Itinerary: Osaka four days with kids

by Janie
Jun 30, 14:14
View all of her plans

Osaka is one of the most bustling cities in Japan. A trip to Osaka was also the longest trip I have in Japan. I fully enjoyed this trip with my partner. So much fun in a great place.

Duration 4.0 days
Estimated cost 139.40 USD
Total travel distance 37.0 km
Number of places 11 places
Intensity Moderate
Personal interests Family Food Shopping
Rating

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DAY 1 - ITINERARY 4 places

10:00

Namba Oriental Hotel Hotel Detail Map

大阪市中央区千日前2−8−17

Namba Oriental Hotel Hotel is located at 大阪市中央区千日前2−8−17, Osaka, Japan

Namba Oriental hotel is near to the train station as well as walking distance to all major malls and food outlets.
We went to Osaka station from Kyoto. It took only 1 hour to get there.
You should bring the JR map to know the way the train go as Japanese train system is quite complicated.
Note that the check out time is 10 a.m and the check in time is 3 p.m. Quite different, right?
The room and bed are clean and comfortable
If you don't check in on time, you can leave the luggage at the reception and go aroudn until the right time.

Walk

0.00 USD

5 mins

0.33 km

11:00

Minami (Namba) Detail Map

Namba Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan

NaMinami (南, "South") is one of Osaka's two major city centers. It is the city's most famous entertainment district and offers abundant dining and shopping choices.mba is known as “Minami"

Minami is full of things to do and see. It's near our hotel so that I just need to walk fro a while to get there.
Even though Japan is quite safe but you need to be aware of your pockets and personal belongings. It was soooo busy there.
The atmosphere is very very lively and very clean place.
It's a heaven for shoppers, you can buy anything from souvenirs to clothing at various prices.
This district is also near Shinbaishi district which we would visit later.
Please bear in mind pls bring more cash or credit card for this battle
Don't frget to birng map as this area is endless. Without map, you don't know where you are.
Note that many Japanese can't speak English so it's better to learn a little bit of Japanese.
I had takoyaki and okonomiyaki (which are must eat Osaka food) in Namba, and they were really good.
We had lunch here. I ate Chicken Katsu, Unagi. They were all tasty at good price.
Note that the menu is in Japanese so you can ask for referecne.

Walk

0.00 USD

5 mins

0.33 km

15:00

Namba Oriental Hotel Hotel, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan Detail Map

2-8-17, Sennichi-Mae, Chuo-Ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 542-0074,Japan

Namba is Osaka's main shopping, dining and entertainment area. The hotel is about a three-minute walk from the Namba subway station on the Nankai line, with direct access to Kansai International Airport.

At 3 p.m, we came back to check in hotel. Then, take a shower and have a break.

Namba Oriental Hotel Hotel, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan by

Take a bus/train

1.40 USD

20 mins

11.27 km

16:30

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan Detail Map

1-1-10 Kaigan-dori, Minato-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 552-0022, Japan 20.50 USD

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is one of the largest aquariums in the world. Its theme is the Pacific Ring of Fire. Large fish are on display including a whale shark.

How to go: From Nippponbashi station, take Sakaijoshi line then Take Chuo subway line to Osakako Station. Osaka Aquarium is 5 mins walk from the station.
My kids love it. It's truly a place for kids of 2 and above
You should test your audio guide immediately after getting it. Some audios didn't work.
No need to buy souvenirs at the main shop. he souvenir shops directly under the aquarium has far more options and slightly cheaper.
When done visiting the aquarium, there's a shopping mall next to it where you can enjoy lunch or dinner. We had dinner there
The photo opportunities were great & the displays of the marine life /animals were amazing
There was even a hands on petting tank where you can touch a shark & stingray.
The explanation is in English
The trail to tour around the aquarium is also well-designed.

Comments

DAY 2 - ITINERARY 6 places

09:00

Kuromon market Detail Map

Kuromon Ichiba 2 542 0073 2 Chome-4-1 Nipponbashi Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0073 Japan 5.00 USD

Kuromon Ichiba is 580 meters long, and is easily accessed by a 2-minute walk from the subway Nippombashi Station. It is a very lively market with lots of human interaction.

