Osaka Early Morning Guide: Itinerary, Cafes, Breakfast Plans!
Osaka, the central city second only to Tokyo, is a major tourist destination representing western Japan. It is said that about 7% of Japan's population and about 10% of foreigners living in Japan are concentrated in Osaka. While modern facilities such as "Abeno Harukas" and "Umeda Sky Building" are increasing, the many historical structures like castles and ancient burial mounds are also attractive.
Known as the "Nation's Kitchen" and the "City of Kuidaore (eat till you drop)," Osaka is characterized by its unique food culture. Takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu are representative of Osaka's delicious and affordable gourmet food.
There are also many spots with nature in the city. In the less crowded morning hours, you can feel the crisp and refreshing air even in the middle of the city.
So, in this Osaka morning guide, we'll introduce you to morning sightseeing in Osaka! Why not wake up a little early and enjoy Osaka at a leisurely pace?
Why is morning sightseeing in Osaka recommended?
Osaka, being the center of economy and culture, attracts many visitors every year. In addition to domestic and international tourists, there are many students on school trips, and recently, all tourist spots are crowded with people.
That's why we recommend sightseeing in Osaka during the morning hours. Compared to daytime, there are fewer people, so you can enjoy sightseeing and photography at a relaxed pace. Especially for popular standard tourist spots, it's recommended to visit as early in the morning as possible to avoid crowds.
5 Tourist Spots You Want to Visit Before the Crowds!
Osaka Castle Park (Open 24 hours)
Source:Google Maps
Osaka Castle, a popular tourist spot, is recommended to visit early in the morning to avoid crowds. Osaka Castle Park, rich in nature, is perfect for morning walks.
Osaka Castle, built by the warring states period warrior Toyotomi Hideyoshi who was active about 400 years ago, was completed in 1597. The walls, gates, stone walls, and turrets (yagura) in the park are designated as important cultural properties of the country.
A yagura is a high platform for keeping watch on the surroundings. The oldest existing building in Osaka Castle is the "Sengan Yagura."
The "Sakura Gate," the southern gate leading to Osaka Castle Keep, offers a perfect photo opportunity with the castle keep visible through the gate. It's popular with tourists during the day and gets crowded, so it's recommended to take photos in the less crowded morning.
There are 300 cherry trees planted in the park, and when I visited in spring, the fully bloomed cherry blossoms were beautifully decorating the park.
Osaka Castle is open for admission from 9 AM to 4:30 PM
The Osaka Castle Keep, which has been rebuilt several times due to fires, has undergone two renovation works. The 8th floor is an observation deck, and historical materials are displayed on other floors. You can move between floors by elevator. Some floors prohibit photography, so check before taking pictures.
It's recommended to visit right after opening at 9 AM. You can see everything in about 40 minutes to an hour. If you want to carefully watch videos and read explanations, it's good to allow about 30 minutes extra.
Address: 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Access: JR Morinomiya Station, Osakajokoen Station
Phone: 06-6755-4146
Castle Keep Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Last admission at 16:30)
Castle Keep Admission Fee: Adults 600 yen, Junior high school students and below free
Official website
Osaka Tenmangu Shrine (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM)
Source:Official website
Osaka Tenmangu, popular with foreigners, enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, known as the god of learning. It's a famous shrine where many people come to pray for success in exams during the exam season.
It's recommended to visit early when the air is fresh right after the gates open. You can pray in a refreshing mood.
Before praying, purify your hands and heart at the temizuya (hand-washing fountain) where water imbued with the god's power is enshrined. Tenmangu has a beautiful emerald green temizuya that's also popular as a photogenic spot.
The wide variety of amulets are perfect for souvenirs. For myself, I chose a cute bell amulet called "Sachisuzu" with a beautiful sound.
It's also recommended to visit during seasonal festivals such as the plum festival in February and the Tenjin Festival in summer!
Address: 2-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka
Phone: 06-6353-0025
Access: 5-minute walk from Exit 4 of Minamimorimachi Station on Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line / 5-minute walk from Osaka Tenmangu Station on JR Tozai Line
Opening hours: 5:30-18:30
Official website
Nakanoshima Park (Open 24 hours)
Source:Osaka Metro NiNE
Nakanoshima Park, just from Kitahama Station, is ideal for morning walks. It's open 24 hours, so it's also recommended to stop by before going to other tourist spots.
