Key takeaways

Osaka is known for its food culture, neon nightlife, castles, theme parks, shrines and modern city views.

Visitors can explore Osaka in one port stop, or take excursions to Kyoto, Nara or Kobe for a deeper cultural experience.

Why Osaka is one of Japan’s most exciting cities to explore

There’s a certain moment in Osaka when you’re standing in front of a glowing octopus sign the size of a moving van, holding a skewer of something you can’t pronounce but your tastebuds will never forget, while a guy dressed like Super Mario zips past on a go-kart — and it just kind of hits you: this city doesn’t care if you’re ready. It’s going to show you a good time anyway.

Osaka isn’t a quiet, graceful introduction to Japan. It’s more like Tokyo’s funnier, messier cousin. It’s intense, flavorful and packed with more neon, noodles and 500-year-old landmarks than your itinerary probably planned for. You’ll find the country’s tallest Ferris wheel (complete with hot sake service), one of the largest aquariums in the world, and a food scene that treats the word ‘enough’ like a challenge. And thanks to Japan’s transit system, it’s also an easy hub for exploring Kyoto, Nara and Kobe, especially if you’re working with a tightly packed Japan cruise itinerary.

This guide covers 10 of the best things to do while in port… plus a few cultural excursions that let you stretch your sea legs a little farther.

The 10 best things to do in Osaka

Osaka is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of city. Want to hop between temples and castles? You’ve got options. Prefer to spend your day eating grilled seafood on sticks while a robot wolf barks at you from a storefront? Also possible. Here’s a list of 10 things worth doing — both inside the city and just outside it — that’ll give you a real taste of the region (sometimes literally).

Evening view of Osaka’s Dotonbori canal with a small sightseeing boat cruising past illuminated buildings, neon signs and lively pedestrian walkways on both sides.
Cruise through the electric heart of Osaka.

1. Explore Dotonbori, home of Osaka’s nightlife

You’ll know you’re in Dotonbori when it feels like Times Square threw on a kimono. The streets are narrow, the signs are massive and the snacks are everywhere. This is where the famous Glico running man blinks down from his billboard throne and tourists line up to pose like they’re about to cross a marathon finish line.

The food is the real star here. Try takoyaki (those crisp-edged octopus dough balls), order okonomiyaki if you like your pancakes savory and topped with bonito flakes, and don’t skip the skewers. Matcha parfaits, mochi, gyoza — it’s all within arm’s reach. If your plan is to wander until you’re full, congratulations, you’re already doing Dotonbori right.

The multi-tiered white and gold Osaka Castle rises above a dense layer of blooming pink cherry blossom trees under a bright blue sky with wispy white clouds.
Step back in time at the majestic Osaka Castle.

2. Visit Osaka Castle and wander the gardens

This castle has seen a lot: samurai intrigue, fires, storms, and enough careful rebuilding to qualify as a lifelong lesson in Japanese perseverance. Through everything, Osaka Castle still stands tall, trimmed in gold and surrounded by wide stone moats that make it clear nobody was messing around when they built it.

Step inside and you’ll find artifacts, armor and observation decks with views of the city skyline. The Princess Nara & Osaka Castle excursion lets you hit this highlight after a full day that includes deer-dodging at Nara’s Todaiji Temple, lantern-spotting at Kasuga Taisha Shrine and a proper local lunch. You’ll also swing through Dotonbori before heading back to port. It’s a full-circle day packed with culture, carbs and castle-core views.

Kinkaku-ji Temple in Kyoto reflected in a calm pond, featuring its gold-leaf exterior surrounded by pine trees, autumn foliage and forested hills.
Step into Kyoto’s timeless beauty at the shimmering Golden Pavilion.

3. Take a day trip to Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion

Kyoto is the introvert to Osaka’s extrovert. It’s quieter, more composed and probably a little more likely to ask you to remove your shoes. And the Golden Pavilion is arguably its most photogenic landmark. This lakeside temple is absolutely dipped in gold leaf and somehow still manages to look understated, thanks to a setting that’s all still water and manicured perfection.

With the Best of Kyoto excursion, you’ll visit Nijo Castle and its famously squeaky nightingale floors, wander the grounds of Heian Shrine under its oversized Torii gate and stop for a western lunch at a local hotel. Bonus: there’s also a shopping stop at the Kyoto Handicraft Center so you can bring home something less perishable than matcha-flavored snacks.

A path of stone stairs curves through a lush grove of towering bamboo stalks bordered by traditional thatched fencing.
Trek through a sea of green in the tranquil bamboo forest.

4. Walk through the Bamboo Forest and Zen temples in Kyoto

Yes, everyone posts the same bamboo forest photo. No, it’s not overrated. Walking under those towering stalks, with sunlight filtering through in stripes, you start to get why ancient poets were obsessed with this place.

The Golden Pavilion, Ryoan-ji Temple & Bamboo Forest excursion covers three kinds of calm. First, there’s the Zen rock garden at Ryoan-ji, where fifteen stones sit in a sea of raked gravel, designed so you can never see all of them at once. Then it’s on to the Golden Pavilion and lunch, followed by a quiet walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, starting at Nonomiya Shrine. It’s peaceful, photogenic and doesn’t require any hiking boots (which is always a win).

Pathway winding through thousands of red torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, each gate marked with black Japanese characters and framed by soft natural light.
Walk beneath a sea of vermilion gates on a journey through sacred Kyoto.

