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
Private 5hr Exploration Tour
Pickup included
Private 3hr Kickstart Tour
Pickup included
Group Tour Option (3hrs)
Private 7hr Expedition Tour
Snack: Small serving of Takoyaki (Osaka's most famous food)
Pickup included
Reviews
1,276 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Perfect Kickoff Tour
Rodel C,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00A very good tour to start in Osaka. Nick, our tour guide, was very kind & friendly. This was an informative tour.
Great and insightful
ANDREW G,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Huge shoutout to Luis for the amazing tour of Osaka! 🇯🇵 He was so friendly and knowledgeable, making it easy to ask questions and get a feel for the city. It’s the perfect way to start your trip if you want to get your bearings. Highly recommended!
Osaka walking tour
M91AXbenl,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mari was a fantastic and knowledgeable tour guide and I feel very lucky to have had her show my girlfriend and me around! Would highly recommend
A perfect day discovering Osaka
Amanda H,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a fabulous day on our Osaka private tour—it was truly one of the highlights of our entire Japan trip. Stephanie, our guide, was outstanding. She was relaxed, warm, and incredibly accommodating, while also having a deep knowledge of the local area. What made the day special was how naturally she wove in references to local culture, hidden spots, and everyday Osaka life as we walked. We covered over 16,000 steps, starting at Osaka Castle and moving through the business district, American Town, and various shopping areas. It never felt rushed or tiring—just fun and engaging from start to finish. Stephanie chose a fantastic lunch spot, which turned out to be one of the most enjoyable meals we had in Japan, featuring delicious deep-fried vegetables and meats. She also took us to a great coffee spot, adding to the relaxed, local feel of the day. Exploring Osaka through secret lanes and neighbourhoods was the perfect way to really feel the city. An absolutely enjoyable day—highly recommended.
Highly recommend
kris p,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was an amazing tour and one we would highly recommend to people who want to know more about Osaka, great places to eat and shop, as well as how to navigate yourself around the city. Shems our guide was so knowledgeable, fun and very friendly and made the experience so enjoyable.
Amazing time in Osaka with Bryan!
bodem1996,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00My wife, me, and our 7 year old daughter had a 5 hour walking tour with Bryan and it was absolutely/ hands down amazing! Daughter had a blast and we had a great time. Went to the Osaka Castle, dotonbori, and a couple of other spots and had an amazing lunch / early dinner. Bryan was kind enough to help us get our Shinkansen ticket as well as show us how to get to shin-osaka on the red line metro. We were able to spend high quality time in the short 5 hours we were in Osaka thanks to Bryan! I would absolutely recommend him and would surely ask to be paired up with him if I am ever in Osaka again. Thank you Bryan for making our family’s Osaka trip memorable and fun!
Amazing Tour!! ありがとうございました
genea174,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I did this tour on New Year’s Day when almost everything was closed, but I still had a great time thanks to the funny and knowledgeable tour guide! If I had gone to these spots without doing this tour, I would not have learned very much about Osaka or be nearly as entertained as I was, and so I think this tour is definitely worth it for the price! 案内してくれてありがとうございました！
Great start to our first trip to Japan
Pauline N,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This is a must do tour. We had a brilliant guide, Harry, who gave us the background stories to the area and important information to help us understand the history and the culture but also gave us lots of tips to assist us to navigate the city of Osaka. Harry was relatable and very droll. It was a great way to spend our first day in Japan.
Walking Tour of Osaka
Michelle Z,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Walking through Osaka's busy streets can be overwhelming but Paul was a perfect guide. He is informative and full of energy - keeping us engaged.
Great Starter Tour of Osaka
Bonnie L,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Bryan was our tour guide for the 3 hour walking tour “Kickstart of Osaka” He was a friendly, knowledgable guide, who had researched that my husband was vegetarian and made sure to recommend some restaurants, which we later had dinner in. It was a busy tour as we had only just arrived in Osaka and Bryan had wanted to show us as much as he could. We love walking, so it was the perfect tour for us.
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