Traveling with the family? 15 things to do with kids in Osaka

Planning a trip to Osaka with the family? Never fear! The city and surroundings are full of amazing places where you can make your family getaway a fun-filled trip that you and your children will remember for years to come.

Traveling with kids can be hard, especially when they are very young. If you’ve got a stroller, or a nursing child, you probably know how difficult it can be to navigate a pedestrian space and keep everyone in their best spirits. While I can’t guarantee anyone’s emotional state, I can give you my best ideas for where to take the little ones and some ideas of exactly how family friendly each establishment is. Keep in mind, the estimated age ranges are there to give you an idea of who the attraction is targeted for—these are not hard, fast rules, but simply general suggestions.

So what are you waiting for? Grab those kiddos and let’s get out and explore Osaka!

1. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

This amazing aquarium is an absolute family favorite, featuring 5 floors of sea creatures and animals that live near the waterside, including otters, penguins, capybara, and sea lions. The main Pacific Ocean tank features an impressive pair of whale sharks swimming among hammerheads and stingrays. All in all there are over 30,000 creatures in the aquarium. The jellyfish exhibits are also absolutely stunning. Check the feeding schedule on your way in to find out when you can watch your favorite sea creatures eating.

It takes about 2.5 hours to wind your way down the path that will guide you through 15 large tanks and a handful of interactive exhibits. There is a small cafe with light snacks and drinks available about mid-way through the walk, plus benches along the way where you can rest and view the fish at the same time. While strollers are allowed inside the aquarium, if you think your kids can walk, I recommend checking your stroller at the help desk before you enter the main exhibit. It’s not extremely easy to navigate the escalators and exhibits with your stroller. Plus young kids will probably want to press their noses up to the glass to get a good look at all the sea-life.

2. Tempozan Ferris Wheel

Who doesn’t like a Ferris wheel? Ok, sure maybe there are a few people out there who are afraid of heights, but this giant wheel, located just outside of Kaiyukan, offers amazing views of Osaka Bay up to 112.5 meters above ground. There are also 8 special gondolas with see-through floors allowing you to feel like you’re floating in the sky as you gradually make your way up and around. The ride is particularly beautiful at sunset when you can watch the colors of the city below changing to dazzling city lights at dusk.

Although eating and drinking is not allowed while you are riding the Tempozan Ferris Wheel, the Tempozan Marketplace located right next door offers a number of restaurants and a sprawling food court. Grab a snack, or better yet, an ice cream after your ride! Oh, and even if you don’t go on the Tempozan Ferris Wheel, it is still fun to look at. The advanced LED display shines in every color of the rainbow with constantly changing illustrations and welcome messages. It makes for great pictures!

3. Harukas 300 (Abeno Harukas)

This is the perfect spot for the entire family to spend a relaxing couple of hours gazing at Osaka and beyond. The 60th floor observation deck looks out over the city buildings, the waters of Osaka Bay, and the Rokko Mountain Range in the distance among other landmarks near and far. Floor to ceiling glass windows enclose this platform which is 300 meters above ground. It’s really amazing to see all of Osaka at once stretching out below an open sky. Day or night, the views are amazing!

There’s also an adorable fluffy blue bear mascot, Abeno Bea, who makes occasional appearances on the observation deck. You can check his schedule here and snap a photo with him and your family. Also, there is ice cream! The 58th floor is filled with tables and chairs where you can relax with a snack from the nearby cafe. Coffee, ice cream, and beer is all on the menu. Plus there is always something fun and seasonal on the menu. This attraction is great for the young and old.

My only caution would be for families with very small babies or ear pain riding the elevator. It moves pretty quickly up to the 60th floor and your ears will pop. Alternatively, there is a free observation deck on the 16th floor, an art museum, & department store on the lower floors. You could enjoy the view from the lower observation deck and have fun exploring the shopping and amazing food options downstairs.

4. Legoland® Osaka Discovery Center

The Legoland® Osaka Discovery Center is a great place for kids. If you are a fan of the Lego® brand or are just curious, you will have a blast at the Discovery Center in Osaka. There are 12 attractions inside, including 2 rides and a 4D cinema where you can see those adorable minifigs making mischief of there own kind. The Mini Land is a fun display of some of Osaka’s most memorable sightseeing spots like Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, and Umeda Sky Building, all in little bricks.

