I know what you’re all thinking—Japan is an expensive destination to travel to! Well, truth is, it can be, depending on your travel spending habits and lifestyle, BUT for those looking for more cost-efficient ways in getting around, the good news is it can also be quite affordable if you know how and where to look.
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I was in Osaka earlier this year, and just like many of you, budget is a huge factor for me during my travels. Despite that, I still wanted to make the most out of my short vacation days in Japan, and I feel so so glad I discovered this: the Osaka Amazing Pass!
And guys, it truly is amazing. For less than 1,200 pesos, this single ticket can get you access to more than 40 tourist sites in Osaka, valid for two days. I’ve included details on how to book this pass at the end of this article.
Here are some of the sites I went to plus some others worth checking out with the Osaka Amazing Pass:
Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle was once the largest castle in Japan. It was built in 1590 under the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a general that played a huge role in the unification of Japan in its era of civil wars. Now, Osaka Castle serves as a museum where you can learn about the castle’s history. On the 8th floor, the topmost floor, you can find the castle’s observation deck, which gives you a lovely 360-degree view of the famous city.
The castle sits in the middle of the serene Osaka Park, so make sure you lend some time for your trip to here, because we promise, you’ll want to stop many times just to take in the beauty of it all.
Nishinomaru Garden
Within the vast Osaka Castle park is Nishinomaru Garden, the former residence of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s wife. It is a beautiful, lush garden 64,000 meters wide, with a gorgeous view of the castle’s main tower.
The garden also boasts of 600 cherry blossom trees, which makes it a popular destination during the sakura (cherry blossom) season.
Wild River Joypolis
What is a trip to Japan without a stop at the arcades? HEP Five Mall in Osaka’s Umeda district is home to Joypolis, one of Japan’s most famous arcades. And with your Osaka Amazing Pass, you can try out the Joypolis Wild River ride, which is a 4D adventure attraction that lets you virtually experience a thrilling ride down a raging river, complete with effects that make you feel like you’re really rafting outdoors.
HEP Five Ferris Wheel
If you do make it to HEP Five Mall then you should definitely go for the HEP Five Ferris Wheel too, perched on top the mall’s rooftop. The massive and bright red ferris wheel is quite a landmark in the city, and offers a wonderful view of the bustling business district. Just look at how high it is!
Tombori River Jazz Boat
Did you know that Osaka is the birthplace of jazz in Japan? And with this jazz boat experience, you can cruise down Dotonbori River while being serenaded by a live four-piece jazz band! How cool is that??? The 40-minute cruise takes you down the canal of the famous Dotonbori street, which is perhaps Osaka’s most visited destination and home of the iconic Glico man billboard.
Glico man
Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory
Probably my favorite attraction in Osaka, this 40-story-high building gives you a view to one of the prettiest skylines I have ever seen. The topmost floor is a café and observation deck, which offers a 360-degree view of Osaka from above. Take another elevator up and you’ll find yourself in the Floating Garden, an outdoor circular walkway where you can bask in the beauty of Osaka at night. The pathway is illuminated with neon paints too, making it seem like you are walking above a galaxy of stars. This one is not to be missed.
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Where to get the Osaka Amazing Pass
Ready to explore Osaka? You can get your Osaka Amazing Pass from travel booking site Klook—this is where I got mine! And aside from the super affordable ticket price, getting the Osaka Amazing Pass also gives you the following advantages:
- Skip the long ticket lines at the attractions
- No need to print out your online ticket purchase. Just use your mobile voucher to easily claim your Osaka Amazing Pass!
- Hassle-free online booking
- You get instant booking confirmation
Bookmark this article for when you do go to Osaka! 😉 You can get your Osaka Amazing Pass through either of the links below, depending on the more convenient pick-up location for you:
- Osaka Amazing Pass (Kansai Airport pick-up)
- Osaka Amazing Pass (Kuromon Ichiba Market pick-up near Dotonbori)
And for the complete list of attractions covered by the Osaka Amazing Pass, you can check out this link.
My trip to Osaka was definitely one for the books. So much so that I just already can’t wait to go back. 😉
Have you been to Osaka? What would you recommend? Tell us about your experience in the comments!
