This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 9:00 Pick up at hotel
- 9:15-12:00 Move to Osaka Castle and stay there.
- 12:00-13:30 Stay at Shitennoji Temple& Lunch
- 13:40-14:00 Move to Nihonbashi
- 14:00-14:30 Kuromon Market
- 14:30-14:50 Dotonbori / Hozenji Yokocho Alley
- Around 14:55 End of tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Osaka Castle and stay there. at 9:15, Stay at Shitennoji Temple& Lunch at 12:00, Nihonbashi at 13:40, Kuromon Market at 14:00 and Dotonbori / Hozenji Yokocho Alley at 14:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Ebisucho to Tanimachi 4-chome by subway (240JPY); Tanimachi 4-chome to Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka by subway (190JPY); Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka to Nihonbashi by subway (190JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 620JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Full-Day Private Osaka Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were staying at an Airbnb near a hotel in Osaka. The day before, they had gotten lost and arrived late, and in the morning they still seemed to be getting ready, only coming out a little after 9:15 once I had contacted them via a messaging app. I always arrive near the meeting point 30 minutes early and send a confirmation email 15 minutes beforehand, so I ended up waiting outside for a full 30 minutes. Still, the guests were very pleasant and interested in history and religion, so we toured Osaka Castle thoroughly, and by then it was already noon. At Shitennoji Temple it was the last fair day of the year, and one of the guests, who was very keen on cameras, found and bought some camera parts. There were rare items not usually available in shops as well as inexpensive secondhand kimono, and since admission to the temple's main hall was free today, the guests looked around eagerly, by which point we had already passed the scheduled tour time. By the time we visited Kuromon Market, Dotonbori, and Hozenji Yokocho it was nearly 3:00 p.m., yet once again I kept to my policy of not charging extra.
Click here for more details: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Ebisucho～Tanimachi 4-chome | 240JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Tanimachi 4-chome～Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka | 190JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka～Nihonbashi | 190JPY |
| Total | 620JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Osaka Castle and stay there., Stay at Shitennoji Temple& Lunch, Nihonbashi, Kuromon Market and Dotonbori / Hozenji Yokocho Alley.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 620JPY per person across 3 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Yuki is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Osaka itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Hi! I’m an official English guide in Wakayama prefecture. I’m also a national guide as well. I’d like to expand my guide area to help tourists.
The town of Osaka offers a different atmosphere than Tokyo. I like both exciting Osaka and nature-filled Wakayama Prefecture.
If you stay in Osaka for 3 days, you can go to Koyasan for one day, or even for a day trip, so I recommend sightseeing at Koyasan.
If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the big city, the nature of Koyasan will relax you.
I will introduce you to the unique culture, history and must-see sights.
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189mirjamf
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Bento-Boxes!
「異文化についての素晴らしい洞察（体験）でした。」
とても親切で、情報豊富な案内でした。さらに、事前に美味しいお弁当まで手配してくれました！