It is just few mins walking distance from Namba station
• Kuromon market is also named as Osaka Kitchen which has 580 meters long with 191 stores. You can find a wide variety of products including fresh fish, seafood, meat, clothes and other general goods.
There were stalls selling fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood and wagyu steaks and meat.
There is a great bakery at one end across the Whiskey shop that sells a strawberry and sponge cake wrapped in mochi.
Don't forget to buy fresh fruit from the market. They were a little bit expensive though.
Plenty of shaved ice with sweet syrup (kakigori) if the weather is hot.
Plenty to eat if you like seafood. You can pick it fresh and they will cook it for you.
Things to buy: Huge oysters, scallops, Kobe beef, all kinds of stuff.
Another must try would be the Kobe Beef, the chef will cooked in front of you when you order! Only 2000 Yen! Worth to try! We had it on the next day I came to this market.
We had breakfast at the hotel and early lunch at this market

Take a bus/train

0.60 USD

10 mins

3.92 km

10:45

Osaka Castle Park Detail Map

Osakajo, Chuoku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 540-0002, Japan

Osaka Castle Park is a public urban park and historical site situated at Osaka-Jō in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan.

There are two ways to get to Osaka Castle: Use Tanimachi Subway Line or Chuo Subway Line to Tanimachi 4-chrome Station Take JR line (JR Loop Line) from Osaka station to Osakajokoen Station, around 10 mins.
Before you get to the Osaka Castle, there is a park towards the castle, it is also one of Osaka's most popular hanami spot during the cherry blossom season which you shouldn't missed.
Inside is a pretty cool museum dedicated to Hideyoshi Toyotomi and the Summer Rebellion.
You should wear comfortable shoes as you need to walk a lot.
There is a nice souvenir shop just outside

Take a bus/train

0.80 USD

15 mins

5.25 km

12:45

Daruma Kushikatsu Detail Map

1 542 0071 1 Chome-6-4 Dotonbori Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0071, Japan 14.00 USD

Kushikatsu Daruma was started in 1929. Its golden, fried skewers have been a popular Osakan specialty. Their secret components of their recipe are the batter, oil and sauce.

In the menu, you can picked either ala carte or set.
They will serve you a bowl of raw cabbages and kimchi to go with Kushikatsu. A big bowl of sauce is also served at the table. You will have to dip your Kushikatsu into the sauce before you bite. Please remember of the hygiene, no second dipping into the sauce after you have bite.
After our lunch (a.k.a snack), we visit the Tsutenkaku Tower which is just walking distance from the restaurant. We just follow the tower and walk toward it without using any map. You will need to take a lift to underground to get to the top.
How to get there: Walk to Kintetsu-Nippombashi Station, then take the Kintetsu-Nara Line and take bus ６２号 to Daruma Kushikatsu.

Walk

0.00 USD

5 mins

0.32 km

14:30

Tombori River Cruise Detail Map

7-13, Soemoncho, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0084, Japan 6.50 USD

Tombori River Cruise is a mini cruise on the Dotonbori River taking about 20 minutes, guided by the Osaka Guide Crew.

You get on a boat in the middle of Dotonbori area and the cruise take you to the end of both sides of the river.
The guide on the cruise is quite nice. You can ask anything you want to know.
Don't forget to bring camera as it it a great photo opportunity.
You can book ticket here: http://www.osaka-info.jp/suito/concept/en/cruise/tombori.html
The fee was: 700 yen
The whole cruise is only around 25 minutes and takes you to the up and down the river so you will see the bustling parts and the quiet quiant parts in one ride.
I think this is more beautiful if you use this facility at night.
A must do for kids but don't let them get too close to the boat side as they can be felt off.

Walk

0.00 USD

5 mins

0.56 km

15:15

Namba Oriental Hotel Hotel, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan Detail Map

2-8-17, Sennichi-Mae, Chuo-Ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 542-0074,Japan

After walking around the hotel, we lead to Dotonbori.
We got back the hotel to break and have a shower.

Walk

0.00 USD

5 mins

0.38 km

16:15

Dotonbori Detail Map

Dotonbori Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0071, Japan

Dotonbori is a large scale downtown along the south bank of the Dotonbori-gawa Canal. Osaka is known as the gastronomists' town.

Note that you need to walk a lot so it's better to bring the scooter for your kids or something that can reduce them from walking.
For face care fanatics, do note that Matsu-kiyo (yellow signboard) drug store, is just after the bridge, where everyone poses with the Glico man.
It is about 5 to 10 minutes walk from Namba station.
As you walk along Midosuji Avenue , you should come across a noodle shop that sells its noodles at 600 Yen per bowl. We had dinner there.
All signs of street food stores or menu are in Japanese.
Some of Osaka's regional cuisine which you should not miss : Okonomiyaki ( pan-fried batter cake ), takoyaki ( octopus dumplings)
Another activity is posing with ive size colorful cardboard by sticking your faces through a hole in the cardboard.
So many things to do and see there. Prepare yourself with food, shopping...
Sometimes, you need to get on the queue as some restaurants are really crowded.