Osaka Kickstart: Hotspots & Hidden Gems Tours

Embark on an exciting Osaka Kickstart Tour and uncover the city’s urban hotspots and hidden treasures. Choose from customized private tours or group tours and explore non-touristy areas, retro districts, traditional fish markets, and more. Get ready for a sensory overload and a great day out!

Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Hozenji Yokocho - These elusive, winding cobblestone alleys are rich in character and tradition. We’ll also see walls adorned with Osaka’s historical murals.

  • Dotonbori Tsuribori - A visit to Osaka’s Dotonbori River is essential and one of our highlights. This scenic area is surrounded by a plethora of stores to keep you entertained.

  • Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street - Japanese fashion is unique, wonderful, and eccentric. Also, check out the quirky and cool gadget stores.

  • New New Ebisubashi - Originally built from wood in the 1600s, this bridge now stands strong in iron over 400 years later. It is the heart of Osaka and a popular local meeting spot.

  • America Mura - We’ll guide you through hidden streets in this area, showcasing Japan’s interpretation of America, complete with a Statue of Liberty on a building.

  • Kuromon Market - (almost always reached on a 3-hour tour, depending on the group’s pace) We’ll visit fish market stores that appear unremarkable from the outside but reveal a seafood paradise inside. Watch a store cut and prepare fugu (puffer fish) and learn how to cut tuna. The salmon sashimi here is some of the best in Japan.

  • Nipponbashi Denden Town - (almost always reached on a 3-hour tour, depending on the group’s pace) Navigating these hidden quirky stores can be tricky. We’re here to guide you to the gaming and cosplay zone and explore your inner nerd.

  • Shinsekai - (ONLY AVAILABLE ON 4HR, 5HR, OR 7HR PRIVATE TOUR) We’ll take you off the beaten path to discover the retro zone where Osakan locals show their true colors. From quirky fishing restaurants to board game shops, retro arcades, and old vinyl record stores.

  • Tower Knives Osaka - (ONLY ON THE 4HR OR 5HR PRIVATE TOUR) We get a private knife lesson here. Learn the entire process of knife-making (crafted at the back of the building). You’ll also get to experience cutting with these world-famous Sakai knives (made in southern Osaka). This lesson is included in the price.

  • Abeno Harukas - (ONLY AVAILABLE ON 5HR OR 7HR PRIVATE TOUR) Standing at an impressive 300 meters, Abeno Harukas is Japan’s tallest building (not structure or tower). Truly staggering!

  • Shitennoji - (ONLY AVAILABLE ON 5HR OR 7HR PRIVATE TOUR) It is Japan’s first Buddhist temple and the oldest officially administered temple. A place that exudes spirituality, even if you’re not religious.

  • Osaka Castle - (ONLY AVAILABLE ON 5HR OR 7HR PRIVATE TOUR) Osaka’s most iconic structure. We’ll also explore the surrounding park and discuss its role in unifying Japan.

  • Morimoto Tatami Shop - (ONLY AVAILABLE ON A 7HR PRIVATE TOUR & IF IT’S OPEN…OWNERS DON’T HAVE SET OPEN DAYS) This hidden tatami shop off the main shopping area offers a class on how tatami mats are made with igusa rush grass. A very unique experience!

  • Osaka Museum of Housing and Living - (ONLY AVAILABLE ON 7HR PRIVATE TOUR) I’m not a huge fan of museums, but this one is different. The highlight is a reconstruction of an ancient Osaka town featuring houses, stores, and homes of both the wealthy and commoners.

What's Included
  • Private personalized tour or group tour with others
  • 1 can drink & 1 small side dish (likely 1 takoyaki ball)
  • Choose your hours: 3hrs, 4hrs, 5hrs, 7hrs
  • Tour on foot, with optional train or taxi (at your own expense)
What's Not Included
  • Entry tickets to any attractions
  • Transport Costs (normally none, or just 2 short rides of the train)
  • Food & Drink is not included (except for 1 drink & a small side dish)
Additional Information

Kickstart your day or night Osaka walking adventure with this tour featured on Channel 5 British TV in 2023 on the hugely popular series “Jane McDonald In Japan”, chosen for its “genuine, quirky & unfiltered snapshot of Osaka”.

