Tokyo or Osaka? Which Should You Visit?

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In my last article, I explored two of the biggest cities in the history of Japan, Tokyo and Kyoto. If you missed that post, I highly recommend you go back and read it. What if you’re not torn between Tokyo and Kyoto but Tokyo and Osaka instead? Which one should you visit?

You don’t have to choose between visiting Tokyo or Osaka when bullet trains or shinkansen exist. Like Tokyo and Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka are close enough in proximity that you can go to both in one trip with some planning.

In this article, I will explore the many wonders of Osaka as well as recap what’s so amazing about Tokyo. I’ll also tell you how to get from one city to another and roughly how long it will take you do to so.

Let’s begin.

Why Visit Tokyo? A Recap

As I said in my last post about traveling to Tokyo or Kyoto, this blog is a little love letter to Tokyo. If you poke around on here, you’ll find countless articles diving deep into the many gems that Japan’s capital has to offer.

To avoid repeating myself then, I’ll recap the must-see Tokyo destinations you must plan on your itinerary:

• Tokyo Skytree, one of the tallest buildings in the world at more than 2,080 feet
• Unicorn Gundam statue, which is a replica that’s 70+ feet tall and is available to witness both day and night
• Mount Fuji, one of the best-known and most beloved mountains and landmarks in Japan
• Sumo wrestling matches at Ryogoku Kokugikan in December, January, and May; these tournaments last for weeks at a time
• Countless parks with temples, shrines, zoos, and shops within their depths, including Showa Memorial Park, Odaiba Seaside Park, Chichibu-Tami-Kai National Park, Ueno Park, and Yoyogi Park
• Thousands of restaurants for all sorts of tastes and budgets, including many with high Michelin star ratings
• Nightlife that includes bar-hopping, karaoke, arcades, and live sports
• Theme parks and amusement parks such as Hanayashiki Amusement Park, Tokyo Joypolis, Tokyo Disney Resort, Sanrio Puroland, Yomiuri Land, and Tokyo Disneyland

A History of Osaka

I’ve written about the history of both Tokyo and Kyoto, but never Osaka. Let’s remedy that now. Osaka is Osaka Prefecture’s capital city and a major part of the Kansai region. It has more than 19 million people living there, making it the among the top Japanese metropolitan areas. In fact, it’s one of the biggest metropolitan areas on earth.

In eras past, Osaka played a major role in the health of Japan’s economy. The city acted as a regional port in the Kofun period, which lasted from 300 to 538. The Naniwa Nagara-Toyosaki Palace that belonged to Emperor Kotoku in 645 was also erected in Osaka. In fact, the city became Japan’s capital for that time, even if it went by the name Naniwa back then. The Namba and Naniwa districts in Osaka that exist in modern times are there due to this history.

Naniwa was stripped of its capital title by 655, when Asuka, or the modern Nara Prefecture, received the distinction instead. Naniwa became the capital for yet a second time due to Emperor Shomu’s influence. This occurred in 744 and lasted for but a year.

Osaka continued influencing Japan’s economy into the Edo period, which began in 1603 and lasted until 1868. Not only did it do well economically, but Osaka had Bunraku and Kabuki theaters for entertainment sometime in the 1780s as well.

Granted, others in Japan didn’t always have the best view of those from Osaka. In the early 1800s, Edo residents came up with a term to describe them known as Kamigata zeeroku. Those in Edo had a problem with the Osaka residents’ attitude, calling their dialect vulgar and also disliking their shrewdness and stinginess.

The city kept chugging along, and, in the 19^th century, developed its own municipality. Osaka became a major part of industrialization as well around this time, earning itself the nickname the Manchester of the Orient. Many immigrants from Korea flocked to Osaka during this century as well.

Like a lot of Japan, Osaka fell victim to the attacks of World War II. They were air raided, with Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombs dropped on or near the city, up to 329 of these. Roughly 25 square miles were targeted. Two more instances of bombings would transpire in Osaka in the summer of 1945 until the war ended.

Today, Osaka has two main sections, the southern part or Minami and the northern part or Kita. Minami houses Horie and Amerikamura, fashion districts, as well as Nipponbashi Den Den Town, entertainment hub the Dotonbori canal, shopping districts Shinsaibashi and Namba, and Chuo Ward.

In Kita, you can find many a skyscraper as well as well as Osaka Station City and the Umeda district.

Why Visit Osaka?

Okay, so I just took a deep dive into the fascinating history of Osaka. Now that you know more about the days of old as well as the modern timeline of this city, you may feel intrigued to plan your trip here. In case you’re not totally sold, I recommend you check out this next section. I’ll cover all the amazing features, landmarks, and destinations you’ll come across if you see Osaka for yourself.

