Osaka

Japan’s Kitchen. This city is a foodie’s dream destination (or so we’ve heard). Food doesn’t top our list of priorities when traveling but we knew we had to at least make a quick stop in Osaka.

Most Recent Visit

April 2025

How to Get Here

Osaka is easily accessed by train from Tokyo or other cities throughout Japan. It also has an international airport making it accessible by air.

Trip Length

We spent 1 night in Osaka. If you’re coming for the food and also want to take in its modern side, you’ll want to spend 2-3 days here.

Where to Stay

There are a range of lodging options around the country. For a budget experience, try a capsule hotel where you have a small ‘cube’ to sleep in and shared common areas. For a classic cultural experience, stay at a ryokan. Ryokans are traditional inns that offer a unique cultural experience, featuring tatami rooms, kaiseki meals, and typically hot spring baths. Ryokans were slightly more expensive during the time we visited but we plan to try one on our next visit. And of course, hotels ranging from budget to luxury are available. Staying true to our mid-range budget style, we chose ‘chain’ hotels that were located near the train stations (3–10-minute walks). While the rooms and beds were on the small side, we spent so little time in the rooms it wasn’t a problem for us. If you’re the type of traveler that likes to spend some time in the room decompressing or relaxing, you may want to look at more luxurious options. We paid anywhere from $59-$144/night USD (in 2025) and stayed at various Hotel Mystays, Sotetsu Fresa Inns, and APA Hotels (all booked through our Expedia travel agent site).

In Osaka, we stayed at APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Namba Ekimae Tower, a 5-minute walk to the train station.