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Osaka: Top 10 Free Activities and Attractions to Do and See
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Osaka is famous for its delicious food, shopping spots, and many fun places to visit. We'll feature ten things you can do for free, from Osaka Castle strolls to hiking in Minoo Park. Visitors can save money on these activities while spending more on local cuisine and fun souvenirs!
Written by
Tokyo,Japan
I was born and raised in Berlin, Germany and am living in Tokyo, Japan since 2008. I am native in German and English.
I am a cat-mom to three rescue cats and I have a deep love for 90s rock music, kickboxing, history, chocolate and cookie dough, anything pistachio flavored, cats and bats, dragons and vampires and all things creepy-cute.
My favorite book author is Anne Rice. My favorite band is LUNA SEA.
My most recommended Japanese movie is 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence', featuring David Bowie and Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Free and Budget-Friendly Activities and Attractions in Osaka
Osaka is one of the most visited places in Japan. It is best known for food, entertainment, and shopping, but that doesn't mean you must spend a lot of money when visiting. You can enjoy plenty of places and activities without spending a single yen. Moreover, Osaka has many affordable hostels. Plus, popular local cuisine such as okonomiyaki and takoyaki are very inexpensive.
This article introduces the top ten things you can do in Osaka for free!
Free Activities in Osaka:
1. Watch Free Shows in America Mura
2. Make Lasting Memories in Dotonbori
3. Watch Free Summer Fireworks
4. Participate in Festivals with Locals
5. Visit Osaka Castle and Castle Park
6. Take a Stroll in Minoo Park
7. Discover the World of Asahi Beer
8. Visit the CUPNOODLES MUSEUM OSAKA IKEDA
9. Learn All about Japanese Money at the Mint Museum
10. Experience New Technology at the Panasonic Center Osaka
Honorable Mention: Purchase the OSAKA AMAZING PASS
1. Watch Free Shows in America Mura
Picture of Osaka's America-mura neighborhood.
America Mura, or American Village in English, was named because the neighborhood is filled with import stores handling American goods and clothing items. It is also the go-to spot for budget-friendly second-hand shopping.
Picture from Shinsaibashi And Dotonbori - 11 Fun Things To Do In Osaka!
Amemura, another one of its nicknames, is where local youths gather in Osaka. It is often called Osaka's Harajuku. Street artists are common in the area, allowing people to enjoy free performances.
There are also official events held in Amemura's Sankaku Koen (Triangle Park) on weekends. They are mainly signing and dance contests, making great free entertainment!
Picture of piping-hot takoyaki (octopus dumplings).
If you want to indulge in some street food while watching a free performance, Amemura is famous for takoyaki (octopus dumplings). These savory snacks cost about 300 to 500 yen per serving.
2. Make Lasting Memories in Dotonbori
Picture from Shinsaibashi And Dotonbori - 11 Fun Things To Do In Osaka!
Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi are must-visit areas in Osaka. Although known for shopping and delicious street food, you can easily enjoy free fun here too!
How about finding all the fun, large-sized shop displays and taking photos of them—or even with them? Don't forget to pose with the iconic Glico runner signboard on Dotonboribashi Bridge.
Picture from Shinsaibashi Shopping Guide: Fashion, Cosmetics, and Local Dishes in Osaka
Window shopping in the area is another interesting activity. Shinsaibashi is an entertainment area showcasing the latest trends waiting to be discovered.
Hotels near Dotonbori
3. Watch Free Summer Fireworks
Picture from 7 Amazing Firework Festivals Near Osaka And Kyoto in 2023
If you visit Japan in the summer, there will always be free fireworks (hanabi) held somewhere. Fireworks displays have been a Japanese tradition for centuries.
The two biggest fireworks festivals in Osaka are the Tenjin Matsuri Festival in July and the Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival in August. If you can't make it to either one, plenty of smaller fireworks displays are in the area throughout the summer.
4. Participate in Festivals with Locals
Picture courtesy of Osaka's Tenjin Festival: 2023 Schedule, Highlights, and Access
Many festivals are held in the summer, but you can find year-round festivities in Osaka. Festivals in Japan are typically held at shrines and temples. You will also see mikoshi, or portable shrines, being carried throughout the streets. This can be experienced at major festivals, like the Toka Ebisu Festival in early January and the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival in the fall.
Participating in a festival is a great way to mingle with locals. Some people walk along the festivities, while others pick a place to watch while enjoying snacks and a cool beverage. If you want to save money, you can even bring snacks and drinks from home!
5. Visit Osaka Castle and Castle Park
Picture from Osaka Castle Park - A History Walk Through Nature's Timeless Beauty
Osaka Castle is always worth a visit, even if it is just laying eyes on the beautiful castle park. The park is home to a variety of signature Japanese trees. In early spring, peach and plum blossoms bloom around the castle. Around March, the park is colored in the famous pink hues of cherry blossoms.
Admission to Osaka Castle costs 600 yen. However, seeing this historic building up close and photographing it from the outside is free. There are even small historical-themed festivals around the castle where you can dress up as a samurai free of charge.
