Flip Japan Tour

Customised and Private Osaka Tour with a Local Guide

Discover Osaka like a local with a private guide to uncover hidden alleys, food spots and cultural gems beyond the usual sights, all tailored to your interests and pace!

Private Tour from 340usd per group

Osaka is a city of many layers, from bright neon signs to quiet, moss-covered shrines. So, our private tours are built around your specific interests There is no set schedule for your day. Your guide organises the route so you can focus on the moment without looking at a map. The three plans below show how we can structure a day, but these are just a start for your own plans.

Plan 1: City Icons and the Nation’s Kitchen (Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market, and Dotonbori)

We start the morning at the grounds of Osaka Castle, which is surrounded by massive stone walls and wide moats. We can lead you to the top of the tower to look out over the city, or stay on the ground to appreciate the thick timber gates and the heavy stone masonry.

Next, we lead you to Kuromon Ichiba Market, a busy place full of strong scents and loud sounds. We can help you pick out fresh street food like grilled scallops, octopus balls, or thick wagyu skewers. We can even guide you to the best stalls where the freshest fish is sliced right in front of you.

To end the day, we walk towards the bright lights of Dotonbori. We can guide you along the canal to see the massive neon signs and the moving mechanical crabs above the restaurant doors. It is a loud, colourful area that reflects the energy of the city. We can find a local spot for okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake that is a staple of the local diet, and watch as it is cooked on a hot iron griddle at your table.

Plan 2: Retro Osaka and Local Life (Shinsekai, Janjan Yokocho, and Tenjinbashi-suji)

For a look at the past, we take you to the district of Shinsekai, which feels like it is stuck in another decade. We can walk under the Tsutenkaku Tower and explore the narrow, covered alleys of Janjan Yokocho. Here, the smell of frying oil and savoury sauce is everywhere. We can find a spot to try kushikatsu, which are deep-fried skewers of meat and vegetables. It is a simple, down-to-earth meal that is a true local favourite.

Later, we move to Tenjinbashi-suji. This is the longest shopping arcade in Japan. Walking through this covered street, you will see everything from old bookshops to small family-run tea stalls, and we can help you pick out traditional snacks or find a quiet shop that sells handmade kitchen knives.

Before the day ends, we can guide you to Chouchin Street, an area filled with hundreds of hanging lanterns. When they are lit, the whole street glows with a soft, warm light, making it a fantastic place for a walk before we help you find a local izakaya for a relaxed evening meal.

Plan 3: Creative Alleys and City Views (Nakazakicho, Umeda, and Hozenji)

If you prefer a quieter, more artistic side of the city, we can bring you to Nakazakicho. This neighbourhood is a maze of old wooden houses that have been turned into small cafes, print shops, and vintage clothing stores. 

From the quiet alleys, we head into the sleek centre of Umeda. We can guide you to the Umeda Sky Building, where you can look out over the entire city from the open-air roof, feel the (sometimes honestly super powerful) breeze, and see the silver towers stretching out toward the water.

To finish, we walk to the Hozenji Temple. This is a tiny, quiet space tucked between tall buildings and narrow streets. It is famous for its moss-covered statue, and we can show you how to splash water over the figure for luck. The ground here is made of smooth cobblestones, and the air often smells of incense and grilled meat from the nearby stalls.