Your local insider guide will pair every location with personal stories & historical info with quirky facts and a great dose of enthusiasm & humour:)

You get to choose from private totally customized tours OR a group tour(mixed with other guests).

Slip through the non-touristy bar/restaurant zones of Namba: hole in the wall eateries, as well as Kuromon seafood market.

The retro district will share its charm with wacky game palors & friendly vendors while the Dotonbori will provide a sensory overload, billoards glore!

Osaka Castle will showcase it’s immense role in the unification of Japan in 16th century (only 4hr , 5hr or 7hr tours)

After, explore hidden cobblestone alleys uncovering a centuries old collection of stores crafting their unique designs.

Location
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Meet at Namba Subway station (Midosuji Line), exit 24, at the top of the stairs (its at the exact point at where the pin is on the map). Namba Subway station is the very centre of Osaka.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(408 Ratings)
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Julie_t
Oct 9, 2024
Full-filling Tour of Osaka - We had a blast with Mico…he was fun, knowledgeable about the history, traditions and culture of Osaka, and an excellent tour guide. We appreciated that he tailored the tour based on our interest: in our case…food! We really enjoyed sampling a variety of foods in Osaka…puffer fish (minus the poison), wagyu steak, giant shrimp tempura, scallops, mochi, etc. He was also very helpful in providing recommendations for other places for us to visit/eat in and around Osaka.
Review provided by Viator
Robin_n
Oct 8, 2024
Fun & Interesting .. ate Puffer fish & survived! - Our guide Michael was entertaining and good fun. We really enjoyed our tour, it was a great way to see different parts of Osaka and then figure out where to go back to later. Sampling different food in the market was fantastic, we even ate Puffer fish!! … and lived to tell the tale. We all had a great time and would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Steve_r
Oct 7, 2024
Osaka Kickstart - My wife and I took the 3 hour Osaka Kickstart tour and it was awesome. Vivi gave us so much great info and took us to many spots we never would have found on our own.
Review provided by Viator
Nick_y
Oct 7, 2024
Understanding Japan for beginners - What a great introduction Dom gave us Osaka, Great trip & Education to Osaka Castle m& lessons on everyday Japanese trivia, from using the metro, do’s & dont’s to some great gastronomic delights
Review provided by Viator
Claudia_s
Oct 6, 2024
Fist day Osaka - Tommy our guide was a lot of fun, very knowledgeable about the area. He was very informative and added humor to the history he shared. Highly recommend this on fieldstone day in Osaka to get to know area.
Review provided by Viator
Jonathan_o
Oct 5, 2024
Full of surprise and hidden spots - You really do see some off the beaten path spots plus traditional Osaka spots. Our guide SASHA was excellent and full of information. It was raining during our tour and SASHA tried to show us places that were covered. He was sensitive to what we wanted to see and our needs. Highly recommend the company and SASHA.
Review provided by Viator
938shereeg
Oct 4, 2024
Great tour of Osaka - This was a great tour, we were guided by Stephanie who was knowledgeable and really provided a deeper insight into culture, nightlife and great places to eat in Osaka. highly recommend this tour. Wear comfy shoes :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Clint_h
Oct 3, 2024
Sights of Osaka - We loved this tour. Adam was fantastic. He tailored the tour to our requirements and we learnt so much! Our son is learning Japanese and Adam was great with encouraging him to order food and speak in Japanese. Definitely 5 stars from us!
Review provided by Viator
D_l
Oct 2, 2024
Natalie is the best! - Our guide Natalie was excellent! She led us on an amazing 3 hr tour & taught us some history & funny stories about Osaka in perfect English. She treated us to takoyaki & our 6 yr old loved her. She pointed out some great restaurants & gave us her contact information to ask her questions after the tour. So friendly! Ask for Natalie when you sign up for this walking tour.
Review provided by Viator
Terryj_o
Oct 2, 2024
No tour; Horrible Experience - Poor instructions and unclear directions to pickup site! I arrived in the area indicated early to give time to find the spot. Because of inadequate instructions, I spent nearly an hour or more finding it. I was only a couple of blocks away, yet they didn't offer to find me. All to no avail, as they left me off the tour!
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
October 2024
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