TOP 15 Things to do in Osaka | 48 Hours in Japan’s Nightlife Capital

TOP 15 Things to do in Osaka | 48 Hours in Japan’s Nightlife Capital

konnichiwa today I came to Osaka known as the city of 
eating until you drop osaka is full of delicious   food and rich culture in this video I’ll show 
you some of the best places to visit in Osaka   in about 2 days so let’s start our trip to Osaka 
our journey begins in the Umeda area the gateway   to Osaka connected directly to JL Osaka station 
Grand Front Osaka is a massive commercial complex where   you can shop dine and just hang out it’s also 
super familyfriendly in the wide open Umekita   Plaza you might even catch kids playing in the 
water fountains it’s one of those rare peaceful   spots in the middle of a bustling city honestly 
even I was tempted to take my shoes off and jump   in but don’t worry I held back barely after a bit 
of shopping at Grand Front I started getting hungry   so I headed out for one of Osaka’s signature 
dishes okonomyaki i took a short train ride to Juso   just one stop from Umemeda and went to a legendary 
place called Negiyaki Yamamoto main store this spot   is famous for inventing Negiyaki a type of savory 
pancake loaded with green onions that place is so   popular that people line up before it even opens 
inside experienced staff grilled up okonomiyaki and negiyaki   right in front of you on the massive hot plate 
no need to cook it yourself if I tried flipping   one of this I’m pretty sure half of it would end 
up on the floor their signature dish the deluxe   negi comes packed with squid beef and pork talk 
about dream it’s soy sauce based and finished off   with a brush of savory sauce and a squeeze of a 
fresh lemon the crispy green onions gooey butter   and juicing meat all come together beautifully if 
you’re in Osaka this is one dish you absolutely   can’t miss after entering my okonomiyaki I head to 
one of Umeida’s landmarks the Umeda sky building   this building has a unique structure with two 
towers connected at the top once you see it you   won’t forget it it looks like a futuristic 
building but actually it was completed in   1993 that’s a bit surprising right the biggest 
highlight of this building is the floating garden   observatory at the top it’s about 173 m above the 
ground first you take a first elevator up to the   40th floor then ride a glass covered see-through 
escalator to the rooftop this escalator is quite   thrilling since you can see straight down below 
people who are afraid of hates might get a bit   nervous but don’t worry I was scared too but 
feeling of being put into the view of Osaka is   something you should experience at least once when 
you reach the observatory floor a 360 degree views   spreads out in front of you to the east you can 
see Osaka Castle and to the west the city of Kobe   and Osaka Bay i visited around the noon and the 
city looked very clear in the daylight you can   really understand how Osaka is built as a city 
night views are romantic but daytime views are   also impressive you can see all the buildings 
around Umeda station and even distant mountains   it made me realize that Osaka has more greenery 
than I thought after enjoying the view I took a   short break at the cafe sky 40 on the observatory 
floor if you sit at the window counter seats you   can relax while looking down at the view i ordered 
match ice cream it was rich but smooth with a   slightly bitter taste a very grown up flavor ice 
cream is also very delicious and for some reason   eating much ice cream at this height made it taste 
20% better a couple next to me was happily sharing   one but I ate mine all by myself in silence the 
ice cream and the view were enough for me actually   being alone let me fully enjoy the flavor that’s 
a win right by the way if the weather is nice   during the day you can also go out to the Lumi 
Skywalk on the rooftop you’ll feel like you’re   walking in the sky while feeling the wind looking 
down at Osaka through the glass fence is powerful   and you’ll really feel like you’re in a different 
world the Umed Sky Bad is special spot in Osaka   where you can feel like a kind of peaceful space 
in the sky it’s different from the busy food and   entertainment areas and you get to enjoy the sky 
and the city at the same time oh and let me say   this one more time you have to eat the ice cream 
it’s a must after enjoying the comfort of the city   at grand front and the sky high experience at 
the Ume sky building I thought maybe it’s time   to explore some history so I headed to Osaka’s 
