Private Tour

Osaka Kickstart: Hotspots and Hidden Gems Private or Group Tours

Overview

Available languages

English

Mobile ticket

Kickstart your day or night Osaka walking adventure with this tour featured on Channel 5 British TV on the hugely popular series "Jane McDonald In Japan", chosen for its "genuine, quirky & unfiltered snapshot of Osaka".

Your local insider guide will pair every location with personal stories & historical info with quirky facts and a great dose of enthusiasm & humour:)

You get to choose from private totally customized tours OR a group tour.

Slip through Namba: hole in the wall bars/eateries, as well as Kuromon seafood market. (If you want lunch/dinner after the tour, we'll recommend delicious local restaurants too)

The retro district will share its charm with wacky game palors & friendly vendors while the Dotonbori will provide a sensory overload, billboards galore!

Osaka Castle will also showcase it's immense role in Japan's unification (only 5hr or 7hr tours)

After, explore hidden cobblestone alleys uncovering a centuries old collection of stores crafting their unique designs.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Specialized infant seats are available

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Private personalized tour OR group tour with others

1 Can Drink & 1 small side dish (likely 1 takoyaki ball)

Choose your hours: 3hrs, 4hrs, 5hrs, 7hrs

This is a tour on foot, but can use train or taxi if requested(at your own expense of course)

Entry tickets to any attractions

Transport Costs (normally none, or just 2 short rides of the train)

Food & Drink is not included (except for 1 drink & a small side dish)

Options

Private 7hr Expedition Tour

Snack: Small serving of Takoyaki (Osaka's most famous food)
Pickup included

Private 5hr Exploration Tour

Pickup included

Group Tour Option (3hrs)

Private 4hr Discovery Tour

Pickup included

Private 3hr Kickstart Tour

Pickup included

Reviews

4.87

856 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

788

Great way to start our Osaka stay
Nicola S,
Jun 1, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Arrived very punctual with great communications. Very informative on Dotonburi and Osaka. Provided some very useful information and recommendations.
Great tour to learn about Osaka
Svetlana T,
May 31, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Loved the comments by Knox. We visited the places that we would never find by ourselves. Highly recommended for the first time visitors
Nice Walking Tour
Matt W,
May 31, 2025
- Viator
4.00
Stephanie was a great tour guide! It was interesting to hear from someone living in Osaka as she showed us around the city. It was a more relaxed pace than most walking tours I've done, which was a nice change. Being at night in such a lively city with a lot to look at, it was more enjoyable to not worry about keeping up with the guide. Our guide gave us a list of recommendations which came in handy, especially if you do this at the start of your time in Osaka. I think we could have seen everything on our own in about the same amount of time, but without a guide we wouldn't have necessarily known what we were looking at. It's also nice to have a local guide to ask questions about the area, culture, food, etc.
Osaka Highlights
Sonya P,
May 30, 2025
- Viator
5.00
My guide Caroline was great at adjusting the itinerary to some spots I wanted to see from a friends recommendation. I got to see the major highlights of Osaka in a few hours.
A perfect afternoon in Osaka with Mio
Kate Y,
May 28, 2025
- Viator
5.00
We booked a private “Hidden Gems” tour in Osaka and were incredibly lucky to have Mio as our guide. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely funny - the kind of person who makes you feel like you’re exploring a new city with a good friend. Being around our age, she instantly understood our vibe and tailored the experience to show us trendy spots, local hangouts, and unique cultural gems that matched our interests. While the tour didn’t stick exactly to the itinerary advertised online, we were more than happy to give Mio free rein, and she absolutely delivered. It felt authentic, relaxed, and super fun from start to finish. We’re also really grateful to the tour company for letting us reschedule at the last minute, even though we messed up the original booking. That kind of flexibility and customer service really stood out. Would 100% recommend this tour to anyone wanting a more personal, off-the-beaten-path experience in Osaka. Thank you, Mio, for an amazing day!