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Osaka is a go-to city for amazing cuisine, nightlife, beautiful sights, tons of nearby day trips - and also their gorgeous cherry blossoms during the Sakura season in the spring. Osaka is often overlooked as a destination compared to nearby Kyoto. This large metropolis is worth a visit or even a two-day stay. Unlike Tokyo, where there are a million and one things to see and you feel like you might miss something if you don’t spend all your time out sightseeing, you can take Osaka at a more relaxed pace. Use Osaka as your break while you are in Japan, while also checking out some of Japan’s best Hanami spots.

Where to stay in Osaka

Some people visit Osaka just as a day trip from Kyoto, others use it solely as a base to visit other sights in the area, but there is enough in Osaka itself to spend a couple of days at a relaxed pace. If you do only have one day in Osaka, you can visit Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, and Kema Sakuranomiya park all in the same day. Due to the distance, Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park will likely be too much unless you have a second day. We stayed in Osaka for 4 nights. We did one day trip to Himeji Castle and Hiroshima, 2 days of sight-seeing in Osaka, and we flew back home on the last day out of Osaka airport.

Osaka is a large city with multiple different advantageous locations to stay in. No matter where you are, you will likely use the metro quite frequently to get to other parts of the city, so the number one thing to look for is a place close to a metro station. Particularly, a place close to the Midosuji subway line.

Cozy Airbnb Apartment – Cheap apartment close to all the major transport lines and central to all of Osaka’s sights.
Capsule Hotel – This affordable but high-end capsule hotel is within walking distance of Dotonbori.
UNIZO INN Shin-Osaka – Great hotel with a perfect location if you are planning multiple day trips, near Shin-Osaka station.
Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier – Beautiful hotel with spacious rooms in the sought out Kita Ward.

Day 1

Start your day at Osaka’s most famous tourist destination. The best way to get around Osaka is by metro. If you were in Tokyo before visiting Osaka, you can use your suica or Pasmo card to pay for your fares. If Osaka is the first place you are visiting in Japan, grab an Icoca card. These are prepaid smart cards that you can load with money so you don’t have to fumble with coins surrounded by Japanese locals who whiz past you at the turnstiles. We would recommend Google Maps to figure out how to get between sights as it tells you walking directions to the station, helps navigate you within the station, and what trains to get on and when. Our hotel was close enough so we decided to walk to Osaka Castle from our hotel.

Osaka Castle

Osaka castle often makes the list of the most gorgeous castles in Japan. This is especially true when it is surrounded by Cherry Blossoms. The original castle was at a time the largest in Japan. It was built in the 1580s but burnt down several times from wars and weather incidents. The current castle that stands today has been completely modernized on the inside with a large museum on the castle and Japanese history. It even has an elevator to get between the 8 floors for those that need it. During the cherry blossom season, the castle will likely be packed with visitors. There is a much longer line and wait if you need to use the elevator. Consider the stairs if you are able.

On the top floor, there is an amazing 360º view of the city and the grounds below. To keep the people moving as efficiently as possible, you are told to start all the way at the top and then see all the exhibits of the museum as you work your way back down. There are a couple of floors that you can’t photograph due to the artifacts displayed.

View from Osaka Castle’s top floor 360 observation deck

The castle is located inside a large park, surrounded by a huge moat, which you can take a boat ride on or walk alongside. During Hanami season, you can find food booths and crowds picnicking outside of the fort walls. You can spend half a day walking around the grounds, or just a couple hours to see the castle and then leave.

Cost:600 yen

Time Spent: 2 hours

Dotonbori

The best way to get to Dotonbori from Osaka Castle depends on where you are in the Osaka Castle Park and the time of the day. Check google maps to figure out your route. You can also head back to your hotel, rest for a bit and then visit Dotonbori around dinner time. This way you will see the street lit-up with a more exciting atmosphere. We visited mid-day and took the Nagahoritsurumiryokuchi Line from Morinomiya Station to Shinsaibashi Station and then walked down the prominent Mido-suji street past all of the luxury stores. Head towards Ebisu Bridge to get a great view of the billboards over the Dotonbori canal, cross it and then head into the most populous street of the area, which runs parallel to the river.

