Day 2 started with a smart move — I packed all my souvenirs, change of clothes, and bulky luggage into a cardboard box and had the hotel front desk ship it straight home. 📦 With just one bag on my back, I was ready to explore Osaka!
Osaka Castle Park: Way Bigger Than I Expected! 🏯
I took the train from Sakurajima Station to 📍Osaka Castle Park Station. Honestly, I thought the castle would be right there the moment I stepped off — but wow, was I in for a surprise!
The park is massive. It took over 20 minutes just to reach the castle itself 😅
It was a beautiful sunny day, but the heat hit hard from the morning. My body hadn’t adjusted to summer temperatures yet, and it was honestly a bit rough. I walked through the park with my parasol ☀️
There were so many runners training in the heat — apparently a triathlon is held here at the end of May. I’ve actually signed up for a trail run in June, and watching them I thought, “Running in THIS heat? That’s intense!” 😅 People were also having BBQ parties in the park — lively voices drifting through the air. Such a fun vibe!
Toyokuni Shrine (豊國神社): A Must-See Inside the Park ✨
Before reaching the castle, I came across 📍Toyokuni Shrine (豊國神社) — a shrine dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Toyotomi Hideyori, and Toyotomi Hidenga. It’s one of the most accessible spots within Osaka Castle Park, and lots of visitors stop by while sightseeing!
As soon as you pass through the torii gate, a huge statue of Hideyoshi greets you — you immediately feel, “Ah, this is definitely Hideyoshi’s shrine!” 😊
Just ahead is the Sakuramon Gate of Osaka Castle. Walk through it and climb the slope, and the full view of Osaka Castle finally opens up before you!
On the right side there’s a café and rest area — a great place to cool down on hot days. Since it was a weekend and quite crowded, I decided not to go inside the castle this time. I took a few photos and headed to my next destination!
Namba Yasaka Shrine: That Lion Head is MASSIVE 🦁
After Osaka Castle, I made my way to 📍Namba Yasaka Shrine by subway.
How to Get There
Walk through Osaka Castle Park to 📍Tanimachi 4-chome Station (谷町四丁目駅). The walk is pleasant with lots of greenery, and since there are plenty of tourists around it’s easy to navigate even for first-timers.
Take the Tanimachi Line, transfer at Tanimachi 9-chome Station (谷町九丁目駅) to the Sennichimae Line, and ride to 📍Namba Station. From the station, it’s just a few minutes on foot!
The famous lion head shrine (獅子殿) was even more impressive than I’d imagined — up close, the sheer scale of it is incredible! Tons of people were taking photos in front of it.
There are lots of takoyaki shops and cafés nearby, making it a great stop during your Osaka sightseeing! After paying my respects, I received a goshuin (御朱印) stamp — note that this shrine only offers pre-written stamps, not written on the spot.
Dotonbori: Cheesecake, Takoyaki & More 🧀🐙
From the shrine, I walked towards Dotonbori.
The area around Namba Station is so lively! The shopping arcade is lined with kitchenware shops — knives, cooking tools, miscellaneous goods — perfect for browsing. The narrow alleys are packed with small izakayas, and plenty of people were already enjoying drinks in the afternoon 😄
My main mission? 📍Rikuro Ojisan’s Cheesecake! It’s a famous Osaka treat that pops up all over Instagram — fluffy, jiggly, and totally worth it!
With Marui department store on your left, head straight and you’ll enter Ebisubashi-suji Shopping Street (戎橋筋商店街). Inside, you’ll find 📍551 Horai (pork buns) and Dotonbori Waku (takoyaki) all in one area!
📍Rikuro Ojisan Namba Honten is right there too. It’s super popular and there’s usually a line — but when it gets really crowded, they limit how many people can queue. A security guard will wave you in when it’s your turn. If it’s too busy, they’ll ask you to come back later. Keep that in mind! (You can also make eat-in reservations online — worth checking out!)
I got my cheesecake ✨, then enjoyed takoyaki at Dotonbori Waku before heading to Osaka Station.
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Wrapping Up 🎒
This Osaka trip followed the classic tourist route — but you know what, that’s because these spots are genuinely amazing. I hit every place I didn’t want to miss, and I left completely satisfied! I hope this helps make your Osaka trip a great one. Thank you so much for reading until the end! 🙏
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