Hello Travelers and welcome to Osaka, Japan. I am Tahlia and I will be giving you all some useful tips on solo travel in Japan as well as covering some awesome travel destinations in Osaka.
First off…
Before you travel
- Most countries allow you to fly directly to Kansai international airport, which is only a short cab or train ride to Osaka. This is much cheaper than flying into Tokyo and catching the shinkansen or flying on to Osaka, so consider booking your flights to allow for direct travel to Kansai airport. This will save you money in the long run if you only plan on visiting Osaka.
- If you plan on visiting both Osaka and Tokyo, flying between the two cities is much cheaper and catching the shinkansen.
- Before you leave, consider how you will be traveling around the city. One of the best and cheapest ways to travel in Japan is via the train systems. One easy way to travel on the train systems in Japan is to utilize ICOCA cards.
- ICOCA cards are pre-paid transport cards that can be used on the general trains, JR lines, subways and buses and make navigating the train systems and the many ticket options easier.
- ICOCA cards can be purchased from Kansai international airport upon arrival
- Once you arrive at Narita airport, you can purchase ICOCA cards from
Entertainment/Sightseeing in Osaka
There are many things to do in Osaka, including some cheap and some not so cheap options. I will cover some of the most popular entertainment destinations as well as highlight some ways which you can save some money.
Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle is a beautiful day destination with cheap ticket prices and lots to see. The Castle has gardens which contain beautiful cherry trees and a tea house, and a museum explaining the castles history.
Ticket Prices
Museum prices: 600 yen (approx $6)
Garden Prices: 200 yen (approx $2)
Universal Studios Japan
Universal studios Japan offers a range of rides and attractions including shows and performances which periodically show throughout the day. Although the tickets are pricey, USJ’s rides are all free once inside and can be ridden as many times as you desire. It is a great place to spend an entire day and can be lots of fun with or without travel companions.
Ticket prices:
Adults: 7,600 Yen (approx $76)
Adult two day pass: 12,800 (approx $120)
Although these ticket prices may be making you rethink your enthusiasm towards this fun day trip, there are some ways which you can save money and ensure you make the most out of your money.
- Pack your own food – food at USJ can be fairly pricey so packing your own food for the day as well as bringing plenty of water is the best way to save unnecessarily spent money. I would recommend bringing fruit, sandwiches or even chocolate bars to keep your energy up throughout the day.
- Take the train, not a taxi – USJ has trains running almost directly to their entrance, with the theme park only a 5 minute walk from the Universal studios station. This makes travel extremely convenient, and cheaper than taxi or ferry. Trains can be caught from Osaka station and cost about 180 yen ($1.80)
- Stay the entire day- All rides are free and can be ridden as many times as you like, so make the most of your money by spending the entire day at USJ. Walk around the different sections of the park and explore as much as you can. There is so much to see without needing to spend money on expensive merchandise.
- Take photos with the park characters – USJ has many fur characters which walk around periodically. You can take cute photos with the characters and keep them as momentous
I personally find Harry Potter world to be the most exciting section of USJ. It’s a newer addition to the park and you can go on a few different rides as well as take a tour of the Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle replica. You also get the opportunity to do a wand giving activity and if you are lucky enough you might be picked to get your wand chosen for you.
This is a picture of me and my friends last summer in Osaka, USJ in front of the Harry Potter World ButterBeer stand.
Shinsaibashi
Shinsaibashi is a gigantic shopping mall in Japan, where you can explore, find super quirky stores and the latest fashion, as well as eat some amazing food. It’s a great day trip if you love shopping or even simply window shopping, and you can spend hours looking in the many different stores.
There are many food stalls and restaurants that sell a variety of authentic Japanese food, including gyoza, ramen and okonomiyaki.
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