15 Ways to Enjoy Osaka On a Budget in 2023
Osaka is one of Japan’s largest cities, and has long been a hub of shopping and dining. But for those traveling without much money, Osaka’s endless rows of shops and restaurants can be daunting, and budget travelers often find themselves wondering if it’s possible to enjoy Osaka without breaking the bank. Fortunately, with just a bit of research, Osaka can actually be a very budget-friendly city, which is why we’ve made this list of things to do with a small budget in Osaka. Read on for our top thrifty Osaka travel ideas!
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1. Survey the Town on the Loop Line ~JR Kanjousen~
Osaka has lots of public transportation, and this JR Kanjousen circles the entire city! If you take the train straight through for about an hour, then you can see many sights of the city through the window like Osaka Castle and the various neighborhoods of the city. If you buy a ticket for just one station, when you alight you can calculate the precise fare. While you're on the train, close your guidebook and just alight at any station that catches your fancy.
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2. Survey the Town ~Ride the Cablecar~
Since the people of Osaka were zealous about business, they were one of the first cities in the country to develop their own private railway before national regulations were set into place. Currently there are more than five companies offering rail transit in the area and each of them have their own idiosyncracies. There are many stations where the JR and the subway system lines cross so you can easily switch between them, so please grab a map and enjoy looking up different routes. You might be able to make memories you would've never dreamed about otherwise.
3. Walking Tour ~Minami~
Ebisubashi Shopping Arcade https://osaka-info.jp/en/spot/ebisubashisuji-shopping-street/
Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade https://global.shinsaibashi.or.jp/en/
4. Walking Tour ~Dotonbori River~
You can enjoy the view of the Dotonbori River that runs under Ebisubashi. Before summer kabuki events or local festivals, decorated boats go up and down the river in a process called "funanorikomi". Throughout the year the area around Ebisubashi and the Dotonbori riverside is always showy.
5. Experience the Shitamachi ~Shin-sekai~
Shin-sekai is a popular area is filled with flashy neon signs and an enthusiastic energy. Originally it was an area where laborers gathered after work, so it's become a shitamachi area full of restaurants, general stores, and other shops. You should definitely try some famous Osaka meals like kushikatsu and okonomiyaki here. It's about a 5-10 minute walk from Doubutsuen-mae Station and Ebisucho Station.
6. Festivals ~Enjoy It As Much As Possible~
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In Osaka, starting from June 30th, there is a summer festival held almost every day throughout July and August, and then from September to the beginning of November come the autumn festivals. While the Tenjin Matsuri held on July 24th and 25th is famous, you should definitely enjoy any festival you catch a glimpse of during your stay.
https://osaka-info.jp/en/osaka/basic/seasons-summer/
7. Relax at a Park ~Nakanoshima Park~
This is an oasis on the riverbank in the middle of the city. In May and October it is full of roses, while in mid-April, the riverbank becomes beautiful due to the blooming cherry blossoms. If you get tired of the crowds in Osaka and wish for some greenery, this is the place to go. Because the neighborhood around it has been a business area for centuries, you can enjoy both traditional and modern architecture from inside the park. It's right by Yodoyabashi and Kitahama Stations.
8. Relax at a Park ～Osaka Castle Park～
Osaka Castle has a very wide park as part of its grounds. It's a place where they hold many events and you can enjoy the beautiful changing of the seasons through the blooming flowers, such as plum blossoms in February, peach blossoms in March, cherry blossoms in April, and autumn foliage in November. How about enjoying a relaxing walk around the castle as part of your sightseeing trip? It's right next to Osaka-jo Koen Station.
9. Float Down the River ～Take a Ferry～
There are 8 places in Osaka where you can take a free ferry. Before the development of overland routes, Osaka depended on ferries moving through its many rivers. If you walk ten minutes from Osakako Station to Tenpozan Ferry Terminal, you can take a 3 minute ferry to Sakurajima, which is where Universal Studios Japan is located. You can enjoy the bayside view of the city.
10. Walking Tour ～Chikagai～
Do you have chikagai in your town? Chikagai are underground shopping centers usually connected to subway stations. The chikagai in Osaka are so wide that those around Umeda are like mazes. Because there's no traffic lights or intersections, moving around in the chikagai is smoother than above ground. Between that and having one's attention caught by the stores lined up in a row on either side of you, it's easy to get lost. What about testing your sense of direction here?
11. Eat ～Kuromon Ichiba～
Kuromon Ichiba is called Osaka's kitchen. There are about 180 stores in this 1900 feet long shopping arcade offering a wide variety of products from fresh seafood to vegetables and miscellaneous goods. Just walking around and looking at things is enjoyable. Other than restaurants, there are free rest areas where you can eat what you bought. If you want to be completely satisfied with the food in extravagant Osaka, this is the place to go. It's right by Nipponbashi Station.
12. Eat ～Tsuruhashi Shoutengai～
This is another area called Osaka's kitchen. The Tsuruhashi Shoutengai (shopping arcade) is right by Tsuruhashi Station. There are many shops offering items from fresh and dried fish to Korean ingredients and clothing. This is an area where lots of Korean people live, so you can enjoy both Japanese and Korean meals here. The Korean barbecue is a must-try.
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13. Enjoy Food ～Instant Ramen Museum～
Do you like instant ramen? Instant ramen was created by a Japanese person named Momofuku Andou. At this free museum that keeps the kitchen where he developed his invention safe and on display, you can make your own original cup noodles for 300 yen. It's only five minutes from Ikeda Station.
Instant Ramen Museum 館 https://www.cupnoodles-museum.jp/en/osaka_ikeda/
14. A Brief Rest ～Department Stores' Powder Rooms～
Something that is surprisingly famous about Japan is the bathrooms. Beginning with department stores, businesses began installing nice bathrooms for customers to use without charge, so please check them out if you so desire. The break room in the women's bathroom on the 3rd floor of the Umeda Grand Front southern building is breathtaking. It's about 3 minutes from Osaka Station.
Grand Front Osaka http://www.grandfront-osaka.jp/multilingulal/index
15. Gaze Upon the City
There are a number of places where you can gaze upon the city of Osaka, but the Daisan building in front of Osaka Station is one of the best. The restaurant floor on the 32nd and 33rd floor all have observatories that you can enjoy free of charge. Of course, you can also enjoy the view from the restaurants as well. It's only 5 minutes from Umeda Station and 8 minutes from Osaka Station.
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Title Image: fluke samed / Shutterstock.com
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
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