Unique Things To Do In Osaka Japan

An Overview of Osaka

Osaka is a large, relaxing city best known for its stellar culinary scene and compelling nightlife. The city is a vital transportation hub, operating as an important connecting region for the major cities of Kansai. From Osaka, visitors can easily access some of Japan’s most iconic places, including Kyoto, Kobe and Nara. The city itself is Japan’s unofficial street-food capital. With its history, culture, unique nightlife, amazing food scene and wonderful scenery, there are many unique things to do in Osaka.

Unique Things To Do In Osaka Japan

Shinsekai District

Shinsekai is an old neighborhood close to Osaka City’s downtown area. The neighborhood is known to be especially bright and interesting at night, with numerous restaurants and decorations lighting up the streets. The area’s specialty dish is called Kushi-katsu, a dish containing deep-fried, skewered veggies and meats.

Isshin-ji Temple

Known for its remarkably unique and modern design, Isshin-ji is especially famous for its Buddha sculptures which are crafted from crushed bones. The temple is nearby Tenshiba Park, a large green space which contains the manicured rock-and-shrub island of Keitakuen Garden, the Tennoji Zoo and the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts.

Hozenji Temple

Found in a quaint little alley, this Buddhist Temple is home to a quiet, moss-coated statue depicting the deity Fudo Myo-o (Fudomyoo) the Immovable One. In certain Buddhist sects in Japan, the god is known as one of the Five Bright Kings and a fierce protector of Buddhism’s true adherents.

Namba

Namba is a high-energy district filled with boutiques, East Asian eateries, a mall with a rooftop garden, Otaku pop-culture shopping centers, and other entertainment districts. The highly popular area also includes one of Osaka’s main railway terminals, making the zone a major transport hub. Within the district, visitors can discover Hozenji Zen Temple with a moss-covered statue, fan shops for video games and manga in Den Den Town and the National Bunraku Theatre for classical puppet performances.

Dotonbori

Also known as Dōtonbori or Dōtombori, this canal shopping street is one of the prime tourism destinations in Osaka City. The lively entertainment district extends from Dōtonboribashi Bridge to Nipponbashi Bridge in the Namba district. The area is best known for its blazing neon lights, extravagant advertisements, amusement park-like atmosphere. By far, the most iconic sign found in the area is the Glico running man above Ebisubashi Bridge.

Kukuru Takoyaki

One of Japan’s specialty foods is known as Takoyaki which roughly translates to “pan-frying octopus.” Often called Octopus Balls in English, this unique dish uses takoyaki batter diced with dried kelp and bonito flakes with picked ginger, octopus meat, tempura and green onion mixed in. Where there are several great takoyaki stalls in Dotonbori, Takoya Dotonbori Kukuru is especially popular.

The Silver Ball Planet

Hidden inside an open-air mall, the Silver Ball Planet is an extremely cheap, retro pinball arcade with dozens of restored machines within.

Shinsaibashi-Suji

This street is considered Osaka’s shopping area with a covered shopping street known as Shinsaibashi-suji in its center.

Shitennoji Temple

This Buddhist Temple in Osaka is known for its document exhibits, paintings, preserved Buddhist statues, sacred artifacts and numerous registered National Treasures. The temple grounds are distinct for the large, wide-awning Japanese tower.

Namba Yasaka Shrine

Also called “Namba Yasaka-jinja,” this unique shrine is distinct for its enormous lion-head building which depicts a traditional guardian beast with its mouth open. The shrine is also popular for its peacefully cherry blossom trees dotting the shrine grounds. The area is a refreshing quiet patch, removed from the Namba Parks popular shopping complex.

Pokémon Café

The Pokémon Cafes of Japan are wildly popular shopping centers and eateries heavily focused on the Pokémon franchise. There are Pikachu decorations, costumed staff members, novelty meals designed to look like popular Pokémon and walls covered in themed clothes, toys and collectables. The Pokémon Café in Osaka requires a reservation prior to arrival. The café can be found on the upper floors of Daimaru Shinsaibashi Department Store. This should not be confused with the Osaka Pokémon Center, which focuses mostly on merchandise and exists near the Osaka-Umeda Station.

