OSAKA, JAPAN – The Osaka Amazing Pass is the best way to visit the port city for travelers. The pass gives travelers unlimited rides on trains and buses as well as entry to 40 sightseeing spots around town. When I visited I could barely hit 5 or 6 in one day and really found this to be a great way to experience the city. One day will cost you 3,300 yen and three days is 5,500 yen as of September 22, 2024.

We purchased our Osaka Amazing Pass using the Klook app, which was the easiest way for us on some attractions as Americans. You have to pick-up the pass in certain subway stations, which can be a little tricky to locate so I would carve out some time early in the morning to get that accomplished on your trip to Osaka.

Attractions you can visit on the pass include:

• Umeda Sky Building KUCHU-TEIEN OBSERVATORY
• The National Museum of Art, Osaka
• Tombori River Cruise
• Tsutenkaku Tower (Observation Deck)
• Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel
• Cruise Ship Santa Maria Day Cruise
• Osaka Castle Museum
• Osaka Tennoji Zoo

Personally, the best deal to me is the Umeda Sky Building because of how much it costs to experience it and the great view you get of Osaka from there (especially during sunset). Even the escalator ride up is an experience. If you go later in the day, the pass will give you a discount instead of free admission, but that varies. I prefer a trip later in the day. Sunset there is a memorable experience.

I also really enjoyed the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel for a quick view of the city and I felt it gives you a good look early in the day. The building where the Ferris wheel is located also will have plenty of activities, shops, and options for a quick bite with the aquarium not too far away. It easily rivals some other Ferris wheels I have been on in the past around the world and is actually a pretty long ride.

The Osaka Castle Museum was a nice thing to do in the mid-afternoon, but the actual inside didn’t have as much as I was expecting. I enjoyed the informative displays though and the shops on the first floor and the bar across from the castle were worth the trip. We visited before spring so I would say it is probably a nicer experience in the fall or cherry blossom season.

I wanted to check out the river cruises during my visit, but we didn’t have time because we visited the spa instead and absolutely loved the onsen baths especially after a busy few days in Nara. Osaka is definitely a nightlife driven place, but many of the attractions will close earlier in the evening so plan accordingly.

The attractions included in the pass will change over time. For example, when I visited we had access to a spa with our Osaka Amazing Pass, but its no longer listed as a perk for the pass online.

The discount on buses and trains is more than worth it as well. The lines offered with the pass are laid out well by the tourism site. Find more information online at: osaka-amazing-pass.com/en

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About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a writer and journalist with over 10 years of experience. I write the food and travel blog Carlos Eats (https://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines on numerous topics.