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I lived in Osaka for about a year between 2009 and 2010. It’s been quite some time since I last revisited this vibrant city, but this year, Crystal and I were fortunate enough to make a trip there not just once, but twice.

A tremendous amount has changed since I lived there, but there were also many familiar areas that were incredibly fun to explore once again with Crystal on this visit. This was particularly special since it marked the first time Crystal had the opportunity to explore Osaka.

Here is our list of the top ten things to do in the vibrant city of Osaka.

1. Shinsekai

The word Shinsekai (新世界) means New World, but what’s so unique about this area is its retro-futuristic appearance. Shinsekai is a time capsule of old school Osaka street life, filled with arcade machines, neon lights, quirky shops, street food, bars, and more.

Kushikatsu is a popular street food in Osaka and one of the city’s most well-known culinary specialties, so you’ll definitely want to make it a priority to give that a try. This delicious dish is composed of various types of skewered ingredients that are battered and then deep-fried to perfection, creating a delightful combination of textures and flavors.

Tsutenkaku Tower Osaka — Tsutenkaku Tower

Variety of Kushi Katsu — Variety of mini Kushi Katsu

If you’re a fan of retro arcades, you could probably spend all night immersed in the nostalgic experience that Shinsekai offers. It’s considered a sacred ground for enthusiasts of authentic, coin-operated retro arcade games from the past. The old-school atmosphere truly is reminiscent of a bygone era and there are many unique games available that can only be played within these walls.

Street Fighter Retro Arcade Game — Crystal playing Street Fighter

Japanese Matsuri Shooting Game — Fun Shooting Games

This famous district offered a fascinating vision of the future back in the early 1900s and now provides a nostalgic blast from the past for visitors and locals alike. We’ve had the opportunity to visit both during the day and at night, and Shinsekai truly comes alive when the lights come on at night.

2. Dotonbori

If you Google things to do in Osaka, Dotonbori will undoubtedly be featured on every list of must-visit attractions. This vibrant district is renowned for its lively atmosphere and colorful neon lights. It’s located along the canal (called Dotonbori) and is a colorful area with retro vibes. There is a ton of street food, stores, bars, restaurants, shops, and more.

Buying Melon Pan in Osaka — Buying Melon Pan

One of the well-known landmarks here is the Glico Man sign. Glico is a famous candy company like America’s Hershey company. I’m not sure why this sign became so popular among tourists, but it’s bascially become the unofficial mascot of Dotonbori.

Secret glico photo spot — Secret Glico Sign Photo-op

If you want to sit down and enjoy the view of the Dotonbori River, there are several restaurants and cafes that offer it. It’s a great area to explore either day or night and it’s one of hte best areas to try an array of Osaka’s street food like the Tako Yaki.

3. Hozenji Yokocho

1 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, 542-0076

Switching gears from modern to an Edo-period atmosphere, Hozenji Yokocho is known as one of Osaka’s most beautiful alleyways. It’s a step back in time where you’ll find traditional shops and restaurants.

The street was named for Hozen-ji Temple, which is a beautiful and peaceful little area where you can splash water on a statue there for good luck. The location is within walking distance from Dotonbori, so it’s not a spot that would be out of the way from the main touristy spots.

Family walking and holding hands — Our brother with his family

We really enjoyed walking through the charming tiny alleyways that wind between Dotonbori and Hozenji Yokocho. Each turn along the small alleys revealed a variety of unique sights, making the overall experience even more enjoyable and fun.

Small alleyway in Osaka — walking from Hozenji Yokocho to Dotonbori

4. Universal Studios Japan

I normally wouldn’t suggest visiting an American theme park in Japan, but Universal Studios Japan’s unique attractions and cultural influences really set them apart.

Super Nintendo World Japan — Super Nintendo World

My relatives in Japan mentioned to me that USJ initially mirrored the parks found in the United States, but over time, the park's popularity began to decline significantly. In response to this, USJ made a huge shift and decided to start incorporating new attractions that are uniquely tailored to the Japanese audience and culture.

This approach ultimately succeeded in creating a distinct and memorable experience for visitors, making the park more appealing to both locals and tourists alike. If you’re an anime fan like Crystal, you will be delighted to know that the park is filled with anime merchandise and does special collaborations with popular anime shows like One Piece, Demon Slayer, and Chainsaw Man.

Chainsaw Man Movie Booth — Crystal’s favorite Chainsaw Man

This notable shift significantly boosted the overall number of attendees visiting the park. In 2023, it was ranked as the third-most visited theme park in the entire world, while also holding the title of the most visited theme park in all of Asia.

5. Parco

Parco is a famous department store in Japan that has been around since the fifties. It’s not a mall we would typically make a point to visit; however, this one has a store for Ghibli enthusiasts.

On the 6th floor, you’ll find a ton of Ghibli goods from Nausicaa Valley of the Wind (both of our favorites) to classics like Totoro. There is also a fun photo opportunity to capture a memorable photo with an iconic character from Spirited Away. We were surprised to find that this floor had an array of iconic Japanese characters like Godzilla.

Parco has a total of eleven floors and there is an entire floor of MUJI products. We love MUJI and bought a handful of merchandise here. There is also three entire floors dedicated to Hands. Hands is full of products unique to Japan, such as high-quality living ware, bathroom accessories, stationary, and countless other items. It’s very similar to Loft since they both offer a wide variety of trendy and lifestyle products.