Staying at a hotel near the park, I enjoyed jogging early in the morning. You can start your day refreshingly while feeling the morning air in the nature-rich park.
There's a rose garden in the park where about 310 varieties of roses are grown. The best time to see roses is May and October, but you can enjoy seasonal flowers at other times too.
Around the park, there are retro and tasteful buildings like the Nakanoshima Library and Osaka City Central Public Hall, which make great backdrops for photos.
There are many cafes nearby, so it's a good idea to take out coffee and bring it with you!
Address: 1-1 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka
Access: Get off at Yodoyabashi Station on the Subway Midosuji Line / Kitahama Station on the Sakaisuji Line
Phone: 03-6312-8121
Admission: Free
Closed: None
Official website
Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory (9:30 AM - 10:00 PM)
Source:Jalan
The Umeda Sky Building is a landmark in Umeda, selected as one of the "World's Top 20 Buildings" by a British newspaper. You can view the city of Osaka from the observatory 173m above ground.
The 360-degree panoramic view is as beautiful as a painting. It gets quite crowded during the day, so it's recommended to go as early as possible.
The see-through escalator from the 39th to the 40th floor gives you a sensation of moving through the air.
The cafe, which opens at 10:00 AM, also has a rich menu of light meals like takoyaki. The "Color Pop Soda Float," a colorful soda topped with soft-serve ice cream, is popular for its stylish appearance. My four friends and I each ordered different flavors and enjoyed the photogenic aspect. Please try it!
Address: 1-1 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka
Phone: 06-6440-3855
Access: Get off at Yodoyabashi Station on the Subway Midosuji Line / Kitahama Station on the Sakaisuji Line
Hours: 9:30-22:30 (Last admission 22:00)
Admission: Adults (13 years and older) 2000 yen, 4-12 years old 500 yen, Under 4 years old Free
Closed: None
Official website
Universal Studios Japan (Varies by season)
Source:Official website
Universal Studios Japan, Japan's largest theme park representing Osaka, is also recommended to enjoy from the morning. Arrive before the opening time and enter as soon as it opens. The opening time varies depending on the season and day of the week, so please check before you go!
Purchasing tickets online in advance allows for smooth entry. Using the "Express Pass" (paid) which allows priority entry to eligible attractions can help you enjoy the whole day even more stress-free.
My recommendation is to get souvenirs first after entering. The souvenir shops right after opening are relatively empty, so you can enjoy shopping at a leisurely pace.
Put your purchased souvenirs in a coin locker and enjoy the park hands-free!
Address: 2-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana-ku, Osaka
Phone: 0570-20-0606
Access: Check here
Opening hours: Varies by date
Admission: Varies depending on the date and time of entry
Closed: None (May be temporarily closed due to weather, etc.)
Official website
If you're going to Universal Studios Japan, hotels around Universal City Station are recommended
source:Rakuten Travel
To enjoy Universal Studios Japan even more comfortably, it's recommended to stay at a hotel around Universal City Station. You can reduce round-trip time and enjoy the park from earlier.
Among the partner hotels affiliated with the park, some are directly connected to the station, and some have natural hot springs.
Some plans come with perks like being able to enter the park earlier than the general opening time. Please check along with ticket and attraction information!
Osaka Morning Guide: Two spots to enjoy delicious Osaka cuisine from morning - perfect for breakfast!
Kuromon Market (9:30 AM - 6:00 PM)
Source: HOTEL THE FLAG
The "Kuromon Market (Kuromon-ichiba)" in the center of Osaka City is a shopping street with about 150 shops. It offers a wide variety of food items including fish, meat, vegetables, fruits, Japanese sweets, Western confectioneries, and pickles, along with many restaurants. True to Osaka's nickname as the "city of kuidaore" (eat until you drop), you can thoroughly enjoy food hopping here.
My favorite is having breakfast at the fish shop "Fukahiro," which offers fresh seafood. There are seats at the back of the store where you can immediately eat the fish displayed at the storefront. You can even create your own rice bowl topped with fresh fish to your liking.
If you want to taste Western-style food, I recommend the egg sandwich at "Ibuki Coffee," a long-established cafe that has been in business for 76 years. It opens at 7 AM on weekdays and 6 AM on Sundays, so please drop by before your sightseeing!
