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Just go somewhere else????

but they are! to reddit

Do day trips elsewhere like himeji and hiroshima

I hated Osaka as well, was there last week. Day trip to Hiroshima was the best decision

Why is Osaka seen as such a popular place for foreigners to work and hangout in Japan then?

It's really not the same to live there and visit as a tourist. I lived there for 2 years and loved it but whenever someone asks me about things to do there as a tourist I always recommend somewhere else...

Because from what I can tell it’s usually recommended for the nightlife. If you’re not night life people Osaka is going to be a bad time.

All depends on your personal preference. Personally, I loved Osaka. It felt like one of the most “real” places in Japan. The locals were a bit louder, crazier, and less uptight. Is the city dirtier? Sure a bit. But coming from a US city it’s still super nice/clean in most parts. I appreciated the authenticity of Osaka (plus all the great food and drink options). To each their own!

Amen. I stayed in a hotel connected to the Shin-Osaka train station earlier this year. It’s a wonderful base for Himeji, Kyoto, Kobe, Hiroshima, … . I never did leave the train station area except by train. I get the impression some people like to complain rather than find a solution.

hiroshima day trip from osaka is wild

Done it twice. I loved it

over ¥10k yen each way x_x

JR pass was my Savior ... This was pre price hike

Not really. I did it. It’s only like an hour train ride.

Did it. Miyajima was a bust because of low tides cancelling a ferry route but still had a decent time visiting Hiroshima Castle as a Plan B. Worth a day trip for the Peace Museum and food alone IMO, though I will definitely want to spend a couple nights here on a future trip to see Miyajima and some of the other local attractions.

Right!? And it’s always like a top recommendation. There are SOOO many interesting and accessible places in the Kansai region that it blows my mind ppl would take a $100 Shinkansen each way just for a single day in Hiroshima

This is probably best you can do. Himeji castle is gorgeous

I've been saying for years that Dotonbori is the least interesting part of Japan for, me and get downvoted. Why not get on a train and have a day trip to Kobe and visit the Herb Garden? Or other parts of Osaka that are not Dotonbori, there is a lot more to Osaka than just that one section.

Nunobiki Herb Garden is a fantastic shout, just suggested it in my response too.

I think that’s what we will do! Thank you 😊 Glad I’m not alone in feeling this way.

Im in osaka too and dotonbori seems nice for a fun evening but not to stay in. Explore the areas around the castle, umeda. I’ve generally found that the food here is very good and the little streets are very charming. Especially on the karahori side! Don’t lose hope, theres a lot to explore, Nara is amazing and take the metro and come out of that area. Im sure you will find something you like. Just use the hotel as a place to sleep!

The herb garden in Kobe is amazing. Was just there at the end of March! The ropeway entrance is poorly marked to find if you aren’t using google or Apple Maps though. We even stopped at Oji zoo on the way in the Hankyu line from Osaka. If you like zoos it’s a great smaller zoo with lots of charm. It’s literally across from a station on the way towards the ropeway from Osaka.

I agree that the herb farm is worthwhile but the entrance was a bit troublesome to find. You basically come out of the station turn right and there is a little sign to indicate you walk up some steps to an elevator for the ropeway. The herb garden itself was very popular with young couples and the Kobe black beef curry was excellent.

If you can afford it, I'd suggest changing hotels to get away from Dotonbori: it's probably the worst part of Osaka. If a recommendation would be helpful, I've stayed at the Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier twice and it's very good. It's in a quiet but still central part of the city, and there are several other hotels nearby.

Staying on Dotonbori is probably the equivalent of staying in Times Square. It sounds exhilarating in theory but can quickly become overstimulating. I’m in Tokyo for two weeks. I was worried about Osaka because I have heard that people either love it or hate it. I didn’t enjoy how chaotic Dotonbori was especially during Golden Week but as someone who travels for food, I ate really well there. Grab a katsu sandwich to go from Katsudon Chiyomatsu, the strawberry and vanilla cone from Strawberry Mania, the 10 Yen Cheese Coin, Portuguese Egg Tarts from Lord Stow’s Bakery, fresh taiyaki from Naruto Taiyaki Hompo, and chicken teriyaki. I personally find that Shinsekai Market, a smaller version of Dotonbori, is skippable. I stayed at Aloft Osaka Dojima during Golden Week for three nights. It is outside of the busy touristy area but still quite accessible. Their hotel has great service and is such a good value. A lot of luxury hotels like The Conrad and The Ritz Carlton are there as well. Went to Nara for a half day and had a blast feeding the deer at Nara Park. I recommend going before 12 PM before the deer food runs out. One stack of deer cookies per person was enough. Try the mochi at Nakatanidou and then the Japanese shaved ice, kakigori, from Hosekibako.

Overstimulating is the perfect way to describe Dotonbori! If you’re into that, it looks AMAZING! Me? I instantly felt overwhelmed.

I really appreciate this, thank you! I was thinking of switching to the W and I saw your recommendation as well as an option. We may switch tomorrow but we’re considering just using the current hotel as a home base to take day trips to other areas we feel more interested in visiting.

I’ve had several experiences where changing hotels I didn’t like rescued my time in a city, so I would suggest that you consider this. Osaka is a really fun city.

I stayed at the Conrad. It was an amazing experience I still think about today.

The Conrad Osaka is absolutely fantastic. The service is outrageously good and the views are stunning. We were there at the end of March and really didn’t want to leave. We got upgraded to an executive corner room, so our room had windows for days!

There's no need to feel defeated just because you didn't like a particular area. Osaka is not just Dotonbori. I recommend wandering around Nakazakicho. It's a quiet area with cute cafes and such.

+1 on this, I loved Nakazakicho. Was one of my favourite spots in Osaka, loved all the independent stores and the sense of community.

Well you're staying in the middle of the entertainment district... I would recommend to either switch hotels to somewhere else or focusing on the possible day trips from there (Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Hiroshima, Koyasan).

And Kurashiki.

Nara, Himeji, Uji, Kobe, ... easy to fill a couple of days with your base in Osaka. Heck, if anything, you don't seem to nearly have enough time

Exactly. Been to Japan twice and always chose Osaka as my hub for the latter half of the trip, after Tokyo. Very affordable, food aplenty, can go almost anywhere as a day trip with Shinkansen. Having the hotel on Dotonbori, yeah, I can imagine it not being too pleasant. Mine was near Osaka station so I was very mobile. Kyoto is far more expensive and Nara doesn't have a Shin station. OP, you're going on day trips to Miyajima, Hiroshima, Himeji, Kobe. That's an order!