most famous symbol Osaka Castle while walking   through the huge Osaka Castle Park I could see 
the white walls and green roof peeking out from   between the trees but when I finally saw the main 
tower I got very excited and standing in front of   it wow it’s big about 55 meters tall the castle 
stands proudly on top of a stone wall just like   a true ruler’s fortress built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi 
Osaka Castle has a strong and powerful presence   or so I thought when I got closer I felt something 
was strange wait a second isn’t this a bit too   clean and why are the walks kind of shiny then 
I read the sign and understood the current main   tower of Osaka Castle was rebuilt in 1931 using 
reinforced concrete yes it’s basically a modern   building dressed like a medieval castle the inside 
is actually full of great exhibits you can learn   about the life of Hideyoshi see some armor sw and 
models of the castle structure if you like history   you’ll love it also don’t miss the view from the 
top floor of observatory you can see all of Osaka city   and the view of the great park against the to 
city building is a strange but cool contrast it   really feels like a place where the past and the 
present meet plus there is a small hole in the   wall of Oscar Castle and people used to shoot guns 
through it to fight off enemies i tried pretending   to shoot from it too but yeah don’t do that 
suddenly people around you will freak out even the   security guard gave me a weird look even though 
Osaka Castle is a modern building it still gives   off that summer era feeling maybe that’s because 
it’s not just a building but a place filled with   memories and the stories from the past by the way 
what do you think about places like this modern   inside but historical outside does it make you 
excited or do you feel a bit disappointed let me   know in the comments and if you know other cool 
castle to visit please share i’m serious i need   ideas for my next trip after exploring history 
it was time to dive back into Osaka’s food   scene i took a train south from Osaka Castle and 
headed to Kumon Market in the Niponbashi area this   place is often called Osaka’s kitchen because it 
used to be a market full of fresh seafood fruits   and other ingredients but recently it’s become 
super popular with tourists as a street food spot   even though it was a weekday the market was packed 
with tourists at the store selling big grilled   shrimp and sushi I saw lots of foreign visitors 
but just as people say the prices are definitely   tourist level to be honest they were really high 
i even heard someone say a single bite-size Wagyu   beef skewer cost 2,000 yen that’s a bit much for 
casual snacking the fresh sea urchin and oysters   looked tasty too but my wallet was screaming 
in the end I just walked around and didn’t buy   anything for lunch I slipped into a set meal chain 
restaurant called Yayoiken near the market sitting   at the counter I enjoyed a hamburger steak 
set meal it was tasty reliable and reasonable   priced in my heart I couldn’t help but say did I 
really come all the way to Osaka just to eat at   but sometimes you just have to go with the budget 
if you spend too much during your whole trip your   wallet won’t survive after recharging with this 
everyday style lunch I was ready to continue   sightseeing again with my stomach full it was time 
to explore the busy middle area after walking a   bit from Niponbashi I arrived at the Shinsaibashi shopping 
street a covered arcade that stretches more than   600 m this shopping street has been around since 
the Edo period and is packed with fashion stores   drugstores souvenir shops and restaurants all 
lined up close together even on the weekday   afternoon the place was full of shoppers and the 
arcade was hot and lively just walking through it   you can feel the energy of Osaka it really feels 
like yes this is what walking around Osaka is all   about i joined the crowd window shopping along 
with young people hunting for vintage clothes in   Americamura and tourists carrying huge shopping bags 
at one point the crowd was so thick that they   almost ended up photo bombing a random family 
picture once I got through Shinsaibashisuji the   famous dotonbori area appeared right in front of me 
suddenly everything opened up bright neon signs   giant crab decorations and other flushy Osaka 
style signs jumped into the view as the sun   went down and the city lights turned on the area 
along the dotonbori river felt like a festival people   were taking photos in front of the famous Gulico 
