Overview
Take a trip to Osaka on your Japan Vacation
Osaka is located in central Japan on the main island of Honshu. Osaka is the capital city of Osaka Prefecture, and although the prefecture is Japan’s second smallest in area, Osaka has one of the largest population densities in all of Japan.
Formerly known as Naniwa, Osaka was Japan’s capital from 683-745 AD. Given its ideal location, approximately 40 minutes travel time between Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe, Osaka is an important commercial centre and point for land and water transportation, as Osaka Bay is situated to the west of the city. Once referred to as the ‘nation’s kitchen’, Osaka was Japan’s trading centre for rice.
Osaka is surrounded by mountains to the north, south, and east. With canals and rivers running through the city, Osaka features over 800 bridges.
Osaka was a major target during World War II, having bombs continually being dropped on its industrial districts during the last year of the war. Facing enormous devastation, Osaka’s resilience was demonstrated when it quickly rebuilt its infrastructure after the war and regained its status as a major industrial and cultural centre.
With Osaka Castle being the city’s most well-known structure, Osaka also features many museums, galleries, parks, temples and shrines, and various cultural venues to be enjoyed during Oska tours on a Japanese vacation. As well, it boasts having Japan’s longest shotengai (Japanese-style street shopping arcade).
Known for its cuisine, Osaka is considered a food lover’s paradise. Its central location makes Osaka a prime city to visit and experience Japanese culture, history and life.
Osaka was a major target during World War II, having bombs continually being dropped on its industrial districts during the last year of the war. Facing enormous devastation, Osaka’s resilience was demonstrated when it quickly rebuilt its infrastructure after the war and regained its status as a major industrial and cultural centre.
With Osaka Castle being the city’s most well-known structure, Osaka also features many museums, galleries, parks, temples and shrines, and various cultural venues to be enjoyed during Oska tours on a Japanese vacation. As well, it boasts having Japan’s longest shotengai (Japanese-style street shopping arcade).
Known for its cuisine, Osaka is considered a food lover’s paradise. Its central location makes Osaka a prime city to visit and experience Japanese culture, history and life.
At a Glance
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Unforgettable Journeys.6 Trips Found
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6 Trips Found
Japan Odyssey: Cherry Blossom Edition
Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Tokyo, and Shibuya CrossingSee Japan in bloom on this small group tour, from Kyoto’s shrines to Tokyo’s neon, with onsen soaks, geisha culture, and spring’s most fleeting wonder.
11 days
From US$8,599/p.p.
Request a Quote
Japan Uncovered: Pop Culture & Cuisine
Osaka, Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Tokyo, and Shibuya CrossingStep into Japan, where anime dreams meet hushed temple rituals and lantern-lit izakaya evenings, weaving pop culture, tradition and flavour into one vivid escape.
10 days
From US$5,752/p.p.
Request a Quote
Ultimate Japan: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto & More
Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Tokyo, and Shibuya CrossingJourney through Japan's enchanting landscapes, from modern Tokyo to historic Kyoto. Slip into a kimono and immerse yourself in a traditional tea ceremony along the way.
15 days
From US$8,989/p.p.
Request a Quote
Japan Road Trip: Kyushu Edition
Fukuoka, Kyushu, and OsakaExplore Japan’s southern island on this independent trip through Kyushu’s lush forests, volcanic peaks, sea cliffs and soul-soothing hot spring towns.
15 days
From US$4,701/p.p.
Request a Quote
Japan In Style: Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka
Osaka, Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Hakone, Mount Fuji, Tokyo, and Shibuya CrossingExplore the highlights of Japan through its most iconic cities—Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka. Discover a dynamic mix of culture, cuisine, and history, from vibrant markets and modern cityscapes to ancient temples and traditional districts. With seamless
9 days
From US$8,182/p.p.
