Hey, check out my 2 Weeks Osaka Itinerary which will offer you inspirations on places to visit in and around Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto.
With the help of a rental car, you’ll see us venture out to cute manga-theme towns, dipped in public hot spring and made a dangerous attempt up a mountain. I also visited the best castle I’ve been to in Japan. The view literally took my breath away!
Here’s a quick bird’s-eye view of the places we’ve been to in this 2 weeks Osaka trip. Starting from Osaka (bottom right), we would drive westwards towards Okayama and make a clockwise loop back to Osaka.
2 Weeks Osaka Itinerary: Our Travelling Profile
Before I begin our Osaka itinerary, let me share with you our traveling profile. We traveled to Osaka as a couple in late May (end of Spring) and are city dwellers from Singapore who love good food, nature and free-and-easy travel.
The only things we’d pre-booked prior to the trip were Yokoso ticket, Hankyu Pass, Airport Limousine Bus, hotels and a rental car. So yes, half of this trip was made via rental car in West Japan.
Do we share similar traveling style? If yes, dive right in as we begin Part 1 of our 2 weeks trip in and around Osaka.
RELATED READINGS:
- Itinerary Part 2 – Self-Drive Road Trip from Osaka (Yonago, Sakaiminato and Tottori)
- Itinerary Part 3 – Travel Itinerary in Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto
DAY 1: SINGAPORE TO OSAKA ITINERARY
Hello, Osaka! All thanks to Scoot Airline, we enjoyed an ultra-value direct flight from Singapore to Osaka. You can read my review of Scoot Flight TR804.
The first thing we did after arriving at Osaka Kansai International Airport was to collect our transport passes. Then, we boarded a Rapi:t Airport Express Train that brought us to Namba Station where our hotel in Osaka was located.
As it was already 8.30pm by the time we deposited our luggage, we could only visit the few places that were still opened, such as Dotonbori.
Late Night Osaka Itinerary at Dotonbori
Dotonbori, a vibrant and touristy street offered us a wonderful visual treat, from gigantic 3D signage to abundant street food options.
Some of the common food sold here include Takoyaki, Melonpan, Okonomiyaki, Ramen and Sushi. However, we were disappointed by the first street food we ordered – a soggy Takoyaki.
We continued to explore Dotonbori but couldn’t settle on what else to try. The restaurants we were interested in had long queues, and the ones we weren’t keen on were priced above the norm.
Not being able to find a suitable dining place, we decided to explore the other tourist sights in Dotonbori. The first thing we did was to take photos with a popular Glico Man Sign.
What is Glico Man? Glico Man is an ad ran by a popular confectionery company which is also behind the popular Japanese snack – Pocky. The reason why the signboard is so popular is because it has been around since 1935. Well, actually, this is not the original installation. It’s the 6th and was installed in 2014. :)
Next, we then strolled by Tombori River which was flanked by Al fresco pubs and eateries, and reminded me of our boat quay in Singapore. Along the way, we also passed by a Don Quijote that opens 24/7 and is a great place to load up on Japan-must-buys.
TIP: Tombori River Cruise is one of the 50 tourists activities included in the Osaka Amazing Pass. Check out the Osaka Amazing Pass to cut down your travel expenses.
This concludes Day 1. Tomorrow, we would start the day early to make good use of our One-day Unlimited Subway Pass.
Read Day 1 Travelogue:
- Part 1: From Singapore to Osaka (plus first night in Osaka)
- Part 2: Dotonbori on a weekday night was no less happening!
Map Location for Day 1 Osaka ItineraryHello Osaka >> Osaka Kansai Airport >> Collect Osaka Transport Pass >> Take Rapi:t Airport Express Train (see review) >> Namba Station >> Check in Ookini Ota-Road Apartment (see location) >> Dotonburi >> Glico Sign >> Tombori River Walk |
DAY 2: FULL DAY OSAKA ITINERARY (using 1-Day Subway Pass)
To make good use of our One-day Unlimited Transport Pass, we started the day early and visited Nambayasaka Shrine, which is probably the cutest shrine I’ve ever seen.
