For my first trip to Japan (because there’s no way I’m not going back!), we went to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. I don’t have a favourite, it’s impossible to pick., each have their own gorgeous vibe going on. Buuut I especially loved Osaka! 🤩
I’m a sucker for neon.
Yeah, but didn’t you go to Shibuya? Yesssss, but Osaka’s is less “grab your sunglasses, I’m a skyscraper” and has more of a futuristic-retro-oldschool aesthetic going on. And I am so into that.
Osaka is also *the* city for foodies. We ate there, had great things, but one of us is vegetarian and the other gluten-free with several allergies, so I’m not going to talk about the food side so much here. We pretty much just ate the deer crackers 😂 (joke)
Transportation
Osaka is a great starting (or ending😢) point as they have a major international airport. It’s also really close to Kyoto and Nara, and has plenty of train options! Locally, there is a metro line and buses, all fairly straight forward, and it’s also handy to walk around, there’s something at every corner!
Osaka Castle
Beautiful and badass at the same time. What a view! What a history! This magnificent building has been destroyed (and rebuilt) quite a few times! To name a few: the Seige of Osaka in 1615, a lightning strike in 1665, 1868 Boshin War, and 1954 WWII.
First, there’s the Castle Park, which is completely free to enter. You can see the castle, a string of souvenir shops, coffee shops, and public toilets. Apparently this is the place to be for cherry blossom photos!🌸
Then there’s the optional Nishinomaru Garden, which costs 200 yen. Here has lovely views of the castle, picnic benches, and a teahouse.
The entrance ticket for Osaka Castle is 1200 yen for adults and 600 yen for students.
Dōtonbori
Dōtonbori is up there with Shinjuku or Times Square as far as I’m concerned.
There’s so many layers to it, and they’ve thought it all through. First you go to Namba, and then there are “corridors” of shops and restaurants, all the way to the main part of Dotonbori. It’s like, go through a sheltered corridor, cross a major road, go through another corridor, cross another big road, and so on – so you’re not bored! 
You’re heading for Dotonbori Bridge. From there you can turn right, and see all of the really cool 3D signs for all of the restaurants. It’s really cool. Some of them have been there since the 1930’s! Then you can go below the bridge and walk down by the river (lots more restaurants and shops), but don’t forget to check on the Osaka Shiba Puppy who finds his way onto a billboard above Starbucks every 15 minutes. He’s as cute as Shinjuku’s cat!
Shinsekai
There’s another neon district, but it’s a little further out – easy to get to though, I walked from Namba and it took about half an hour. Shinsekai is legit retro – it was built in 1912, hence the quirky nostalgic look. I don’t even know how to describe it, you saw me try a few paragraphs ago 😂
There’s bars and restaurants, a couple of shops, but mostly restaurants. You’ll see lots more of the 3D neon food signs, and the ever popular Tsutenkaku Tower.
Namba Yasaka Shrine
The entrance to this temple is a giant lions head, which is believed to swallow the evil spirits. It’s a cool place to go and take a pic, and if you’re collecting goshiun or temple stamps, it’s a nice addition!
Nara Park
I’m going to write a whole post on Nara itself and I’ll link it here! 🦌