Request a Quote
Whispers of Old Japan: Culture, Forests & Fjords
Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Hakone, Mount Fuji, Tokyo, and Shibuya CrossingUncover the rich tapestry of Japan on this exclusive cultural journey, featuring private tours of iconic landmarks and authentic experiences from Tokyo to Osaka.
11 days
From US$5,255/p.p.
Request a Quote
Japan Odyssey: Cherry Blossom Edition
Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Tokyo, and Shibuya CrossingSee Japan in bloom on this small group tour, from Kyoto’s shrines to Tokyo’s neon, with onsen soaks, geisha culture, and spring’s most fleeting wonder.
11 days
From US$8,599/p.p.
Request a Quote
Japan Uncovered: Pop Culture & Cuisine
Osaka, Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Tokyo, and Shibuya CrossingStep into Japan, where anime dreams meet hushed temple rituals and lantern-lit izakaya evenings, weaving pop culture, tradition and flavour into one vivid escape.
10 days
From US$5,752/p.p.
Request a Quote
Ultimate Japan: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto & More
Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Tokyo, and Shibuya CrossingJourney through Japan's enchanting landscapes, from modern Tokyo to historic Kyoto. Slip into a kimono and immerse yourself in a traditional tea ceremony along the way.
15 days
From US$8,989/p.p.
Request a Quote
Japan Road Trip: Kyushu Edition
Fukuoka, Kyushu, and OsakaExplore Japan’s southern island on this independent trip through Kyushu’s lush forests, volcanic peaks, sea cliffs and soul-soothing hot spring towns.
15 days
From US$4,701/p.p.
Request a Quote
Japan In Style: Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka
Osaka, Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Hakone, Mount Fuji, Tokyo, and Shibuya CrossingExplore the highlights of Japan through its most iconic cities—Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka. Discover a dynamic mix of culture, cuisine, and history, from vibrant markets and modern cityscapes to ancient temples and traditional districts. With seamless
9 days
From US$8,182/p.p.
Request a Quote
Whispers of Old Japan: Culture, Forests & Fjords
Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Hakone, Mount Fuji, Tokyo, and Shibuya CrossingUncover the rich tapestry of Japan on this exclusive cultural journey, featuring private tours of iconic landmarks and authentic experiences from Tokyo to Osaka.
11 days
From US$5,255/p.p.
Request a Quote
What do the experts say?
You should try a Zen meditation session. Imagine slipping into a silk kimono for the day—carefully tied by an expert dresser, every fold precise, every colour chosen to suit the season. It’s a ritual that feels as personal as it is timeless.
What do I love about Japan? In a word - EVERYTHING. The incredible contrast that Japan offers - new/innovative vs old/traditional, the warm and welcoming people, the incredible rich culture, the culinary wonders awaiting around every corner, the cleanliness, efficiency and safety. It's one of the best places to visit in Asia in my opinion.
Every season offers something to fall in love with, but autumn feels especially magical—fewer tourists, crisp weather, and foliage that rivals the famous blossoms.
Osaka's entertainment and nightlife district
The Osaka Castle is always a popular inclusion ...
