Osaka

Where to Stay

I will say up front that perhaps more than other places the where you stay in Osaka is very important. That's because it depends both on what you are doing in Osaka, but also if you are using it as a base for day trips. In the case of the latter, you want to be close to a train station that actually has trains going to where you want to. You don't want to turn a 1.5hr train into 2+ hours just because of hotel location.

Karaksa Hotel Grandé Shin-Osaka Tower

This was a nice hotel. A pretty convenient location, especially if you are planning to day trip from Osaka, and nice rooms and facilities. The breakfast was pretty good, terrible coffee, but foodwise I think reasonably solid.

Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka

Look, hotel is fine, my absolute biggest gripe here is that we were consistently coming back to the hotel from Osaka station, and it is an absolute rabbit warren maze. Took me about 4 days to consistently be able to work out where to go to get back to the hotel from a train. Horrid experience.

Ibis Styles Osaka Namba

This was a nice hotel, and is conveniently placed if you are sticking to within the city, not day tripping out. The staff here were really good too, helping us out when we needed to get a child to a doctor! Also good on helping with the luggage forwarding.

What to do

Kids Plaza

This is absolutely aimed at people with young children. We have been with kids from almost 3 up to 8 and it was brilliant for them all the time! It's a really good way to spend a few hours with the kids. They get to have some play, with some sneaky learning opportunities in there as well.

Universal Studios (USJ)

Technically this is a must visit, but I have caveats so hear me out! Generally, I loathe Universal Studios. I have hated large swathes of it here, as well as in Singapore. BUT, there is Hogsmeade, and there is, crucially, Super Nintendo World. In particular, I would say if you can't get yourself a guaranteed timed entry, via an express pass or something, for Super Nintendo World then I would skip the whole thing!

For me, USJ feels a lot like everything is designed to make as much money as possible (yes, I know that is literally what they are meant to do). But I always compare it to Disneyland (Tokyo specifically) and think it's like USJ thought how can we gouge people the most and the park formed around it, whereas Disney was how can we create the most joy, and the money will sort itself out.

I also find the whole movie lot aesthetic to be awful, because it is massive and you just find it harder to know where you are, compared to themed lands. Plus, if you are there in the summer...well, don't be.

BUT, Super Nintendo World is amazing. Amazingly busy and crowded, yes, but the theming is soooo good. When we were there they only had Mario, and the Mario Kart ride was amazing, but now there is also Kong Country, so I expect it to be even better! We will be returning in a few months.

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

I am giving this one a yes. We loved this the first time we went. The second time didn't seem quite as good to me, I think maybe I had built it up in my mind too much, or maybe I just found some of it a bit more depressing (hello dolphins). I'm not sure. So I guess that is a bit up to you and your tolerance for animals in captivity...

Food

Rikuro's Cheesecake

We got one of these, to see what the hype was about. Well, let me tell you, it is about madness! We found the cheesecake to be pretty bland and flavourless overall, the same thing that often happens with the fluffy pancakes. Basically, to get a nice looking fluff treat, you give up flavour opportunity for air and egg white. Then there are raisans at the bottom? No thanks! Pass!