Hotels near Osaka Castle
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6. Take a Stroll in Minoo Park
Picture from Minoo Waterfall - A Place Of Scenic Beauty Near Osaka
Minoo Park is a vast, nature-rich area open to visitors free of charge! It is especially famous for its momiji, or Japanese maple. Since the area is famed for its momiji, you can purchase fried maple leaves as a snack.
Picture from Minoo Waterfall - A Place Of Scenic Beauty Near Osaka
When visiting Minoo Park, you must also check out Minoo Falls. It's a bit of a hike from the park's entranceway to the falls, but well worth the trek!
In the summer, people like taking off their shoes and walking through the shallow waters near the falls. There are even rocks in the middle of the water, allowing park-goers to sit and watch the cascading water. Minoo Park is a great place to relax and take a break from the city!
Hotels near Minoh Falls
7. Discover the World of Asahi Beer
Picture from What's In That Can? A Guide To The Taste of Japanese Beers
Asahi is one of Japan's most famous beers. The Asahi Breweries Suita Factory in Osaka is the company's first brewery built in 1891.
The brewery offers free tours lasting about 90 minutes and includes a tasting session. Most tours are conducted in Japanese. English tours are held on a few selected days, but multilingual audio guides are available for your mobile device.
Asahi Breweries Suita Factory Offical Website: https://www.asahibeer.co.jp/brewery/language/english/ (Japanese)
8. Visit the CUPNOODLES MUSEUM OSAKA IKEDA
Picture from Make Your Own Cup Noodles At The Instant Ramen Museum In Osaka
The CUPNOODLES MUSEUM is located in Ikeda City in Osaka, the birthplace of Chicken Ramen cup noodles. Momofuku Ando invented the world's first instant noodles in 1959. He later founded Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd.
The CUPNOODLES MUSEUM OSAKA IKEDA was established in 1999 to introduce the history of Nissin's famous instant noodles. Did you know there is a special version made to be enjoyed in outer space?
Admission to the museum is free. Activities such as creating your own cup noodles and making the famous Chicken Ramen are both subject to a small charge. However, they are highly recommended, especially when traveling with children.
CUPNOODLES MUSEUM OSAKA IKEDA Official Website: https://www.cupnoodles-museum.jp/en/osaka_ikeda/
9. Learn All about Japanese Money at the Mint Museum
The Mint Museum is a free museum exhibiting the history of Japanese money. It is located inside a Meiji Period building on the premises of the Osaka Mint Bureau.
Equally famous as the historic coins are over 300 cherry trees on the Osaka Mint Bureau's premises. They are mostly the later blooming variety called yaezakura trees (double-flowered cherry tree). The cherry garden is not accessible except for one week every year in mid-April. Admission during this period is free.
Osaka Mint Museum: https://www.mint.go.jp/enjoy-eng/tour-eng/eng_plant_museum.html
10. Experience New Technology at the Panasonic Center Osaka
Picture from Panasonic Beauty SALON Ginza - Try DIY Beauty Treatments For Free
The Panasonic Center Osaka is a showroom of the famous electronics maker Panasonic. The latest technology, including Japan-limited inventions, can be viewed and tried here for free. It is an interesting place to explore the future of electronics.
Panasonic Osaka not only has items for fans of home electronics. The Panasonic beauty area offers treatments with Panasonic and Shiseido self-care products. However, fees may apply for beauty treatments.
Honorable Mention: Purchase the OSAKA AMAZING PASS
Picture from "Hop On The Red Osaka Landmark, HEP FIVE's Ferris Wheel"
The OSAKA AMAZING PASS is not free but worth the investment if you visit as many spots as possible! Pass-holders can ride trains and buses for free and enter Osaka's most popular sightseeing spots. You can even watch shows and tours at reduced prices or for free, including the famous red HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel. The pass also offers deals and free presents at selected shops and facilities.
As of 2023, two versions are available: A one-day pass (2,800 yen) and a two-day pass (3,600 yen). The passes can be bought beforehand online, at many places throughout Osaka, and even at selected vendors outside of Japan.
The pass becomes valid as soon as you use it on a bus or train—not beforehand. The two-day pass is only available for two consecutive days.
OSAKA AMAZING PASS Official Website: https://www.osp.osaka-info.jp/en/
Enjoy Osaka for Free!
Osaka is a great place to enjoy the city to your heart's content in every possible way. If you want to save money and spend more on delicious food or fun souvenirs, we hope this article assists you in seizing this colorful city to the fullest!
I was born and raised in Berlin, Germany and am living in Tokyo, Japan since 2008. I am native in German and English.
I am a cat-mom to three rescue cats and I have a deep love for 90s rock music, kickboxing, history, chocolate and cookie dough, anything pistachio flavored, cats and bats, dragons and vampires and all things creepy-cute.
My favorite book author is Anne Rice. My favorite band is LUNA SEA.
My most recommended Japanese movie is 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence', featuring David Bowie and Ryuichi Sakamoto.
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