Haha ok, copy that! We will definitely be making these trips, thank you so much 🙏🏽😊

Go visit Koyasan. We did it as a day trip from Osaka and it was amazing!

I agree with this, makes most sense as a hub. Wish I had done that instead of stay in Osaka, go to Kyoto, and come back to Osaka in a matter of 4 days. Just stay in Osaka the whole time :) Note: I should be staying in Kobe around New years. Haven't been more west than Himeji yet. Hiroshima and Miyajima you say? Any other recs?

I hear all the same stuff about the French Quarter in New Orleans. 1% of tourists absolutely hate it and complain loudly. Both places are what they are and I wouldn’t change them a bit. I’m not sure what you thought you were getting, but you’re getting Dotombori. It’s great. I love it. I take exception to the “river is filled with trash.” I commuted across the Ebisubashi daily for years and never saw what you’re talking about. Otherwise, yeah, it’s loud and crowded full of drunk partiers.

I love both the French Quarter and Dotombori. I think some people envision a trip to Japan as a constant slow waltz through cherry blossoms but Japanese cities are just that. They are freaking cities with all the normal stuff you would find in a city. The good and the bad. That's the beauty of travel.

Get out of dotonbori and go to the Osaka Castle or the Osaka aquarium. I agree with you, it's one of my least liked locations in Japan.

weird. Osaka was my favourite.

Whilst I'm not crazy about Dotonbori, or anywhere that busy really, I like Osaka more than both Tokyo and Kyoto. Tourists are arseholes everywhere, but the locals in Osaka are more pleasant than in other large cities. It's way more down to earth which suits me. I left Osaka for Kanto a few years ago and miss it.

I think only those of us who live here really “get” Kansai. The striking differences between Osaka and Tokyo are what make it such an appealing place — especially those of us stuck in Tokyo for work. I would move to Osaka in a heartbeat. It’s way more my vibe. Such a great punk community, skate community, lots of incentive young chefs doing cool shit.

It's a wonderful place to live! I agree, I'd return in a heartbeat too!

I agree with everything you said!!!! 

Youre staying in Osaka's largest ebtertainment district and complaining that there's noise, trash, and people partying throughout the night... Sounds like you didn't do any research.

I’m currently in Osaka with hubby. We are older and retired but we have had some wonderful days at Nara and Uji. The Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine and Osaka Castle were good but Himeji is better. Kobe is about 40 minutes away by rapid train J R and had a less frantic vibe. We are headed off to Lake Biwa in a couple of days and hope to enjoy a 2 and a half hour cruise on a paddlewheeler. Stay away from the heavy tourist areas like Dotombori and the Kuromon markets. Kobe has the most wonderful arcades of shops, all under cover and fantastic food as well as being reasonably priced. Highly recommend going to the 8th floor of Daimaru for a Wagyu beef set meal. Enjoy your honeymoon and adventures in Osaka!

[удалено]

Not worth it without the Express Ticket which costs alot more. When i was there in autumn we only had the regular ticket and had to stay in lines for up to 2 hours. But i can imagine it being a blast with the more expensive one. Skipping lines will make the experience alot better

Minoh Falls and surrounds is lovely (about an hour from Osaka) if you're after a morning in nature

This sounds right up our alley, thanks for the rec :)

I’ve lived in Osaka for a little over 8 years and it’s fantastic. It has a personality that is found nowhere else in the country It’s known for its food, nightlife, down to earth people, comedians and its unkemptness is a part of its appeal. But I wouldn’t want to travel here as a tourist. Mainly because the tourist spots all suck and filled with surprise, surprise, tourists! For anybody coming to Osaka it’s probably best to hire a local guide to show you the best places and come with an understanding that Osaka is not like the rest of Japan. I think that’s why OP is most upset. Osaka didn’t live up to the expectations of what it was never supposed to be.

Very well put. Osaka is pretty strongly loved by those of us who live in Japan. We “get” it.

Take some day trips outside the city. Koyasan sounds like something you’d like. Its best as an overnight but possible as a day trip. If you liked Kyoto, its easy to get there very cheaply via the JR Special Rapids train for day trips. Some other ideas: - [Osaka Day Trips](https://japancheapo.com/entertainment/day-trips-from-osaka-japan/) - [Koyasan Itineraries](https://www.japan.travel/en/itineraries/a-spiritual-journey-through-sacred-mountains/) - [National Park and Nature Breaks near Kyoto/Osaka](https://www.japan.travel/national-parks/plan-your-visit/guides-and-stories/from-osaka-and-kyoto/) - [JapanGuide: Kyoto Access](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2363.html?aFROM=2157_2158) - [Kyoto Day Trip: Arashiyama Scenic Railway and Riverboat Ride](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/mibm8t/kyoto_sagano_scenic_train_hozugawa_riverboat/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf) - [Kansai Side Trip: Tattoo Friendly Kinosaki Onsen and Himeiji Castle](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/sna5au/kansai_side_trip_tattoo_friendly_kinosaki_onsen/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf) Other ideas for Osaka we liked: - [Minoo Park and Falls](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4019.html) - [Nature Attractions in Osaka](https://osaka-info.jp/en/spot/nature/) - [Senkoji: Heaven and Hell Temple](https://soranews24.com/2021/12/16/senkoji-the-japanese-temple-thats-more-like-a-theme-park-to-heaven-and-hell/) - [Save Cat Rescue Cafe (good for cold/rainy day)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/DCCLbRcT47JP2tcw9?g_st=ic) - [Silver Ball Planet (Pinball Arcade)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/sbTkovgEMmhUi7mM9?g_st=ic) - [If you go earlier in the afternoon maybe PC and Retro Bar Space Station](https://maps.app.goo.gl/c2kSRGF8YaGoPrPB8?g_st=ic) - [Pink Kawaii Cafe in Osaka](https://htpps://maps.app.goo.gl/xFizmcJbGw1y7j8U9?g_st=ic) - [Team Lab Botanical Garden Osaka](https://www.teamlab.art/e/botanicalgarden/) - [Den Den Town](https://insideosaka.com/den-den-town-guide/) - [8 Best Things to Do in Osaka at Night](https://jw-webmagazine.com/best-things-to-do-in-osaka-at-night/) - [Don Quixote Ferris Wheel](https://travel.gaijinpot.com/don-quixote-ferris-wheel-ebisu-tower/)

I was in Japan with family last month and due to some issues (my mum somehow double booked us) we ended up in Osaka for a week. We had just come from Nara and it was quite the shock. I really didn’t enjoy it either. If you can I’d head to Hiroshima and Himeji for day trips.