Godzilla store inside Parco Osaka — Godzilla Store

Hands store inside Parco Osaka — Hands Store

If you find yourself getting hungry during your visit, you have the option to head to Midosuji Dining floor (13th floor). There are a total of ten different restaurants up here and we dined at a famous okonomiyaki restaurant called Tsuruhashi Fugetsu Modern (鶴橋風月 Modern). Okonomiyaki, a famous Osaka street food, is a savory pancake filled with delicious ingredients. Our niece and little brother love this popular dish.

If you have room for dessert, we recommend heading to the basement floor, which they named the Shinsaibashi Neon Restaurant Street. We ended up treating ourselves to strawberry crepe and a seasonal muscat parfait that were both delicious.

Strawberry Crepe in Japan — Strawberry Crepe

6. Jump Shop

1 Chome−7−1, Main Building, 9FL Daimaru Shinsaibashi

If you are already inside Parco, there is a walkway where within Parco where you can simply walk over to the Jump Shop inside Daimaru Shinsaibashi. Anime fans are familiar with Jump as this is the magazine where many of the popular mangas made their debut.

The shop carries a curated selection of limited anime goods, comics, and apparel, and they even hold unique events. During our visit, the main focus was prominently on popular titles such as Jujutsu Kaisen, ONE PIECE, and My Hero Academia.

Next to the Jump shop was a special Doraemon pop-up shop, which we had to check out. Since we grew up watching Doraemon, stepping inside was an incredibly nostalgic experience, and naturally, we ended up purchasing some adorable little Doraemon souvenirs, including keychains and pins, to remember our visit.

7. Den Den Town

Den Den Town is Osaka’s compact and grungy version of Akihabara. It’s the city’s electronics, pop culture, games, and anime shopping district. Crystal is a major fan of anything anime related so we had to visit the Animate store, where she purchased merchandise from her favorite anime, Chainsaw Man.

Of course, there were loads of other popular anime merchandise including Jujutsu Kaisen, Haikyu!!, Demon Slayer, Tokyo Revengers, Windbreaker, and more. On the third floor, you can find a selection of used anime goods that are in such great condition, they look almost new.

We didn’t hit up any maid cafes or electronic shops in the area, but you can definitely find those unique attractions here, as well as a variety of other interesting spots to explore like the retro game store and Super Potato. And of course, you’ll find an impressive array of Gashapon machines, which offer a selection of collectible toys and trinkets.

8. Toki no Hiroba Plaza (Osaka Station City)

If you’re making a stop at Osaka station, Toki no Hiroba Plaza is worth a visit. The modern architecture is beautiful with a large glass roof that spans over the railway tracks.

This area also has a wide array of shopping, dining, and entertainment and is especially popular during the holiday season. The large Christmas tree and decor makes it a great spot for photo ops.

Toki no Hiroba Osaka — You can see train tracks below

9. Bear Paw Cafe (熊の手カフェ)

5 Chome-3-11 Uehonmachinishi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0062

This is the most adorable and charming cafe in Osaka, where your drink or dessert order is uniquely served to you by a cute bear paw. The delightful concept of this cafe isn’t solely focused on being cute; rather, the entire purpose of this innovative idea is to create an environment in which the employees can work while effectively overcoming their social fears and anxieties.

Kuma no Te Cafe Entrance — Bear paw Cafe Entrance

Bear Paw Peace Sign — Bear Paw giving Cindy a hi-Five

We each wanted to have a turn getting our dessert from the bear paw, so we ordered three different items. Their menu features an array of seasonal delights, and at the time of our visit, we enjoyed the Matcha Parfait. It was topped with an adorable bear paw cookie that was very kawaii.

A framed board with notes — notes from people all over the world

Inside the cafe, you’ll find a cozy seating area along with a wall adorned with notes and messages from travelers around the world. You can even buy some cute bear souvenirs. We visited just before lunch during the weekday, so there was plenty of seating.

Bear Paw Cafe Matcha Parfait — Matcha Parfait

Bear Paw Cafe Chocolate Parfait — Chocolate Parfait

We were left wondering just how many employees were working behind the scenes, but everything really is so well hidden that it’s nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of anyone at all. Even when we placed our order, we still couldn’t see any of the employees.

10. Hankai Tramway

The Hankai Tramway is Osaka’s last remaining streetcar and it is still used today. Although the tram we rode was modern, the 1101 series, and not the original 161 series, it was still a joy to ride since it runs right in the middle of the city.

The Hankai Tramway is a great way to do some sightseeing as there are many famous tourist spots along the tramway. Some popular must-see places is the Simiyoshi Taisha (Japan’s most renowned shrines), Hamadera Park (one of Osaka’s oldest parks), and Sakai City Traditional Crafts Museum.

Sakai City Traditional Crafts Museum — Sakai City Traditional Crafts Musuem

Sakai is one of Japan's main knife-making areas, called the "City of Knives" and it produces about 90% of Japan's knives, with 98% used by professional chefs coming from there. Sakai's knife-making tradition dates back an impressive 600 years.

We visited the Sakai Knife Museum (free entry) which is located inside Sakai City Traditional Crafts Museum (second floor). It’s a fairly small museum but filled with interesting information like the history of the knife making process. You can even purchase an array of Japanese knives while you are there.

Sakai Knife Museum Osaka — Sakai Knife Museum

There you have it. That is our curated list of the top ten things to do in Osaka for those visiting for the very first time. Osaka is a fun, lively, and vibrant city filled with exciting experiences, and we have only scratched the surface of what it has to offer. However, we genuinely believe that these are the must-see and must-do activities you shouldn’t miss if it is your first time visiting this incredible city.