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Dotonbori, Osaka, Japan

Traveling In Osaka With Kids: The Best Attractions For Little Explorers

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Osaka is a fantastic destination for first-timers in Japan…even more so if you’re traveling with kids! This vibrant city in the Kansai Region is teeming with activities and attractions that appeal to kids and the young at heart. Not only that, its close proximity to cities like Kyoto and Nara makes it an excellent jumping point for the ultimate Japan holiday with the entire family!

Excited to explore Osaka with the kiddos? Here are 10 family-friendly experiences in the city:

 

Be amazed at Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

One of the largest aquariums in the world, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan showcases the majestic aquatic animals of the Pacific Rim in over 15 large tanks that recreate the natural environment of the animals’ habitats. Currently, it is home to 30,000 creatures across 620 species, including whale sharks, jellyfish, penguins, sea lions, and otters. If you’re traveling with an aspiring marine biologist, Kaiyukan should definitely be on your itinerary!

Address: 1 Chome-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato Ward, Osaka, 552-0022, Japan

Tickets: Free for children ages 2 and under; 700 JPY for children ages 3-6 years old; 1,400 JPY for children ages 7-15 years old; 2,700 JPY for visitors 16 years and older. Book your Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan tickets here.

Operating Hours: 10:30 AM to 8:00 PM on weekdays; 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM on weekends.

How To Get There: Take the Osaka Metro Chuo Line train to Osaka Station. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is a 5-minute walk away. 

 

Turn imagination into reality at LEGOLAND Discovery Center

Is your little one a fan of LEGO? Then LEGOLAND Discovery Center Osaka is a mustn’t-miss! It boasts 12 family-friendly attractions and activities, such as a 4D Cinema, Merlin’s Apprentice, and the exciting Kingdom Quest laser ride. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Osaka’s version of MINILAND features the city’s top attractions made with LEGO bricks. There is also a Master Builder Academy, where kids can learn how to create their own models from Osaka’s resident Master Model Builder.

Address: Tempozan Marketplace 3F, 1-1-10 KaiganDori, Minato-ku, Osaka, 552-0022, Japan

Get Tickets: Free for children under 3 years of age; From 2,200 JPY for adults (must be accompanied by a child to visit). Book your LEGOLAND Discovery Center Osaka tickets here.

Operating Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays; 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM on weekends. 

How To Get There: Take the Osaka Metro Chuo Line train to Osaka Station. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Osaka is 5 minutes away on foot. (Yes, it’s located near Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan!)

 

Discover various species and varieties of plants at Sakuya Konohana Kan

Originally established by the Osaka Municipal Government as a pavilion of the International Garden and Greenery Exposition in 1990, Sakuya Konohana Kan is a beautiful glass conservatory now houses approximately 15,000 plants encompassing 2,600 species. To keep the plants alive, the conservatory is one of the few in the world that artificially maintains the climactic and geographical conditions of the regions where the plants are native to. Sakuya Konohana Kan regularly holds exhibits and workshops about horticulture in an effort to educate guests and to keep them engaged.

Address: 2-163 Ryokuchikoen, Tsurumi Ward, Osaka, 570-0043, Japan

Tickets: Free for junior high school students and younger; 500 JPY for adults. Tickets can be purchased onsite. 

Operating Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM) on Tuesdays to Sundays. Closed on Mondays or Tuesdays if Monday is a public holiday. Also closed on New Year’s holidays (28 December to 4 January).

How To Get There: Take a train on the Osaka Metro Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line to Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Koen. Sakuya Konohana Kan is a 10-15-minute walk away. 

 

Make realistic food replicas at Design Pocket

You know those realistic and mouth-watering food replicas you see being displayed at restaurant windows? Well, you can actually try your hand at making them in Osaka—Japan’s top culinary destination! Enter Design Pocket, a workshop that offers plastic food making experiences to tourists. Classes are generally conducted in Japanese, but simultaneous interpretations in English and sign language are provided through an iPad. 

Address: 542-0075 10-11 Nambasennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan

Tickets: From 2,980 JPY; call to make an appointment.

Operating Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily (last admission for sample making at 5:00 PM). 

How To Get There: Make your way to Namba Station on the Nankai railway, the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, or the Yotsubashi Line. Design Pocket is 3 minutes away on foot. 

 

Build your own CUPNOODLES

There is no better place to learn about the world’s first instant noodles than its birthplace—Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture! Take a crash course on the history of the original “Chicken Ramen” invented by Momofuku Ando at the CUPNOODLES Museum then head on over to My CUPNOODLES Factory to create your own CUPNOODLES package. Design your cup, select your favorite soup, and choose up to four toppings from 12 varieties!

