Private Tour
Osaka Kickstart: Hotspots & Hidden Gems Tour
Overview
Available languages
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 To Expect
Hozenji Yokocho
These hard to find winding, cobblestone alleys steeped with character & tradition is remarkable . We'll also find walls painted with Osaka's history etched into it.
Dotonbori Tsuribori
Visiting Osaka's Dotonbori River is a must.....one of our highlights. Along side this picturesque scene is a treasure trove full of more than a variety of stores to entertain you.
What‘s Included
Flexible tour duration: 3, 4, 5, or 7 hours
Walking tour with optional train or taxi use if requested
1 drink and 1 small side dish (usually 1 takoyaki ball)
Private personalized tour or group tour
Entry fees to attractions
Transport costs (if not included in requested route)
Food and drinks beyond the small included snack
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Private 4hr Discovery Tour
Pickup included
Group Tour Option (3hrs)
Private 3hr Kickstart Tour
Pickup included
Private 7hr Expedition Tour
Snack: Small serving of Takoyaki (Osaka's most famous food)
Pickup included
Private 5hr Exploration Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
1,245 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great starting tour for Osaka!
alr333333,,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was definitely a fun walking tour, and worth it to pay for a private one for time efficiency. Even from the start, we were running late from getting ready and the tour company was kind and communicative as to ensure a good experience by notifiying us know in twice advance and at the start time to check that we were okay. We appreciated that. Meeting with Knox, our tour guide, was easy and smooth as he was waiting for us in the lobby. Before starting he checked with us to understand what we might have already seen or might want to do so as to plan a successful seven hour tour... that also was appreciated. The tour itself was interesting with great explanations of the sites we saw with great knowledge of history, backstories, knowledge of pop culture and top food spots, his patience and guidance as we shopped for our personal desirables. If I could give Knox 6 stars, I would. Very enjoyable tour!
We loved this tour -...
Kylie C,,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We loved this tour - Rahat was an excellent guide, full of local knowledge and stories with a great sense of humour.
Fun in Osaka!
Jason W,,Dec 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00My family of 4 (2 adults and 2 adult kids ages 25 and 22) had an amazing day in Osaka! Our tour guide Marii was great! She took us to all the must see spots in Osaka! Her youth and vibrancy totally connected with our kids making this tour not only interesting to us parents but fun and relatable for our kids! I only wish we had more time with Mari exploring this fun city!! Thank you Marii!!
Perfect introduction to Osaka !
F3472TNseanb,,Dec 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Straight off the plane we learned more in 3 hrs than 3 months of research from Meryem who is a fun passionate expert in Osaka food, shopping and culture. She even showed us eating spots to cater for our son’s allergies ! We are so excited for the rest of our trip now ! This is a must do for Osaka ….
Osaka trip Dec 2025
Ashish C,,Dec 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was our first time visiting Japan, and we couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the country. We had seen our friends visit Osaka previously and were excited to do the same. Bryan was an excellent guide, and we highly recommend him to anyone planning this tour. We learned about the culture, the history of Osaka Castle, and the local prayer rituals. We also noticed interesting details like the street lamps, enjoyed the food, and clicked many wonderful pictures throughout our tour.
Visit Osaka
kenz504,,Dec 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The day trip with Nick is fantastic, Nick is very good and knowledgeable . He provided very much helpful information about Osaka and the downtown , really appreciate it.
A day in Osaka
Devi A,,Dec 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We took a tour with Mr. Taka. He is very friendly and helpful especially when we asked him to take pictures of my family 👍👍. It is worth it to use viator, so you will not get lost in Osaka,, thx a lot
Fantastic introduction to Osaka!
carriebN7444ND,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We did this tour the day after we arrived in Osaka. Honestly it was the best tour on our trip to Japan. Our tour leader was entertaining, engaging and informative. He genuinely enjoyed showing us around. He shared knowledge about the people while showing us the main areas in the city centre, and recommended a few great places to eat at. This set us up to be able to be independent for the rest of our time in Osaka. Thank you for a great tour! We have already highly recommended this tour to friends. The tour finished at a lane. We chose to stay after the tour and do a genuine Japanese tea ceremony there with kimonos on (some shops in the lane are not run by Japanese people).
Excellent Osaka Tour
Andrew Z,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great time with our guide, Mari, exploring Dotonbori and the surrounding area! Her knowledge of Osaka and its history added a great deal of interesting context to our visit and we learned a ton about the city! Would highly recommend this tour as an intro to Osaka, as it will give you plenty of ideas for areas to visit and spend more time at over the course of your stay in the city!
Fantastic Tour!
MayiBarov,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is such a great tour for first time visitors to Osaka. We had an amazing time with Taka, he’s a true Osaka local and knows his city so well. He was super knowledgeable, friendly and shared so many helpful tips and recommendations that made our stay even better. We got to see all the main spots and really enjoyed learning about this fun, beautiful city. Thank you so much, Taka!
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