Japan · Asia#12 most-visited city

Osaka

Edited by the ErBiage editors

TL;DR

Plan a family trip to Osaka. What to do with kids, best time to visit, where to stay, and family tips from ErBiage.

Osaka is Japan's food-and-fun capital — messier, louder, and warmer than Tokyo, with a family destination hiding inside it: Universal Studios Japan, one of the world's best. Add takoyaki and okonomiyaki eaten on the street in Dotonbori, Osaka Castle rising out of a park, and a day-trip to Nara where the deer literally bow for a cookie, and you have a base for one of Japan's great family weeks. Base near Namba or Umeda. Universal is a full day (Super Nintendo World is the current showstopper). Osaka Castle and its park are worth a half-day. Dotonbori after dark is a walking dinner. Add day trips to Kyoto (30 min by train) and Nara (45 min) and you don't need to change hotels for the whole week.

What to do in Osaka

Universal Studios Japan

Super Nintendo World, Harry Potter, Minions — one full day, express pass helps.

Osaka Castle

Photogenic from every angle; park picnic before you climb the keep.

Dotonbori at night

Neon, takoyaki, glowing crab sign — a walking street-food dinner.

Nara day trip

Deer Park, Todai-ji giant Buddha — the kids will remember the deer.

Kyoto day trip

30 min by train — Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu, Arashiyama bamboo forest.

Start planning your Osaka trip.

Your first trip is free. Bring the whole family — grandparents to toddlers.

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