There’s a Duplo Farm for younger kids, Lego® Friends Olivia’s House catered to young girls, and a Build-and-test pit where you can work on your car designs before launching them down a race hill. Outside food is prohibited, but if you get hungry there is a Lego® themed cafe inside and the Tempozan Marketplace foodcourt is just outside the Discovery Center. Any Lego® fan can easily spend a few hours here, riding the rides and building with anything they imagine.

5. Cup Noodles Museum

The Cup Noodles Museum in Ikeda is hallowed ground for instant ramen lovers. This museum tells the story of how Momofuku Ando invented the world’s first instant noodles in 1958, through interactive exhibits, video, and a replica of Ando’s workshop where Chicken Ramen was born. Visitors will find plenty of photo opportunities at the museum, like the Instagram-friendly Instant Noodles Tunnel, and statues of the founder and the beloved Chicken Ramen mascot Hiyoko-chan.

Admission to the museum is completely free, and you only pay for the activities or attractions that you choose to participate in. Popular activities include the Chicken Ramen Factory experience that is held at regular intervals throughout the day. Over the course of 90 minutes you will make the actual noodles that go into instant ramen, which you may then take home. You can also make your own unique Cup Noodles. Illustrate your very own cup design and choose from an array of soup flavors and ingredients to make your one-of-a-kind “My Cup Noodles”.

6. Universal Studios Japan

Osaka’s premier theme-park, USJ, really needs no introduction. You’ll feel like you have stepped into a movie set when you walk through the park. Themed rides will take you through the shark-infested waters of JAWS and the wild and crazy world of the Minions. There are roller coasters, street performances, and specialty foods based off of your favorite movies. Super Nintendo World, the first of its kind, features rides as well as mini-games that will make you feel like you’ve warped into the world of Mario for real. The recently added Donkey Kong coaster will be a new experience all together.

This park has something for all ages! Guests who are not big enough for rides can enjoy the many shows in the park’s indoor theaters or head over to Universal Wonderland. This area of the park is designed specifically for little ones in mind. Here you can find a cast of Sesame Street characters, Snoopy & the rest of the Peanuts gang, and of course, Hello Kitty. The park offers special services for families such as rental strollers, child-switch options for rides, and reserve & ride tickets for attractions designed for younger guests.

7. Takopa Osaka Takoyaki Park

This food-court style establishment offers you the chance to try Osaka’s most famous food, takoyaki, from its most famous makers. Taste and compare freshly grilled takoyaki from Osaka Tamade Aiduya, Osaka Amemura Kogaryu, Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan, Juhachiban, Takoya Dotonbori Kukuru, and Tamaya all in one place.

Takopa is located in Universal City Walk, just outside of the Universal Studios Japan theme-park. It’s a great place to stop when you’re visiting the park. And it’s still lots of fun if you aren’t going inside USJ. You can still get that thrilling amusement park atmosphere from the 3-D billboards and flashy lights. Plus the takoyaki is great!

8. Nifrel/Expo City

Interactive aquazoo Nifrel will awaken all your senses and inspire you with wonder as you experience the displays and interactive exhibits in this unique aquarium. Nifrel is much more of an experience than your normal aquarium. Artistic themes are incorporated into their displays which showcase the unique characteristics of each animal. While the exhibits focus heavily on aquatic life, there are other animals as well, like the birds and ring-tailed lemurs that roam freely among visitors to the aquarium.

Nifrel is located right in front of the shopping and entertainment complex EXPOCITY, which incidentally boasts Japan’s tallest Ferris wheel, Osaka Wheel, and a number of shops and restaurants. Across the street you will also find Expo ’70 Commemorative Park, which is great for long walks in nature and famous for its iconic Tower of the Sun statue. You can easily spend the entire day in this area when you plan your visit to Nifrel.