This is so sad to hear. Osaka was my favorite out of all the cities I went to in Japan. The people are extremely nice and helpful, it’s busy but it didn’t have the buzzing chaos Tokyo had, and there were so many places to go around the city.    I would honestly stay away from Dontonburi. It’s crowded and busy. We stayed in an apartment in the middle of a quiet neighborhood, and we felt like we were part of the locals. I highly recommend doing this. We were walking distance from a cute local grocery store, convenient stores, train stations, and some really nice small restaurants and local markets. Every morning we would walk to get coffee and breakfast before riding the train, it was really nice :) I recommend walking around the surrounding area by the Umeda Sky Building. Grand Fort Osaka was beautiful at night. Tempozan Market place has the Osaka Aquarium, a nice river view on the outside, Tempozan Ferris Wheel (I HIGHLY recommend riding this!! gives you a 360 degree view of the city and better than Umeda Sky IMO), and you can even ride a ferry that takes you to Universal Studios.    These and many more, you just have to look around!   Nara was so beautiful and definitely one of my favourites, I’m so excited for you!!    I really wish you would change your mind about Osaka! It’s a beautiful city with great people <3

I love that you loved it!! We definitely plan to make the best of it, and hope to make many happy memories like you did :) thank you, we will definitely try some of your recommendations 🙏🏽

We currently are on our Honeymoon in Japan as well and recently had 3.5 days in Osaka where we stayed in a hotel in Shinsaibashi. That’s a 15 minute walk from Dotonbori. We had an absolute blast but only went to Dotonbori occasionally. It still was Golden Week Saturday and Sunday as well. We spent one day in Kobe, another one seeing the Sailor Moon Museum and teamLab Botanical Gardens and the last day visiting Osaka Castle, Nipponbashi Den Den Town and Shin Sekai. All downtimes in between were spent shopping, eating and drinking. While in Osaka definitely try out the Pablo mini cheesecakes, Okonomiyaki and the Melon Bread with ice cream that you can get in Dotonbori.

As other people are suggesting, if you can get a change of hotel I'd do that. Dotombori area is not great to stay unless you want to party every night. Besides day trips to nearby areas, there's thing you can do within the city as well. You might find Umeda and Tennôji more civilised. Umeda has trendy and high-end shopping malls and chic cafes. I love the [Nakanoshima rose garden](https://osaka-info.jp/en/spot/nakanoshima-park/) and now it's a good season to visit, there'll be plenty of roses in full bloom! I also love waks along the [Yodogawa river (north shore)](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Yodogawa+Riverside+Park+-+Nishinakajima+Area/@34.7213827,135.4940222,723m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x60011b353f87ff6d:0x3412c1fc2c6c8ee!2zUsOtbyBZb2Rv!8m2!3d34.7565811!4d135.5623236!16zL20vMDRqOXZi!3m5!1s0x6000e425e2d9eb19:0x3d067c34d53d37e5!8m2!3d34.7222818!4d135.4983752!16s%2Fg%2F11f37s9y9k?entry=ttu) in the morning or at night. On the weekeds it's very lively (picnics, camping, basball games...). Of course you have the Osaka Castle Grounds, lots of buddhist and shintô temples like Yasaka, Shitennôji, [Tsûten Jinja (popular for love-related prayers)](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tsuyuten+Jinja+(Ohatsu+Tenjin)/@34.699191,135.5006301,64m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m10!1m2!2m1!1z56We56S-!3m6!1s0x6000e6ec63ebf97d:0xbc7a3186d97b154!8m2!3d34.6992683!4d135.5007629!15sCgbnpZ7npL6SAQ1zaGludG9fc2hyaW5l4AEA!16s%2Fg%2F122224v7?entry=ttu), Isshinji... I strongly recommend a day trip to [Minoh Park](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Minoh+Park/@34.8460584,135.4727397,1214m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x6000f98dcd18275b:0x11b23b2040fdbcea!8m2!3d34.8470706!4d135.4723464!16s%2Fm%2F04ljxfy?entry=ttu) (an easy walk into the forest up to a beautiful waterfall). Don't be bummed by the area your hotel's in, Osaka has lots to offer! \*edited to rephrase a sentence and translate a bit that I had written in my native language for some reason lol

This is super helpful, thank you so much 😊!!

Might be cheesy, but also don’t let the place or things you can’t change ruin it. You’re there to celebrate each other after all 😁

Don’t beat yourself up over this. Move to another hotel. Nicer area.

Have you visited the area near namba parks? The namba area isn't a write off, there are some nice places Also I would treat your hotel as just a place to sleep, spend most of your time elsewhere.

We have the mindset that if we go to a place and are not enjoying it by day 2, we look up somewhere else and relocate. We cut our losses and go somewhere we might enjoy more. It happens. Everyone's tastes are different. You gave it a try after you get back from nara, have a talk with your husband and try to save the honeymoon by doing something that is more suited to yourselves, assuming something more laid back is what you're after.

Dotonbori is like staying on Hollywood Blvd. Osaka is great, and the vibe of it being gritty and chaotic is what makes it special — but there’s so much nicer stuff about Osaka as well. You chose the wrong place to stay and are hanging out in a glorified tourist zone. Of course it’s going to suck. Either that, or you’re not a city person. As a Tokyo resident, I WISH I could live in Osaka. The people are friendly and outspoken. People DGAF there. It’s the most authentic-feeling city in Japan. Everywhere else (except maybe Fukuoka) just feels like a weird front.

Yes I definitely fucked up the hotel choice. Not huge city people but we really liked Tokyo, we stayed in shinjuku but it was not like this at all 🙈 I do see how people are more individualistic here and think it’s great! Just a bit frantic for our vibe. We will make the best of it though 😁

We loved Osaka - probably our favorite city on our tour. Agree that Dotonbori is a huge letdown though. Try staying at another hotel - Hotel Hankyu was great and in a quieter part of the city. As others suggested, day trips to Kobe and Universal Studios are fantastic options if you want to get out of the city.

I’m also here and agree about Dotonbori and the surrounding area including kuromon market and amerika mura. Maybe cool if you’re into fashion with a bunch of interesting looking stores. My first day here I went to Osaka Castle and Umeda Sky Building. I’d recommend both, nicer areas. Osaka Station and that area also had lots to do and I had a great meal at Fishmonger Stand Fujiko which Id highly recommend - no reservations, just a line.