running man sign and twice walked up and down the   riverside path i could feel that Osaka’s energetic 
night had just begun and of course when you are in   Dotonbori and feel like a bit hungry again you cannot 
leave without eating takoyaki doi is full of   takoyaki shops but one of the most popular is Takoyaki 
Doraku Wanaka i got in line right away and bought   eight fresh hot taki bowls while they were still 
hot I bit into them and the dashi flavor filled   my mouth the butter was fluffy and soft almost 
like you could drink it the pickled ginger and   green onions gave it a nice kick and I finished 
them all in no time that soft melty feeling when   you bite into fresh takoyaki that’s what real Osaka 
takoyaki tastes like after eating I took a walk around   Dotonbori to help with digestion and that’s when I ran 
into the famous Kuidaore Doll many of you might have   seen it before a clown-like figure in the red 
and white outfit silently starting while beating   a drum behind him there is a souvenir shop with 
Kuidaore Taro goods and octopus keychains the souvenirs   are very unique you might even think who would 
buy this but that’s the charm of Osaka as I walked   along the dot river all the signs and land lights 
kept tempting me with more food i had just eaten   takoyaki but Osaka has so many more local dishes to 
try for dinner I was aiming for kushikatu it means   deep fried skewers so I headed to popular spots 
called Kushikatsu Shirotaya I took a seat at the counter and started   with a lemon sour when you’re traveling no matter 
how much you drink you don’t feel guilty that’s   the best part and hey this is Osaka that’s the 
kind of city it is here’s what I ordered beef   kushkatu chicken fish onion and egg first the 
beef kushkatu the butter was incredibly light   and crispy when I bit into it the juicy flavor 
of the meat filled my mouth just with this one   skewers I thought coming here was totally worth it 
next came the chicken tender it added a refreshing   touch to the lineup which could easily get too 
greasy i really appreciated that kind of balance the onion skewers was sweet and perfectly cooked 
it wasn’t just a side item it could totally   be the main star and the egg had a fun pop 
when I bit into it it was a perfect little   break between the heavier skewers then just 
when I thought “Okay I’m full maybe it’s time   to wrap up.” I was just about ready to leave 
stomach completely full but I noticed a little   sentence at the corner of the menu write a 
review and get free strawberry ice cream of   course I had to so I quickly write a review 
on my phone and sure enough they brought me   a strawberry ice cream the light sweetness 
was perfect after all that fried food and it   was free it felt a bit sneaky but I have to 
admit it totally worked i felt feeling very   satisfied with the takoyaki I had earlier in the day 
i realized I had reached full on Kuidaore mode osaka   really lives up to its nickname if I had more 
room in my stomach I would have kept going but   this time I had to stop here next time I’ll 
come with a stronger stomach and a bigger appetite after enjoying Osaka’s food and nightmare 
the day before I decided to start the next morning   with something different a peaceful base to temple 
i headed to Shitennoji temple located in the Tennoji   area this temple is known as one of the oldest 
Buddhist temple in Japan founded by Prince Shotoku   in the year 593 even after more than 1,400 years 
this temple still stands quickly in the middle   of the city filled with both calm and dignity 
welcoming every visitor with a gentle presence   once you walk through the stone torii gate at the 
entrance it feels like stepping into another world   the noise of the city fades away and the peaceful 
atmosphere fills the temple grounds the buildings   and the fivetory pagoda are neatly arranged 
and though they’ve been damaged by fires and   wars many times they’ve always been rebuilt even 
now they still show the traditional style from   the past like a time capsule of architecture one 
thing that stood out to me was a monument called   the temporin at the center of temple grounds 
it’s a symbolic Buddhist object that represents   spreading the teachings of Buddha visitors spin 
it once while making a wish it’s kind of prayer   as I walked through the grounds I heard birds 
singing clearly something you wouldn’t expect in   the middle of the city walking on the cleanstone 
path made me naturally straighten my posture i   didn’t think a place like this exist in modern 
