Itinerary Kansai Spring Travel Guide

2-Day Osaka Spring Itinerary

Thinking of visiting Osaka during the hanami (cherry blossom viewing) season? As early April is said to be the best time to see sakura in Osaka, be yourself prepared to plan a trip to this wonderful place and enjoy the hanami atmosphere at the right time.

To make it possible I have decided to share an itinerary which in fact would help you organize a trip on your own. Or you just can follow it and plan accordingly; hopefully it would work for you. It is simple and more importantly you would be able to explore the best hanami spots including other top sightseeing destinations of Osaka.

Can you spot the greatest Osaka Castle in this picture? Photo Credit: m-louis at Flickr.

Osaka is one of the top visited places in Japan. It is a bustling city but loaded with a lot of dazzling views wherever you turn. According to my travel experience, Osaka seems to me an outstanding place go and enjoy the changing scenes of the four seasons.

Feel the real spring while exploring the places around, have some local foods and drink sitting under the epic cherry blossom trees. Are you ready to explore Osaka during spring? Carefully read this guide and find out how to spend 2 days in Osaka during this year hanami season.

I want you to stay in Umeda area, would be best if you could manage a room in a hotel located near Umeda Station.

You can stay at this hotel, it’s cheap and provide outstanding accommodation service to its guests. Oh hold on, if you are going to make a trip to Japan please read one of these travel guidebooks.

Day 1

Osaka Castle and Cherry Blossoms. Photo Credit: Tomoharu Mogami at Flickr.

Places of interest: Osaka Castle Park, Osaka Museum of History, Sumiyoshi Taisha, and Dotonbori.

Start your trip by exploring the breathtaking Osaka Castle Park and its surrounding sightseeing spots.

The castle park offers you a delightful hanami atmosphere which in fact is a famous place to see cherry blossom in Japan. Every year, it attracts thousands of sakura enthusiasts.

I would suggest you spend half a day there as there are lots of things to do and see. The park consists of the Osaka Castle, Nishinomaru garden, Osakajo Hall, Historical Monuments, Walking trails and Trees of different kinds of which several hundred are cherry blossom trees.

Shrine’s Unique Style Architecture of Sumiyoshi Taisha! Photo Credit: Mith Huang at Flickr.

Walk around the park through the walking trails; discover the main castle keep including the moats, and stone walls and gates.

It is kind of a tradition to have your lunch under the sakura trees in the park, so don’t miss this opportunity. Thinking of where to get the foods? No worries, you can find many food stalls there!

For a little bit of history you should head to Osaka Museum of History and look into the thousand years of history that Osaka possesses. It is worth a visit, no doubt!

Dotonbori at Night! Photo Credit: Marufish at Flickr.

Your next destination would be the Sumiyoshi Taisha. To do so hop on the local train that goes to Sumiyoshi Station. It is one of the oldest shrines of Japan that you must experience on this trip.

The shrine architecture styles are incredibly awe-inspiring and unique in some ways. Cross the impressive looking Takio Bashi Bridge and enjoy the surrounding vistas.

What to do in the evening time? Is there a place to enjoy it? Yes definitely there is a place I could suggest you go.

It’s Dotonbori, located in Namba area which is known for its nightlife, lights, restaurants and shopping arcade. I am sure there you will experience a lovely dinner time with your travel partners.

Day 2

Sakura in Expo 70 Commemorative Park, Osaka. Photo Credit: jutoart at Flickr.

Places of interest: Expo 70 Commemorative Park, Kema Sakuranomiya Park, Osaka Mint Bureau, and Umeda.

On the first day you were suggested to explore only one hanami spot but your first stop today on day two is to discover three other most popular hanami spots of Osaka.

Firstly, head to the north to a huge public park – Expo 70 Commemorative Park, located in Suita, on the outskirts of Osaka city.

Sakura in Kema Sakuranomiya Park. Photo Credit: lasta29 at Flickr.

The park is divided into five distinctive areas. Each area has its own specialty and different things to experience.

Although various types of flowers bloom there throughout the year except winter, view of spring flower such as sakura is truly exceptional. It is said there are approximately 5,000 cherry trees along its paths and around its large lawn areas.

When spring is in full swing a sakura matsuri takes place in the park. At that time trees are lit up in the evening. Take your lunch sitting on the grounds under the beautiful sakura trees.

In addition, enjoy all the festival events, and you should visit the open air craft market and buy some souvenirs. It is enough to spend half a day there and feel relaxed at the same time.

Kema-Sakuranomiya-koen Park during Hanami. Photo Credit: lasta29 at Flickr.

The next destination is the Kema Sakuranomiya Park. Often locals consider this cherry blossom viewing spot as the best one than the rest of the spots you find elsewhere in Osaka. It is one of my all time favorite sakura viewing spots I have come across so far in Japan.

I especially like the festive atmosphere it creates with viewing endless cherry blossoms on the riverside of the Okawa River in the park.

Endless rows of about 5000 sakura trees line the river for several kilometers. Walk along the paths and witness a truly classic Japanese hanami atmosphere. There are sightseeing cruise boats to take if you want to experience sakura from a pleasant boat journey.

Mint Bureau is a perfect place to see yaezakura in Osaka. Photo Credit: juor2 at Flickr.

After spending 2 to 3 hours in Kema Sakuranomiya Park you should head towards Osaka Mint Bureau. It is located next to the park that has a nice garden with hundreds of cherry trees.

Just take a leisurely walk from the park to Osaka Mint Bureau. You can spend there one and a half hour, or if you would like to extend your time there then why not!

It is lovely to spectacle about 350 sakura trees of 130 different species. You can access to the garden in mid-April when most of the trees are in full bloom.

Shopping stores at Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street. Photo Credit: m-louis at Flickr.

What’s next? I would definitely tell you to explore Umeda’s Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street, Umeda Sky Building, and Grand Front Osaka (if you have time). All the best!

Two days are enough to see cherry blossoms as well as some other must-see spots in Osaka. This itinerary is focused on the best of Osaka sights including historic landmarks & seasonal attractions.

This 2 days family friendly itinerary would suit you and probably this is what you are looking for. I wish you good luck; enjoy the hanami to the fullest in Osaka.

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