Osaka Private Tour: Explore Vibrant City with Licensed Guide

Experience the vibrant city of Osaka on a private tour with licensed guides. Explore iconic landmarks, indulge in local cuisine, and immerse yourself in the unique culture of Osaka!

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Dotombori District - We will take a walk through Dotonbori street with its huge billboards, hundreds of restaurants and food stalls selling local foods including the famous Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki.
  • Shinsekai - Shinsekai , the New World, with it’s Tsutenkaku, the Osaka Eiffel tower, kushikatsu and Billiken , the God of wealth and money. Shinsekai is also home to Spa World, a huge bath complex with a large number of pools on a European themed floor and an Asian themed floor (enjoyed naked and gender separated).
  • Osaka Castle - Osaka Castle is certainly one of the most famous landmarks in Japan, and for good reason. This five-story castle is one of the most visually spectacular creations in the country, with a history that dates back almost 450 years!
  • Minami (Namba) - Located around Namba Station, Minami (南, “South”) is one of Osaka’s two major city centers. It is the city’s most famous entertainment district and offers abundant dining and shopping choices. The district is easily accessible as it is served by three train companies as well as three subway lines and a highway bus terminal. The other major city center is Kita (北, “North”) which is located around Osaka and Umeda Stations.
  • Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine - Osaka’s Sumiyoshi Taisha (住吉大社, “Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine”) is one of Japan’s oldest shrines. Founded in the 3rd century before the introduction of Buddhism, it displays a unique style of shrine architecture, called Sumiyoshi-zukuri, that is free of influence from the Asian mainland. Only two other shrine architecture styles are also considered purely Japanese: Shinmei-zukuri as seen at the Ise Shrines and Taisha-zukuri as seen at Izumo Taisha.
  • Shitennoji - Shitennoji (四天王寺, Shitennōji) is one of Japan’s oldest temples and the first ever to be built by the state. It was founded in 593 by Prince Shotoku, who supported the introduction of Buddhism into Japan. Although the temple’s buildings burned down several times throughout the centuries, they were always carefully reconstructed to reflect the original 6th century design.

The outer temple grounds are free to enter, but admission to the inner precinct, the Gokuraku-jodo Garden and the treasure house is paid. In the pebble covered courtyard of the inner precinct stand a five-storied pagoda that can be entered and ascended and the Main Hall (Kondo) in which Prince Shotoku is enshrined as a statue of Kannon.

  • Umeda Sky Building - The Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル) is a spectacular high rise building in the Kita district of Osaka, near Osaka and Umeda Stations. It is also known as the “New Umeda City”.

The 173 meter tall building consists of two towers that are connected with each other by the “Floating Garden Observatory” on the 39th floor. The observatory offers great views of the city through its windows and from its open-air deck. In the basement, there is a restaurant floor that replicates a town of the early Showa Period, while offices occupy most other floors.

  • Kuromon Market - Kuromon Market (黒門市場, Kuromon Ichiba) is a covered public market that stretches around 600 meters parallel to Sakaisujidori Street in the Minami area of Osaka. The market has about 150 shops that predominantly sell fish, meat and produce, with other shops also purveying traditional sweets and low priced clothes and homeware. The market dates back to the Edo Period, and today makes for an atmospheric place to stroll around, shop and eat a variety of different street foods.
  • The National Museum of Art, Osaka - The National Museum of Art, Osaka (also known as NMAO) is an underground museum housing a major art collection on the island of Nakanoshima in central Osaka.
What's Included
  • Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Osaka
  • Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
  • Customizable Tour of your choice of 2-3 sites from ‘What to expect’ list
What's Not Included
  • Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
  • Private transportation
  • You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
  • Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.
Additional Information

Join us for an in-depth walking journey through the lively city of Osaka, led by our seasoned English-speaking guides who are also government-certified! We’ll check out Osaka’s stunning castle, sample iconic Takoyaki in the famed Dotonbori District and embrace the old-school atmosphere of the Shinsekai District, known for its oversized blowfish lantern. During your day, the myriad spirited and alive attractions of Osaka will captivate you. Worked up an appetite from all the sightseeing? Osaka, dubbed as the ‘Kitchen of Japan’, is ready to tantalize you with its plethora of rich local dishes. Secure your tour with us in Osaka for the best okonomiyaki dining spots!

After you’ve placed your booking, a guide will follow up to discuss your customized tour. Nominate 2 to 3 locations you’re keen to explore and your guide will design a personalized route. If you’re unsure of where to go, allow the guide to propose their curated itinerary based on your preferences.
We invite you to discover the distinctive culture of Osaka with us! Or, as per the colloquial Osaka language, ‘Maido’!

  • This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.
Location
Dotombori District
Chuo-ku,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(188 Ratings)
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Michelle
Jul 31, 2024
Nice tour! - We enjoyed learning from an expert local tour guide Norifumi. We visited the Osaka castle and did not have to wait in line because our tour guide was able to go to a special line for just tour guides! Even though it was crowded, we made it through the castle and got to see everything. We also walked through Dotonburi which was interesting but our favorite place was Shinsekai where our tour guide showed us a very small but amazing sushi place for dinner, so inexpensive and so delicious! Very good air conditioning a big plus!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Xochitl_t
Jul 29, 2024
Awesome experience - Our guide Yama was awesome! He knows his way around the city and was accommodating to what we were interested in.
Review provided by Viator
Gte439u
Jul 22, 2024
Worth every penny - Ms Ogura what a fantastic guide around Osaka. She showed us how to get Metro Card, how to use the subway, and enlightened us on many aspects of Japanese culture. She took us to Osaka castle and to Tennoji Temple. We also visited an important market and the Glico sign. It was worth every penny the experience. More over, she was an absolute delight to spend the day with!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stay45164247725
Jul 19, 2024
Personal tour - The tour guide Yama is exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. He came to the hotel to pick up and dropped back us. He took us for a shopping also
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andykp9467lw
Jul 16, 2024
Awesome Yuko Kishihara - Yuko Kishihara, very knowledgeable guide. She was awesome.She was very accomodating, very friendly catering to all our requests. Very highly recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kdevevey
Jul 13, 2024
Beautiful - Superb visit very rich with the friendly Shige, really passionate and rich in discoveries. The pleasure of returning to Osaka
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M4426gagabriellas
Jul 12, 2024
Fun day in Osaka with Yama - Yama was a great and very friendly guide! He showed us everything we wanted to see and gave us great recommendations for restaurants in Osaka. His sense of humor made our day even more enjoyable :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Miriamhc3599ym
Jul 12, 2024
Yuko is the sweetest! - Yuko was amazing! So sweet, responsive and flexible! Greatly recommend! Very easy to communicate with. We went to the castle and the housing and living museum as well as the market to have lunch. We transported via subway with her guidance and it was great!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jacque_f
Jul 11, 2024
Mimmy was an excellent guide, top notch! - Our guide was Mimmy-san. She met us early right at the doorsteps of our vacation rental. That's class! She's friendly and nice and her English is excellent. Boy can she walk! She was very educated on our sites and the neighborhood we were staying at. We went over our time but she still walked us right back to our doorsteps. She even helped us with finding out how and where to send our luggage to our next stop. She even filled out the forms for us. We did pay her for her extra time plus tip and snacks from Hawaii. I would recommend her and the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Gabriellaserebryanay
Jul 16, 2024
Fun and engaging guide! - We had a fun time with our tour guide, Yama. He was super engaging and funny, and told us a lot of interesting facts about Osaka. The only thing I would change is to make the tour shorter because it’s not necessary to walk with a guide through Dotonburi, although we did get some great food recommendations from Yama.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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