Osaka's Best and Brightest by Private Vehicle
Overview
Looking for a full-day, private vehicle tour that covers top spots with a fun, knowledgeable, and truly fluent English speaker? You've found it. We show you Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Shin-sekai, a view from high above, and more! Plus, get some local insight and interesting commentary at some of our other recommended stops. All of this at your pace, with your own personal driver/guide, and high quality vehicle service. Your guide is *guaranteed* to be a native English speaker or honest equivalent.
Inclusions
- Private vehicle with all related fees.
- A likable guide that speaks English superbly.
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Osaka Castle, 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo, Osaka 540-0002 Osaka Prefecture
Of course you're going to see Osaka Castle, arguably the most iconic spot of great historical significance in Osaka. We'll traverse the grounds, all the while talking about the history, architecture, and significance of the spot. Since the rebuilt interior of the castle is rather disappointing, we recommend giving that a miss. Trust us.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: 1-11-18 Shitennoji, Tennoji-Ku, Osaka 543-0051 Osaka Prefecture
This is said to be the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan, and the grounds make for a great place to stroll about. We'll regale you with stories and lob you just enough info on the place to make it interesting without being tedious. Unless you like loads of info, because we have that too. It's your private tour after all! :)
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Shinsekai, 1 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwaku, Osaka 556-0002 Osaka Prefecture
Fun for all ages, in an odd sort of reality-independent way, this is a must-see while in Osaka. Games, food, fashion (perhaps heavily skewed toward the eye of the beholder), and that general, unmistakable Osaka vibe. No one forgets a visit to Shin-sekai.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Abeno Harukas, 1-1-43 Abenosuji, Abeno-Ku, Osaka 545-0052 Osaka Prefecture
Lunch, and a trip up Harukas. We'll have a lunch to your liking in the Tennoji area, which is also where the super tall building known as Harukas is. This being the tallest non-tower building in Japan (300m), there are views aplenty. (We in Osaka have heard there is some tower with a height of biblical proportions in Tokyo, but we're not so interested.) We won't go up to the top of Harukas, but we go high enough to enjoy a breathtaking view of Osaka, and on a good day, all the way to Kobe and more. Some local shopping is available here too, if you're keen.
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
Stop At: Kuromon Market, 2-4-1, Nippombashi, Chuo, Osaka 542-0073 Osaka Prefecture
A feast for the eyes, and for the stomach too, if you're interested! Fish, meats, fruits, and a panoply of people all vie for your attention.
Duration: 25 minutes
Stop At: Dotombori District, Chuo-ku, Dotombori, Chuo, Osaka 542-0076 Osaka Prefecture
We've got a little flexibility here, but we love showing people not only the internationally famous "Running Man" sign, but also some cool back streets, the kitchenware district, and some other sights based on your interests.
Duration: 1 hour
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Osaka Castle, 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo, Osaka 540-0002 Osaka Prefecture
Of course you're going to see Osaka Castle, arguably the most iconic spot of great historical significance in Osaka. We'll traverse the grounds, all the while talking about the history, architecture, and significance of the spot. Since the rebuilt interior of the castle is rather disappointing, we recommend giving that a miss. Trust us.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: 1-11-18 Shitennoji, Tennoji-Ku, Osaka 543-0051 Osaka Prefecture
This is said to be the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan, and the grounds make for a great place to stroll about. We'll regale you with stories and lob you just enough info on the place to make it interesting without being tedious. Unless you like loads of info, because we have that too. It's your private tour after all! :)
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Shinsekai, 1 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwaku, Osaka 556-0002 Osaka Prefecture
Fun for all ages, in an odd sort of reality-independent way, this is a must-see while in Osaka. Games, food, fashion (perhaps heavily skewed toward the eye of the beholder), and that general, unmistakable Osaka vibe. No one forgets a visit to Shin-sekai.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Abeno Harukas, 1-1-43 Abenosuji, Abeno-Ku, Osaka 545-0052 Osaka Prefecture
Lunch, and a trip up Harukas. We'll have a lunch to your liking in the Tennoji area, which is also where the super tall building known as Harukas is. This being the tallest non-tower building in Japan (300m), there are views aplenty. (We in Osaka have heard there is some tower with a height of biblical proportions in Tokyo, but we're not so interested.) We won't go up to the top of Harukas, but we go high enough to enjoy a breathtaking view of Osaka, and on a good day, all the way to Kobe and more. Some local shopping is available here too, if you're keen.
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
Stop At: Kuromon Market, 2-4-1, Nippombashi, Chuo, Osaka 542-0073 Osaka Prefecture
A feast for the eyes, and for the stomach too, if you're interested! Fish, meats, fruits, and a panoply of people all vie for your attention.
Duration: 25 minutes
Stop At: Dotombori District, Chuo-ku, Dotombori, Chuo, Osaka 542-0076 Osaka Prefecture
We've got a little flexibility here, but we love showing people not only the internationally famous "Running Man" sign, but also some cool back streets, the kitchenware district, and some other sights based on your interests.
