top of page
Search

The Ultimate Budget Guide to Osaka, Japan

Osaka was always going to be on my itinerary for my trip to Japan! It is a vibrant city known for its blend of modernity and tradition with futuristic areas like Dotonbori and traditional architecture like Osaka Castle.


But I had heard that Japan can be super expensive and I am travelling on what some might call a 'tight budget'. If this is you then read on to find out how you can still make the most of what Osaka has to offer.


Where to stay?

R Hostel Namba South

Cost: from £24.18


We stayed at an awesome pod hostel called R Hostel Namba South which we booked through Hostelworld to get the best price and connect with other travellers staying there! It had everything we need, including the very private pods to help us get over our jetlag and a small kitchen area. It was well placed with walking distance of some cool attractions - namely Tsutenkaku - and train and tram stations.


There are lots of different accommodation options in Osaka so if you don't fancy giving R Hostel Namba South a go here's a couple of tips for choosing suitable accommodation:


  • Transport Links: can you get there from where you arrive in the city, is it within walking distance of a shop, can you get to any attractions on foot, and is there public transport close by?

  • Facilities: is there a kitchen so you can cook a meal, is breakfast included, are there showers?

  • Check In & Out Times: do these fit with your travel plans?

  • Luggage Storage: if you need to check out before you leave the city, is there somewhere you can store your luggage?

  • The Vibe: finally, does it give the vibe you want? Are you looking for something chilled or do you want a party?


Things to do

If you're reading this you probably already know a lot of what Osaka has to offer, but here are some of the things I think you should look out for!


Osaka Castle

Cost: 600 JPY (£3.08) per person

Time Needed: 2-3 hours

Location: Osaka Castle

A historic landmark which offers a glimpse into Japan's feudal past and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. The castle is now mostly a museum with an observation deck offering great views of the city.


If you give yourself about 2-3 hours you'll definitely have plenty of time to explore the museum's exhibits, enjoy the panoramic views, and take in the beauty of the gardens without feeling rushed.


You can book your tickets for the castle here.


Dotonbori

Cost: Free

Time Needed: 4-5 hours

Location: South Osaka


This is the main area in the city and is famous for its neon signs and street food! It is the best place to get a feel for what the city has to offer and immerse yourself in Japan's amazing culture!


To fully appreciate the area I recommend you stay for about 4-5 hours! This will give you plenty of time to enjoy the local delicacies, absorb the ambience and do some shopping.


Make sure to sample at least some of the funky food on offer, such as these delicious candied fruits!

But don't forget that the area is also known for its bustling nightlight and crazy nightclubs and arcades so be sure to head there are after sunset too!


Shitennoji Temple

Cost: from 300 JPY (£1.54)

Time Needed: 1-2 hours

Location: South-East Osaka


This is one of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples with a five-storey pagoda, main hall and garden. Deepening on the ticket you get you can visit the garden, main hall and treasure house, but the outer grounds are free to enter.

The treasure house is home to a variety of paintings, scriptures and periodic themed exhibits. Visiting the main hall will given you an amazing insight into Japan's Buddhist heritage.


You'll need about 1-2 hours if you plan on visiting everything the temple has to offer, but you could just have a stop off to take in the outer grounds and its amazing architecture.


Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum

Cost: Free

Time Needed: 1-2 hours

Location: Ikeda (North West of Osaka)


Otherwise known as the Cup Noodle Museums this one is a good bit of fun and is totally worth the trip out of town! Here, you'll have the opportunity to learn all about the history and innovation of instant noodles!


Not only is it a museum but you can also make your own chicken ramen (1,000 JPY or £5.12), design your own cup noodle package (500 JPY or £2.56) and sample some of the different noodles! Doing all these will cost you, but for us budgeters it is free to look around and is still lots of fun!


The time you need will depend on whether you do any of the activities on offer!



To get to the museum from central Osaka you'll need to take the Hankyu Takarazuka Line from Osaka-Umeda Station to Ikeda Station and then walk just 5 minutes through the neighbourhood.


Ikeda Castle Ruins

Cost: Free

Time Needed: 30 minutes

Location: Ikeda


This is another, less well known, glimpse into Japan's feudal past and has known been made into a beautiful little park with panoramic views of the surrounding area.


It is a charming little park that offers a slice of calm away from Osaka's hustle and bustle but is only really worth it if you've got some time to kill before your next train back to central Osaka.


Minoh Park

Cost: Free (plus the cost of some momiji tempura)

Time Needed: 3-4 hours

Location: Minoh

This park, also spelled Minoo or Mino Park, is a natural oasis just north of the city. It is great for scenic hiking trails with the main path following the river and taking you all the way to Minoh Waterfall! Along the way you'll find Ryuanji Temple which is well worth stopping to see.