5. Experience Fushimi Inari Shrine’s famous red torii gates

If you've ever scrolled through photos of Japan and seen those endless orange-red gates curving up a wooded path, then you’re going to recognize Fushimi Inari. It’s technically a shrine, but the real experience is the walk, a winding hillside trail lined with thousands of torii gates that stretch like living ribs across the landscape.

The Fushimi-Inari Taisha & Temples excursion includes a stop at Ryoanji Temple and Sanjusangendo, a long hall filled with one thousand serene Kannon statues… but it’s the final stop that steals the show. The shrine’s hillside vistas and cinematic walkways are tailor-made for travelers who want a little workout with their culture.

Wooden barrels filled with assorted Japanese pickled vegetables at Nishiki Market in Kyoto, each labeled with handwritten price signs and wrapped in clear plastic.
Sample Kyoto’s flavors as Nishiki Market bursts with color and tradition.

6. Visit Nishiki Market and eat your way through Kyoto

If Kyoto is a museum, Nishiki Market is the food court. It’s a five-block stretch of small shops and stalls where you can taste-test your way through Japanese ingredients, street eats and family-run specialties. You can eat sweet omelets on a stick, snack on grilled eel and try pickles that will forever make you reclassify brined cucumbers as a regional delicacy. 

The Kyoto: Golden Pavilion, Kiyomizu Temple & Nishiki Market excursion pairs this stop with other major locations. Start at Kinkakuji Temple, browse and snack your way through Nishiki, then climb to Kiyomizu Temple, where a wooden platform juts out over a sweeping view of the city. It’s a day of temples, tastings and very satisfying photo ops.

Umeda Sky Building in Osaka rising against a clear blue sky, featuring twin glass towers connected by an elevated circular observatory with trees in the foreground.
Look up to Osaka’s bold skyline at the striking Umeda Sky Building.
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7. Enjoy city views from the Umeda Sky Building

Who says there’s no room for creativity in modern architecture? The Umeda Sky Building begs to differ: Two skyscrapers joined by a floating rooftop platform. A glass elevator that shoots you up through the middle. An open-air deck that lets you watch the sun dip behind the skyline. That’s what we call thinking outside the tower.

It’s part architectural oddity, part observation spot, and entirely worth your time. Go just before sunset to watch the city shift from gold to glitter, or go at night when everything’s lit up and the only sound is the wind. It’s quieter than Tokyo Tower, cheaper than a helicopter and better than both for your step count.

Entrance arch of Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, featuring a gold globe logo framed by a cream-colored Art Deco facade against a bright sky.
Feel the thrill begin the moment you enter Universal Studios Japan.

8. Visit Universal Studios Japan for a full day of themed fun

You know how some theme parks feel like they were made for kids and only reluctantly tolerate adults? This isn’t that. Universal Studios Japan leans into the spectacle, and it’s easy to spend a full day here even if you’re not traveling with children. And if you do have kids in tow? All the better.

There’s a fully immersive Nintendo World zone, an actual Hogwarts Castle, parades, roller coasters, butterbeer... And managing transport is easy with direct train access and clear signage, so you won’t have to navigate like a local to have a full day of high-energy fun. The only hard part will be leaving.

Whale shark swimming through deep blue water with its wide mouth open, showcasing its spotted pattern and massive size at Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan.
Come face to face with an ocean giant at Osaka’s iconic aquarium.

9. Stroll Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan and harbor park area

If your feet are tired and your brain’s had enough temples for the week, the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is a solid choice. One of the biggest aquariums in the world, it’s laid out in a spiraling format that lets you follow marine life from shallow tidepools all the way down to the mysterious deep.

Massive tanks give you eye-level views of manta rays, sharks and moon jellyfish, and the whole experience is surprisingly peaceful — unless it’s feeding time for the penguins (those little fellows don’t mess around when it comes to fish). Afterward, take a walk around the harbor area and enjoy the breeze. No schedule, no rush, just a good excuse to take it slow.

A deer standing along a pedestrian path in Nara, Japan with shops, visitors and other deer visible in the background.
Pause for a charming encounter with Nara’s famously friendly deer.

10. Try a cultural excursion to Nara or Kobe

If you’re not quite templed-out and you’re curious about nearby cities, Nara and Kobe each offer something different. Nara is known for its sacred deer, which wander around like they own the place (because as living Natural Monuments, they kind of do), and Todaiji Temple and its massive bronze Buddha. The Nara & Osaka Castle excursion gives you both of these plus a stop back in Osaka’s Dotonbori district.

Kobe, on the other hand, is for travelers who want mountain views with their history. The Sake Brewery Museum & Mt. Rokko excursion takes you through a traditional sake "kura" (brewery), complete with tasting rooms and centuries-old brewing techniques. Afterward, a scenic ride takes you up Mt. Rokko, where clear-day views can stretch all the way to the Inland Sea. Not a bad way to wrap up your day in port.

Planning your visit to Osaka

If you’re visiting the Kansai region of Japan, Osaka is both base camp and main event. Stick around for food and sake-fueled ferris wheel fun, or hop a train to Kyoto, Nara or Kobe without breaking a sweat (Japan’s transit is fast, predictable and built to accommodate guests who don’t speak the language). And, if you’re working with cruise timing, booking excursions through Princess keeps things streamlined. No guessing, no transfers, no sprinting to make it back before sail-away.

The real secret to Osaka? It’s chaos with a system: loud, layered and built for people who like their cities with more than a little personality. So show up hungry. Say yes to the thing you can’t pronounce. And when a guy in a Mario costume speeds by on a go-kart, just take the photo and keep moving. You’ve got a lot of ground to cover.

FAQs about things to do in Osaka