OSAKA TOURS

Osaka Tours: The 15 Best Days in the City

322 tours  ·  from $5 a head

Inside the city limits, Osaka is castle, canal and counter food, in roughly that order of importance to locals. These 15 cover all three, with what each costs and how long it takes.

Osaka Go Karting Tour with Funny Costume - Costumes, photos and the small-group feel
Go-Karts, Osaka Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Osaka Go Karting Tour with Funny Costume

1.Osaka Go Karting Tour with Funny Costume

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,658 reviews · from $46Our pick

Drive a single-person go-kart through Osaka with a guide, wearing a borrowed costume if you like. The roughly one-hour route includes areas such as Namba and Dotonbori, with Tsutenkaku Tower among the sights. Kart, fuel, costume and insurance are included. You must meet Japan’s driving-license rules, and the tour may be canceled in heavy rain.

“This was the best go kart experience I had! The guide took pics of us and VIDEO as well! He took us through amazing routes and we had so much fun! I def recommend!”

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Osaka Castle: Museum and Tower Entry Ticket - Take time for the Toyotomi stone walls
Museums, Osaka Castle Tours, Osaka Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Osaka Castle: Museum and Tower Entry Ticket

2.Osaka Castle: Museum and Tower Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,380 reviews · 1 month · from $7Best value

This self-guided ticket covers one entry to Osaka Castle Main Tower and the Toyotomi Ishigaki Museum. Explore exhibits on the Toyotomi and Tokugawa eras, see preserved stone walls, and climb or take the elevator to the tower’s upper floors. Your QR voucher lets you bypass the ticket-purchase line. The castle is open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with last entry at 5:30 PM.

“Great value, awesome views & castle grounds. I had perfect weather as well so a memorable experience.”

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Osaka: Shinsekai Food Tour with 13-15 Dishes at 5 Eateries - Five stops, five different kinds of Osaka food
Food, Food & Drink, Osaka Food Tours, Osaka Tours, Shinsekai Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Osaka: Shinsekai Food Tour with 13-15 Dishes at 5 Eateries

3.Shinsekai Food Tour with 13-15 Dishes at 5 Eateries

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,204 reviews · 3 hours · from $53

Spend three hours walking Shinsekai with an English-speaking guide and a group of no more than nine. Stop at five local eateries for about 13 to 15 dishes, including takoyaki, udon, kushikatsu, gyoza and tonpeiyaki, plus two drinks. Guides have included Osaka-born Taka and local food specialists such as Kiko, Mio and Kevin.

“Kevin was amazing!! He made the tour one of a kind and was definitely the best food tour I have ever been on. I learnt so much about Osaka and Japan culture. Highly recommend this tour and Kevin as ur guide.”

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Osaka Food Tour: 13 Dishes at 5 Local Eateries - Thirteen dishes, with Osaka favorites in the mix
Food, Food & Drink, Osaka Food Tours, Osaka Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Osaka Food Tour: 13 Dishes at 5 Local Eateries

4.Osaka Food Tour: 13 Dishes at 5 Local Eateries

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,149 reviews · from $73

Spend about three hours in Shinsekai with a local guide, visiting five eateries for 13 Osaka dishes and two drinks. You might try takoyaki, gyoza, kitsune udon, or kushikatsu, while hearing about local food customs. Guides vary, with names such as Mario, Tommy, Mari, and Brian. The walk starts and ends near DAIICHI Honten.

“Nick was a great tour guide and was able to accommodate our large party of 11. All the food stops were both interesting and delicious. We loved learning about the rich history of Osaka. Would highly recommend and, come hungry!”

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Hungry Osaka Street Food Tour:15 Tastings & 3 Drinks with a Local - The guide supplies the local map
Food, Food & Drink, Osaka Food Tours, Osaka Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Hungry Osaka Street Food Tour:15 Tastings & 3 Drinks with a Local

5.Hungry Osaka Street Food Tour:15 Tastings & 3 Drinks with a Local

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,727 reviews · from $73

Spend about three hours exploring Osaka’s Shinsekai with a local guide, stopping at five eateries for 15 or more tastings, including takoyaki, kushikatsu, udon, and yakitori. Three drinks are included, and the route ends at Dobutsuen-Mae Station. Guides have included Anna, Adam, Andy, Tim, Scott, and Kenzo.

“Super unique and immersive tour. Adam our guide was great. We go one these tours in many cities and sometimes you feel rushed or like you are just there to shove food down your mouth and move on. This tour gave interesting insight into history of area and current cultural vibes. Perfect amount of time at each place to get a real sense of the food and city.”

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Osaka: teamLab Botanical Garden Entry Ticket - Start with the plants and the central pond
Osaka Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Osaka: teamLab Botanical Garden Entry Ticket

6.teamLab Botanical Garden Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,710 reviews · 1 day · from $11

Wander Nagai Botanical Garden’s 240,000-square-meter grounds and admire its roughly 1,200 plant species, then see teamLab’s outdoor light and sound installations after dark. The $11 ticket covers entry for one day, but the garden has no restaurants or cafes, and re-entry is not allowed. Check the available start times and final entry deadline before booking.