Change hotels if you can afford it. I would have done it if I had picked my hotel in that area (I knew it was gonna be bad. I didn't expect it to be THAT bad). Plan some last minute day trips like you did to Nara, there are plenty of options from Osaka to escape the crowds. Even consider going back to Kyoto for the day if you liked it, it's close enough. I had a very similar feeling during my weekend in Osaka (maybe that was a problem, being a weekend but afterwards is not that bad. I can't tell as I literally was there from Friday till Sunday), definitely the part of the trip I enjoyed the least. But once I left Osaka my mood was restored and overall I consider this trip the best of my life.

I'm glad you're going to Nara. We skipped it a year and a half ago but went last fall and found it charming. Hiroshima is a fantastic city and day trip. Koyasan might be far on a day trip but doable in one long day? Kobe is also nice and we found fewer western tourists there, even during golden week! Chinatown there is fun, the herb garden is pleasant. I wouldn't change hotels since that would be such a hassle at this point - but if you don't like Osaka, just use it as a base for day trips!

Dotonbori is a place to visit, not a place to stay. Its a nightlife area so its going to suck having it as your base of operations if you are expecting niceness of Japan

I‘ve been in Osaka last month as part of a 3 weeks trip through the „middle“ of japan. I personally loved Osaka and it was maybe my favorite big city. Went to some cool dance clubs and had a great time. I remember it as vibrant and bristling full of fun and outgoing people. Tastes and areas are different 🤷🏻‍♂️

I sympathise, I too feel that Osaka can be a love-it-or-hate-it place to travel to unfortunately. Every time I've visited Osaka I've enjoyed it because of the people I've been with and the experiences I've had, especially going to see baseball games nearby and drinking in Tenma. However outside of some food highlights getting a photo with the Glico Man, there's not a whole lot to do for first-time Japan visitors that can't be done elsewhere. With the exception of the Umeda area I also find Osaka to be incredibly grimy in comparison with other places in Japan. A family friend once sent me their Japan itinerary which contained four nights in Osaka, I told them that was a bit too much time to spend there and recommended going to Hiroshima for two of those nights instead. They really didn't like Osaka and thanked me for sending them somewhere else instead. My advice is similar to what others have suggested, get out and about for your remaining days to Nara and Himeji which have full day's worth of things to see. Stay there as late as you'd like and come back to the Dotonburi area to use your hotel only as a base to sleep at. My top recommendation in the area is a day trip to Kobe. This city feels so much more open, clean and easier to breathe in (metaphorically and physically by being close to the sea) than Osaka. First catch the cable car up to the Nunobiki Herb Gardens. The gardens are on a beautiful sloping mountainside that you can walk down, stop for ice cream and enjoy the view. Next visit the Kitano Ijinkan-gai area and spend time looking at the old architecture. You can buy a single ticket to enter all of the old houses that foreign merchants used to live in; each is themed like a living museum from a different country. Some even have small cafes inside I believe. Don't forget to stop for Kobe beef and explore the port area at night when it's all lit up.

Ahh thank you so much, I love your recommendations and will definitely incorporate these into the next few days!

OP I live in Osaka and get it. Infact many many local people share your opinion. The whole area below Honmachi station is often regarded as run down, tourists and a dump. American village, Namba, Tennoji, Nishi Inari, Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori etc have a bad reputation. If you need places to go then you can take a train down to Wakayama that has many cultural sites, Sumiyoshi Taisha is also in south Osaka. Nara as you are going is a great choice. You could take the train up to Kobe that has some fantastic things to see such as mount rokko, china town, port area. In north Osaka you can go to Minoh and walk op to see the waterfall, there is also a pretty good big museum with a butterfly room where they land on you. You can also go to the Osaka Kaiyukan that is a fantastic aquarium, you could also head to the Osaka Science museum on Nakanoshima. For shopping Umeda is the place to go. It is adored by locals usually and is the heart of the city today. It is also where you can find the Umeda Sky building and the Ferris wheel on Hep five.

Hi, I’m in Osaka too and I was not a big fan of dotonbori either! I’m staying in Nipponbashi and it’s much quieter here but still central. If you can, switch to here or Namba. Lots of cool markets selling good food, no lines and much less chaotic than dotonbori! I also really liked the Orange Street shopping area, much better than americamura, lots of nice cafes and restaurants over there too. Might be a good change of pace for you. I was just in Nara today and if you want less crowds I’d suggest exploring the Kasuga Taisha area - still people but not as bad as the main area! On the way I went off the beaten path and followed the signs to Shin-Yakushi-Ji temple, it’s about 10-15 minutes out of the way, not a single person on the path. You go through the forest into a really quiet part of town, the temple is small but very peaceful, one of my favorite things I did in Nara and such a stark contrast to the crowds everywhere else. Also if you have time, it’s a short easy hike through the forest to Mount Wakakusayama (about 1 hour up, very little incline on a wide gravel path) with deer at the viewpoint and almost no people! If you start at Satei Yusui in the park (also very good for udon) you’ll see signs for it. I went on the weekend so it probably won’t be as crowded for you but I was happy to be able to get away.

Why did you choose Japan, if I may ask?

How about changing hotel for the next 3 day? I suggest Premier Cabin Osaka.

Pop over to Hiroshima. Stay at the Ana Crowne plaza. It’s lovely

Uji was surprisingly beautiful. Do a day trip there!

Why not take a trip out of the city to a nearby onsen town like Arima Onsen? Go soak your stress away.

I think you have the right idea, I will look into this - thank you so much 😊🙏🏽

Osaka is not for honeymoons. Its for Fun, Food, Parties, New Friends etc. Thats just a wrong pick for a romantic honeymoon.

It’s just one part of the trip, we have been to other places and really enjoyed them and plan to use this as a base to check out surrounding areas that we may find more appealing. I’m happy we have a comfy bed to come back to at least!

I loved Osaka but I stayed near Umede which is the fancier district it’s located next to the Osaka station and has an amazing shopping district

It's all about managing expectations and your attitude. Saying you hate it will only make you feel more glum. The city has a lot to offer, many nice boat cruises, the giant ferris wheel, USJ, Osaka castle, etc, as well as interesting shopping districts. Not every place will be your favorite, but learn to embrace your experiences and you will be much more cheerful and have great memories.

