15/09/2026
๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ผ โ ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฎ | ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น
They say the best way to experience a destination is with a localโฆ and today, we discovered exactly why! โค๏ธ
We had a full-day private guided tour of Osaka with our gorgeous local guide, Ms Kiyoko Se and from the very beginning, the adventure started!
One of the wonderful things about travelling with a private local guide is all those little tips and tricks you simply wouldnโt discover on your own - including learning how to navigate Osakaโs subway system and the maze of underground tunnels! ๐ It made getting around this incredible city feel like a breeze
Our journey began with the train to Osakajokoen Station, followed by a short walk to the pier where we boarded an urban cruise. For 55 minutes, we cruised along the waterways, passing historic sites and some of Osakaโs famous landmarks. It was fantastic to see the city from such a different perspective ๐ณ๏ธ
Next stopโฆ Osaka Castle! ๐ฏ
Although todayโs castle is a replica, the history surrounding it is fascinating. Over the centuries, Osaka Castle has endured fires, lightning strikes, bombing and so much more - yet it continues to stand proudly as one of the great symbols of the city
Resilient, ever-changing and always moving forwardโฆ perhaps a little like the people of Osaka themselves โค๏ธ
Inside the castle is a brilliant museum offering a wonderful introduction to Japanโs feudal history. And one of the great benefits of our private guide experience? We were able to skip the line and head straight in! ๐
From history to food, we then made our way to Dotonbori, famously known as โJapanโs Kitchen.โ Taking the Midosuji Line to Namba Station, we explored the colourful streets and laneways, including the iconic Glico Running Man sign
And of courseโฆ it was time to eat! ๐
We enjoyed a traditional Japanese-style lunch at Hozenji Ootako, tasting some of Osakaโs most famous street food โ including okonomiyaki, the delicious Japanese savoury pancake, noodles and, of course, takoyaki (those irresistible octopus-filled dumplings!). ๐
The afternoon was spent wandering through even more of Osakaโs fascinating laneways and Kitchen Street, where we spotted numerous restaurants serving the infamous fugu - blowfish! ๐ก
Eventually, we farewelled our incredible guide, Ms Kiyoko Se, after an unforgettable day exploring Osaka from a truly local perspective
And how better to finish the day than finding a little riverside bar, settling in with a drink and watching Dotonbori come alive as the retro neon lights began to illuminate the skyline โจ
Another incredible day in Osaka and another reminder that sometimes the very best travel experiences happen when you step away from the obvious and see a destination through the eyes of a local โค๏ธ
โ๏ธ Thinking about Japan? Letโs create your own unforgettable journey.