The area is also known for its momiji tempura. This is a local delicacy of maple leaves deep-fried in a sweet batter and are sold at lots of little street vendors in the area. Make sure to grab a bag before you set off along the hiking trail.

To get there from Osaka-Umeda Station you need to take the Takarazuka Main Line to Ishibashi Handai-Mae Station where you'll transfer to the Hankyu-Mino Line and stay on until Mino-o Station.


Namba Yasaka Jinja/Shrine

Cost: Free

Time Needed: 30-45 minutes

Location: Naniwa Ward


This is a very distinctive and unique shrine in the Namba district. The most striking and well known feature of the shrine is the giant head-shaped building known as Ema-Den.


The shrine offers a peaceful break and is a must-visit for its unique architecture.


Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

Cost: 600 JPY (£3.08)

Time Needed: 1-2 hours

Location: Kita Ward


This place is awesome and hit a very important autistic-special interest spot! The museum is full of life-size reactions of Osaka streets and houses from different historical periods from the Edo period to the Showa era.


You can even dress up in traditional Japanese dress adding to the immersion of the experience - it comes at an additional cost but is totally worth it. Plus, I did see some Western tourists walking through the city wearing traditional dress but this felt a little more exposing (and cold!).

I reckon that to explore the whole place and try on the traditional clothing you'll need a minimum of an hour!


Tsūtenkaku Area

Cost: Free

Time Needed: 1-2 hours

Location: Naniwa Ward


Home to the Tsutenkaku Tower this area of town is vibrant and historically important to Osaka. The area is within the Shinsekai area, which means New World, and has a real retro vibe with cool shops, eateries and arcades.



The streets stalls are great place to grab a cheap bite to eat and the alleyways are linked with izakayas (Japanese pubs) which are great to visit at night! The tower is lit up at night too and makes it a great spot for a few drinks and a bite to eat.


Where to eat?

There are plenty of options of where to eat in Osaka but we felt that some might have been a bit of tourist trap. Plus, me and my partner are vegan/vegetarian so we had to do some extra hunting. Here are out top picks!


OKO - Fun Okonomiyaki Bar

Cost: 1500-3000 JPY (£7.69-£15.37)

Location: Shinsaibashi


This lively, quirky, unique restaurant is a must visit for any vegan/vegetarian visiting Osaka. It serves up veganised and gluten free of local delicacy okonomiyaki (Japanese savoury pancakes). The whole place is run by a single woman, Shiho, who is full of energy and makes the bar/restaurant what it is! The place is small but full of character and is open until midnight!


Make sure to get there early as it is very popular and there is always a queue to get a table!


OKO - Takoyaki Vegan Vegetarian

Cost: 1500 - 2600 JPY (£7.69-£13.32)

Location: Chuo Ward


Another fully vegan restaurant with a quirky atmosphere serving up a vegan twist of the traditional Japanese classic takoyaki (deep fried balls traditionally filled with octopus).

The walls are covered in customer messages and graffiti which gives a real eccentric feel to this place! It also has a 200 JPY make-your-own drinks station where can mix up your own beverage or try a local beer.


Again, this place is very popular and it is best to get there early to avoid disappointment or a huge queue.


Mercy Vegan Factory

Cost: 700-1500 JPY (£3.59-7.69)

Location: Chuo Ward


If you're vegan and you really want to try a sando then this is the place for you! Located in Chuo Ward the bakery serves up all sorts of baked goods including pastries, cakes and breads from a range of cuisines. They've even got full meals such as vegan gimbap or a range of curries.


The staff were super friendly and we even got some little pastries to takeaway. Vegans visiting Osaka should not missed out on this place!


Saijiki

Cost: 800-1000 JPY (£4.10-£5.12)

Location: Nishinari Ward


A fully vegetarian Taiwanese restaurant serving up dumplings, noodles, soups and friend foods. The restaurant was super cosy and had little postage notes all over the walls.


Not only is the food delicious but there is also the added quirk that you get to order the food from a little ticketing machine which for our sleep deprived minds was a blessing.

And yes, the reason this is a Taiwanese restaurant is because we were very sleep deprived and didn't want to travel very far from our cosy little pod.


Groovy

Cost: 600-1300 JPY (£3.08-£6.66)

Location: Chuo Ward


Not a restaurant but a very cool bar! We hit this place up after a busy day sightseeing and it was totally worth it! A relaxed vibe with vinyl records and an eclectic mix of music to listen to.


The bar doesn't open until 7pm so it is a great stop off after you've been out for a meal.



If you’ve got a trip to Osaka planned I hope you find this article helpful and you have as amazing time there as I had. You can also find more useful tips, tricks and recommendations for Japan and SE Asia on my TikTok and Instagram!


Check out the products we recommend for any traveler (these are affiliate links):



I also have an affiliate link and discount code (SARAHOUTSIDE) for anyone who is looking for volunteer opportunities!


 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page