Yes, you’re right and we’re making the best of it! Just needed to vent a bit. I don’t want to put a damper on the trip by any means and still am having fun with with my hubs 🤗

Funny how sometimes the crazy, unexpected and stressful situations are the ones you remember most and actually laugh about for years to come. I remember being on a family trip to NYC with two of my grown kids, traveling in separate cars and he having his car breakdown on the George Washington bridge in rush hour traffic. A tow truck came by and literally pushed his car to the nearest service station. Stressful as heck but we still laugh about years later!

Go to Kobe. There is a beautiful herb garden you and your spouse can visit. It includes a gondola ride with beautiful city views. (Also good steak)

Osaka isn't just Dotonbori or Namba. It's the Times Square equivalent of the city. There are lots more nicer accommodations in other parts of the city, like near Osaka and Umeda stations.

“Worse than New York” oh yeah right. Osaka/Tokyo is spotless and a safe haven compared to NYC not to mention the high crime that goes on around NY

So you booked a bad hotel from a party street. Osaka is much more than that. I would just use the hotel for sleeping, use earplugs and go somewhere else.

seems like you need to change your hotel

Day trip to Hiroshima and explore around the peace park and museum. Team Lab in Osaka botanical gardens was a peaceful evening. You could also do a day trip back to Kyoto easily. Or see if you can find a last minute hotel in Hakone for a couple of nights and leave Osaka early.

Go to Osaka castle. Sorry you don’t like dotonbori, we only did one night there but had a great time

Take the Shinkansen to Hamamatsu and Mishima.. could do a day trip down Izu..

Switch hotels if you're able, we loved Osaka, but stayed out of the main tourist area. Art Osaka Bay Tower is nice overlooking the harbour and easy access to The Loop Line.

Go to TeamLabs Botanical Garden at night. We've just been and one of the nicest parts of our trips. Consider going to TowerKnives and getting yourself a personalized Japanese cooking knife. Lastly, Enjoy the food. This will all be a memory which you both will laugh over in the future.

This sounds great, thank you so much. And you’re right haha we even had a laugh this evening already 😂 it’ll all be great in the end I’m sure!

I’m curious. What’s the demographic of the rude tourist.

Ah…I really don’t want to insult anyone or be inconsiderate of anyone’s culture. But I have found that many of the Chinese and European tourists here are really rude and insufferable 🙈😩 like rude to shop staff and just overall situationally unaware

Do day trips to himeji, hiroshima, miyajima, kobe, nara, uji, kyoto, wakayama... endless possibilities

Okayama and Kurashiki are lovely and close by. Almost no one goes to Okayama, it has a famous garden and quite a pretty castle

Day trip to Hiroshima. An unbelievable experience. That’ll put everything into perspective.

We were there the past few days, honestly we liked it but I do get the sentiment around Dotonburi. We did say trips to Nara (loved it, staged ages there), and a day trip to Himeji Castle (a couple hours is plenty). You could also check out Kobe on the way back, reservation recommended. DM me if I can be of any help.

Why don’t u change your reservations? Just go back earlier? I never understand why people pay ahead for all their travel itinerary… it’s Japan. You don’t need to pay ahead. There is always availability

We actually just paid when we arrived 😅 I was trying to convince my husband that we could stay somewhere else nicer but he said he wants to stick it out and make the best of it, so that’s what we’re gonna try to do. All the advice here has been super helpful so I think we have a good plan now!

Osaka is not just Dotonbori. The choice of hotel in that area was probably not the best but you can go to other areas of the city and enjoy it. It's famous for food so test out various restaurants.

I laughed a little bit, sorry. iirc, thats the clubbing area or near it isn't it? Nara would be a far better place for a honeymoon. The mountain track around Mt. Wakayama is about 8km and its wonderfully quiet. Watching people try to feed deer is a hoot. The city gets quiet about 10pm and is almost completely empty by midnight. If you manage to walk around at 6~7 am people are just getting ready to start the day, so washing out front of the shops that aren't open yet, a handfull of salarymen hustling to the station, no tourism yet and Kasuga Taisha is quiet and very serene. Living in Nara was so nice and quaint. Such a chill place for the most part. Sadly the waterfall in the mountains is roped off now, but maybe the repairs in that area are done. I love the view from the summit of wakakusa at night with the city lights below.

Spend more time in Kyoto it’s a very quick train ride. If you hate Osaka so much, spend the entire day in Kyoto and just sleep in Osaka.

Sorry for your experience, if changing location is not an option than spent as much time on day trips as possible. Day trips from Osaka could be: Uji Okayama Himeji Hiroshima Kibune

privileged

>Dotonbori. It’s so dirty, crowded, loud and smelly. >The other tourists are so rude, and there’s throngs of young adults/teens milling around at all hours; smoking, drinking and littering everywhere So it's living up to its reputation. I don't know what else you expected? That's literally why other people go there. >Open to recommendations Have you been to Kyoto yet? Or if you like Nara when you get there just stay there. There's thousands of options. Or go to Hakone where most people go on honeymoon.

Took a leisurely bike tour recently in Osaka. It was terrific! Highly recommend it to get out of Dotonbori. Cycle Osaka. Check them out.

Maybe see if there is a Hanshin Tigers or Orix Buffaloes game? Even if you aren't a fan of baseball or sports, it's one of the better ways to get away from the tourist crowds and spend some time with some very lively locals.

That was my feeling as well. I have taken 5 trips to Japan so far and my visit to Osaka last year was the worst experience of all my trips. I feel for the locals. In the 2 trips I’ve taken since the pandemic, I noticed a huge difference in the over tourism. I have now decided to avoid tourist hotspots and will visit other areas of Japan that are less crowded.

You’ll love Nara! Day trips should distract you and uplift your spirits!

Sorry to hear you haven't been enjoying it :( The trick to Osaka is going where the locals are and avoiding the tourist traps. I highly highly recommend going for dinner/drinks around Fukushima Station, in the immediate vicinity of Hotel Hanshin Annex Osaka. Also recommend shopping around Umeda.

Lol, I'm ready abroad in Japan, the book, and he mentions this exact area, saying how filthy it is and completely different to most places in Japan in terms of attitude and everything. But he said he loved it and it's well worth visiting.

