Must-visit tourist spot in Osaka: Osaka Castle and a cozy café to relax

📅 Osaka Trip Day 2 Afternoon

Osaka Castle is a popular tourist destination that most people visit on their trip to Osaka!

Osaka Castle is conveniently accessible, about a 10-minute subway ride from Namba Station. Although you have to transfer, the short distance, affordable subway fare, and free admission to Osaka Castle (except for the main tower) are definite advantages.

If you don’t visit the main tower, you can spend at least 2 hours at Osaka Castle. If you explore the Osaka History Museum and thoroughly tour the castle grounds, you could easily spend more than half a day. Therefore, Osaka Castle is a great place to visit whether you have a short time or want to stay longer for sightseeing.

🛖 Osaka History Museum

Get off at Tanimachiyonchome Station and on the way to Osaka Castle, you’ll first encounter the Osaka History Museum, which exhibits the history of Osaka from ancient times to the modern era.

Next to it is the Hoenzaka Ruins, a national historic site featuring a restored 5th-century warehouse with a roof made of woven black straw, which is quite fascinating. The clear sky is dazzlingly beautiful, making it a perfect spot for photos.

🛖 OSA COFFEE parks

☕️ 3-65 Banbacho, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0007 Japan
☕️ Hours: Daily 08:00-20:00
☕️ Features: One order per person / Straw fee 10 yen (100 won) / Famous for pudding

Before fully exploring Osaka Castle, we stopped by OSA COFFEE, famous for its pudding, to recharge with caffeine and cool off. The interior is quite spacious and not crowded, making it quiet and comfortable. One wall of the café features a painting of Osaka Castle, making it a great photo spot! Unfortunately, the coffee was just okay, so enjoy it for its refreshing coolness :)

🛖 Osaka Castle, Main Tower

🇯🇵 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0002 Japan Osaka Castle
🇯🇵 Hours: Daily 09:00-17:00
🇯🇵 Admission: Adults 1,200 yen / High school and college students 600 yen / Children free * Free with Osaka Amazing Pass

Fully energized with caffeine, we entered Osaka Castle!
The castle grounds are very large, so you’ll have to walk a lot. For young children or elderly people who find walking difficult, consider using the mini electric cars or road trains operated by Osaka Castle.

If you like history or are interested in Japanese history, visiting the main tower is recommended at least once. Children enter free, but the adult ticket price has risen significantly to 1,200 yen. If you don’t fully understand the main tower, like many people’s reviews, you might feel the time and admission fee were wasted, so rent the Korean audio guide and listen to the explanations while touring!

Even if you don’t visit the main tower, Osaka Castle is vast with many places to explore. If you get tired from the heat while sightseeing, head to Miraiza Osaka Castle for souvenir shopping and take a break with matcha ice cream. Since it’s a tourist spot, the ice cream price is steep—think of it as a seat fee. :)
Café