Osaka Museum Guide

Osaka has many museums, art galleries and a world-class aquarium.

Visitors planning to see multiple museums around Osaka and Kyoto should consider the Kansai Grutto Pass. The pass provides free or discounted admission to around 50 museums and galleries in the Kansai Region and costs 1400 yen. It is available annually from early April through January of the following year and is valid for one entry to each participating museum. The pass expires three months from its first use or on March 31, whichever occurs first.

History museums

  • Osaka Museum of History
    Tanimachi Yonchome Station across Osaka Castle
    Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (until 20:00 on some Fridays)
    Admission ends 30 minutes before closing
    Admission: 600 yen
    Located adjacent to Osaka Castle Park, the Osaka Museum of History educates visitors about the history of Osaka. The museum's displays are equipped with multilingual explanations.
  • Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
    At the northern end of the Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street
    Hours: 10:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
    Closed: Tuesdays (except national holidays) and from Dec 29 to Jan 2
    Admission: 600 yen
    The unique Osaka Museum of Housing and Living presents a glimpse of the streets of Osaka during the Edo Period (1603-1868) through recreated houses which visitors can enter.
  • Peace Osaka
    Directly south of Osaka Castle Park
    Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (entrance until 16:30)
    Closed: Mondays and the day following holidays (except Tuesdays and weekends)
    The last day of each month and December 28 to January 4
    Admission: 250 yen
    Peace Osaka explores Japan's experiences during World War II with an emphasis on Osaka. English language information is rather limited.

Science museums

  • Osaka Science Museum
    Higobashi Station on the Yotsubashi Subway Line
    Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
    Closed: Mondays (or following day if Mon is a national holiday), New Year
    Admission: 400 yen (separate fee for planetarium)
    The child-friendly Osaka Science Museum is a fun, four story building filled with interactive displays about the universe, chemistry, electricity and energy. The museum is located on Nakanoshima Island.

Art museums

  • National Museum of Art, Osaka
    Higobashi Station on the Yotsubashi Subway Line
    Hours: 10:00 to 17:00 (until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays)
    Closed: Mondays (or following day if Mon is a national holiday), New Year
    Admission: 430 yen (collection), fees vary for special exhibitions
    Osaka's National Museum of Art was moved to its new location on Nakanoshima Island in 2007. The museum displays Japanese and foreign contemporary art on a rotating schedule.

Aquariums

  • Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan)
    Osakako Station on the Chuo Subway Line
    Hours: 10:00 to 20:00 (entry until 18:00), longer hours during holidays
    Closed: Small number of irregular closing days
    Admission: 2700 yen
    Osaka Aquarium is a world class facility located at Tempozan Harbor Village. The aquarium's main attraction is its massive tank with 5,400 tons of water representing the Pacific Ocean ecosystem.

Food and entertainment

  • Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda
    5 minute walk from Ikeda Station on the Hankyu Takarazuka Line
    Hours: 9:30 to 16:30 (entry until 15:30)
    Closed: Tuesdays (or next day if Tuesday is a national holiday), New Year holidays
    Admission: Free (making your own cup noodles costs 500 yen)
    This museum showcases the history of cup noodles with display panels about the process that goes into making instant noodles and a collection of instant noodle products by Nissin Food over the decades. Making a personalized cup of instant noodles is a popular and quick activity at the museum that does not require advance reservations. The museum is located north of central Osaka in Ikeda City where the Nissin company was originally founded by Ando Momofuku.
  • Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum
    10 minute walk from Takarazuka Station north of Osaka
    Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
    Closed: Mondays (except holidays), December 29-31
    Admission: 700 yen
    Known as the "God of Manga" for his pioneering efforts in the industry, Tezuka Osamu is well known for "Astro Boy" and many other manga series. After his death, a memorial museum was built in Takarazuka, the city where he grew up, a 30 minute train ride north of Osaka. The museum documents the artist's life and exhibits a wide array of his work in both permanent and temporary exhibition space.

Getting there and around

How to get to and around Osaka

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Hotels around Osaka

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Osaka Restaurants

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Experiences around Osaka

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