As somebody who plans journeys to Japan for a dwelling, I can declare with out hesitation that Osaka is underrated. And I can quantify: No fewer than half of my personal purchasers haven’t any plans to go to town after they attain out to me.
Now, of their protection, it’s not like I attempt to steer them away from that final result. In spite of everything, most are time-limited; as a lot as I personally love Osaka, it merely isn’t as rewarding a spot to go to as most others, whether or not on Japan’s vacationer path or far off it.
With this being mentioned, I usually do discover a solution to work an Osaka day journey from Kyoto into somebody’s journey at any time when doable. Listed below are some concepts about how to do this your self!
Why Osaka is So Typically an Afterthought
Relating to why an Osaka day journey is often essentially the most consideration individuals give Japan’s second-largest metropolis, there are just a few elements at play. The primary is the logic individuals use to assemble their journeys, particularly first-time vacationers. These individuals often desire a stability of locations. Someplace new and someplace outdated; a pair days in nature and a pair in a metropolis or city considerably off-the-beaten-path. Tokyo at all times fills the large metropolis.
Then there’s the easy proximity of Osaka to Kyoto. Even individuals who actually need to go to Osaka assume they will go to on a day journey, regardless of the truth that doing so requires extra mindfulness than most individuals put into the journeys. As you’ll see under, there are a lot of choices for visiting Osaka on a day journey. However please remember that every one of them require a level of forethought, even when that merely quantities to studying this text earlier than you get on the trian.
Methods to Go to Osaka for the Day
Full day in Osaka
Essentially the most easy solution to see Osaka in a day is to spend a full day in Osaka, as apparent as that may sound. I often like to start out with a morning at Kuromon Market, adopted by a day divided between Osaka Fort and Shi-tenno-ji temple. I then make my method again west and finally north, stopping within the Shinsekai district on my method again to Namba and the Dotonbori pedestrian road (which can also be a foodie paradise).
Morning in Nara, night in Osaka
Alternatively, as a substitute of going straight from Kyoto to Osaka, as a substitute trip the JR Nara Line to Nara. Then, after a morning feeding deer in Nara Park (amongst different actions), trip the Kintetsu Osaka Line from Kintetsu-Nara to Kintetsu-Namba, situated within the coronary heart of Osaka. Right here, you possibly can simply stroll to the aforementioned Dotonbori, the place you possibly can finish the night consuming takoyaki beneath neon indicators.
A day at USJ
Aren’t interested by Osaka itself, and easily need to go to Common Studios Japan? Hey, no judgement! The best solution to get right here is to make your solution to Osaka’s Hommachi Station, accessible by way of the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line from each Osaka Station (the place JR trains arrive) and Yodoyabashi Station, which the Keihan Line serves. From Hommachi, trip the Osaka Metro Chuo Line to Common Metropolis Station, and comply with the indicators from there.
Morning in Himeji and/or Kobe, road meals dinner in Osaka
One other variation on going straight to Osaka from Kyoto? Trip a Shinkansen westward to Himeji Station and stroll due north to Himeji Fort. Ending up right here, trip again eastward, first stopping in Kobe for a wa-gyu beef lunch. Lastly, trip a JR Line Particular Speedy Service from Kobe’s Sannomiya Station to Osaka Station, and trip the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line both to Namba (for Dotonbori) or Dobutsuen-mae (for Shinsekai). Straightforward-peasy!
Morning at Akashi Fish Market, afternoon and night in Osaka
Wish to spend most of your day in Osaka, however with a twist. Head westward from Kyoto by way of bullet prepare, however get off at Nishi-Akashi Station, then trip an area prepare to Akashi Station. This situates you simply steps from Uo-no-tana, a really non-touristy fish market. Again at Akashi-eki, trip a JR Line Particular Speedy Service all the way in which to Osaka Station, the place you possibly can extra of much less get pleasure from the entire day in Osaka.
The right way to Spend Longer Than a Day in Osaka
Osaka is value greater than a day should you can spend it. Curiously, spending two days in Osaka will take a lot the identical form as a day journey from Kyoto. You’ll merely have extra time to unfold your actions out, and have the ability to broaden on the vary of your experiences. For instance, having fun with road meals not solely alongside Dotonbori canal in Namba, but additionally within the colourful Shinsekai district.
Likewise, simply as peripheral locations could be integrated into your expertise of Osaka in a day, so can also they be a part of a multi-day Osaka itinerary. With 3 days in Osaka, as an example, you possibly can spend two full days exploring town middle after which break up the third between Himeji Fort and Kobe, or between the tea-producing city of Uji and the deer-filled metropolis of Nara. You might also have time to go to the Katsuo-ji daruma temple.
Different FAQ About Visiting Osaka on a Day Journey
Is Osaka value visiting for a day?
Though Osaka positively deserves as a lot time as you may give it, you can also make an honest dent within the metropolis by coming for the day from Kyoto. Particularly, you possibly can eat your method via Kuromon Market, go to Osaka Fort and Tenno-ji temple and finish the night beneath the neon indicators alongside Dotonbori canal.
The right way to go from Kyoto to Osaka?
Though the Shinkansen does journey from Kyoto to the Osaka space, bullet prepare isn’t your finest wager. Fairly, it’s both to trip both a JR Line Particular Speedy Service from Kyoto Station to Osaka Station, or the Keihan Most important Line from Kyoto’s Higashiyama district to central Osaka stations like Kyobashi and Yodoyabashi.
Is it higher to go to Osaka or Kyoto first?
When you’re coming from Tokyo, I usually discover that Kyoto makes a superb “subsequent” cease; its historic really feel contrasts properly with Tokyo’s modern-futurism. Alternatively, many vacationers coming from inside Asia will kick off their complete Japan journeys in Osaka, which creates an identical dynamic after they go to Kyoto after Osaka.
The Backside Line
For higher or for worse, it’s way more frequent to take an Osaka day journey from Kyoto than it’s to remain in a single day in Osaka. Properly, at the very least for Western vacationers—Asians, in my expertise, typically have extra appreciation for Osaka baked in than their counterparts from North America, Europe and Oceania. To make sure, whether or not as a full day or mixed with Nara, Himeji or Kobe, your day tour to Osaka might need you wishing you’d slept there for at the very least an evening. Wish to be sure to correctly curate and sequence Japanese locations, and that you simply commit the correct amount of time to every? Think about hiring me to plan your journey to Japan!