9. Kids Plaza

Kids Plaza is Osaka’s children’s museum and the interior is absolutely beautiful. Parts of it were designed by the same architect who made the Maishima Incineration Plant, Austria-born Friedensreich Hundertwasser, the artistic elements of the building will capture the imagination of children and adults alike. The museum spans 4 floors with themed areas, including interactive exhibits that make animation, anatomy, the natural sciences, and physics all come to life at your fingertips. Touching and playing folk instruments and trying on ethnic costumes allow you to experience different cultures from around the world as well as the homegrown festival atmosphere of Osaka. The museum exhibits are so extensive, you can easily spend half a day here, or even longer.

Young kids absolutely love the soap bubble play zone and the pump playground. A mini-town allows kids to role play shopping at a supermarket, working at a hair salon, or fixing plumbing and feeling completely grown up. Older kids will definitely enjoy playing in the computer studio and other crafts and workshops. The facility allows you to bring your own food and drink into the building and eat in the multi-purpose room (space permitting). There are also seats and tables in the facility where you can relax during your visit. Strollers and wheel chairs are available to borrow for free.

10. Spo-cha/Round 1

This multi-floor sports complex is great for anyone with some extra energy to burn. There are batting-cages, trampolines, human soccer, and roller skating. You can even borrow hoverboards or sign up for a few laps in a go-kart. There are ball-pits for younger kids and snacks at the concession stand.

Everything is indoors, so it doesn’t matter if it’s raining or uncomfortably hot, you can enjoy a day of sport-filled fun in the comfort of this climate-controlled building right in the heart of Namba. There are also karaoke rooms and a bowling alley available with certain packages. Plus typical bar games like billiards and darts are fun for the older crowd. Oh yeah, and they have one of those mechanical bucking broncos!

11. Hirakata Park

Hirakata Park is located a short train ride outside of the city of Osaka. It’s a dream playground for younger kids and has approximately 14 attractions that can be enjoyed by the tiniest of tots, starting at 0 years old. Families with small children will be especially happy to have so many options for their kids to explore. Mini-roller coasters, a cute Ferris wheel, and tons of other rides and attractions will give your kids a fun memory of their trip to Osaka. All in all there are approximately 45 attractions.

Special seasonal events make the park extra fun year-round like The Boon in summer which features pools and waterslides and the Winter Carnival featuring dazzling light displays, skating, and snow play areas in winter. There is also a small zoo and a rose garden which blooms in early summer and mid-autumn.

12. Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living is a special museum that showcases lifestyles in the city and how it has changed over the years. Visitors will especially enjoy walking through the streets of the replica version of an Osaka neighborhood from the mid 1800s. Pop your head inside a bookshop, apothecary and even a toy store. View houses that are realistically built to show how people lived in Osaka back in the day.

While this is more of a museum than an amusement facility, anyone who is interested in history or in learning something new will enjoy a visit to the museum. Think of this as a field trip-like destination with a few hands-on exhibits and lots of artifacts from the recent past.

13. Grand Front Osaka

This modern large-scale shopping complex offers visitors a huge urban mall to explore. Outdoor gardens and open-air plazas allow visitors beautiful scenery to catch their breath in as they spend a day visiting the approximately 260 stores full of fashion, accessories, and other goods, many of which are catered to families. The restaurants also offer a number of meals specifically for the youngest among us.

There is also a kids play zone called BorneLund Asobi no Sekai on the third floor of the North Building, which charges a fee and is tons of fun for the pre-school crowd. Active Lab, located on the second and third floors of the North Building, is aimed more for elementary aged students through adults and will capture your imagination. Here you can interact with cutting-edge technology in other art and science projects created by university students. And it’s free! Once you’ve finished shopping I recommend relaxing in Umekita Plaza, where there are often art events, festivals, live music buskers, and an open-air skate rink in winter.

14. Osaka Castle Park

Osaka Castle is at the top of everyone’s list for a destination in Osaka. The park around it offers visitors and young ones a chance to stretch their legs and take in some greenery. The main attraction is the castle tower that also has a museum filled with floors of history from the time of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537–1598), Osaka’s most memorable historical figure and one of the great leaders who unified the country. Peep inside the replica of his glamorous golden tearoom and take in the sweeping views from the top floor of the castle keep when you enter the Castle Museum.

