- Japan›
- Osaka›
- Tours›
- Highlights›
- Hotspots & Hidden Gems of Osaka Tour (5hrs)
Hotspots & Hidden Gems of Osaka Tour (5hrs)
Andy (half Japanese half Aust. ) your local guide, will kickstart your Osaka adventure discovering both the highlights & secret spots.
We'll pair every location with personal stories & historical info with quirky facts and a great dose of enthusiasm & humor:)
(This Tour was featured on Channel 5 British TV in 2023 with Jane McDonald on the Series "Jane McDonald In Japan")
This is a private tour so we can totally make this 100% personalized !
Andy kenji M.
Meeting Point
At Your Hotel OR at Namba Metro Station, exit 24, at the top of the stairs
Hotel Pickup OR my advised meeting location, exit 24 of Namba (metro) station, top of the stairs
Hozenji (Back Cobblestone Alleys)
Visit the winding alleys full of charm. The history is written in the walls, with ancient photos and artifacts on display!
-Dotonbori River(central Osaka)
A place to entertain and be entertained. In this zone there is so much happening with the billboards, restaurants and 3D shop advertising popping out!
Venture through charming winding alleys
Uranamba is an array of hidden shops of all sorts off the beaten path. Perfect to get lost amongst the locals through some very narrow alleys.
Ebisubashi (Main bridge of Osaka)
The heart of Osaka. Such a hive of activity. Sounds, jovial spirit and a great spot to have some sake ahahaha
Sake Taste Testing
Sake made simple here. Over 200 bottles to sample from. From the sweet to the dry, I'll explain it all.
Lunch (From Okonomiyaki to Kobe Beef Hamburgers)
I've definitely got you covered on this one. I'm a total foodie and know all the great restaurants (highend or budget)
Americamura (The America Town of Osaka)
This is a hilarious take on America. Nothing like it but thats what Osaka thinks America is.
Knife Lesson (included in the price)
A very immersive and unique look at knives in Osaka. The Sakai region is super famous for knives
Bar, Restaurant, Izakaya Winding, Unique side streets
Tatami Mat Repair Family Shop
Shinsekai (retro, kushikatsu zone)
My favorite part of Osaka. So charming and friendly are the people of this area.
Osaka Castle & Grounds
15 arces are these castle grounds.
Ending Point
You'd want to end at Shinsekai (Retro District) or the Osaka Castle as there is so much to see and do and its next to the Metro.
What to Expect
This is a private tour so we can totally make this a 100% personalized experience!
As a foreigner visiting Japan, you may be hesitant to enter the tiny alleys and stores tucked away in narrow back alleys, especially the ones without English speaking staff to welcome you (quite honestly you'll be shocked to know almost nobody speaks English in Osaka). With me, you'll have a built-in interpreter and cultural guide to smooth over these interactions, and introduce you to the truly authentic gems that are hidden off the beaten path.
I'll make this an unforgettable experience by featuring the hotspots and the quirky non touristic places of Osaka . I'll include some very local interactions as well.
If you have kids, they'll get a dose of great fun. I'll add a few extra stops between....adding in stops at arcade machine palors, local Japanese kids festival games, cork shooting games, and fun quizzes etc.
While strolling around the area, you'll learn about all the local food and get an overview of the deep history of the area and how it ties in to Osaka's modern world.
I think my biracial background (my mom is Japanese, my dad is Australian) will give you a very very unique look at the Osaka I know:)
We can slip through the non-touristy bar and restaurant zones of Osaka and even get a glimpse of a Yakuza clubhouse.
We'll visit the frenetic canal side entertainment hotspots where local charm meets incredible hospitality.
Also we'll delve into a traditional food market where top chefs continue to shop at today and contrast that by ducking into quiet cobblestoned back alleys to uncover a mystic temple and it's centuries old history.
Be prepared for a sensory overload as we navigate wacky larger than life billboards highlighting modern Japanese culture.
This tour is known for exposing the contrasting faces of Osaka: the buzzing hubs & many many hidden treasures.
I hope that my tour will be the absolute highlight of your Osaka trip...and maybe even your whole time in Japan hahah:)
Want to personalize this tour?
- Our tours can be customized according to your needs and preferences
- Click below to tell us what you are looking for:
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guiding of said areas
Hotel Pickup
Knife Shop Demonstation and Lesson
Tatami Shop Entry & use of equipment
Flipping Takoyaki balls
Transportation Fees,
Lunch
Entry Fees to
Important Information
We can guide you everyday.
Note: There are many factor that determine if we get to all these locations: weather, how many guests, age of guests, fitness of guests etc
It's advised to meet at this exact spot. You will make best use of your time this way and you will have a good shot a seeing all the above locations.
Meeting at your hotel takes up about 45mins of your tour time. (But if you want to meet at your hotel we can ABSOLUTELY do that)
This is my advised meeting location, exit 24 of Namba (metro) station, top of the stairs (where you can see the vehicle traffic),
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Reviews
Olman M.
“ This tour made us realize we HAVE to come back to Osaka. ”
There are not enough words or time to express the awesome time we had enjoying all the delights Osaka has to offer. Thanks for coming through Andy. You made it happen better than expected.
Olman M.
“ Osaka magic, an unforgettable experience! ”
A stellar experience in deep Osaka! Thanks for making it happen. A definite highlight of our adventures through Japan.
Kathy P.
“ Flexible and fun ”
Did the tour with Adam because Andy was under the weather the day of our booking. I had requested a custom tour because I was with my 88 year old parents and it was the peak Sakura week and I was concerned about crowds. Andy and Adam made sure we hit the main highlights requested by my family and customized accommodating the pace of the tour and navigating with two wheelchairs. Highly recommend!
Kathryn B.
“ Interesting and informative ”
Andy was a great guide, and our family of 5 adults thoroughly enjoyed our tour wiith him. Andy's enthusiasm for, and love of Japan was evident throughout the tour. He was easy to understand and was happy to answer any questions we had. I highly recommend Andy's deep back street Osaka tour if you want to see and learn about a part of Japan off the 'beaten path'.
Andy kenji M.
Kathryn, the pleasure was absolutely mine. Great night out and thoroughly enjoyed answering the queries from an open-minded, intrepid family:) Happy travels and I hope that the memories will last for a long time to come. Andy-Kenji