Dotonbori is the place to go in Osaka for great nightlife, restaurants, arcades, and theaters. Along with the glico man billboard, the giant mechanical food signage over restaurants are some of the most photographed things in Dotonbori. If you aren’t visiting during lunch or dinner time, you can also grab some quick eats as you walk along the street. Some of the best street foods are the Melon pan (a sweet bun) which is served either with or without ice cream, crab legs, and dumplings. If you are here for dinner, you will be spoiled for choice. A lot of places might have lines and the area might be crowded, but you will likely find the best food of your trip here. We are partial to the Okonomiyaki at Chibo Dotonbori. If you are really into food and want to know a lot more about Japanese cuisine, take a food tour.

Time Spent: 1-3 hours

Day 2

Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park

One of locals’ favorite Cherry Blossom spots is Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park. The former grounds for the 1970 World Expo were converted to a large and beautiful park, complete with over 5000 cherry blossom trees. What makes this area so great is the large lawns for enjoying a picnic and dozens of food vendors. It also has expansive gardens that could occupy many hours of your day, just wandering through. Due to its location, not many tourists venture out to visit the park and the crowds are relatively low for such a beautiful spot during Cherry Blossom season. If you have at least two days in Osaka and the trees are in bloom, you have to make the trip out here. Entering the park does cost a small fee (250 yen) but it is very much worth it. When you first get your ticket and enter the park, you might be a bit worried by what seems like a large number of people entering the park, but don’t fret – the grounds are so expansive, the people thin out very quickly.

There is far more than cherry blossoms to explore. If you visit at the right time, the tulips will also be just starting to bloom. The huge Tower of the Sun statue as soon as you get into the park will also surely impress. There is also a large pond in the middle of the park where you can rent paddle boats if the weather is nice. In the back of the park is a large Japanese-style garden with very few visitors. Before or after your visit to the park, you can check out the large shopping, restaurant, and entertainment complex called Expocity outside the main gate to get lunch or do some shopping.

The park is a bit north of the main Osaka city center and will likely take around an hour to reach it by metro from your accommodations. The closest station to the main entrance is Bampakukinenkoen Station, but you can also arrive at Koen-Higashiguchi Station and enter through the side gate.

Cost: 250 yen

Time Spent: 3-4 hours

kema sakuranomiya park

Back in the heart of Osaka, the next park to check out is Kema Sakuranomiya, which follows along the side of the Okawa River. This shoreline park is full of sakura trees, strolling locals, coworkers enjoying lunch, and kids biking. It is an amazing park in the middle of the economic powerhouse that is Osaka. Start your walk from the Sakuranomiya Station and head south. The walking path is roughly 2km will take you around 30 minutes or so depending on how many stops you make to enjoy the views or food.

Like all other sakura spots throughout Japan, there will be multiple food stalls set up along the length of the park to eat while you walk or to enjoy as a picnic. You can also take a boat tour along the river for 1,200 yen, which departs from Hachiken-ya hama Pier.

Time Spent: 1 hour

Additional Sights

If you want to pack your day with more sights or have more days in Osaka, consider these places to add to your itinerary:

Osaka Mint Museum – Another great spot for viewing the cherry blossoms, especially later in the season. The cherry blossom garden is only open for one week during the peak bloom of their late-blooming trees, usually during mid-April. So if you are visiting later in the season, the Mint Museum is a must-see. It is located on Okawa River, across from Kema Sakuranomiya Park. The museum itself is also a good free place to visit to learn about Japanese currency.
Universal Studios – The popular amusement park also has a park in Osaka.
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan – One of the best and largest aquariums in the world, the Osaka aquarium is a great way to see aquatic life from across the world – especially those native to the waters around Japan. Nearby is the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel.
Umeda Sky Building or Tsutenkaku – Both offer great views of the city.