Thereafter, we made our way to what ended up being the best sushi meal we’ve had in this trip.
Our first stop was Endo Sushi, a sushi restaurant located next to a fish harbor and quite inconvenient to get to. But it was well worth the effort! The sushi stood out for its presentation and freshness. We ordered four plates (¥1150 per set of five sushi) and gobbled up everything in no time.
The next activity was a ride on Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel. We enjoyed a ¥100 discount after flashing our One-day Osaka Metro Pass. The ride was quite fun as we spent 15 minutes in our own private cabin. :)
If you like family-friendly activities, the Legoland Discovery Center Osaka and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan are located in the same vicinity.
TIP: Remember, don’t forget to check out the Osaka Amazing Pass if you think you’ll be visiting a lot of attractions in Osaka. It’ll save you lots of money by letting you experience over 50 attractions and activities in Osaka!
Osaka Castle was a place that we weren’t keen in visiting because it was too modern-looking for our liking. However, since we had the Unlimited One-day Metro Pass, we thought we would just drop by and take a look.
This place was so huge we expended lots of energy and time just to get a glimpse of the Osaka Castle.
Then, we tiredly and hungrily made our way to Kuromon Ichiba Market. Unfortunately, this place was a tad too touristy for our liking. And the food we ordered were mediocre and pricey.
On our way back to our hotel to recharge, we passed by a random Tempura Restaurant – Ichimizen – and decided to eat with the locals. Based on the photos pasted on the wall, this shop has apparently won some awards.
After resting in our hotel for a while, we set off again in the evening and walked to Osaka Den Den Town, Shinshikei and Tsutenkaku Tower. It was raining by then and the streets were quiet with little activities and buzz.
The Best Experience in Osaka City
Our final tourist activity of the day was to visit Harukas 300. The admission was quite expensive but we thought it was well worth the experience. The million dollars view I’ve enjoyed was the best I’ve seen in a while and all photos turned out so amazing I had a hard time shortlisting them for this post.
If you want to visit the tallest building in Japan, you must include this in your Osaka must-visit list.
TIP: You can pre-book your HARUKAS 300 Observatory E-Ticket online.
Read Day 2 Travelogue:
- Part 1: Cute Yasaka Shrine & Best Meal at Endo Sushi
- Part 2: A private ride on Tempozan Ferris Wheel
Map Location for Day 2 Osaka ItineraryNambayasaka Shrine >> Activated One-day Osaka Transport Pass >> Endo Sushi >> Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel >> Osaka Castle >> Kuromon Ichiba Market >> Ichimizen Tempura Restaurant >> Osaka Den Den Town >> Shinshikei >> Tsutenkaku Tower >> Harukas 300 |
DAY 3: A DAY IN KOBE CITY (SANNOMIYA)
This is the day when we would leave Osaka and head to Kobe. In case you wonder why we spent so little time in Osaka, that’s because we would be back in the second half of the trip.
I still recall struggling at Osaka-Namba station trying to figure out how to buy the train ticket to Kobe. On hindsight, we should have gotten the Hanshin Transport Pass which would save us money and make life easier.
Anyway, after a 45-min train ride, we reached Kobe-Sannomiya Station and was happy that our hotel – Kobe Sannomiya Tokyo REI Hotel – was located just next to it.
> MUST-READ: 7 Budget-friendly Hotels in Osaka & Around
We deposited our luggage with the hotel concierge and took a train ride to The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial. There, we learnt about the tragic history that destroyed Kobe City in 1995.
TIP: Once again, we regretted not getting the Hanshin Transport Pass because that would make our trip to the Earthquake Memorial free.
Then, we enjoyed a delicious Minced Tuna Rice Bowl at Blumer Mall, a heartland mall located opposite the museum.
Self-Drive Around Osaka & Kobe for 8 Days
By late afternoon on Day 3, we made our way to a car rental shop – Budget Car Rental – located near our hotel in Kobe. Yay! This “white” rental car of ours would bring us to places off the beaten path for the next one week.
