Osaka Kickstart: Hotspots & Hidden Gems Tour
Description
Kickstart your day or night Osaka walking adventure with this tour featured on Channel 5 British TV on the hugely popular series "Jane McDonald In Japan", chosen for its "genuine, quirky & unfiltered snapshot of Osaka". Your local insider guide will pair every location with personal stories & historical info with quirky facts and a great dose of enthusiasm & humour:) You get to choose from private totally customized tours OR a group tour. Slip through Namba: hole in the wall bars/eateries, as well as Kuromon seafood market. (If you want lunch/dinner after the tour, we'll recommend delicious local restaurants too) The retro district will share its charm with wacky game palors & friendly vendors while the Dotonbori will provide a sensory overload, billboards galore! Osaka Castle will also showcase it's immense role in Japan's unification (only 5hr or 7hr tours) After, explore hidden cobblestone alleys uncovering a centuries old collection of stores crafting their unique designs.
Tour Options
Itinerary
These hard to find winding, cobblestone alleys steeped with character & tradition is remarkable . We'll also find walls painted with Osaka's history etched into it.
Visiting Osaka's Dotonbori River is a must.....one of our highlights. Along side this picturesque scene is a treasure trove full of more than a variety of stores to entertain you.
Explore Shinsaibashi-suji, Osaka’s lively shopping street, featuring unique Japanese fashion, quirky gadgets, and vibrant local energy.
The original bridge was made out of wood in the 1600's...more than 400yrs later it still stand but now made out of iron. It is at the very heart of Osaka and is known as the local meeting spot.
We'll guide you to hidden streets in this area where it has Japan's version of what they think America is. hahah, it even has a statue of liberty on top of a building
(almost always get here on a 3hr tour..depends how fast the group walks) We'll step into some fish market stores that look unremarkable from the outside but when inside exposes seafood heaven. Watch a store cut and prepare a fugu(puffer fish). Learn how to cut a tuna.... Salmon sashimi is some of the best I've had in Japan.
(almost always get here on a 3hr tour..depends how fast the group walks) It's tricky navigating these tucked away quirky stores. Thats what we're here for...to take you to the gaming & cosplay zone and explore your inner nerdy side hahaha
Only available on 4, 5, or 7-hour private tours. Explore Shinsekai, Osaka’s retro neighborhood, full of quirky fishing restaurants, vintage game arcades, board game shops, and old vinyl stores. Step off the beaten path to experience the city’s vibrant local culture and hidden gems.
(ONLY ON THE 4HR OR 5HR PRIVATE TOUR) We get a private knife lesson here. Understand the whole process of how a knife is made (crafted at the rear of the building). After you'll get to experience cutting with these world famous knives of Sakai (made in the south of Osaka). This lesson is included in the price.
(ONLY AVAILABLE ON 5HR OR 7HR PRIVATE TOUR) Standing an impressive and staggering 300m tall, Abeno Harukasu is Japan's tallest building (not structure or tower). Staggering!
(ONLY AVAILABLE ON 5HR OR 7HR PRIVATE TOUR) It is the first Buddhist and oldest officially administered temple in Japan. A temple that exudes spirituality...even if you're not religious like me.
(Only on 5 or 7-Hour Private Tours) Explore Osaka’s most iconic landmark, Osaka Castle, and stroll through the surrounding park while learning about its pivotal role in the unification of Japan. This stop combines striking architecture, historical insights, and scenic grounds for a truly memorable experience.
(ONLY AVAILABLE ON A 7HR PRIVATE TOUR) A hidden gem specializing in this unique, timeless tradition...small but a welcoming atmosphere with a mix of old, originals from the Edo period, and new works.
(ONLY AVAILABLE ON 7HR PRIVATE TOUR) I'm not a huge fan of museums, but this one is very different. The highlight is a reconstruction of an ancient Osaka town featuring houses, stores and homes of the wealthy & commoners.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup for private tours only: Available for 4, 5, or 7-hour tours. Please meet in the foyer or front doors of your hotel.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(1,707)
It’s a walking tour- about 3 hours long. We had a family of 3a- Mario was our guide and was absolutely wonderful- both educational, funny, kept the group engaged the entire time.
Brian was so knowledgeable and made sure we learned something every step of the way. His in depth knowledge of the history was very detailed and precise. We would highly recommend this tour and our guide.
My husband and I did this tour our first full day in Osaka and we learned so much and had a great time. Mario was our guide and he was kind, personable, and funny. Without him, we would’ve been way more lost and not known about secret, beautiful areas full of history. Highly recommend!
Great time at Osaka, very helpful
Bosse was great , highly reccomended
Bosse was a very good guide and the experience was very good
Showed us a lot of areas we would never find and gave explanation to the city. Bosse is amazing!
We had a great tour with Riri, she was lovely and very enthusiastic. Riri introduced us to some cool spots in Dotonbori and gave us good insight into some of Osaka's local traditions and culture.
We had an excellent experience with this tour company in Osaka. The service was outstanding from start to finish, and everything was well organized and stress-free. A special thank you to our guide, Bryan, who did an amazing job. He was friendly, knowledgeable, professional, and made the tour both enjoyable and informative. Bryan went above and beyond to ensure everyone was comfortable and had a great time. His local knowledge and enthusiasm really brought Osaka to life for us. We highly recommend this tour company and especially Bryan to anyone visiting Osaka. Thank you for helping make our trip so memorable!
Very good and it felt natural, the guide had very good English and was interesting and friendly