Address: 2-4-1 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Phone: 06-6631-0007
Access: 5-minute walk from Nipponbashi Station on Osaka Metro
Opening hours: Varies by store
Closed days: Varies by store
Official website
Fukahiro
Ibuki Coffee
Osaka Kizu Wholesale Market (From 5:00 AM)
Source: Jalan
If you're an early riser, the "Osaka Kizu Wholesale Market (Osaka-Kizu-oroshiuriichiba)" with about 300 years of history is also recommended. It's a popular tourist spot that combines a market, large supermarket, restaurant street, and bathing facilities. The market has about 130 shops, including 20 restaurants, where you can enjoy various genres of food such as takoyaki, sushi, and eel.
As someone who likes to indulge in local specialties while traveling, I chose "Mitsuwa Shokudo," where you can eat the Osaka specialty "nikumaki" (meat roll). The nikumaki, which wraps sweet and savory beef in a fluffy dashi-maki egg, is so delicious that you won't be able to stop eating white rice with it.
There are chairs and tables in the market, so it's also fun to buy a little from various shops and eat as you go!
Address: 2-2-8 Shikitsuhigashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka
Phone: 06-6631-1139
Access: 3-minute walk from Daikokucho Station on Osaka Metro
Opening hours: Varies by store (from early morning to around 11:00 AM)
Closed days: Sundays and holidays (irregular Wednesdays)
Official website
Mitsuwa Shokudo
3 Cafes Perfect for Breakfast Near Tourist Spots
bills Osaka
Source:OZ mall
"bills Osaka," directly connected to Osaka Station, is a Sydney-originated restaurant famous for being the "king of breakfast." The Osaka branch uses Japanese ingredients like tofu and tuna, allowing you to enjoy a uniquely Japanese "bills" experience.
The signature morning menu item is the Full Aussie Breakfast. It's perfect in both nutrition and volume, with scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, roasted tomatoes, garlic mushrooms, and toast. The course that adds ricotta pancakes and homemade granola is recommended for sharing with everyone.
As someone who enjoys pairing alcohol with breakfast as a travel pleasure, I chose bills' special spicy Bloody Mary as an aperitif. With the acidity of tomatoes and the aroma of spices, it has a refreshing taste perfect for the morning. Please give it a try!
Address: LUCUA1100 7F, 3-1-3 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka
Inquiry phone number: 06-6456-2500
Reservation phone number: 050-3155-1472
Access: 1-minute walk directly connected to JR Osaka Station
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 8:30-22:00
Closed: January 1
Official website
Brooklyn Roasting Company Kitahama
Source:Tabelog
"Brooklyn Roasting Company Kitahama" is a New York-born cafe located a 3-minute walk from Kitahama subway station. You can choose from two types of beans that change daily, focusing on the origin and farm. You can enjoy them as drip coffee or espresso, but the recommended way is simple black drip coffee. The mild yet aromatic coffee is perfect for breakfast.
Next to the cash register, there's a lineup of baked goods like scones, donuts, and cakes. Meal-type foods like salmon and cream cheese bagels are also popular.
On this day, I chose the seasonal pineapple cake. It goes without saying that the combination of the refreshing flavor of pineapple-rich cake and the mellow drip coffee is excellent.
Why not start your best day in the open atmosphere of the shop?
Address: Hauser Kitahama Building 1F, 1-1-9 Kitahama, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Inquiry phone number: 06-6125-5740
Access: 3-minute walk from Kitahama subway station
Opening hours: Weekdays 8:00-20:00 / Weekends and holidays 8:00-19:00
Closed: Irregular holidays, New Year holidays
Official website
R Baker
Source:Official website
"R Baker" is a bakery cafe in Osaka Castle Park where you can eat bread made with domestic rice flour. The rice flour bread, which has a higher water content than bread made only with wheat flour, is characterized by its chewy texture.
I visited right after opening at 7:00 AM. When I entered the shop, lured by the aroma of bread, I was excited by the colorful freshly baked bread of various types. My target was the "Stretchy Croissant" that's popular on social media. As the name suggests, this croissant that stretches like mochi is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, with a unique texture that can only be tasted because of the rice flour.
Sets where you can add salad and soup to your bread are perfect for breakfast. Stop by before sightseeing at Osaka Castle!
