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Osaka's Private Vehicle Tour: Explore Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Shin-sekai & More
4.9
101 Ratings
Osaka
Embark on a full-day private vehicle tour in Osaka with a fluent English-speaking guide. Explore top spots like Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Shin-sekai, and more at your own pace. Get local insight and enjoy a high-quality vehicle service.
Duration:
7 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Osaka Castle - Of course you’re going to see Osaka Castle, arguably the most iconic spot of great historical significance in Osaka. We’ll traverse the grounds, all the while talking about the history, architecture, and significance of the spot. Since the rebuilt interior of the castle is rather disappointing, we recommend giving that a miss. Trust us.
- Shitennoji - This is said to be the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan, and the grounds make for a great place to stroll about. We’ll regale you with stories and lob you just enough info on the place to make it interesting without being tedious. Unless you like loads of info, because we have that too. It’s your private tour after all! :)
- Shinsekai - Fun for all ages, in an odd sort of reality-independent way, this is a must-see while in Osaka. Games, food, fashion (perhaps heavily skewed toward the eye of the beholder), and that general, unmistakable Osaka vibe. No one forgets a visit to Shin-sekai.
- Abeno Harukas - Lunch, and a trip up Harukas. We’ll have a lunch to your liking in the Tennoji area, which is also where the super tall building known as Harukas is. This being the tallest non-tower building in Japan (300m), there are views aplenty. (We in Osaka have heard there is some tower with a height of biblical proportions in Tokyo, but we’re not so interested.) We won’t go up to the top of Harukas, but we go high enough to enjoy a breathtaking view of Osaka, and on a good day, all the way to Kobe and more. Some local shopping is available here too, if you’re keen.
- Kuromon Market - A feast for the eyes, and for the stomach too, if you’re interested! Fish, meats, fruits, and a panoply of people all vie for your attention.
- Dotombori District - We’ve got a little flexibility here, but we love showing people not only the internationally famous “Running Man” sign, but also some cool back streets, the kitchenware district, and some other sights based on your interests.
What's Included
- Private vehicle with all related fees.
- A likable guide that speaks English superbly.
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Admissions (which will range from zero to a few hundred yen or so, depending on if you change the plan)
- Pickup if you are outside of central Osaka (defined as within or along the JR Loop Line). Other locations will incur a surcharge for both pickup and drop off as follows: Port of Osaka pickups, 2,500 yen each way. Universal Studios area, 2,000 yen each way. Shin-Osaka Station area, 1,000 yen each way.
- Child seat: 1,000 yen payable on day of tour.
Additional Information
Seeking a comprehensive one-day tour with a private vehicle that encompasses notable locations and is accompanied by an entertaining, well-informed and perfectly proficient English speaking guide? Your search stops here. During the tour, you’ll explore Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Shin-sekai, enjoy an aerial view, and much more! Additionally, you’ll gain local knowledge and fascinating insights at our suggested stops. Everything is conducted at a pace suitable for you, with your own dedicated driver/guide, and excellent vehicle service. It is a certainty that your guide will be a native English speaker or a truthful equivalent.
- We can have more or less walking, as you like.
- Gratuities are uncommon in Japan, however if you really enjoyed your time and want to show your guide how much you appreciate them, they’ll be extremely happy!
- According to Japanese law, children under 6 years old or less than 140cm MUST use car seats. Be sure to request one in advance from us if required.
- Enjoy all the exciting stops described above and more on this private vehicle tour! The plan described is a model course, and there is the possibility for change based on our guests’ interests. Timing and external factors (such as traffic conditions) may force deviations from this model course.
Location
Osaka Castle
1-1 Osakajo,
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(101 Ratings)
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Boris_g
Aug 26, 2024
Best Osaka guide - Kevin is the best guide we had in Japan. He is extremely knoledgeable and fun. He gave a lot of information about history and everyday activities. He showed great places to eat and hang out. We had great time. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Marinelli_b
Aug 24, 2024
Awesome tour and awesome tour guide - Awesome tour, specially if you don't have much time to explore Osaka. With this tour, you get to see a lot of places in a short amount of time and pick the restaurant you want to eat at for lunch. Also, our guide (Thomas) is really knowledgeable, explaining things we would not have known if we did the trip ourselves, telling us the best place to take photos, and helping us order our meal since we picked a restaurant that didn't have instructions on how to order the food in English.
Review provided by Viator
Cindy_m
Aug 12, 2024
100% - We had a great time in this tour. Lito our tour guide personalized the tour and took us to the best places. He is very knowledgable and answered all our questions. Having the tour by car makes it easier to visit many places on the same day. Recommended 100%
Review provided by Viator
Mark_r
Aug 8, 2024
Great tour of Osaka. - On a cruise stop in Osaka, I organized a tour and met our guide, Kevin, at the cruise terminal. It marked the beginning of a fantastic day as we explored several remarkable places. Kevin gave us an exceptional tour, highlighting a range of unforgettable locations. The highlights included Osaka Castle, Shitennoji Temple, and Sumiyoshi Taisha. Kevin was an exceptionally informed and considerate guide who tailored the tour to our preferences. Should we return to Osaka, I would eagerly arrange another tour with the same company, ideally with Kevin as the guide.
Review provided by Viator
Susan_s
Jul 25, 2024
Amazing - Amazing tour Thomas was so knowledgeable and interesting! Would recommend this tour especially if you only have a short time in Osaka.
Review provided by Viator
Mk0720
Jul 6, 2024
Amazing time in Osaka - Loved touring Osaka with Levy! He showed us so many amazing sites and entertained us throughout the day. Learned so much about the history of the area and the special foods etc…
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Soelal
Jul 4, 2024
Amazing OSAKA - Wonderful trip, Lito was a great guide!
We now have an idea about what is Osaka , its history part and fun also. So many games ! Amazing!
Thk u,
We’ll come back!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Angela_m
Jul 1, 2024
Take This Tour! It’s Worth It! - Our tour guide, Kevin was very knowledgeable in Japan and was very outgoing, friendly, and funny! He showed us around to great food spots and took us to cool locations such as temples, shrines, and various different markets. He speaks great English which was nice for us because we were able to have good conversations about Japanese cultures and how he came to move here! I was excited to find out that our tour guide has a unique background in fusion cooking and has an amazing YouTube channel called Kuma’s Kitchen that you all should check out because he is clearly passionate about cooking! He was also a really good driver which is important. He is also a great storyteller in Japanese history and culture and will answer most questions you have in a good manner and he adds a sense of humor to his storytelling that will keep you engaged throughout the tour! Overall I would definitely recommend him and I highly recommend you try all the food he suggests depending on where you go because you may find your new favorite food like I did! Who new Rice and Cheese can taste so good together :) !!!
Review provided by Viator
253karlaa
Jun 18, 2024
Great tour with Kevin - Kevin was a great and courteous guide. He took his time to explain the highlights of each stop and made sure we were all comfortable during our tour. He also provided us with some information of places we may also visit while in Japan. Thank you Kevin for a great day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Randy_l
Jun 10, 2024
Great tour - Our guide, Lito Cruz was knowledgeable about the area and communicated in English. Although originally from Canada, Lito has lived in Japan for 20 years. He knew his way around and it was a joy to spend the day with him. He took us to Kushiemon, an udon restaurant with sushi and it was excellent. Aloha!
Review provided by Viator
