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Osaka's Private Vehicle Tour: Explore Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Shin-sekai & More
4.9
93 Ratings
Osaka
Embark on a full-day private vehicle tour in Osaka with a fluent English-speaking guide. Explore top spots like Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Shin-sekai, and more at your own pace. Get local insight and enjoy a high-quality vehicle service.
Duration:
7 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Osaka Castle - Of course you’re going to see Osaka Castle, arguably the most iconic spot of great historical significance in Osaka. We’ll traverse the grounds, all the while talking about the history, architecture, and significance of the spot. Since the rebuilt interior of the castle is rather disappointing, we recommend giving that a miss. Trust us.
- Shitennoji - This is said to be the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan, and the grounds make for a great place to stroll about. We’ll regale you with stories and lob you just enough info on the place to make it interesting without being tedious. Unless you like loads of info, because we have that too. It’s your private tour after all! :)
- Shinsekai - Fun for all ages, in an odd sort of reality-independent way, this is a must-see while in Osaka. Games, food, fashion (perhaps heavily skewed toward the eye of the beholder), and that general, unmistakable Osaka vibe. No one forgets a visit to Shin-sekai.
- Abeno Harukas - Lunch, and a trip up Harukas. We’ll have a lunch to your liking in the Tennoji area, which is also where the super tall building known as Harukas is. This being the tallest non-tower building in Japan (300m), there are views aplenty. (We in Osaka have heard there is some tower with a height of biblical proportions in Tokyo, but we’re not so interested.) We won’t go up to the top of Harukas, but we go high enough to enjoy a breathtaking view of Osaka, and on a good day, all the way to Kobe and more. Some local shopping is available here too, if you’re keen.
- Kuromon Market - A feast for the eyes, and for the stomach too, if you’re interested! Fish, meats, fruits, and a panoply of people all vie for your attention.
- Dotombori District - We’ve got a little flexibility here, but we love showing people not only the internationally famous “Running Man” sign, but also some cool back streets, the kitchenware district, and some other sights based on your interests.
What's Included
- Private vehicle with all related fees.
- A likable guide that speaks English superbly.
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Admissions (which will range from zero to a few hundred yen or so, depending on if you change the plan)
- Pickup if you are outside of central Osaka (defined as within or along the JR Loop Line). Other locations will incur a surcharge for both pickup and drop off as follows: Port of Osaka pickups, 2,500 yen each way. Universal Studios area, 2,000 yen each way. Shin-Osaka Station area, 1,000 yen each way.
- Child seat: 1,000 yen payable on day of tour.
Additional Information
Seeking a comprehensive one-day tour with a private vehicle that encompasses notable locations and is accompanied by an entertaining, well-informed and perfectly proficient English speaking guide? Your search stops here. During the tour, you’ll explore Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Shin-sekai, enjoy an aerial view, and much more! Additionally, you’ll gain local knowledge and fascinating insights at our suggested stops. Everything is conducted at a pace suitable for you, with your own dedicated driver/guide, and excellent vehicle service. It is a certainty that your guide will be a native English speaker or a truthful equivalent.
- We can have more or less walking, as you like.
- Gratuities are uncommon in Japan, however if you really enjoyed your time and want to show your guide how much you appreciate them, they’ll be extremely happy!
- According to Japanese law, children under 6 years old or less than 140cm MUST use car seats. Be sure to request one in advance from us if required.
- Enjoy all the exciting stops described above and more on this private vehicle tour! The plan described is a model course, and there is the possibility for change based on our guests’ interests. Timing and external factors (such as traffic conditions) may force deviations from this model course.
Location
Osaka Castle
1-1 Osakajo,
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(93 Ratings)
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253karlaa
Jun 18, 2024
Great tour with Kevin - Kevin was a great and courteous guide. He took his time to explain the highlights of each stop and made sure we were all comfortable during our tour. He also provided us with some information of places we may also visit while in Japan. Thank you Kevin for a great day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Randy_l
Jun 10, 2024
Great tour - Our guide, Lito Cruz was knowledgeable about the area and communicated in English. Although originally from Canada, Lito has lived in Japan for 20 years. He knew his way around and it was a joy to spend the day with him. He took us to Kushiemon, an udon restaurant with sushi and it was excellent. Aloha!
Review provided by Viator
Queenie_o
Jun 6, 2024
Worth the money! - Kevin our tour guide was very accommodating and informative. Very cool guy and down to earth which we all liked. Places we went to are awesome! Kevin was patient with me who’s always asking for a smoking area lol. Worth the money, great places to see and a great tour guide as well. Thank you Kevin for a wonderful day!!!
Review provided by Viator
Diana
May 27, 2024
Memorable Osaka! - A private tour of Osaka was ideal for our group as I was travelling with three kids 14,12 and 9! We visited and had time to meander around ancient Shinto temples as well as short stops along the way that were targeted towards my three kids. Our knowledgeable English speaking guide Kevin has lived in Japan for over 30 years and was able to provide interesting insights into Japanese history, culture and customs. The private tour was handy in an air conditioned van (no complaints from tired kids) and Kevin knew where to park which was in close proximity to the sights to minimise walking (I’d injured my ankle before the trip so for this I was grateful!) We had a moorish lunch (ramen and chicken and rice) at a family run quaint husband and wife restaurant, which turned out to be a memorable highlight because they were so hospitable and engaging with the kids! Thank you for a great day and memories we will cherish forever.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Diana_p
May 25, 2024
Got a great overview of Osaka! - Kevin, our guide was very knowledgeable, friendly and kind. The 7.5 hours flew by and he voluntarily took us to one more place that was not on the original itinerary as he learned about our interest. Thank you so much!
Review provided by Viator
Jenniferdavidbvail
May 24, 2024
Osaka adventure from shrines to marketplaces and everything in between! - What a day with our guide Kevin! We saw so many amazing things in the 7+ hour tour. Kevin was super fun and friendly and told us so much about Osaka. If you are short on time in Osaka, but want to see a variety of different places this is the perfect tour. We saw the Castle, a beautiful view of the city, markets, side streets and so much more. Be prepared to walk….according to my watch we covered about 7 miles during the tour. Can’t recommend this tour enough!
Review provided by Viator
Iryna_k
May 22, 2024
Amazing tour in Osaka - Thomas was incredible. He gave great explanations of all the scenery and was a very fun person to talk to. He answered any question we could think of without a problem. 100% would recommend for anyone in Osaka!
Review provided by Viator
Daphneangmingli
May 22, 2024
Tomas was a wonderful guide! - Really enjoyed our 1 day tour of Osaka with Tomas! Tomas was a fantastic guide who is very knowledgeable on Japan’s history, culture, and customs. We greatly enjoyed hearing about his experiences living in Japan and stories that you won’t find in a tourist guidebook. We managed to do, see, learn, shop, and eat at a great many places, and were comfortably driven around Osaka. He also had a great sense of humour which was much appreciated! Thank you Tomas for the wonderful to experience of Osaka!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J1496bhdavidk
May 11, 2024
Osaka With Levy - Levy, our guide, did an outstanding job in taking us around Osaka. He was very knowledgeable, efficient and has a great personality. Was a real treat to be with him for the day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael
May 10, 2024
Great tour with a great guide - Kevin does a great tour. He’s extremely knowledgable and we really enjoyed it, especially our impromptu tour of a power station.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