The park also offers fun boat rides through the moat on a golden gozabune, plenty of restaurants and gift-shops, plus there is a road train that will ferry guests with little legs or tired feet up to the main castle tower. The park hosts special events and concerts and the park is a popular spot to see plum blossoms in late winter, cherry blossoms in spring and colorful foliage in autumn. Children who like to be outdoors, imagine life in a Japanese castle, or simply run around while their parents snap memorable family photos will have a great time at Osaka Castle Park.

15. teamLab Botanical Garden

The art collective known as teamLab opened a permanent nighttime art exhibit in the outdoor Nagai Botanical Garden, which features abstract light projections on installed objects and the natural environment. The massive 240,000 sq m garden encircles a central lake, which is decorated with floating lights that shine and produce tones as visitors pass by. Many of the exhibits are interactive and blur the lines between art and spectator. Children and adults alike will feel like they have stepped into a new dimension with glowing orbs and dancing pillars of light that guests may walk amongst.

The exhibit is open as day turns into night and only for a few hours after dark. This is a great event for families who like art and nature and involves a lot of walking. Most of the terrain is along a paved path so it is easy to push a stroller around the garden, however some parts of the exhibit are on unpaved ground.

GENERAL TIPS for traveling Osaka with kids

Nursing in public is not very common, so you may be more comfortable in a designated nursing room. You will find nursing rooms in most malls and department stores. Most of the establishments listed above are very family friendly so many have nursing rooms that also have microwaves and hot water for preparing formula or weaning foods for small children. Also, there are some apps, like Mama Map, that can help you find nearby nursing facilities.

Understanding age-based pricing:
Generally child admission pricing is based on a child’s grade in school, which oftentimes will not coincide with school grade-levels or simple age pricing overseas. Here is a general framework to know which age your child would correspond with.

• Elementary school age: Starts the April that your child turns 6. They would be the equivalent of a first-grader in Japanese school. If your child turned 6 in September and they are enrolled in elementary school overseas, they would still no be considered elementary age until April of the next year.

• Jr. high school age: Children who have turned 12 by April are considered jr. high school age until the April that they turn 15.

• High school age: Children who have turned 15 by April are considered high school age and most will be 18 by the time they graduate in March of their final year.

Many facilities offer discounted pricing for children Jr. high school age and younger, after which point compulsory education ends and they are lumped in with adult pricing. Some establishments do offer student pricing for high school or university students as well. Admission discounts for younger children usually works on an honor system, but to get student discounts for young adults, you may need to present a student ID.

Public transportation in Japan, including buses, trains, ropeways, etc is usually free for small children who are not yet elementary school age. However, if you would like to reserve a seat for your child on a bus or train with assigned seats you will probably be required to purchase a children’s ticket.

Children’s tickets are available at a discounted price for trains and other public transportation. The children’s tickets are for children elementary school aged children (6 years old as of April thru the April when they turn 12). The children’s discount tickets are approximately half the price of an adult fare.

Additionally, free fares for young children are only applicable for up to 2 children per adult. If you are traveling alone with 3 small children you will be asked to pay the children’s fare for one child.

Children’s train passes:
Osaka Metro offers a day-pass that is a pretty good deal, especially if you are staying in the city. The adult fare is ¥620 (weekends) / ¥820 (weekdays). For children it is half-price ¥320 (weekdays) / ¥420 (weekends). If you ride the subway more than 3–4 times in one day you will be saving money on your fare.

Pre-paid train passes can save you time purchasing tickets at the machines and they are so easy to use. JR West offers ICOCA cards and also children’s ICOCA cards that you can charge up and then use for riding trains, subways, buses, etc or use as e-money when shopping at major stores. You simply tap them at the entrance and exit whenever you ride a train or bus and it automatically deducts the fare for you. Many stores and restaurants have a device at the cash register that can process your payment electronically, again by tapping your ICOCA. I recommend getting one for each member of your family if you will be here for more than a few days and relying on public transportation to get around.