Get Ready For Osaka Expo'2025: 15 Best Sights To See

Get ready for Osaka Expo’2025: 15 best sights to see

If you’re coming to Osaka for the Expo, check my guide on what else to see in the city!

By Anna Purpurpurpur

I’m a big fan of Osaka, and in some ways, I love it even more than Tokyo.

Today it’s a lively and busy modern city, with many attractions and touristic landmarks. And this year it welcomes Osaka Expo 2025!

Osaka it has a very long history, and it’s one of the old capitals of Japan that was known under the name of Naniwa. It’s a fabulous place to explore whether you’re visiting for Expo or not!

1. Osaka castle

Osaka is a vibrant modern megalopolis, and this landmark is a piece of tranquillity! although it can still get crowded.

The castle was built in 1583 for Hideyoshi Toyotomi. It was destroyed a few times afterward: during the Summer Siege of Osaka by Tokugawa troops in 1615 and by lightning in 1665.

Now, it’s represented by the main tower (it was restored in concrete only in 1931 after citizens of Osaka donated money for it) standing on the ruins of the original castle: it’s an all-modernized building with an elevator inside!

You can visit an exposition in the museum inside the main keep to learn about its history and Hideyoshi Toyotomi’s deeds – and the views from the top are definitely worth seeing! Osaka Park around the castle is simply breathtaking, especially in a hanami season.

2. Dotonbori Honten

Dotonbori district is the most iconic site of Osaka: I bet you’ve seen the images of giant crabs, dragons, and other monumental installations attracting visitors to the local restaurants!

In the middle of the district, there’s the Dotonbori River, reflecting all the lights from neon billboards and the historical Ebisubashi bridge over it (consider walking along the Tombori River Walk or taking a river cruise!).

Come here hungry: the street food here is too appealing not to try it. Go for takoyaki, different sorts of pancakes, and skewered seafood! It’s the best place to practice so-called kuidaore: ruin yourself with food!

3. Ebisu Bashi Suji

You can find with ease different covered shopping streets throughout Osaka, and I’d suggest you visit at least a few of them. First one you’ll find in Namba, an epicentre of Osaka life. That’s Ebisu Bashi Suji Shopping Street, founded in 1913.

Facing the Kani Doraku crab figure, it goes all the way to the Takashimaya department store, which is full of different nice shopping spots and cafes!

4. Glico running man

The Glico running man is one of the most photographed signs of Osaka for sure: it’s been hanging above the Dotonbori canal for almost 90 years! There were small temporal alterations but overall, the Glico’s (a large confectionary company) mascot has remained unchanged since 1935.

5. Namba Yasaka Shrine

Namba Yasaka Shrine is probably the site you see a lot on social media, and all because of the giant lion (yes, that’s a lion, not a demon or a dragon!) head!

It’s really huge, measuring 11 metres wide and 12 metres high, and it’s said to scare away evil spirits. The shrine itself is said to have been founded in the 4th century.

6. Shin Sai Bashi Suji

Shinsaibashi is another famous area of Osaka; explore it together with Amerikamura (see below). It’s usually crowded and busy; however, I’d suggest you visit it anyway.

Shinsaibashi Shopping Street, a long arcade with numerous shops, is a must for your trip: there’s a mix of food stalls, beauty and fashion shops, and cute souvenirs on sale – and there are duty-free shops, too!

7. Umeda Sky building

Umeda Sky building is one of the main attractions of Osaka: two towers of Umeda, connected by a bridge, are crowned with an observatory.

Umeda Sky Building is famous not only for its panoramic views from the observational desk but also for its unusual architecture: you’ll definitely love to take pictures of it, too!

They have a nice cafe with aesthetic snacks and drinks as well: think of a special ‘sky’ latte and waffle shaped like Umeda.

8. Kani Doraku

Snow crab experience was high on my list of priorities in Osaka, and it didn’t let me down. We returned there on a few occasions, and this venue never disappoints!

We always book Crab kaiseki dinner at the iconic Kani Doraku restaurant – the one with a mechanical crab on their facade – in advance. There is a choice out of a few set menus, from a short ones to a proper feasts with numerous dishes and desserts!

