July 30 – August 2 : Osaka

Osaka, Japan’s vibrant culinary capital and second-largest city, is renowned for its dynamic street food scene, dazzling nightlife, and historical landmarks. From exploring the towering Osaka Castle to strolling through the bustling Dotonbori district, this city blends modernity with rich cultural heritage. Visitors can indulge in local delights like takoyaki and okonomiyaki while enjoying the friendly and lively atmosphere. With its unique charm and endless attractions, Osaka promises an unforgettable experience for every traveler.

How to get to Osaka from Busan

There are daily flights connecting all major cities between South Korea and Japan. Alternatively one could take a ferry from Busan to the western shores of Japan and then start exploring the country from Fukoka.

Osaka

Traveling around Osaka is easy due to its well-connected network of subways and local trains, all of which can be reliably consulted through Google Maps. Being Japan’s second-largest city, you should allocate two days to see the city, plus an extra day for Universal Studios Japan if that is on your agenda. Both Kobe and Kyoto are less than an hour from Osaka, so if you don’t plan to visit either city as part of your itinerary, you might also want to allocate some extra days in Osaka to visit them.

Things to do in Osaka

Here are some of the exciting things you can do in or around Osaka :

Visit the Dotonbori District, probably Osaka’s most vibrant area. You’ll find plenty of restaurants, from expensive Kobe beef to delicious street food; there will be something for everyone. Stroll around the streets and the roofed areas, enter the small shops – sometimes even on the higher floors of the buildings – and explore this somewhat crazy side of Japan.
Visit Osaka Castle, a beautiful testament to ancient Japanese architecture with eight floors that can be fully explored, housing a museum about its history inside.
Visit Osaka’s Aquarium. I cannot personally vouch for it since I skipped it (having gone to the one in Busan just a few days before), but I’ve heard many great things about it.
Visit Universal Studios Japan. The theme park is not that big, but it has some thrilling roller coasters and stands out with its beautiful Hogwarts and Super Nintendo World areas. For the Nintendo area, you need a timed-entry ticket, which you can get via the official app by scanning the QR code on your entrance ticket and then choosing one of the available slots. I did this after I had entered the park, and there were still many slots available.
Do a day trip to Kobe. There are several cheap train options which take about half an hour. Kobe has a very different vibe from Osaka. Explore the harbor area, Kobe’s Chinatown, and the Kitano-Cho district, where many European diplomats once resided. Treat yourself to Kobe beef for dinner—where else if not here? Ensure that the restaurant has certification; only then can you be sure you’re getting real certified Kobe beef and not overpaying for beef that just happens to be served in Kobe.
You could also do a day trip from Osaka to Kyoto. I will not go into detail here since that was my next full stop, and I’ll talk about it on the next page. However, going there by train is cheap and takes about 40 minutes, so if you are short on time, it could very well be treated as a day trip.