Faces representing people from around the world
The dense skyline of Umeda District
Japanese castle architecture
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82mm / 3.2"
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ExcellentBased on 5,261 ReviewsI worked with Maria S. from Goway Travel to build a tailored trip to the Azores and mainland Portugal. Maria provided excellent, responsive and patient service, never pressured me into making decisions, offered multiple options for managing pricing, answered my many questions clearly and fully, and always met the timelines she would set to get back to me. Once I was on my trip, Maria checked in several times even though there was an operator on the ground at my destination; she even resolved a minor mix-up with one of my hotels and arranged for a special surprise on my birthday. I cannot speak highly enough of Maria's professionalism, follow-through, positivity, attention to detail and responsiveness. I highly recommend Goway and Maria for your travel plans, and will definitely use this company again for my future travels. Thank you so much for making my trip to Portugal so memorable, Maria! Michele B.Extremely delighted we took this trip to Bali with Goway. Ameet was fantastic. He helped me save on my flights and also guided me on the right hotel decisions. Extremely Charming and always a pleasure to chat to. We enjoyed the Komodo islands a lot thanks to our specialist who made the recommendation. Hid guidance on the places and restaurants was spot on and we and my gf enjoyed the trip so much. We will consider using Goway and Ameet for our Honeymoon as well.Garth CutosPrompt, professional service when booking our trip. Excellent suggestions to add to our experience. Shalini was very accommodating and went beyond our expectations to meet all of our requests. Loved the small group tour.OscarTouching base after our trip. As usual you did a great job helping plan and execute an amazing travel experience!! Everything was fantastic. Especially our hotel location. Since it's connected to the Victoria station it made getting around very easy. Thanks again for your help I'm sure we'll be booking our next trip soon...Leigh FerrisThe trip was planned perfectly, with the support of knowledgeable and dedicated local staff during any critical point of the trip.
The accommodations, transfers, transportation, guides' input and visits' setup met the highest standards and expectations.Nadia & Cristian We recently completed a trip to Crete, Greece - our third trip with GoWay - and I have run out of superlatives to laud their efforts. This was a self drive trip, and as has been our experience with GoWay, we were permitted to customize the standard offered itinerary to suit our personal preferences. Brooke, our agent on this trip, went the extra mile to make all the adjustments we requested, including providing for an English-speaking guide at the Phaistos archeological site. The hotels which Brooke booked on our behalf were truly excellent, and - again, per our wish - just outside of the urban chaos of Heraklion, Rethymno and Chania, but close enough to readily access the cities' benefits. Each hotel was a beachside sanctuary, and we spent several serene, idyllic days never leaving the hotel, and yet there was plenty of time for more distant and adventurous sight seeing.
I cannot overstate how happy we have been with our GoWay experiences - most notably in their willingness to listen to our preferences and make those manifest in the itinerary - and this most recent trip just confirms our already positive opinion of GoWay, and we will be certain to consider them again for our next travel adventure.Frank VenutiVenessa Lloyd at GoWay organized a trip to Africa for us- We just returned last week. It was very well organized and included everything we requested, and more. We did two safaris - one in Tanzania and one in South Africa. They were both excellent, with first class accommodations and guides. We absolutely would recommend GoWay and Vanessa to anyone. SandraOverall, the hotel and tours were amazing. We had issues with communicating with the driver. At times I was asked where, I was gone. The local company handled the situation and there were minor issues after. I would recommend a local English-speaking guide every day. My clients loved the trip. The area we stayed in had many restaurants and local markets nearby. I recommend the cooking class, flamenco dance show, wine tasting and taps tour, and the city tour. Jolynn TizenoAni M was absolutely amazing to work with! I actually chose Goway for our group trip because of her recommendations. She was the only agent who took the time to explain that we really needed to split our travels into two separate trips if we wanted to experience everything on our wish list, and I really appreciated her honesty and guidance.
Throughout the planning process, Ani was incredibly helpful and answered ALL of my questions, even when I asked the same ones more than once! She was patient, knowledgeable, and always willing to help. I enjoyed working with her and her team so much that I already have another group trip planned with her, and I expect we'll be planning another one soon!
The guides during our Scotland trip were wonderful as well. Ian Short was the BEST! He was professional, knowledgeable, and made sure everything ran smoothly so we could simply enjoy the experience. He even worked in sightseeing stops we didn't know we needed to see, and those little extras made the trip even better.
The entire experience was absolutely wonderful from beginning to end. I'm already looking forward to our next adventure to Ireland with Goway and working with Ani and their team again!Angela ButlerMichael was informative and answered all my questions.
Flexible with package details and accommodated changes we preferred with activities. He put together a superb tour with transportation and guides that were very knowledgeable. Would book with them again on next trip to Europe.Christopher Carey
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