Osaka is a vibrant city located in the Kansai region of Japan, known for its rich history, bustling urban life, and street food culture. One can easily spend several days in Osaka, but if you’re strapped for time, here’s a simple two-day itinerary!

Day 1:
Start your day at Kuromon Ichiba Market, also known as Osaka’s market. Kuromon Ichiba has about 150 shops that predominantly sell fish, meat, and produce, but also has sweets and cooked foods. Over the years, the market has grown to become a key destination for food enthusiasts, known for its high-quality produce and diverse offerings. Go early in the morning, before the crowds descend and you’ll have your pick of gorgeous fatty tuna, juicy Kobe beef, and the squishiest dango.

After breakfast, head over to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, one of Japan’s best aquariums. The aquarium’s vast tanks each represent a specific region of the Pacific Rim. The centerpiece of Kaiyukan is its massive central tank, which is one of the largest in the world. At nine meters deep, it houses a variety of large marine species, including the whale shark, one of the largest fish in the ocean.

Stop by LiLo Coffee Kissa for an amazing cup of coffee or the best melon soda float in the world. You will not regret taking your midday break here!

After your coffee break, hit the shops along Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street, a shopping district featuring a wide range of high-end tax-free shops.

For dinner, wander over to Dotonburi. Located along the Dotonbori Canal in the Namba area, Dotonburi is a lively entertainment area known for its gaudy neon lights and flashy restaurants. It is one of Osaka’s most famous tourist destinations and a popular hangout spot at night.

Day 2:
Start your 2nd day in Osaka off bright and early at Universal Studios Japan (USJ). Universal Studios Japan opened its doors in March 2001, making it the first Universal theme park to be built in Asia. In addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is also in Universal Studios in Orlando, USJ has a Minion Park, Jurassic Park, and Super Nintendo World. USJ is also home to the only remaining Jaws ride in the world as well as unique character experiences like Pokemon, Sanio, and Sesame Street characters.

If you’re not purchasing the Express Pass (which I highly recommend that you do because lines at USJ were honestly worse than DisneySea and Tokyo Disneyland), plan to be there 1.5 hours before scheduled opening time. They start letting people in early at USJ and you’re going to want to be there to get a standby pass to enter Super Nintendo World. We did both timed Express Pass entry as well as rope drop entry into SNW and it was so worth it.

If theme parks aren’t your thing, head on over to Osaka Castle instead. I visited on my last trip to Japan and it was a very pleasant experience. You can also choose to spend time shopping in the Umeda area – or go up the observatory there to get a birds-eye view of the city. The post from my last visit can be found here.