City guides大阪
Osaka for first-timers
Japan's kitchen: street food, nightlife, and the perfect base for Kyoto, Nara and Kobe.
Last reviewed · Sep 2026
Osaka is louder and friendlier than Tokyo, cheaper to stay in than Kyoto, and a short train ride from both Kyoto and Nara.
- Dotonbori and Namba for takoyaki, okonomiyaki and neon
- Osaka Castle and its park
- Kuromon Market
- Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku tower for old-Osaka kushikatsu
- Universal Studios Japan (book Express passes early)
- Day trip to Nara's deer park and Todai-ji (45 min)
Where to stay
Namba for food and nightlife; Umeda for train connections to Kyoto and Kobe; Shin-Osaka if you're catching an early Shinkansen.