You can also choose between a traditional room with Japanese seating and a table which usually are easier for the Westerners.

It was definitely a meal to remember: different types of snow crab were served in a series of dishes highlighting the unique taste and texture of this type of meat: raw meat, grilled meat, tempura, soup and so on!

9. Namba Shrine

Namba Shrine (not to be mistaken with Namba Yasaka shrine) is believed to be established in the 5th century.

It was moved to this location in the 16th century after the construction of the Osaka Castle. There’s also a small Inari shrine on the premises of it (the one with foxes).

10. Universal studio

Do you like theme parks? Universal Studio Osaka is exactly what you’re expecting it to be: it’s lively, it’s fun, it’s colourful, and I’ll definitely be returning there with my kid.

I’m not a big fan of crazy rides, but even so, there were plenty of activities to participate in: visit Hogwarts Castle, eat minion burgers, and take cool photos!

Which part of Universal Studios Osaka would you pick up to explore first: Minion Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, or maybe New York/Hollywood?

11. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is a family friendly spot where you can learn plenty of information about fish and other marine animals.

When it was opened in 1990, it was the largest public in the world! And even now, there are so many things to enjoy there especially considering that the aquarium evolves every now and then.

There are lots of cool sections with marine animals – actually, dolphins, seals, sea links, penguins got lots of space to swim and play, and you can watch them through a few different levels of the aquarium building.

Such a cool idea! Actually that’s a take on traditional koi windsocks Koinobori usually used for the celebration of Tango no sekku in May. But those are the different animals you can see in kaiyukan!

12. Tempozan Ferris Wheel

Wile you’re visiting the Osaka Aquarium, don’t miss the Tempozan Ferris Wheel nearby! It opened in 1997 and was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world!

You can also pop into the Tempozan market for nice eating options.

13. Daimaru Shinsaibashi

Daimaru Shinsaibashi is a high end shopping mall located in a recently renovated fantastic building. You can find many eating options on the basement floor and luxury shops on other levels. You can also pop into the Pokémon centre here!

I never managed to get a booking for a Pokémon cafe – you have to book in advance on their site (a reservation for a next month opens on a particular day and gets sold out in a blink) but at least we can shop at the Pokémon centre.

14. Amerikamura

American Village, or Amerikamura, is another famous area of Osaka located not far from Dotonbori. Go there for a unique American-ish vibe in a Japanese manner where young people have gathered since the late 1960s.

The name originates from the shops that sold products from the West American coast back in time. Explore the cafes, shops, and Triangle Park, spot a tiny Statue of Liberty, and go to the 7-floor-high Big Step shopping mall, one of the central features of the district.

15. Osaka station city

Osaka train station is a massive shopping area combined with a huge transportation hub, one of the most important in the country. I’d highly recommend you to spend some time exploring shopping mall where (but be aware that it’s so enormous you can easily get lost!).

There are supermarkets with great Japanese food, restaurants specialising in meat dishes, curry, unagi, tempura and so on; nice cafes with seasonal desserts and vast choices of drinks, clothes, accessories, and many more. To be honest, wandering around such facilities is one of my favourite guilty pleasures in Japan!

Where to stay in Osaka

In my previous short guide I covered our fantastic stay at the Conrad hotel. This time we spent a week in the Ritz-Carlton Osaka, and we were not disappointed.

I must note that at the time of our arrival we were notified that some upper floors were about to be closed for renovations, so chances are you’ll be able to explore the updated version of the building.

The Ritz-Carlton Osaka is a luxurious destination with a vibe of old lavish European hotels. Our room was spacious and stylish, with a large bathroom (and you got three different bath salts every evening to choose from!) and nice welcome gifts.

Breakfasts including both traditional Japanese breakfast selection and Western options, were superb, and frequently accompanied by live piano music.

There are also a few restaurants and cafes in the hotel, and if you plan to move around Japan a lot, this hotel is perfectly placed just a short underground walk away from the Osaka station.

Pictures of the floating world