Things to do in Osaka

Honestly, I'm not a big fan of long waits, but Universal was worth it! I finally understood why everyone raves about Universal; it was so much fun. It really felt like experiencing the technology of capitalism... The quality was great, and even the waiting areas were so beautiful and realistic, making me feel like I'd stepped into a game or a movie. Meeting the characters, even though I knew they were mascots, felt so real, and I was excited and wanted to touch them! We only bought admission tickets and failed at an open run, so we just arrived at 8:30 AM without Nintendo entry tickets! We also managed our time well and rode the top 5 attractions. First, as soon as you enter, I recommend a quick dash to Nintendo to ride Donkey Kong (it was a 230-minute wait, but we got on in 100 minutes; there were things to see along the way, so it was fine, and it's popular for a reason!). Then, we explored Nintendo World and rode the Mario Kart ride (it was a 120-minute wait, but we got in in 40 minutes; it wasn't as bad as I thought? It was nice to feel like we were actually racing, but it wasn't like, "OMG, so much fun!!!"). After that, we left Nintendo World, grabbed some snacks, and rode the Dinosaur ride in Jurassic World! Highly, highly recommended; it's genuinely scary and thrilling! It's dizzying from the start... I often think about wanting to fly, but after this ride, I decided against it. It's that dizzying, and screams just come out naturally; if you love thrills, I totally recommend it! If you have time, I also recommend watching the WaterWorld show! The acting was better than expected, the action was decent, and it felt quite grand in scale! Things exploding and flying around—anyway, if you like action movies and water, go for it! And I absolutely recommend Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey! If you've seen or like Harry Potter even a little, you absolutely have to go! Even if you don't like it, you'll probably love it once you're there... It was so beautiful, and there were so many places I wanted to take pictures and just look around that I almost wished the wait time had been longer, but we got through it faster than expected, which was a bit disappointing! The luggage storage area was a bit chaotic, but overall, everything was wonderful, and I was so happy; I felt like a Hogwarts student. Truly highly recommended! And the Jaws ride, the staff's acting was amazing; it felt like I was in the movie!

this was probably the best decision we made ! Not sure why Tokyo Disneyland does have this available before you enter the park to make the park experience better. We were able to show up at the Express lanes and bypass the line winding lines. Wait time is usually no more than five minutes. Although the Jurassic Park Ride was out of service when we visited that day, we were able to do ten rides, eight of which were from this pass. Totally worth it if you are only visiting for one day and want to maximize your time at the parks.

This is probably the best valued passes out there. We went to two museums, the Osaka Castle, did two cruises, did the Tsutenkaku Slider, the Hep Ferris Wheel, and went on the metro all day all over Osaka. We really enjoyed the sights and loved Osaka (probably more than Tokyo 🤫🤫If you are hesitant, don’t. Buy it and explore this beautiful city!

I had planned to get here for sunset but never worked out. Even though it was wet it was a clear view of Osaka on the roof top. I got carried away so didn't get chance to eat a proper meal so was great could get a snack and a sakura ice cream, which was very delicious. To top it off got to wat whilst taking in the view. There is also a souvenir shop and if stamp collecting is part of your trip there is a stamp book in the shop

Abeno Harukas Observatory is a must-visit viewpoint in Osaka. Its impressive height offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire city, providing an incredibly open vista. On clear days, you can see for miles, and both daytime and nighttime views have their unique charm, with the night view being particularly stunning as the city lights create a spectacular sea of illumination. The observatory boasts a spacious layout with glass designs that ensure an unobstructed view, making it excellent for photography. It never feels cramped, allowing visitors to stroll and admire the scenery at their leisure. There's also a cafe and seating areas inside, where you can relax and enjoy the high-altitude views. Compared to other observatories, Harukas stands out for its height and superior comfort. Crowd control is also managed quite well, contributing to a very pleasant overall experience. While the ticket price might not be the cheapest, it is definitely worth it. Overall, it's a highly recommended attraction. If you want to see the most beautiful panoramic views of Osaka, this place will certainly not disappoint!

This is well worth it. Beleive me it was a hot day and last thing is having to line up and wait in a massive Queue. This place gets packed. Great thing if u book/make a reservation you skip these lines. It was a great experience they even had spray machines for you on way up to cool yourself down. They also have souvenir shops inside the castle to buy memorabilia. Its quite a massive space to explore and you get a good glimpse of history and the area is just magnificent to be in. You can also pay for boat trip down the river & other excursions. Wonderful experience.

It was a dream to visit Super Nintendo World, and finally we did. Just screenshot the OR code for the tickets and scan at the entrance then you're good to go. We went on a Tuesday, but there are still a lot of people. Going in SNW doesn't need separate area timed entry ticket, but we eventually bought an express pass to do the rides. Wait times are really long, anc kids do not have patience for that. Also, we don't have time to waste since we only have 1 day pass.

The ferris wheel is a really fun way to take in city views! Located inside the Hep Five building on the 7th floor. We visited as a couple, usually its x4 people to a capsule but as it wasn't super busy they let us in as a pair in our own capsule which was nice!

Gardens are so beautiful! A great way to spend a relaxing day. The meal set was so good! There are things for people of all ages. Games and claw machines for kids and adults. You use your key to charge throughout the facility and checkout at the end. We would do it again!