Onto Osaka: What I Did & Saw — Destination Dreamer Diaries

Like Kyoto, I expected Osaka to be a small, traditional, indigenous city…

… but boy, was I wrong.

Skyline of Osaka, Japan in January 2020.

Osaka reminded me very much of a mix between Kyoto and Tokyo – as it’s bigger and commanding like a miniature Tokyo, but keeps the same charm and scenic mountainous range as Kyoto.

I wasn’t even there for a full 24 hours, but man… we still somehow did a lot.

Wondering what to do while you’re in Osaka, too?

Here’s a breakdown of everything that I did and saw during my time in Osaka:

1. Nara Park

Outside Nara Park in Osaka, Japan in January 2020.

Nara Park in Osaka, Japan in January 2020.

This is probably where we saw the biggest and best Buddhas during our trip in Japan.

2. Deer Feeding

Because I live in the DMV, I have my fair share of deer encounters on a daily basis, plus – these were wild deer… meaning, they could bite you. In fact, my friends got bit during their feeding excursion, however – they claimed that it was worth the fun for being nicked a few times.

I instead chose to watch my friends get chased by deer. I highly recommend that you do the same.

Watch me laugh my head off at my friends feeding the deer in Nara park in my Osaka vlog down below!

3. Kuromon Ichiba Market

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’d know that exploring markets is one of my absolute favorite things to do while I travel. I find it’s one of the few times when you can discover all of the unique foods and customs of other cultures.

For instance, look at these vegetables. What are they?!

I still don’t know. I also still don’t know why the Japanese have white and pink strawberries… but they do, and we decided to try them.

Trying white and pink strawberries in Japan!

Definitely a place to go if you love to try all the unfamiliar foods in a true fashion.

4. Dontonbori Street

Dontonbori Street in Osaka Japan in January 2020.

I was really hoping that Tokyo would be a New York City 2.0 for me, but the truth is… it wasn’t. However,there were a few parts of Japan that satisfied by hyper Manhattan being… and this was one of them.

It’s the epitome of incessant stimulation – food, pet cafes, karaoke: whatever you want to be doing before you leave Japan, you best believe that it’ll be here.

5. Osaka Castle

We visited the Osaka Castle, and inside, beware – is mostly all that boring history stuff. The best part of our visit here was the view of Osaka from the top of the castle.

All the textbook-like-stuff was boring my friend and I, so we went out and went to go check out the rooftop bar beside it.

We went up to find that it costed the equivalent of $10 USD, we almost went back down…

… but since we were both so tiny… we miiiggghhhttt have snuck off to the side and taken some epic pictures…

View of Osaka Castle from a nearby rooftop bar.

… and then, you know… chill up there with the jazzy music while soaking up he epic views.

6. Umeda Sky Building Observation Deck

You guys also know how much I love my ‘view from the top’ experience when traveling.

View from outside the Umeda Sky Building; January 2020.

This observation deck in Osaka satisfied that craving by a million miles.

View from the Umeda Sky Building Observation Deck in Osaka, Japan in January 2020.

The LED lighting and city lit up in a full circle surrounding you is… electric, to say the least.

I hope this heled you guys figure out some things to do while you’re in Osaka!

Want to see my Osaka trip in action? Click to watch my Osaka vlog below!

If you want to read more about Japan, click here.