<Osaka Castle Park Store>
Address: 3-9 Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Inquiry phone number: 06-6926-4950
Access: 3-minute walk from Morinomiya Station on Osaka Metro
Opening hours: Weekdays 7:00-17:00 / Weekends 7:00-18:00
Closed: New Year holidays
Official website
3 Model Courses to Fully Enjoy Osaka Mornings
Dotonbori Model Course: Kuromon Market ~ Namba Grand Kagetsu ~ Dotonbori
How about a course like this to fully enjoy the "Osaka-ness"?
8:30-9:30 Breakfast at Kuromon Market
10:00-12:30 Experience the "comedy culture" at Namba Grand Kagetsu
13:00 Enjoy crab lunch at Dotonbori
First, enjoy breakfast at the lively morning Kuromon Market. Fresh seafood bowls and sushi are recommended in the morning when fresh ingredients are available.
Once you've filled your stomach, let's go experience Osaka's unique "comedy culture." In Osaka, where commerce has been thriving for about 400 years, it was common to advance negotiations by making the other party laugh, and from there, "laughter" seems to have taken root as a culture.
At "Namba Grand Kagetsu," you can enjoy various comedy shows like rakugo, manzai, and skits. Among them, "Yoshimoto Shinkigeki," which unfolds like a play, is popular with foreigners as it can be enjoyed even without understanding Japanese, with its movements, rhythm of words, and stage sets.
When you get hungry after laughing a lot, get "Takosen" at "Wanaka" right next to Namba Grand Kagetsu. Takosen is a standard Osaka snack where takoyaki is sandwiched between shrimp crackers. After eating Takosen while moving to Dotonbori, enjoy lunch at "Kani Doraku" marked by the big crab sign!
Takoyaki Doraku Wanaka Namba Store
Kani Doraku Dotonbori Main Store
Osaka Castle Area Model Course: R Baker ~ Osaka Castle Park ~ Osaka Tenmangu
Here's a recommended course for enjoying castles and shrines.
8:30-9:00 Breakfast at "R Baker"
9:00-11:00 Park stroll and Osaka Castle Keep tour
11:30-12:30 Osaka Tenmangu
12:40~ Okonomiyaki lunch around Tenmangu
When you arrive at Osaka Castle Park, first have breakfast with the morning set at "R Baker." The filling rice flour bread is perfect for energizing for the upcoming walk.
After eating, stroll around the park. There are various ways to enjoy it, like seeing important cultural properties or viewing gardens. Don't forget to take a photo in front of Sakura Gate with the castle in the background! If you visit early in the morning, there will be fewer people, allowing for great photos.
After touring the castle keep for about an hour, head to Osakajokoen Station for train travel. It takes about 15 minutes including transfers to reach Osaka Tenmangu. Enjoy sightseeing and taking photos while praying. Don't forget to choose a lucky charm to boost your fortune!
For lunch, let's choose okonomiyaki, an Osaka specialty, around Tenmangu. At "Sougetsu," a long-established shop with over 50 years of history, you can enjoy voluminous okonomiyaki filled with meat and vegetables. Enjoy it with the secret sauce and special garlic oil!
Osakatenmangu Station also provides convenient access to the Umeda area and Dotonbori.
Nakanoshima/Umeda Model Course: Brooklyn Roasting Company Kitahama ~ Nakanoshima Park ~ Umeda Sky Building
Here's a recommended course for those who want to enjoy nature and scenery.
8:30-9:00 Breakfast at "Brooklyn Roasting Company Kitahama"
9:00-10:00 Stroll in Nakanoshima Park
10:30~ Observatory visit & shopping at Umeda Sky Building
13:00~ Kushikatsu lunch in Umeda's gourmet street
After getting off at Kitahama Station on the subway, first have a cafe morning at "Brooklyn Roasting Company Kitahama." Donuts or sandwiches go well with the aromatic coffee. If the weather is good, it's also recommended to take out and head straight to Nakanoshima Park.
In Nakanoshima Park, enjoy the morning air while leisurely strolling or viewing seasonal flowers. It's also nice to take photos with colorful flowers or retro buildings in the background.
After enjoying nature in the park, take the train to Umeda Sky Building. It's about a 15-minute distance including transfers. Upon arrival, head to the observatory first before it gets crowded. After enjoying the panoramic view of Osaka, shop for souvenirs at the gallery shop on the 39th floor.