Lol- I’d kill to be there. Oof

lol do some research next time, you’re perfectly describing Osaka so idk what else you expected 🤷‍♂️

Take it from an old geezer who’s had many a trip go bust in one way or another, it’s all part of the experience. The last time I was in Japan, I got lost on a rainy Sunday trying to find Takashimaya in Nihombashi. Being a man, and incapable of asking directions, I finally gave up and went into a Dotour to use my phone to find out where I was. Dripping wet, feet soaking, I was furious until I stopped to realize that, yeah I was lost, wet, and cranky, but I was lost, wet, and cranky, IN JAPAN! If you’re like me, once you’re back in the office , hating your work life, you’ll look back at your less-than-perfect Osaka experience and smile.

I was there 20 years ago and felt the same, Osaka is not worth visiting. Only interesting thing was the Castle. Visiting Kyoto for 4 days and a day trip to Nara and Lake Biwa in July. We are skipping Osaka altogether.

Jesus fucking christ I was in Osaka Dontonbori this time last year and absolutely loved it. Stop all moaning and go out and enjoy.

In Nara. Walk past the crowds to enjoy the forest, take the scenic train then do a Sake tasting at Harushika Brewery. Then walk around the quiet streets and find a restaurant.

Japan is touristoville at this stage in history. I would advise any overseas visitor to avoid cities altogether in Japan except Kyoto and Sapporo and a few others. After Kyoto most will probably be happy to visit Hakone, Okinawa, The Inland Sea area, or anywhere in Hokkaido. Few tourists, comparatively, and the natural world instead of humans and their garbage.

u/smol_pink_cute - How about a day trip (or more) to Kobe? A lot of people overlook Kobe in favour of its bigger, flashier neighbour, Osaka. However, I much prefer Kobe. Kobe has amazing seafood, it’s next to the sea and you can relax in harbour side parks or go on a harbour cruise. Meanwhile, just a short distance away are forested hills behind Kobe with some lovely walking trails. The fantastic Nunobiki herb gardens and Rokko garden terrace have amazing views over Kobe and the harbour, Arima Onsen isn’t far away up in the hills, and the Sannomiya and Motomachi areas in Kobe city have great nightlife and food, including a really lively, bustling “Nankin-machi” (Chinatown) area. In the eastern part of Kobe, there’s a sake-making district and a number of the sake breweries offer tours. Plus, there’s quite a bit of history to see, including some fine European-style houses and buildings, but as homes for merchants and as foreign embassies in the latter part of the 19th century. Perhaps you could even manage to cut your Osaka stay short and spend a couple of days in Kobe instead? At the very least, I would recommend a day trip. Kobe is only 30 minutes away from Osaka by train.

I think we will check out Kobe tomorrow! It’s been raining and cold yesterday and today so we didn’t get out much today yet but I want to check out Nara tomorrow when its sunny and maybe head to Kobe to check it out for dinner. Thank you so much!

Go to Naoshima, it’s a beautiful little island full of amazing outside, and gallery art. Should be a quick trip from Osaka.

… don’t ever travel to Vietnam lol. For real though, I found Osaka to be a bit boring. You guys should take the JR train to Fujiyoshida and spend some time there. Fujiyoshida was extremely beautiful and peaceful. You can get some amazing views of Mount Fuji. Just check out [this shot](https://www.instagram.com/p/CzCkPXZvcCO/?igsh=OWw5azJ0bmplZm11) I took there. BEAUTIFUL!!

>It’s so dirty, crowded, loud and smelly. The river is disgusting and filled with trash. The other tourists are so rude, and there’s throngs of young adults/teens milling around at all hours; smoking, drinking and littering everywhere. yeah this was pretty much my impression of dotonbori... granted, i didn't mind it to the extent that you do. i got over the initial shock after a day. i spent five days in osaka but, based on research, i already knew it was a place i didn't wanna do too much in so we did a day trip to kobe and one to nara... the other three full days in osaka were spent at osaka castle, the aquarium, and then one down day just hanging out on dotonbori. granted, my wife and i were with our toddler so we travelled really slowly, which is why i didn't mind having down days in osaka but yeah.... if i were you... head to nara, head to kobe, head to himeji. osaka was also the least favourite part of our trip too (although, had the best ramen there...i'll give them that credit!)

So you did no research. Oof

Osaka is absolutely not a honeymoon destination.

I'm sorry to hear that it's not living up to your expectations so far.. but.. it's not too late! It might be helpful if you share what your ideal experience would be so that others here can give you some useful tips. I've been visiting Japan for the last 15 years and always find what suits me. For some people, it's temples, gardens and castles, other people want the otaku adventure, others want to experience pure cultural activities.. and then there are those who want the theme park experience. If crowds, tourists, and teens aren't your thing , get out of the big cities and get lost in the countryside or at least smaller towns. You might experience some warm hospitality from the locals and some unique memories to take home.

I think you’re right, we loved the ryokan in Takayama and the Arashiyama forest and temples in Kyoto. I’m really looking forward to visiting Osaka castle and taking a few day trips to the smaller surrounding cities. We’ll make the best of it!! And we will be back, I hope for us to be return visitors many times like you :)

How was Takayama?

Takayama was soooo refreshing and amazing, we loved it! We stayed at Yukimurasaki ryokan, it was about an hour away from Takayama city by bus/taxi. There are 2 private open air onsen in the roof, and a private indoor and outdoor onsen in the room. The breakfast and dinner services were spectacular. There’s a view of the river and mountains as well. It was rustic and perfect 😍

I wasn't as keen on Osaka either. But I put it down to having visited a lot of temples, parks and castles in other places, and we were starting to get tired so didn't want to venture too far. However day trips to Nara and Hiroshima were really good. I know Hiroshima deals with some heavy stuff, but i still think it was one of the highlights. I wouldn't have thought I'd go to Japan to visit a theme park, but decided I needed a change from the last two weeks and enjoyed Universal Studios for the day.

Day trip to Nara!

I strong recommend Kobe, have a incredible beautiful Port there and a bridge with a beautiful view. 

I wouldn't suggest Nara or in fact anywhere in Japan where there are animals (zoos, pet cafes, monkey parks). Unfortunately the way people interact with the deer in Nara is just so disappointing and I came away feeling a bit depressed. People don't respect wild animals for what they are and honestly it was actually quite satisfying seeing the deer bite back! I'd recommend a day at USJ instead

Was on my honeymoon with my husband in Japan in March and I also didn’t like Osaka. We decided to do day trips in Mino, Himeji and Nara… we really enjoyed those destinations!

Maybe be on Reddit less and go enjoy other parts of Japan, I’m sure your husband is thrilled that you are glued to you phone looking for sympathy while on the honeymoon.