TIP: Consider getting a car if you are comfortable driving on foreign land. We got our rental car at just S$60 per day, which is good value especially in a country where public transportation cost isn’t exactly cheap. Here’s where you can find the latest car rental price.
If you prefer public transport, check out Japan Rail Pass and these transport passes that can help you cut down transport costs in Japan.
We must have been gutsy (foolish?) to drive our rental car up a mountain for our first destination. Something scary happened along the way. I’ll share the story with you guys later.
Anyway, we arrived at Rokkosan Garden Terrace close to sunset and were presented with a panoramic view of Osaka Bay and the city of Kobe.
TIP: To those who plan to visit Rokkosan using public transport, check out Kobe Rokkosan Tourist Pass. It provides a bundle deal and covers rides on bus, train and cable car which you need to use to get to Rokkosan.
Prefer a hassle-free trip? This day tour from Osaka will bring you to Rokkosan, Arima Onsen and Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets.
The next view point at Mt. Rokkosan was at Tenrandai Observatory, a view deck located by Rokko Cable Station. The night view there was superb, but can’t beat what we would be seeing next.
Best Night View in Kobe
Check out Kikuseidai Observatory! This must be the most entertaining and fun viewpoints I’ve ever been to. Not only was the night view awesome, you get to play with neon lights that can transform you into a zombie instantly. It was such a fun-filled night!
Map Location for Day 3 (Osaka-Kobe Itinerary)Take train to Kobe >> Deposit Luggage at Kobe Hotel >> The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial >> Blumer Mall >> Check in Kobe Sannomiya Tokyo REI >> Collect rental car (shop location) >> Rokkosan Garden Terrace >> Tenrandai Observatory >> Kikuseidai Observatory |
DAY 4: SELF-DRIVE FROM KOBE TO OKAYAMA
Kobe was just a stopover for us to collect our rental car. We would be back to explore Kobe in the second half of the trip. Right now, let us bid farewell and venture deeper into the less explored places in West Japan.
Our first stop was to view the longest suspension bridge in the world – Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge. We spent more time than we thought we would at the promenade, strolling about and observing the local activities and charming architectures.
Lingered Around at Ako City
Next up was Ako Castle Ruins which took us 2 hours to reach by car. This small and ancient-looking castle, with its large wooden door reminded me of the medieval period.
We also walked to the nearby Ako Oishi Shrine which has 47 samurai statues lining the entrance.
Surprisingly, the most memorable experience within Ako City was at a popular bakery shop – Okayama Bakery. The aroma of freshly-baked bread enveloped us when we stepped in and made us buy more bread than we could consume.
Okonomiyaki at Kashira Island
Having done some prior food research, we then made a detour to Kashira Island in search of Oyster Okonomiyaki. When we arrived at the homely-looking restaurant, no one there speaks or understands English. Through awkward gesturing and guesswork, we figured that the oyster season could be off.
Using hand signs and google voice translate, we succeeded in ordering a Shrimp Okonomiyaki and a “too-huge” bowl of desert.
Arriving at Final Destination – Okayama City
Finally, we reached Okayama City, our end destination of the day and checked into Hotel Maira. But that’s not the end of the day yet.
After depositing our luggage, we explored a few shopping malls in Okayama and was impressed by how modern and huge Aeon Okayama was. I had an amazing time shopping there and bought lots of stuff, including my Japan must-buys.
> MUST-READ: Here’re 11 things I love about Japan and I know you would too
Map Location for Day 4 (Kobe-Okayama Itinerary)Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge >> Ako Castle Ruins >> Ako Oishi Shrine >> Okayama Bakery >> Kashira Island >> Okayama >> Check in Hotel Maira (see location)>> Okayama Takashimaya >> Aeon Okayama |
DAY 5: A SCENIC DAY IN OKAYAMA
Today, we would be spending time with nature. The first place was Ojigadake Hill which offered a great panoramic view of the ocean, with magical-looking islets jutting out from the horizon.