After leaving the Sky Building, it's lunchtime at "Shinumeda Shokudogai," an old-fashioned gourmet street. "Momo" is a long-established famous shop where you can enjoy freshly fried kushikatsu at a standing counter bar. Enjoy kushikatsu with cold beer!
English-Guided Tours Are Also Recommended for Enjoying Osaka Mornings
Source:Viator
This is a packed tour visiting 5 locations: Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, Kuromon Market, Tsutenkaku, and Shitennoji Temple. Enjoy ramen recommended by the guide for lunch!
Meet your tour guide at 8:30 at a shopping building directly connected to Osaka Station, then head to Osaka Castle first. Enjoy visiting Osaka Castle Park and the castle keep. Next is Dotonbori, Osaka's representative bustling street. Don't forget to take a photo in front of the famous "Glico" sign!
At Kuromon Market, which has continued since the Edo period, enjoy the lively market atmosphere and food tasting. From the observatory of Tsutenkaku, you can see a panoramic view of the Shinsekai area. You can also get Osaka's standard snacks at the souvenir shop. The tour concludes at Shitennoji Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan.
Kuromon Market Walking Street Food Tour in Osaka
This is about a 2-hour food tour around Kuromon Market and Dotonbori. It starts at 10:00, so it's also recommended to participate after visiting Nakanoshima Park.
At Kuromon Market, you can taste a little bit of Osaka specialties like takoyaki, as well as fresh seafood. The guide will select recommendations, so you can enjoy without worrying about what to eat. After enjoying the food walk, head to "Doguyasuji Street," which is lined with various kitchen utensils. Find useful kitchen tools at this shopping street visited by both general public and professionals!
Afterwards, visit Hozenji Temple, which is beneficial for good health and prosperity in business. The tour concludes in Dotonbori. Indulge in Osaka gourmet foods like okonomiyaki, kushikatsu, and steamed pork buns.
4-Hour Osaka Highlights Bike Tour with Lunch
How about a tour like this for those who want to enjoy their trip actively? This is about a 4-hour tour cycling around Osaka Tenmangu and Osaka Castle.
Meet your guide at Tenmabashi station, rent a bicycle, and start the tour. Pass through local temples and shopping streets, and head to "The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living." Here you can learn about the lives and townscapes of people in the Edo period.
For the much-awaited lunch time, taste okonomiyaki, a local food of Osaka people! Afterwards, enjoy cycling after lunch towards Osaka Castle Park. The exhilaration of riding a bicycle through the wind is the best.
Even the spacious park grounds can be comfortably moved around by bicycle. The tour ends with enjoying matcha and Japanese sweets at a cafe.
Attention Alcohol Lovers! The "Nishinari" Area Where You Can Drink from the Morning is Also Recommended
Enjoying alcohol from the morning is also one of the tips to heighten the extraordinary feeling of travel. Nishinari, with many cheap and delicious drinking establishments, is an area between Namba, Osaka's largest entertainment district, and the high-sense Tennoji. In recent years, hotels for foreign tourists have also increased, making it convenient as a base for sightseeing.
Nishinari, where you can experience a local atmosphere, has many shops where you can drink from the morning. At "Nariya," an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) that opens at 9:00 AM, you can enjoy a morning set with an alcoholic drink, boiled egg, and daily special for only 350 yen.
"Stand Hattori" is a standing bar where you can eat yakiniku from the morning. The set (500 yen) with chicken yakiniku and an alcoholic drink is an authentic style where you grill it yourself.
The Nishinari area, where you can experience deep Osaka, is also attractive for its opportunity to interact friendly with local customers. If you like alcohol, please give it a try!
Summary
In this Osaka morning guide, we introduced spots and tours where you can enjoy Osaka in the morning! There are so many benefits to morning sightseeing:
- You can avoid crowds at popular tourist spots
- You can feel the refreshing morning air at shrines, temples, and parks
- You can use your time effectively into the afternoon and evening
Another benefit I felt was regarding photo taking. At popular spots like Osaka Castle, I was often frustrated during crowded times when I couldn't shoot from the angle I wanted or other people would get in the frame. But by going during the less crowded morning hours, I was able to take satisfying photos.
Everyone, please wake up early and fully enjoy Osaka mornings!