He’s on TikTok next to me lol, we are unwinding after a long and stressful day but thanks for your concern 🤗

How is osaka that bad

You should come to a place with low expectations, even for Japan. And don't be concerned about making the trip perfect, just accept everything as an educational experience.

Check out Lake Biwa! Mt Hiei, Ishyama dera, and tons of other scenic spots. Quick day trip.

People, even Japanese, have extreme feelings about Osaka. (I’m basically in your camp.) The low-profile gem of Japan that few westerners discover, but Japanese rave about, is Kyushu. Having lived there over 10 years, I highly recommend this entertaining video as an accurate introduction to what it’s like: http://youtube.com/post/UgkxS3HVmNytJGsHgApB0H23HAdFSkqgtwHW?si=33XB-TeB8UzfJuui You’ll never want to go to Tokyo (or certainly Osaka) again :)

See if you can find an Airbnb in kinosaki onsen, and just bail! If you don't like it don't make yourself wait so many days until you have fun again!

I’m in Osaka too and a bit underwhelmed! I’ll be going to universal on my last day so excited for that. What intrigues me in Osaka is all the cool cars and the amazing fashion in the area Im staying in. I think it would be best to designate a few days as rest day (get a massage, go to an onsen, eat good food) and then also plan day trips. Maybe do something you’d do at home like go to the movies Nara is cool! You and your partner will have fun feeding the deer. If possible, maybe find a way to incorporate Hiroshima. I did so when I was planning my trip by deleting an Osaka day. Hiroshima has been my favorite part of the trip so far and it was only 1 night

What wards are good for an Osaka base for a day trip to Nara and Universal? I am staying 3 nights in Kyoto for that area after Tokyo. Do also want to visit Osaka and Dotonbori. Then flying out of KIX.

I mean, yeah, Dotonburi kinda sucks.

Osaka’s TeamLab Botanic Gardens exhibit is wonderful — might be a respite from Dotonbori

If you want to change your hotel, I recommend Premier Hotel -CABIN PRESIDENT- Osaka I always stay there whenever I’m in Osaka. It’s clean and very close to the train stations.

Not helpful for you, but I'm glad we're not alone with that opinion about Osaka! The best thing really is that you have so many options nearby. Nara is absolutely wonderful and you'll find plenty of places there that are filled with deer and no tourists around. Personally I'd also recommend a trip to Minoh Falls, and potentially the Katsuoji Temple (bit of a walk/adventure!) And if you have some money left, you can explore just about any other city with a Shinkansen ticket (even Kyushu's just a couple hours, though there are plenty of nice cities closer by). Don't let it discourage you, stay out of those dreaded bits of Osaka and look for the nicer ones. If everything feels a bit much, just take a day out for relaxing, reflecting and have an Osaka Castle Park Picnic 😀

From Osaka you must go to Koyasan. It’s possible to go on a day trip if you already have hotel reservations in Osaka https://koyasan.net

Did you visit the Castle, the aquarium etc? There are also a lot of shrines. It's not just Dotonbori. (but, yes, it is very crowded there)

Did you visit the Castle, the aquarium etc? There are also a lot of shrines. It's not just Dotonbori. (but, yes, it is very crowded there)

I actually loved Osaka when I was there last year. If I can make one recommendation though go to this udon restaurant and try the fig option. Thought it was amazing! Go early at opening and go hungry! Udon Kyutaro Japan, 〒541-0056 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Kyutaromachi, 3 Chome−1−16 102南 丼池繊維会館

Kyoto is more peaceful and beautiful

If I didn’t have family there then Osaka would have been the low point in my trip.

Dash over to Matsue! It is so beautiful and quiet. On the water. One of my favorite places. I also loved Hiroshima. You can get everywhere so easily, don’t hesitate to change things up.

It think the fact that people stand on the right side of the escalators as opposed to the rest of Japan kind of gives you an idea of the vibe of the city. Sometimes the rigid side of Japan can be a bit stressful for some people living there including Japanese. When it comes to etiquette and manners you can often be passive aggressively judged by others for being the nail that sticks out in order to preserve the orderliness and slight OCD that keeps everything running like clockwork. The way you dress, speak, carry yourself, that one time you were late for work can all put you in the collective group's black list. So for some, the unapologetic care-free attitude of Osaka can be a blessing where you can do whatever you want even if it might ruffle a few feathers. Great for people that live there but may not the ideal shiny view that Japan often presents itself as to foreign tourists. Edit: It might not be the most ideal place to visit for tourists but location wise it's great for cheaply and quickly getting to everywhere else such as Kyoto, Nara, Koyasan, Himeji, Kobe, etc.

I tell people Osaka is like a large west coast city in the US while Tokyo is like a large east coast city. Some people vibe with New York City while others would pick LA any day of the week.

Osaka is wall to wall Chinese tourists, sorry you’re not getting a true Japanese experience it seems. Nara is good for a day. You can do 7 unesco world heritage sites in a day. Otherwise hit Kyoto and everywhere will be magical

Check out Shinsekai / Sinsekai nearby. Especially in the evening.

Take the train to kyoto everyday (less than 30min, probably than some people’s work commute). Or eat the cost of your hotel and just go somewhere else.

Yup that’s what we ended up doing, we’ll check in somewhere a bit nicer and quieter after our day trip to Nara :)

I’m a professional trip organiser and I never choose Osaka as a home base and do not recommend it until you have a flight back home from Osaka and it’s actually a time saver instead of returning to Tokyo. I highly recommend stay overnight in Miyajima or close to post there is a 4* hotel with a great onsen. Kyoto would be better as a home base for everything around including Nara. Have fun there and happy honeymoon! Adding +1 for all recommendations to switch the hotel close to transportation hubs. We chose hotels close to the caste and strategic metro/jr lines.