Next up was Washuzan Observatory, which was located a short drive away. What can I say? The view just kept getting better. Here, we could see Seto Bridge in a distance and were mesmerized by the view.
This view by the way greatly surpassed that of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge. Yes, the one we saw on Day 3.
Let’s Shop for Japan-made Jeans
By noon, we were done with nature and made our way to Kojima Jeans Street. I thought this would be a touch and go place as I’ve read how expensive things were over here (about ¥30,000 per pair of jeans).
However, the good quality and unique design of apparels sold in this town made us linger longer than we’d planned to. My partner spent a long time at some of the shops and almost bought some stuff…if only they allowed trying before purchase.
Near to Kojima Jeans Street was a mall called Happy Town where we could seek shelter from the sweltering heat! We did something unplanned and played Pokemon games on the upper floor arcade center. Honestly, we just hit all buttons “aggressively” because we couldn’t understand Japanese and didn’t know what we were doing.
After expending “palm” energy, we were starving and made do with a simple Udon noodle at the limited eateries in the mall. This was also the first time we were ripped off in Japan – I’ll share more in my day-to-day post later.
TIP: Most of the places visited today require a rental car to get to. You can either drive from Osaka/Kobe like us, or take a train/express bus to Okayama, and then pick up your pre-booked rental car at Okayama Station.
Touristy Old-World Charm – Kurashiki Old Quarter
Having spent more time than we should at Kojima Jeans Street, we hastened to Kurashiki Old Quarter thinking that this place would require a few hours to explore.
It’s a scenic place with an old-world charm and would serve as a perfect photo spot for those donned in Kimono (yes, they have Japanese traditional costumes for rent). However, it’s just a little too touristy for our liking. Many of the things sold here didn’t feel like they were authentically made in Japan or priced for the locals.
Which Jeans Street is Better?
Apparently, there’s also a jeans street at Kurashiki Old Quarter. Many of the jeans products I checked out were mass-produced and weren’t made in Japan. Sorry, I’m only interested in buying products made in that country when I’m in that country. :)
On the contrary, Kojima Jeans Street offered a more authentic Japan-made jeans experience.
Best Castle Ruin I’ve Been to in Japan
Lastly, we found ourselves at the most scenic place I’ve set foot on in this 2 Weeks Osaka trip. It’s none other than Ki Castle. I can’t even tell you how breathtaking the view was in real life.
You can see me using the photo of Ki Castle in my Facebook cover page, homepage and even my phone wallpaper. Oops, you can’t see my phone over here. :)
Dinner was at The Central Buffet, a buffet restaurant in Aeon Okayama. Hmm, let’s just say that you pay for what you get in Japan (buffet costs ¥1999+). This place made me lose appetite on minced tuna for the rest of the trip (till today).
Map Location for Day 5 (Okayama Itinerary)Ojigadake Hill >> Washuzan Observatory >> Kojima Jeans Street >> Happy Town Mall >> Kurashiki Old Quarter >> Ki Castle >> Aeon Okayama |
Conclusion
That’s all to Part 1 of my 15 Days Osaka Itinerary. Don’t miss other parts of the Osaka travel series:
- Itinerary Part 2 – Self-Drive Road Trip from Osaka (Yonago, Sakaiminato and Tottori)
- Itinerary Part 3 – Travel Itinerary in Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto
Essential Info:
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What’s next? I’ll be coming up with more detailed posts of key attractions and activities in and around Osaka. Such posts would provide more tips, price and logistics info. Stay tuned and revisit this post often as I’ll link the day-by-day posts here when they are ready!
And last but not least, don’t forget to click the button below If you like to get notified of my new posts. Thank you for reading.
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Suffice to say. I’m impressed (driving in Osaka never even crossed my mind!), staying tuned to your other posts!
Thank you. It was fun driving to the quieter and less-touristy places around Osaka. I have a lot more to share in Part 2 and 3. Stay tuned! And thanks for your support. :)