Larger-Than-Life Structures

As mentioned, the northern area of Osaka, Kita, has an array of skyscrapers sure to leave your jaw on the floor. Nearly 40 buildings in Osaka Prefecture are 500 feet tall or over. The first of these is Abeno Harukas, built in 2014 at 984 feet tall. While not as big as the Tokyo Skytree, Abeno Harukas is only off by about 1,000 feet.

Also referred to as the Abenobashi Terminal Building, Abeno Harukas has more than 60 floors. It’s home to the Sharp Corporation headquarters, a Marriott International hotel, and the Kintetsu Department Store.

The Osaka Prefectural Government Sakishima Building stands at 840 feet tall, as does the Rinku Gate Tower. Other very tall buildings in Osaka include the Kitahama at 687 feet, the Osaka Bay Tower at 656 feet, the X-Tower Osaka Bay at 657 feet, and the Nakanoshima Festival Tower at 653 feet.

If you’d prefer tall natural structures, don’t miss Mount Minami Katsuragi. This mountain borders Wakayama, Hashimoto, Osaka, and Kawachinagano. As part of the Izumi Mountains, Mount Minami Katsuragi has the tallest peak of that mountain at 3,025 feet. The name of the mountain translates to South Kudzu Castle Mountain.

Sports

If you’re more of a sporty type, Osaka is a perfect place in which to book a trip. The city has hosted such events as the FIFA Club World Cup in 2016, the World Championships in Athletics in 2007, the World Judo Championships in 2003, and the World Table Tennis Championships in 2001.

They have up to 14 sports venues, including:

• Yanmar Stadium Nagai: This is where Cerezo Osaka of the J. League club play. The Yanmar Stadium Nagai can hold 47,000 people.
• Yanmar Field Nagal: As Yanmar Stadium Nagai’s support stadium, you’ll find 15,000 seats and a grass hill for overflow seating here.
• Yahataya Park: Also known as Yahataya Sports Park Center, Yahataya Park has existed since 1923.
• Utsubo Tennis Center: This venue is a part of Utsubo Park that held the HP Open WTA International tournaments for five years.
• Osaka-jo Hall: Next, we’ve got Osaka-jo Hall, a major arena that’s 36,351 square meters. It can hold 16,000 people. The hall is often home to concerts, New Japan Pro Wrestling events, and judo championships
• Osaka Stadium: As part of Osaka Stadium Corporation, Osaka Stadium is one of the bigger arenas in the city, able to hold 32,000 people. It’s been around since 1950 and was once the site of a red-brick tobacco plant before World War II.
• Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium: This indoor arena also has a lengthy history, as it was built sometime in 1952. Remodeled in 1987, the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium has room for 8,000.
• Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium: Referred to as the Maruzen Intec Arena Osaka, the Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium is sometimes used for the Women’s Volleyball World Championships.
• Ookini Arena Maishima: Another indoor sports arena, Ookini Arena Maishima has room for 7,000 people. B. league basketball team Osaka Evessa uses it for training and practice.
• Kyocera Dome Osaka: A baseball arena, the Kyocera Dome Osaka started as the home for the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1997, then the Orix Buffaloes by 2005.
• Kincho Stadium: If you want to see rugby, venture over to Kincho Stadium. The arena is also used for football and X-League American-style football.

Osaka has its fair share of football clubs, including the Cerezo Osaka U23, the Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies, the Cerezo Osaka, and the Gamba Osaka.

Parks

Next, I want to talk about the many parks you’ll come across as you plan your itinerary in Osaka.

• Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park: Part botanical garden, part park, you can find a windmill, tulip farm, sports facilities, and a placid pond here.
• Keitakuen Garden: Home of the Osaka Tennoji Zoo, the Keitakuen Garden also has a teahouse.
• Shirokita Park: In the spring, when cherry blossom season gets started, this park can get crowded. At other times of the year, you can spot chrysanthemums, irises, and other seasonal flowers.
• Ogimachi Park: With a little less greenery than some of the other parks in Osaka, you can go rock climbing or let your children play at Ogimachi Park. The exercise facilities for adults will help you work up a sweat.
• Ikutama Park: A quaint but appealing park, you can sit and take a break here.
• Momogaike Park: Another smaller park, Momogaike Park features cherry trees, birds, and a lotus pond.
• Tennoji Park: With cafés, fountains, flowerbeds, and other greenery, Tennoji Park is worth passing through.
• Minami Temma Park: For a nice riverside experience, head to the Minami Temma Park. You can also see cherry blossoms here when they’re in season.
• Nagai Park: Take a dip in the pool or play on the baseball field at this park.
• Nakanoshima Rose Garden: A part of Osaka since 1891, as a public park, Nakanoshima Rose Garden has the distinction of being the first of its kind. You can find a museum dedicated to ceramics here as well as a rose garden and a library.
• Osaka Castle Park: Take in the historical architecture of the city here. With open-air theaters, athletic fields, and cherry blossom trees, you can easily lose track of an afternoon at Osaka Castle Park.

