Located at the mouth of the Yodo River, it is the third largest city in the country. It is one of the most important commercial and industrial ports and centers in Japan. Famous for its modern architecture, nightlife, abundant street food, bunraku (traditional puppet theatre), kabuki theater, and manzai, a contemporary form of comic dialogue.

As attractions include Highlights:

- Osaka Castle: It is one of the most famous Japanese castles in the country. He played an important role in the unification of Japan during the Azuchi-Momoyama period of the 16th century. It covers an area of approximately one square kilometer, within the Osaka Castle public park. It was built on two platforms of filled land, with walls made of cut stones, and is surrounded by a moat with water similar to European castles, and by a park with plum, peach and cherry blossom trees. It has eight interior floors (accessible by elevator), and five exterior floors. It is open to the public and is a popular gathering point during the hanami festivities, which take place during the Japanese cherry blossom period. Inside it houses a museum, a convention hall and the Toyokuni Altar, dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It has been restored several times and is an important historical monument. It is among the oldest Shinto temples in Japan.

- Osaka Aquarium: Located on the bay and opened on July 20, 1990. It is indoors and is considered one of the largest in the world, as it contains 30,000 specimens of 620 different species, both fish and amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, as well as invertebrates and plant species. They are distributed in 14 tanks with a total capacity of 11 tons of water, its largest tank, with 5.4 tons of water, also being the largest in the world. Its exhibits focus on species from the Pacific Ocean, representing a total of ten regions of both the Ring of Fire and the so-called Pacific life zone. It is established in such a way that it simulates a journey from the earth's surface to the bottom of the sea, trying to represent what an excursion in the real environment would be like.

- Osaka Tower: Also known as Tsütenkaku (Grazing the Sky), it is a 103-meter-high structure located in the Shinsekai district. It is a typical monument of the city and a symbol of the country's progress after the Second World War. In 1912, the Luna amusement park built a 64-meter-high metal tower that little by little became a national tourist attraction that people from all over the country began to visit. It was accessed from a cable car, which started from the ground. When the cable car stopped working in the 1920s, an elevator was opened at the base of the tower, so its normal operation was not altered. But in 1943, in the middle of World War II, and due to a serious fire, the structure was dismantled and the steel from which it was built was melted to reuse it as metal suitable for weapons. It was destroyed as a measure of military strategy, since it could function as a great decoy for the incipient American bombings in the area. In 1956, with the Japanese economic miracle, Hitachi and the city council proceeded to rebuild the tower in its original location, following designs by engineer Tachu Naito, the so-called "father of towers" in Japan. It is 39 meters higher and has an aesthetically more modern design than the previous one, resistant to earthquakes and typhoons. Since then, Hitachi has acted as a sponsor of the tower, and it is very typical to see illuminated advertisements from both the Osaka City Hall (public service message) and the company itself. These advertisements only went out during the oil crisis of 1973.

- Mount Koya or Koyasan: It is the most important center of Shingon Buddhism in Japan . Located at an altitude of 800 meters in the mountains south of Osaka, in a valley surrounded by the eight peaks of the mountain of the same name, next to the town of Koya, in a place that was believed to be planted with lotuses. The original settlement was chosen by the monk Kukai in 819 as the headquarters of Japanese Shingon Buddhism. There, over time, the 120 temples that occupy the valley and a university dedicated to religious studies would be built. The mountain is accessed by rail from Osaka to Gokurakubashi at the base of the mountain. And then a cable funicular that goes up in 5 minutes to a station from which buses leave to the center of town. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 as part of the sacred sites and pilgrimage routes of the Kii Mountains. Over time, it has become one of the most popular pilgrimage tourist destinations in the country, attracting more and more visitors, both Japanese and foreign, to enjoy the landscapes, temples, and spirituality.

Programs at Osaka

Cultural Japan at your own pace

11 nights

Historic Japan at your own pace

13 nights

Japan Express

7 nights

Japan Express and Maldives

12 nights

Kumano Road

This program includes an overnight stay at a Shukubo (Buddhist temple).
14 nights

Secrets of japan

10 nights

What to see in Osaka?

Floating Garden Observatory (Umeda Sky Building)

Umeda Sky Building, stairs and observation decks in the sky of Osaka, one of the most interesting skyscrapers in Japan. This 173-meter-high, 40-story building was built in 1993 and has a fabulous open-air observation deck and even a traditional-looking alley with many restaurants.Kuchu Teien, the Floating Observatory, is undoubtedly one of the most notable attractions of the Umeda Sky Building. This observation deck or observatory is located at the top of the building. You reach the floor where the open-air observatory is located via glass elevators. Then you have to go up an escalator inside suspended glass tubes that connect both towers of the building. Going up these escalators offers a fantastic experience, although not very suitable for those with vertigo. Once at the top, the views of Osaka are spectacular and 360 degrees. As usual, it's best to visit in the mid-afternoon to see Osaka in the sunlight, and wait until dusk begins. This way, you can see a fabulous sunset and then watch the city gradually light up. If you're afraid of heights, there's an indoor viewing platform, which may offer more peace of mind. But if you can, go outside to the viewing platform; it's worth it. From there, you can feel the wind on your face and even, on a clear day, see distant Awaji Island.

Dotombori neighborhood

A cult spot for tourists and party lovers, this neighborhood shines with its dizzying neon signs, nightclubs, bars, and restaurants, where you can try local specialties. It is the quintessential entertainment district in Osaka.The origins of this neighborhood date back to the early 17th century, when a local merchant widened the Dotonbori River, connecting the Umezu and Yokobori rivers and increasing commercial activity in the area. In just 50 years, the area's popularity grew, as evidenced by its six kabuki (traditional theaters) and five bunraku (puppet theaters). Little remains of the theaters of yesteryear, although a strong theater culture still exists throughout the area. Four hundred years later, Dotonbori remains an entertainment hub that attracts locals and tourists alike. Almost a must-see for anyone visiting the city.All the buildings around the Dotonbori canal are filled with bright neon signs that come to life at night, transforming the neighborhood completely. Of these, the most famous is undoubtedly the Glico Man neon sign, the symbol of the Glico candy company and a symbol of the city of Osaka. It's a huge neon sign that rises above the bridge and depicts a man running down a blue track. Glico, the Japanese food company, placed the billboard in 1935, and today it's a favorite spot for tourists and locals alike to immortalize their visit to the neighborhood.
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