Private Tour: Highlights of Osaka in 6 Hours

Begin your day with an Osaka hotel pick-up at 9:00 a.m, where the driver will greet you and take you to the first location: Osaka Castle.

Osaka Castle is perhaps the most famous landmark in the city and it makes sense to visit here first! Take a stroll through the 16th-century turrets and gates to get a sense of the strong Samurai presence that was once here and it is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the vibrant history of the country during this period. Explore the park surrounding the Castle which features lots of green spaces, sport facilities and a shrine dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi – one of the most prominent figures in Japan’s history. You will have about an hour here.

After the castle, the tour visits Tsutenkaku Tower for around 40 minutes, another symbol of Osaka. Inspired by Paris landmarks, the tower was designed to resemble the Eiffel Tower on the top and the Arc de Triomphe at its base. Recommendations include Billiken, the statue believed to bring good luck and fortune if you rub on the soles of his feet, located on the fifth floor, and the panoramic views of the city from the top.

Later, head to the most famous shopping and entertainment street in Dotonbori. Take in the lively atmosphere of the district for about 90 minutes. Have lunch in a local restaurant individually, as meals are not included in the tour fee. Dotonbori is an excellent place to discover why Osaka is known as 'the nation's kitchen' with a plethora of restaurants offering local specialties like takoyaki and okonomiyaki. This is also a great opportunity to do some souvenir shopping.

The final stop is Umeda Sky Building, a spectacular high rise building in the Kita district. The skyscraper’s towers are connected to each other by the “Floating Garden Observatory” where you can see the city from another angle 173m above the ground. Spend around an hour here and after, the driver will drop you off at your Osaka hotel around 3:00 p.m. where the tour concludes.