“Really enjoyed the Botanical Garden in Osaka, great installations and thoroughly enjoyable evening activity! Highly recommend if you are in town”

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Osaka: Tea Ceremony Experience - Watch a live tea ceremony, step by step
Osaka Tea Ceremonies, Osaka Tours, Tour Reviews

Osaka: Tea Ceremony Experience

7.Tea Ceremony Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,426 reviews · 45 min · from $25

In a tatami room near Dotonbori, an English-speaking Japanese instructor in kimono explains tea ceremony history and etiquette, demonstrates the ritual, then guides you as you whisk matcha with traditional tools. You’ll drink your tea with a seasonal sweet. Instructors include Yuki, Akiko, Kazu, and Mayumi, though your host may vary. The session lasts 45 minutes and costs $25.

“We loved hearing about the history of tea ceremonies and learning how to make matcha. This was a really special experience and a highlight of our trip.”

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Osaka Kickstart: Hotspots & Hidden Gems Tour - Shinsaibashi, Ebisubashi and America Mura
Osaka Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Osaka Kickstart: Hotspots & Hidden Gems Tour

8.Osaka Kickstart: Hotspots & Hidden Gems Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,306 reviews · from $31

Choose a three- to seven-hour Osaka walk, private or in a group, with a local guide who can tailor the route to your interests. Expect Dotonbori, old lanes, market stops and, on longer private tours, sights such as Osaka Castle, Shitennoji and Shinsekai. A drink and small side dish are included; transport and most entry fees are extra.

“This is a must do tour. We had a brilliant guide, Harry, who gave us the background stories to the area and important information to help us understand the history and the culture but also gave us lots of tips to assist us to navigate the city of Osaka. Harry was relatable and very droll. It was a great way to spend our first day in Japan.”

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Deep Backstreet Osaka Tours (Option to add Dinner) - Worship, history, and the districts tourists miss
Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, Osaka Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Deep Backstreet Osaka Tours (Option to add Dinner)

9.Deep Backstreet Osaka Tours (Option to add Dinner)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,290 reviews · from $53

Start at 5:30 pm near Daikokucho Station for a small-group walk through Osaka’s retro lanes, historic worship sites, a red-light district, and neighborhoods marked by poverty and social stigma. Your local guide shares context as you visit places most visitors miss and sample food at family-run stalls. Add an izakaya dinner featuring Osaka soul food.

“So glad I did this and learned about some of the taboos of Japanese society. Would highly recommend this tour for people who want to scratch beneath the surface. The only thing that could have been better: avoid standing for 10 minutes in a park full of mosquitoes, where the same can be said in the parking lot in front.”

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Sushi Making Osaka Roll and Authentic Japanese Sushi Class - From prepared ingredients to your first roll
Osaka Cooking Classes, Osaka Tours, Tour Reviews, Workshops

Sushi Making Osaka Roll and Authentic Japanese Sushi Class

10.Sushi Making Osaka Roll and Authentic Japanese Sushi Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,220 reviews · from $31

Near Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi, an English-speaking instructor guides you through sushi-making basics, including maki rolls and nigiri. Ingredients are ready when you arrive, and you eat what you make. Instructors have included Reika, Fuko, Aina, and Fujiko. The class runs about 1 hour 40 minutes and suits beginners, families, and curious sushi fans.

“Amazing !! Such a good experience, the staff are also so welcoming and they made the experience perfect!”

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Osaka: Umeda Sky Building Official E-Ticket - Choose your hour with care
Osaka Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Osaka: Umeda Sky Building Official E-Ticket

11.Umeda Sky Building Official E-Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,131 reviews · 1 day · from $12

Visit Umeda Sky Building’s Kuchu Teien Observatory with a one-day entry ticket. Take in 360-degree views from the 40th floor, then head to the open-air Sky Walk, where the city lights make an evening visit especially appealing. The ticket is valid for one day, and you can visit between 9:30 AM and 10:30 PM, with last admission at 10:00 PM.

“Despite my fear of heights, I made it up there and it was a fantastic view ! Not overcrowded. Great value for money”

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Osaka Local Foodie Walking Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai - A walk through Shinsekai’s older streets
Dotonbori Tours, Food, Osaka Food Tours, Osaka Tours, Osaka Walking Tours, Shinsekai Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Osaka Local Foodie Walking Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

12.Osaka Local Foodie Walking Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 985 reviews · from $111

Walk Osaka’s Shinsekai and Dotonbori with a local guide, sampling kushikatsu, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and three drinks along the way. The group is capped at seven, and guides such as Aika, Yuma, and Mich have helped visitors connect the food to local customs and history. Expect lively districts, narrow lanes, shrine stops, and a few substantial food servings rather than constant grazing.