Eating and Drinking

If you’re looking for a French eatery, try Hajime in Central Osaka. This establishment has earned itself three Michelin stars. Eat some unagi or eel at Honke Shibato, a restaurant that has stood in the city for more than 300 years.

For vegetarians, get to Saijiki in Minami or Green Earth in central Osaka. Sumibi Yakitori Miyabi in Kita is known for its yakitori, but for tonkatsu (fried pork), make it a point to go Epais, also in Kita.

Get your Udon fix at Dotombori Imai in Minami and make sure you also stop by Sekai Ichi Hima Na Ramen-ya for some tasty ramen. It’s one of the best-known establishments in all Japan for these noodles. You can also find phenomenal sushi in Sushidokoro Jinsei in Minami.

Nightlife

If the nightlife calls to you, answer that call at any of the following Osaka establishments:

• GHOST ultra lounge, a nightclub with celebrity DJs
• OWL OSAKA, a cocktail bar with happy hour and food
• Sam and Dave One, a cocktail bar and nightclub
• Club Piccadilly Umeda Osaka, a nightclub with London theming that was once a movie theater
• Giraffe Osaka, a nightclub and cocktail bar
• The Blarney Stone Shinsaibashi, which features live music on weekends
• ClubQ International Party Bar, a cocktail bar
• The Drunken Clam, a karaoke bar
• Bar Bath, another karaoke bar
• PC and Retro Bar Space Station, an arcade/bar
• Club Circus, which has live music and a “no-frills industrial vibe”
• Pure Osaka, an upscale nightclub and cocktail bar
• FIJI BAR Osaka, a small bar with theming dedicated to rugby

Theme Parks

As a major Japanese city, Osaka has a handful of theme parks and amusement parks for you to spend hours in. These include:

• Expoland
• Misaki Park
• EXPOCITY
• Hirakata Park
• Legoland Discovery Center Osaka
• Universal Studios Japan

Getting Between Tokyo and Osaka Via the Shinkansen

As I mentioned in the intro, you can take a bullet train or shinkansen to venture between Tokyo and Osaka. Specifically, you want to take the Nozomi, which translates to mean desire, wish, or hope. This is an incredibly fast bullet train that can achieve speeds of up to 186 dizzying miles per hour. Read all best, cheapest and fastest ways of getting from Tokyo to Osaka in this great article.

The Nozomi crosses the Tokaido/Sanyo shinkansen lines, passing through stations from Hakata to Osaka. If you ride the Nozomi from Tokyo to Osaka, it should take you about two and a half hours to arrive. If you remember from my last article, that’s a shorter trip than getting between Tokyo and Kyoto. That takes upwards of four hours.

Now, you’re probably wondering how much you’ll pay to ride the Nozomi bullet train, right? It’s 13,620 yen, which is about $130 USD. That’s not a cheap ride, but you can say the same thing about going from Tokyo to Kyoto and back. That costs a little over $100 as well. Remember also that you’d take a standard shinkansen train to get between Tokyo and Kyoto. Since it’s a specialized bullet train, it makes sense that the Nozomi would be more expensive.

In Tokyo, head to the Shinagawa Station or the Tokyo Station to ride the Nozomi. If you’re leaving from Osaka, then head to Shin-Osaka Station. The shinkansen starts running west between Tokyo and Osaka at 6 a.m. and the last train leaves at 9:23 p.m. That timetable is the same for eastbound trains between Osaka and Tokyo. Since the last train leaves well before midnight, you do want to make sure you either curtail your nightlife or have a hotel room in the area. That’s just like visiting between Tokyo and Kyoto, as I mentioned in my last article.

The Willer Express Bus

If you don’t mind spending the extra time, another travel option you have is riding the Willer Express bus. This can get you from Tokyo to Osaka and back. It costs 7,000 yen, so about $66 to travel this way. The catch? It’s incredibly time-consuming. While the Nozomi can get you between Tokyo and Osaka in a little under three hours, on the bus, you’d spend eight hours traveling, sometimes more.

So yes, you can pocket some extra cash that you can use as spending money, but you lose a whole day doing it. That’s not such a big problem if you’re going between Tokyo and Osaka once and you’ll be in the country for a few weeks. If you’re only staying in Japan for a couple of days, though, I’d caution you to seriously think about whether the Willer Express bus is the best use of your time.

If you do want to ride, then in Osaka, go to Kita’s Umeda Sky Building and wait at the Willer Bus Terminal. If you’re in Tokyo, then you’ll find the bus terminal in West Shinjuku.

Conclusion 

No trip to Japan would be complete without visiting Tokyo, but what if you also want to go to Osaka? There’s no need to choose between the two when you can take a shinkansen or bullet train. With even faster bullet trains like the Nozomi, it’s possible to cut your travel time down for a little more money.

Between the last article on traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto and this one, you can plan a comprehensive itinerary that lets you take in more of Japan on your travels.