Osaka is one of the most popular cities in Japan to visit. It has a distinct character, known as Heisei Kaidan or Old Tokyo Style, which is traditionally elegant and refined.
Osaka is known for its historic buildings, cultural institutions, and gastronomy. There are more restaurants per person than people in the city! Thus, you can spend a week eating and drinking in one of the old neighborhoods.
Travelling to Osaka as a group is a good way to enjoy its charms. You can go to places in groups or you can be yourself; both are beautiful. Grouping your activities will help you build your stamina for travel and get you some rest too.
This article will talk about how to plan trip to Osaka in groups.
Make a list of attractions
In case you are planning a trip to Osaka, you should have a list of places to visit. This list can be made in person or by phoning up and asking for suggestions.
Most places offer free parking near their location and will invite you to go with them on your trip. They will also provide valuable insight on the things they have to offer.
Some places are more appropriate for groups than others. You can expect difficulty in organizing Osaka tour groups, so make sure you consider this factor before embarking on a trip.
Making a list will also help save time when planning your trip as there will be some good reminders provided.
Make a list of restaurants
While there are thousands of restaurants in Osaka, there are also very limited number of restaurants that have locations in Osaka. This makes it important to know the quality of restaurants you visit when in Osaka.
Most of them have a website, so you can get their phone number and see what they have to offer. Also, some have street labels and/or murals marking their location, so you can be sure of quality.
Mostly located in central Osaka, near the Namba-mae area and Ryōma-mae area, these buildings are easy to find as they are often decorated and placed prominently.
Make a list of shops
In addition to seeing the big names in Osaka, you can also make a list of shops that are not listed in the following blogs and bullet points. These hidden treasures are San-e-ri, Toyama-tea, Matsuyama-tea, Suntory liquor, Kanku shoes, and Fujimoto watches.
Most of these shops are located in San-e-ri area around Nishi-Umeda. San-e-ri is a street market where you can find almost anything from food to merchandise. There is even a furniture store that sells only futons!
If you go to San-e-ri on a Friday and Saturday, you will find many people there because of the fun activities they offer.
Look at train routes
When you’re planning a trip to Osaka, you should look at the train routes. There are four major train routes that connect Osaka to other cities in Japan. These are Tokyo-Osaka, Tokyo-Kobe, Osaka-Nagoya, and Osaka-Kyoto.
These train routes use a system called “kuro kyutoro” or black railway. This means that the trains use a separate track for traffic between the two cities. As a result, it can take about an hour and a half to two hours more to travel from one city to another on the national railroads in Japan.
Thus, if you plan a trip to Osaka, you should make sure that your first stop is on one of the four major railway stations in Osaka. You can then go visit different areas of the city!
These railways are very important for traveling between cities in Japan.
Choose a date
Its very important to choose a date that is right for you. The best time to visit Osaka is during the spring season, when the weather is warm.
April to June is the peak season for tourism in Osaka. During this period, most hotels and restaurants offer their services, so it is worth choosing a busy weekend or a week where you can see some sights in town.
There are two reasons why Sunday or a Saturday is better choosen than a Friday: 1) most restaurants and bars are closed on Sunday and 2) there are more sightseeing spots available on a Saturday than on a Sunday.
Book hotels
This may seem insignificant, but be sure to book your hotel room in advance. Booking in advance gives you the chance to chat with a map of Osaka and how to get to your destination in Osaka. This helps you plan more efficiently, as you can see where your trip takes you and what areas you must visit.
This also helps save you money in the event that you have to cancel or change your hotel room at a late date due to an error on their part. It also gives you the chance to look over reviews of nearby hotels and see if anyone has had good or bad experiences.
As mentioned before, it is important to make your hotel room seperate from other guests’ rooms.
Confirm reservations
When planning a trip to Osaka, you should confirm reservations at a hotel or a hostel. Most hotels and hostels offer guests free transportation to and from the airport, making it easy to confirm a reservation.
Also, make your reservation early to avoid missing out on a spot in the city’s rush evening. For restaurants, check if they have open tables on weekend nights. Admission to museums and cultural centers will cost more than a regular stay at a hotel, but saved in taxi fares and public transport expenses it can be worth it.
As for the actual trip itself, check out some sights on bus or tram and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you are lost.
Pack!
Before you go, you should pack your essentials. These include:
– toiletries (we recommend GEL, some brands are same or same type), a toothbrush and/or mouth-breathing device (toothpaste and/or antimicrobial wipes are helpful), a hair dryer or hair shampoo, a body lotion, and an extra set of towels or washcloths.
These items can be made of paper, plastic, or cloth and they all have a place in your trip to Osaka. The beauty of this is that you do not need to buy anything new during your trip as everything will be good enough for you.
The important thing to note is that the more “luxury” items are for daily use, the less used they will get since they are “unnecessary” while traveling.
