If you’re looking for information on visiting Osaka, see our sister site InsideOsaka.com for a comprehensive travel guide to the city – what to eat, what to see and do, where to stay and how to get there.
Osaka Castle in spring
At InsideOsaka.com you’ll find a comprehensive travel guide for Osaka in the same format as this website covers Kyoto. There’s also our other city guide website, TrulyTokyo.com
Osaka Itineraries
Make the most of your time in Osaka with my carefully planned itineraries for trips from 1 to 5 days.
Osaka Restaurants
Here is our list of the best restaurants in Osaka, divided by type of cuisine, with location and price range too.
Osaka Hotels
Osaka has great hotels in all budget classes. Here are the best Osaka hotels in each budget class, all personally inspected.
Osaka Ryokan
Osaka has few true ryokan (traditional Japanese inns), so here are our Kyoto and Nara picks.
See also our Japan itineraries that feature Osaka:
Osaka – Kyoto 1-Week Itinerary
If you’ve got one week in Japan and don’t want to travel much, an Osaka-Kyoto itinerary is a great way to see both modern and traditional Japan. Here’s how to do it.
Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo 10-Day Itinerary
Ten days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Japan. Here’s a great Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka itinerary that will allow you to see the best places efficiently and easily.
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- ESSENTIALS – For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- HOTELS – Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- BULLET TRAIN – You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- WHERE TO STAY – Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- PACKING LIST – See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- SIM CARDS – You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- FLIGHTS – Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- JAPAN RAIL PASS – If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- TRAVEL INSURANCE – World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- WANT HELP? – Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
Kyoto District Map
Click a Kyoto District for detailed info on attractions, places to eat and accommodation
About InsideKyoto.com and Chris Rowthorn
- Chris Rowthorn is the co-founder of InsideKyoto.com and has an unparalleled travel knowledge of Kyoto spanning three decades. Chris has written or commissioned and edited every page on the Inside Kyoto website.
- A former author of Lonely Planet Kyoto and Lonely Planet Japan guidebooks, Chris is also the director of the Kyoto walking tour company Chris Rowthorn Tours, and Japan Travel Consulting, where you can get bespoke travel advice for your Japan trip.
- InsideKyoto.com has been cited by the New York Times and The Times of London, among many other publications and websites.