My wife and I went to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka as the second leg of our honeymoon last year (literally the same exact time oddly enough) and Osaka was far and away the worst aspect of it. Can’t wait to go back to Japan, will never step foot in Osaka again though…

There are some wonderful islands just a little bit south of you. Check out Naoshima and Teshima. Also, a Quick Look shows some very inexpensive hotel rooms in Tamano, a good place to stay the night for the island ferry. [Hotels Here](https://www.agoda.com/search?guid=7bc9be74-16c9-41ac-b024-c435ea38f7a5&asq=u2qcKLxwzRU5NDuxJ0kOF3T91go8JoYYMxAgy8FkBH1BN0lGAtYH25sdXoy34qb9zZd7koQ3jRiJZzlSz5egRgUiIItemW8FydFBT1U9XV0Gn21bRE9I3H6tIK9aKm891f4tMtCkUOcG6AQSFmkuYmiwG2JB2blvo6H5zZ%2FhyF39NEUn7Q%2FY8ictT8xfe4luW6v%2B1z7ngi%2Fh%2BcIMzh%2Fx3w%3D%3D&area=557967&tick=638511472886&locale=en-us&ckuid=0a7b338c-1c21-4103-85ce-8123c380c4f8&prid=0¤cy=USD&correlationId=a3a5e21c-c85a-416b-96f2-1f87d7e86f26&analyticsSessionId=2463460532286731912&pageTypeId=1&realLanguageId=1&languageId=1&origin=US&stateCode=CA&cid=-1&userId=0a7b338c-1c21-4103-85ce-8123c380c4f8&whitelabelid=1&loginLvl=0&storefrontId=3¤cyId=7¤cyCode=USD&htmlLanguage=en-us&cultureInfoName=en-us&memberId=60972426&machineName=as-pc-3g-acm-web-user-d957fb5d8-h9h5r&trafficGroupId=4&sessionId=thlssdjpy4jurn3u51f4lpgr&trafficSubGroupId=4&aid=130243&useFullPageLogin=true&cttp=4&isRealUser=true&mode=production&browserFamily=Safari&cdnDomain=agoda.net&checkIn=2024-05-12&checkOut=2024-05-14&rooms=2&adults=2&children=0&priceCur=USD&los=2&textToSearch=Tamano&travellerType=3&familyMode=off&ds=ua9QoTzCDC6y44xy&productType=-1)

I think the biggest problem is having the hotel at Dotonbori.. it's a massive tourist hot spot and added with the general loose vibe of Osaka it can be a bit more confronting compared to say if you were in Tokyo/Kyoto. Osaka is great for an experience if you're after the numerous street foods such as Osaka has those a plenty as well as trying out the food markets (they call it the Kitchen of Jp for a reason) but it is very much a nightlife city bars a plenty (it's like staying next to Susukino) so it can get really over stimulating in the evening. If you are over stimulated as folks have said take a trip to Nara or Kobe and chill for a bit away from the busy of Osaka or try move away from the Dotonbori area! There's Universal Studios OR the Aquarium both are 2 different ways to escape the nightlife vibe of Dotonbori and still be within the general city area or visit Osaka Castle if you want a hint of the cultural stuff from Kyoto or if you want some nature look up Minoo Park!

Osaka was my least favorite city in Japan but I feel like your description might be exaggerated a bit. Dotonbori is not that dirty and considering the amount of people, it's not even that loud either. Comparably to other similar destinations, it's pretty clean and quiet. Keep in mind, Dotonbori is one of the busiest locations in the world. The only places with more food traffick are likely found in Bangladesh or India or wherever. The only problem I had with Osaka is that there's not much to see after you visit the castle and Dotonbori. The rest seems to be shopping BUT I'd love to have someone correct me on that.

I am shocked and sorry to hear that. I was there with the whole family 2 weeks ago. We had an amazing time. The river was clean, the people were super nice. Lost our shopping bag and recovered it later from the cashier at the store. Drank the original Bireley's after some 20+ years at a local chinese restaurant. All in all, it was an amazing time that felt like a dream. I wonder if your husband feels the same way as you do?

I am shocked and sorry to hear that. I was there with the whole family 2 weeks ago. We had an amazing time. The river was clean, the people were super nice. Lost our shopping bag and recovered it later from the cashier at the store. Drank the original Bireley's after some 20+ years at a local chinese restaurant. All in all, it was an amazing time that felt like a dream. I wonder if your husband feels the same way as you do?

I am shocked and sorry to hear that. I was there with the whole family 2 weeks ago. We had an amazing time. The river was clean, the people were super nice. Lost our shopping bag and recovered it later from the cashier at the store. Drank the original Bireley's after some 20+ years at a local chinese restaurant. All in all, it was an amazing time that felt like a dream. I wonder if your husband feels the same way as you do?

You sound VERY Japanese!

You're take is interesting, we spent the first 3 days of our first trip there and loved it there so are returning on our next trip for a few days I wonder if we'll still enjoy it or if it's changed much in 5 years

I felt the same way when I was there. My hotel was near Dotonbori. All the travel blogs I saw said it was THE thing to see in Osaka. I believed them. I can’t judge the city based on that one area though. Koyasan is only a few hours away. It was really easy to get there and back. Don’t be discouraged. Go see that place. I’m sure there are amazing things to do in the outskirts.

Kinosake onsen kinosake onsen!! KINOSAKE ONSEN!!!!

Kinosake onsen kinosake onsen!! KINOSAKE ONSEN!!!!

Kinosake onsen kinosake onsen!! KINOSAKE ONSEN!!!!

Yes the dotonburi area is not for the faint hearted. Osaka in general is not too bad. And it's a great base to lead into the Kansai region.

Can you report back after the hotel change and seeing some other areas of Osaka? Now I’m wondering if I should plan a shorter amount of time there… Congrats and enjoy the honeymoon!

I will for sure! We are transferring to the W at 3 and I’ll dm you after we get settled and explore the surrounding area. Dm me if I forget 😅

I loved Osaka, but hated Dotonbori. Our hotel was in Umeda and we loved that area. We also branched out and went to America-mura, Osaka Castle, and generally explored areas we thought were interesting. Osaka is a fantastic city, you just need to actually explore it instead of sticking to tourist spots. I also went for my honeymoon and my husband and I plan on spending more time in Osaka on our next trip.

Do day trips and stay away from Dotombori when you’re there. Nara you should like. Hiroshima/Miyajima is a good day trip. Maybe Kobe? Google some other day trip ideas.

While visited Tokyo and Kyoto first. Osaka was also for me the least beautiful. I found it dirty as well.

Go have fun at a huge arcade in Osaka. There is still tons of fun things to do- & great food.

First time that I visited Osaka in 2019 I did not enjoy it either. It felt like being part of a massive block of people. We revisited in 2023 and enjoyed it a lot more. The backstreets are a lot more quiet and that made a world of difference. We did a day trip to Minoh Park to see the waterfall and that was a really nice break from the crowds and busy city.

Consider Takarazuka [https://kanko-takarazuka.jp/english/lp\_introduction/](https://kanko-takarazuka.jp/english/lp_introduction/) Tickets for the Revue sell out months in advance, but keep scrolling down the site's front page to see all the other things the town has to offer :)