekai District, Tsutenkaku Tower and Tower Slider
The Shinsekai District is Osaka's vibrant, old-fashioned district popular for bars and eateries and the iconic Tsutenkaku Tower.
Learn more about this rocking Osaka neighbourhood by clicking on the link below
After spending the early part of the evening at Shinsekai, we headed to the Dotonbori District again. One can never tire of seeing this vibrant part of Osaka.
Besides, it was raining on the first day we came here, so we wanted to spend our last evening in Osaka wandering around this charming district.
Early next morning, we set out to see Himeji Castle. Coming up next...
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