Ikasuri Shrine

This is considered a major Shinto Shrine located in Central Osaka. It’s often known as Zama-san and hosts five important deities, which are enshrined within.

Umeda Sky Building

This large skyscraper is one of the most distinct buildings in Osaka, notable for it’s connected platform at the very top which hosts a rooftop garden observatory, restaurant and city-viewing platform. The small garden at the base of the tower is also very nice.

Pachimon Wars

For one of the most interesting watering-holes in Osaka, Pachimon Wars is a fair contender. The bar is crammed full of retro Star Wars collectables and merchandise.

The Aquarium Bar Shinsaibashi Lime

Shinsaibashi Lime is a quiet, classy bar with a long counter, quiet ambiance and walls made of tropical fish tanks. For ambiance alone, the bar is a unique place to visit, but Shinsaibashi Lime also serves some special drinks, including a nice Japanese plum wine.

Osaka Castle and Hokoku Shrine

The Osaka Castle is a gorgeous, wonderfully intact and utterly revered castle dating back to 1597. The elegant structure is surrounded by gardens with an exhibit museum within. The area around Osaka Castle has many other attractions, including the beautiful Hokoku Shrine of Shintoismand the Nishinomaru Gardens,.

Maishima Incineration Plant

Maishima Sports Island is a popular location known for its lily garden, giant sports stadium and numerous outdoor paths. However, the island is also known for a garbage incineration plant, which was built beautiful during Japan’s bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games. Now, the surprisingly beautiful building is another feature of the island. Walking by the plant is free, but entering requires a reservation in advance.

Hoshida Park and Forest Bridge

Hoshida Park is a protected outdoor area known for thick, forested hills and stunning panorama views of Osaka. The park is especially well known for Hoshi no Buranko, a long pedestrian suspension bridge offering amazing views. The park can be reached by taking the Keihan Main Line to the Katano Line, hopping off at Kisaichi Station.

Tsutenkaku Tower (Hitachi Tower)

One of the most iconic structures in Osaka is Tsutenkaku, a well known landmark with a Hitachi advertisement. Tsutenkaku has an observation deck on the 5th floor, as well as a statue of the good-fortune god Biriken. The tower is the centerpiece for the thriving Shinsekai, which is home to many of the culinary landmarks of Osaka.

Rokusen Sushi

Rokusen Sushi is an excellent sushi eatery located in Shinsekai near Tsutenkaku.

Daisen Kofun

This unique artificial island is a kofun, a type of traditional megalithic tomb, created to look like a key-hold island centered in a rectangular lake. The extremely unique funerary mounds found upon the islands which back to the 5th-century are called Mozu Tombs. The rare structure in Osaka is often called Daisen-ryo Kofun or the Tomb of Emperor Nintoku. Unsurprisingly, this is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are several of these island structures in Osaka, including Ishizugaoka, Itasuke Kofun, Gobyoyama Kofun and Hase Nisanzai Tumulus.

Pablo Original Rare Cheese Tart

This is a specialty treat which uses a cream cheese blend and a flaky, pastry exterior. The treat is often topped with an apricot jam glaze.

Okonomiyaki

One of the specialty dishes found in Osaka is a savory, grilled pancake meal. This savory pancake dish made of wheat flour batter, cabbage, meat and seafood. Other ingredients may include pickled ginger, Japanese mayonnaise, aonori and katsuobushi.

Fugu

For the truly daring culinary adventurers, there is perhaps no food more risky and dangerous than fugu. Fugu, or raw blowfish dish, is inheritly finicky and poisonous if cooked improperly. The dish requires intense training and a long certification process to prepare. Japan is one of the few places in the world where expert chefs are capable of serving fugu.

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