Dotonbori, Osaka Japan Itinerary

• Day 1: Explore Dotonbori area and take in the neon lights of the Glico Running Man. Visit Kuromon Ichiba Market for lunch and taste fresh sushi at Sushizanmai. End the day with a relaxing onsen experience at Spa World.
• Day 2: Take a day trip to Kyoto and visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine to see the beautiful torii gates. For lunch, try the traditional Kyoto-style beef at Arashiyama Yoshimura. Spend the rest of the day exploring the beautiful Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.
• Day 3: Visit Osaka Castle to see a piece of history and enjoy the cherry blossoms (in spring). For lunch, head to Okonomiyaki Chitose for savory Osaka-style okonomiyaki. Spend the evening at Universal Studios Japan.
• Day 4: Take a day trip to Nara and visit the famous Todai-ji Temple to see the giant Buddha statue. Have lunch at Kakinoha Zushi for unique persimmon leaf wrapped sushi. Spend the afternoon feeding the friendly deer in Nara Park.
• Day 5: Visit the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan to see the impressive variety of sea creatures. For lunch, try the delicious ramen at Ippudo Shinsaibashi. Spend the rest of the day shopping at the Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street.
• Day 6: Take a day trip to Hiroshima to visit the poignant Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima Island to see the iconic Itsukushima Shrine. For lunch, try the Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki at Okonomimura.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Dotonbori and Kuromon Ichiba Market: 5 hours, $50
• Kyoto day trip: 10 hours, $100
• Osaka Castle and Universal Studios Japan: 8 hours, $120
• Nara day trip: 10 hours, $80
• Osaka Aquarium and Shinsaibashi-suji: 7 hours, $70
• Hiroshima day trip: 12 hours, $150
• Total estimated costs: $570

Transportation

Osaka has an extensive public transportation system that includes buses, trains, and subways. The easiest and cheapest way to get around is by purchasing an ICOCA card, a rechargeable smart card that can be used on all forms of public transportation. Day trip destinations like Kyoto, Nara, and Hiroshima are easily accessible by train from Osaka.

Links to Key Attractions

• Kuromon Ichiba Market
• Sushizanmai
• Spa World
• Fushimi Inari Shrine
• Arashiyama Yoshimura
• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
• Osaka Castle
• Okonomiyaki Chitose
• Universal Studios Japan
• Todai-ji Temple
• Kakinoha Zushi
• Nara Park
• Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
• Ippudo Shinsaibashi
• Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street
• Peace Memorial Park
• Miyajima Island
• Itsukushima Shrine

Tips:

If you have more time, consider adding a day trip to Kobe to try the famous Kobe beef, or exploring the charming Takayama in the Japanese Alps. If you have less time, consider cutting out the day trip to Hiroshima and spending more time in Osaka.