Osaka surrounded by tall buildings but filled   with fresh air unlike the busy tourist spots 
here you can enjoy the real luxury of simply   being still and quiet shitennoji isn’t just a tourist 
attraction it’s a place to reset your mind even   if you don’t know much about Buddhism you will 
still live with something meaningful if you want   to safety both your stomach and your spirit in 
Osaka I highly recommend visiting this temple   after calming my mind at Cheno’s temple I walked 
about 15 minutes to my next stop if you want to   feel the deep culture of Osaka you cannot miss 
this place Shinsekai and its symbol Tsutenkaku Tower this area   still has the feel of good old Sha era Japan 
just walking through it you have slipped back   in time there are izakayas in Janjang Yokocho alley 
Retro Game arcades shooting galleries and right in   the center stands Tsutenku a 108 m tall tower 
proudly watching over Osaka’s sky and of course   I went up or rather I got in late to go up for 
one hour and at one point I thought wait was   this place always this popular but I had already 
committed and with some kinds of mysterious thing   of duty I stayed in line finally I made it to the 
observation deck so how was it well it was okay   i mean it wasn’t bad or anything but it didn’t 
have the hate of the umemed sky building or the   historical impact of Osaka Castle the be from 
the observation floor was more like “Yep I’m   looking at Osaka from a kind of tall building 
maybe because there are more highrises around   now the view felt a bit closed in i even found 
myself looking out toward the distant skyline   and wondering was this really worth a 1 hour 
wait?” Not that anyone was going to answer but   there was one thing that did catch my attention 
the Tsutenkaku Tower slider which opened in 2022 it’s a   huge special slide that starts on the fifth floor 
of the observatory and goes outside stretching 60 m down   like an amusement park ride i didn’t ride it this 
time because of time but even watching it from   outside looked super fun next time I’m definitely 
doing it after leaving Tsutenkaku I thought since I’m   already in Shinsakai why not try out some metal 
style fun so I headed to one of the old-fashioned   shooting game stores lined up along the street it 
totally gave off that classic Japanese festival   vibe colorful snacks and nostalgic toys packed 
onto shelves and just looking at everything got   me excited and I thought I’m a tourist so I 
might as well try it once and handed over 500   yen i got 10 cork bullets my targets were the easy 
looking price up front pocky Umaibo sticks ramune candy   sweet and simple right well shot one miss shot two 
just graze the top still a miss shot three way off   shot four slipped hand weird angle shot five got 
distracted by the stall lady laughing and messed   up for a moment I thought “Wait are these glued 
down or something?” But then I saw an elementary   school kid next to me nailing shot after shot and 
I realized “Nope it’s all on me.” Frustrated but   determined I went into the second half that’s 
when I discovered the trick aim slightly below   the corner shot six and seven hit back to back 
the feeling of the price falling with a third   was way more satisfying than I expected my brain 
was basically flooded with adrenaline staying   focused I managed to win a total of four snacks 
honestly I used to think these shooting games   were just for kids but I got way more into it than 
I expected by the way I took the snacks back to my   hotel and ate them quickly by myself the taste 
of victory absolutely delicious osaka is a city   packed with variety from historical landmarks 
to casual street food from modern shopping   complex to deep local neighborhoods everything is 
tightly packed into one amazing place one moment   you are seriously visiting an Asian temple 
and just a few hours later you are digging   into okonomiyaki and laughing at funny Osaka style 
signs that mix of food culture and humor i think   that’s what makes a trip to Osaka so special 
thank you so much for watching until the end   see you on the next trip i hope your time in 
Osaka will be a truly wonderful experience

Don’t even think about going to Osaka without watching this!
Here are 15 things to do in Osaka!!
From street food to hidden gems, historical sites to hilarious moments, this travel through Osaka is packed with everything you need to know!!!
Whether it’s your first time or your tenth, you’ll definitely find something new to try.Let’s explore the real Osaka together!

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