Address: 8-25 Masumi-cho, Ikeda-shi, Osaka 563-0041 Japan

Tickets: Visiting the CUPNOODLES Museum is free of charge; 500 JPY for each package you make at the My CUPNOODLES Factory. 

Operating Hours: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (last admission at 3:30 PM) from Wednesdays to Mondays; closed on Tuesdays. If a national holiday falls on a Tuesday, the museum will be closed on Wednesday. Also closed throughout the New Year holidays. 

How To Get There: Take a train on the Hankyu Takarazuka Line to Ikeda Station. The CUPNOODLES Museum is 3 minutes away on foot. 

 

Experience onsen on another level at Spa World

The Japanese are big on baths, specifically onsen—hot springs or traditional bathing facilities. If you would like to experience this with the entire fam and also try baths inspired by other cultures, Spa World is the place to go! It is divided into two sections: the European Zone and the Asian Zone. The European Zone will take your to Ancient Rome, Greece, and the Mediterranean Sea, to name a few. In the Asian Zone, try the Hammam, Bali bath, or the Singapore Spa. Of course, you shouldn’t pass up on the opportunity to take a dip in an open-air onsen. Keep in mind, though, that you have to be totally undressed when bathing in an onsen. Don’t worry—the baths for men and women are in separate areas. 

Address: 3-4-24 Ebisuhigashi Naniwa-Ku, Osaka-Shi, Osaka-Fu 556-0002

Tickets: Admission fees vary. Click here to check which pricing applies to you and your family.

Operating Hours: Attractions in Spa World have different opening times. Check the schedules here. 

How To Get There: Take the Osaka Metro Midosuji or Sakaisuji Lines to Dobutsuen-mae Station, and take Exit 5. Spa World is 2 minutes away on foot. 

 

Eat to your heart’s content at Dotonbori 

With all the delicious food available in the bustling district of Dotonbori, even the pickiest little eaters will find something they’ll love here! Sink your teeth in Osaka’s signature takoyaki, gorge on an okonomiyaki (savory pancakes), and try various street food! While you’re in the area, don’t forget to snap a picture with the iconic Glico Man—hands up!

Operating Hours: Stores and restaurants in Dotonbori have different opening times. A safe time to go for lunch is 11 AM; for dinner, you can beat the rush by being in the area at 5 PM.

How To Get There: Take a train on the Kintetsu Namba Line to Namba Station. Take Exit 14, and Dotonbori is just a 3-minute walk away.

 

Visit the Pokémon Center in Osaka

Are you raising little PokeMasters? If your answer is yes, do not skip the Pokémon Center in Umeda! This massive shop sells all kinds of Pokémon merchandise, including rare finds you wouldn’t get anywhere else! It also has a Pokémon Card Station, where various card events are held daily. If you get lucky, you might even score an exclusive Pokémon Card on your visit!

Address: Daimaru Umeda Store 13F 3-1-1, Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, 530-8202, Japan

How To Get There: Take a train on the Midosuji Line to Umeda Station. Pokémon Center Osaka is a 5-minute walk from Exit 8. If you are at the JR Osaka Station, it’s a 5-minute walk from the central exit. 

 

Enter the worlds of your favorite movies at Universal Studios Japan

What’s an Osaka itinerary for kids (and kids at heart) without Universal Studios Japan? Also known as “USJ,” it sets itself apart from other Universal Studios Parks around the world with its totally kawaii or totally sugoi attractions, like the Hello Kitty Design Studio; the globe’s first Super Nintendo World; and its annual multi-seasonal Universal Cool Japan celebrations, in which the park highlights limited-time attractions inspired by popular animé series, like Sailor Moon, Detective Conan, Attack on Titan, Evangelion, and, more recently, SPY x FAMILY. 

Address: 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, 554-0031, Japan

Tickets: USJ ticket prices vary, depending on the season. You can view the ticket price calendar here

Operating Hours: USJ’s opening times also vary. It would be best to check the park’s official website before your visit.

How To Get There: Take a train on the JR Yumesaki Line (JR Sakurajima Line) to Universal City Station. The park’s entrance is 5 minutes away on foot. 

 

Watch planes as they take off at Sky View

Also known as Kanku Observation Hall, Sky View is a Kansai International Airport attraction that you can visit just before you say sayonara to Osaka. It has a viewing platform that treats you and your family to 360-degree panoramic views of the airport’s runways and passenger terminal buildings. It also has a cute restaurant that serves in-flight meals and an airline merchandise shop that carries the biggest selection in all of Japan!

Address: Kansai International Airport, 1 Senshukukokita, Izumisano, Japan

Operating Hours: 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily

Tickets: You can visit Sky View free of charge!

How To Get There: Take the free shuttle bus from Bus Stop 1 at Terminal 1 Building 1F. The ride takes about 6 minutes. 

 

 

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***Featured image by by Juliana Barquero on Unsplash