Duration: 1 hour
Additional information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- We can have more or less walking, as you like.
- Gratuities are uncommon in Japan, however if you really enjoyed your time and want to show your guide how much you appreciate them, they’ll be extremely happy!
- According to Japanese law, children under 6 years old or less than 140cm MUST use car seats. Be sure to request one in advance from us if required.
- Enjoy all the exciting stops described above and more on this private vehicle tour! The plan described is a model course, and there is the possibility for change based on our guests' interests. Timing and external factors (such as traffic conditions) may force deviations from this model course.
- This is a private vehicle tour, so only the guide is not part of your group.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Moe_M
September 2023
What a memorable day in Osaka. Daniel has extensive local knowledge and took us the best of Osaka. We highly recommend the activity and Daniel.
What a memorable day in Osaka. Daniel has extensive local knowledge and took us the best of Osaka. We highly recommend the activity and Daniel.Ronald_P
August 2023
Dan came to our hotel in Kyoto and rove is down to Osaka. His driving was very safe and conservative. What was more important is that he spoke English very well. He is a native was Spain so he also spoke Spanish, which was a plus for us. He has a lot of knowledge of Japanese questions and answ...
Dan came to our hotel in Kyoto and rove is down to Osaka. His driving was very safe and conservative. What was more important is that he spoke English very well. He is a native was Spain so he also spoke Spanish, which was a plus for us. He has a lot of knowledge of Japanese questions and answered all of the historical questions we had about Osaka and of Japan culture and history. He has lived in Japan for over 10am years so it was fascinating to get a westerner’s perspective of Japanese culture. This was a day we’ll spent!Glenda_F
March 2023
I had to write this review because out of all the tours I took during my stay in Japan (7 total) this was the absolute BEST! Not only is Osaka beautiful but the tour guide I have come to learn can make or break the tour, and Lito was AMAZING!!!!! So knowledgeable, he would give us nuggets of info...
I had to write this review because out of all the tours I took during my stay in Japan (7 total) this was the absolute BEST! Not only is Osaka beautiful but the tour guide I have come to learn can make or break the tour, and Lito was AMAZING!!!!! So knowledgeable, he would give us nuggets of information not only about Osaka but also about Japanese history to tie in together what we were seeing with the past! SOO SO PRECIOUS!!!! Lito was also flexible with our family, we have a multi gen family, a teen and grandma in the group, and he was able to please us ALL! Lito is also super funny, in a long long day, just to have someone that has a light, sweet and funny character was a game changer!!! We honestly wished we would have been with him all of our 12 days in Japan! Next time we definitely will!!! In regards to the visits, everything was so beautiful, if you have to choose one tour to do while you are here, this is the one you will not want to miss!!!! Thank you Lito we absolutely loved our time in Osaka next time we are coming straight here and will ask specifically for YOU! ❤️xfaithkimx
August 2019
We started our week in Japan in Osaka. We were greeted by Kevin and we had an amazing time! He is very knowledgeable, personable and has a great sense of humor. Osaka is such a wonderful city, we wish we could have stayed longer. But Kevin did an amazing job giving us the full Osaka experience wi...
We started our week in Japan in Osaka. We were greeted by Kevin and we had an amazing time! He is very knowledgeable, personable and has a great sense of humor. Osaka is such a wonderful city, we wish we could have stayed longer. But Kevin did an amazing job giving us the full Osaka experience with the food, temple and sights! It was also nice having a car take us around. The car was spacious, clean and had AC, which is a luxury when its hot and humid. We would definitely do another tour with Kevin if we're ever in the area again!Esteban R
October 2019
This was a great tour of Osaka. Daniel was not only accommodating, he actually spoke spanish, which for me is a great plus as it's my native language. We went to see almost everything in the trip but Daniel was also flexible when he heard that I really liked Anime/technology he took me to equiv...
This was a great tour of Osaka. Daniel was not only accommodating, he actually spoke spanish, which for me is a great plus as it's my native language. We went to see almost everything in the trip but Daniel was also flexible when he heard that I really liked Anime/technology he took me to equivalent of Akihabara in Osaka, in which I found what I was looking for (Mazinger Z, yes I'm old). Overall, great experience and highly recommended if you have limited time to see everything. Thanks! Esteban RiveraEddy_S
September 2019
The trip was excellent. We had a very friendly and patient driver who guided us to the main point of interests in Osaka and Kobe. The driver took us to the good restaurants as well, which were very suitable to our food preference. The vehicle was brand new and clean. We were party of 8, consistin...
The trip was excellent. We had a very friendly and patient driver who guided us to the main point of interests in Osaka and Kobe. The driver took us to the good restaurants as well, which were very suitable to our food preference. The vehicle was brand new and clean. We were party of 8, consisting of 5 adults and 3 young children. All of us definitely enjoyed this trip. Thanks to Viator and all the staffs who had assisted us arranging the tour prior to our departure.