“Plenty of good and a nice way to get the lay of the land in the more popular area of Osaka. Though had some challenge keeping up with the guide who was walking quite fast. She did share a lot of great insight into Osaka, providing a very lively conversation”

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Osaka: Universal Studios Japan E-Ticket - From Hogsmeade to the Harry Potter ride
Osaka Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Osaka: Universal Studios Japan E-Ticket

13.Universal Studios Japan E-Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 958 reviews · 1 day · from $61

This is an entry ticket to Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, where you can spend the day among more than 30 rides and shows, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World, Minion Park, and seasonal attractions. The ticket does not include an Express Pass, food, or drinks. Arrive early if Nintendo World is high on your list.

“Purchasing our tickets online through Get Your Guide (Also cheaper than at the gate), was a wise decision since we didn’t have to wait in the long line to get tickets once we arrived at Universal Studios. However, I do recommend purchasing some express passes since we waiting in line for Attack on Titan for 4 hours! The ride was worth the wait! Universal is always busy but the experience is great!”

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Osaka Bar Hopping Night Walking Tour in Namba (3 bars, 6 tastes) - Three venues, but not always three classic bars
Dotonbori Tours, Drinking Tours, Evening Experiences, Osaka Bar Hopping Tours, Osaka Night Tours, Osaka Tours, Osaka Walking Tours, Pub Crawls, Tour Reviews, Tours

Osaka Bar Hopping Night Walking Tour in Namba (3 bars, 6 tastes)

14.Osaka Bar Hopping Night Walking Tour in Namba (3 bars, 6 tastes)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 958 reviews · from $98

Spend about three hours walking Namba with a local guide, visiting three izakaya-style stops for six tastes of food and drink. The route includes Hozenji Temple and Hozenji Yokocho, with time around Dotonbori’s famous Glico billboard. Guides have included Mina, Taku, Mari, and Yuko, though your guide will depend on the date.

“Our tour guide, Mich, was fantastic. Incredibly knowledgeable, great sense of humor, excellent language skills, and was wonderful company. It was a very small group on the night we went on the tour; it felt more like a bunch of friends getting together for a night out rather than strangers meeting up for a tour. She took us to several unique restaurants, each with a different style of cuisine and different atmosphere. She also took us along some of the lesser-traveled paths in Dotonbori/Nanba area, which made for an exciting and special trip. We got to be introduced to some famous and iconic landmarks of the area and ended the…”

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Osaka/Kyoto: Hiroshima Miyajima Bus Tour & Shinkansen Ticket - Okonomiyaki, Hiroshima’s local lunch
Hiroshima Day Trips from Osaka, Kyoto Day Trips from Osaka, Osaka Bus Tours, Osaka Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours

Osaka/Kyoto: Hiroshima Miyajima Bus Tour & Shinkansen Ticket

15.Hiroshima Miyajima Bus Tour & Shinkansen Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 919 reviews · 12 hours · from $277

Take a 12-hour guided trip from Osaka or Kyoto to Hiroshima and Miyajima. Your day includes round-trip Shinkansen tickets, a coach, the Peace Memorial Museum, the Atomic Bomb Dome, a ferry, Itsukushima Shrine, and Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. Guides such as Joe, Hiro, and Azusa have led the tour, though your guide will depend on your departure date.

“We had a lovely day trip. The tour was informative and smooth. The guide, Joe, clearly loves what he does and brought wonderful energy to the experience.”

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New in Osaka Tours

★ 5.0Matcha Tea Bowl Experience in OsakaFrom $8311 reviews
★ 5.0Mount Koya from Osaka: Cultural Small Group Day TourFrom $2513 reviews
★ 5.0Manno: Osaka Premium Wagyu BBQ Experience ReservationFrom $664 reviews
★ 4.7Master Washoku: 5 Core Techniques for Authentic CookingFrom $1097 reviews
★ 4.2Learning Shodo with a kimono and Trying Samurai CalligraphyFrom $427 reviews
★ 4.9Katsu Curry OR Bento Making Cooking Class & Local Shop TourFrom $8311 reviews
★ 4.5Private Guide Tour of the Castle from Osaka or KyotoFrom $2037 reviews
★ 4.7Osaka and Nara Customized Private tour with English Driver4 reviews
★ 3.9Nara One Day Private Tour5 reviews
★ 4.1Arashiyama, Nara Park, Fushimi Shrine TourFrom $5113 reviews
★ 3.7Private Customizable Day Tour to KyotoFrom $2786 reviews
★ 3.5Kyoto Private Day Tour9 reviews
★ 3.810-hour Private Custom Tour to Kyoto10 reviews
★ 4.010-hour Private Customized Tour to Nara6 reviews
★ 3.9Kyoto Highlights & Nara Park Day TripFrom $694 reviews

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Out and about in Osaka

Pick a counter, a castle or a train out of town.

At the table

Food ToursCooking ClassesKuromon MarketSake TastingIzakaya Crawls

Japanese culture

Tea CeremoniesSamurai & KendoKimonoCraft WorkshopsTemples & Shrines

Getting around

Walking ToursBike ToursRiver CruisesBus ToursPrivate Car Days

After dark

Night ToursShows & SumoPhoto ShootsDotonbori