Osaka: Osaka Castle & Tsutenkaku Tower — Guide Kazu
August, 2026
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
- 10:30 Meet at Shin-Osaka Station
- 11:05 Osaka Castle
- 12:20 Lunch at Dotonbori (Okonomiyaki)
- 13:00 Hozenji Temple
- 13:25 Namba Yasaka Shrine
- 14:30 Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
- 16:10 Tsutenkaku Tower
- 17:10 Drop off at Shin-Osaka Station and end of tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at Shin-Osaka Station at 10:30, the group explored Osaka until the tour ended at 17:10. The day ran to 6 hours and 40 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch at Dotonbori (Okonomiyaki) at 12:20.
The itinerary covered Osaka Castle at 11:05, Hozenji Temple at 13:00, Namba Yasaka Shrine at 13:25, Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine at 14:30 and Tsutenkaku Tower at 16:10.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shin-Osaka to Yodoyabashi by subway (240JPY); Yodoyabashi to Temmabashi by train (180JPY); Tanimachi 4-chome to Namba (Subway) by subway (240JPY); Namba (Nankai Line) to Sumiyoshi Taisha by train (240JPY); Sumiyoshi Taisha to Shin-Imamiya by train (240JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 1,140JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private Osaka Day Tour Like When Trains Are Delayed? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guest came to Japan from North America and had visited Japan before. The guest was very cheerful and friendly, quickly striking up conversations with people encountered at the sightseeing spots. In the morning, the JR trains were delayed due to the previous day's rain. While waiting for the train to go from Kyoto Station to Shin-Osaka by JR, there was an announcement of a 15-minute delay. That alone should have left plenty of time for the 9:30 meeting. However, after departing Kyoto Station, the train fell further behind, stopping repeatedly on the way to Shin-Osaka, and in the end we were finally able to meet at 10:30, an hour later than the planned 9:30 meeting time. The guest may have felt the tour was long, having had to wait for quite some time. It was fortunate that it did not rain, but the humidity was high and at times the sun beat down, so the guest seemed to struggle with the heat. Among the places visited, the guest seemed to particularly enjoy the okonomiyaki for lunch and Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine. Taxis were used between Dotonbori, Namba Yasaka Shrine, and Nankai Namba Station, and between Nankai Shin-Imamiya Station, Tsutenkaku, and Shin-Osaka Station. The photo was taken at Osaka Castle Park.
Click here for more details: Osaka Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Shin-Osaka～Yodoyabashi | 240JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Yodoyabashi～Temmabashi | 180JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Tanimachi 4-chome～Namba (Subway) | 240JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Namba (Nankai Line)～Sumiyoshi Taisha | 240JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Sumiyoshi Taisha～Shin-Imamiya | 240JPY |
| Total | 1,140JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Osaka tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Shin-Osaka Station at 10:30, and the tour finished at Shin-Osaka Station and end of tour at 17:10.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours and 40 minutes in total, from 10:30 to 17:10.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Osaka Castle, Hozenji Temple, Namba Yasaka Shrine, Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine and Tsutenkaku Tower.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,140JPY per person across 5 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?
Kazu 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.
I was born and grew up in Kyoto and now live near Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I used to be a schoolteacher of English and welcome a lot of students from foreign countries. I really enjoyed showing them around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I have been a professional tour guide for about 8 years. I always try to let my guests learn Japanese traditional and modern culture. Since I was born in Kyoto, I know a lot about its culture and people. I myself enjoyed several sports, such as soccer, judo, and marathon when I was young. I’m much interested in baseball and sumo. My motto as a tour guide is to let my guests learn about our tradition and culture precisely and really enjoy themselves. I strongly hope you will enjoy the tour in Japan with me.
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep knowledge about the history and culture of Japan. He is flexible and accommodates changes if you so desire. He is also very empathetic. I had a sprained back and he ensured we took elevators everywhere. You will be lucky if he is assigned as your guide .
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience…
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience on the tour. We travelled all around Kyoto with our guide Kazuo Sumi. He is a sweet older gentleman who had a great depth of knowledge about each place we went to. We told him places we wanted to go and he made the itinerary for us. There is no one better to have as your guide!!
Jul 16, 2026
margaretsM7923ON
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Great way to see Kyoto
Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided…
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided some excellent recommendations. There’s a lot of walking so make sure you are prepared.