Suggested Osaka History Walk

This suggested itinerary connects Osaka's most important historical sites, including its oldest temple and shrine, and famous castle, as well as some outstanding museums. This is the perfect itinerary to soak up the history of Osaka, using a mixture of walking and subways to get between spots.

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Start

Start at Tenjinbashi Rokuchome Station on the Tanimachi subway line

Walk a few steps to the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

1 minute

Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

History museum focused on housing 60 minutes

The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living offers visitors a unique glimpse of the streets of Osaka during the Edo Period (1603-1867) through a small recreated town street which visitors can enter.

Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street

One of Japan's longest shopping streets 20 minutes

From the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, walk south along the covered Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street which claims to be Japan's longest shopping arcade with a length of 2.6 kilometers.

Tenma Station

Take the JR Loop Line from Tenma Station to Osakajokoen Station

5 minutes

Osaka Castle

Reconstruction of the large feudal castle 90 minutes

The vast park around Osaka Castle contains lots of green space and impressive fortifications and moats. The castle keep is a reconstruction from the 1930s and contains a museum and observation deck.

Walk across the road from the castle's southwest corner to the Osaka Museum of History

5 minutes

Osaka Museum of History

Good museum about Osaka's history 45 minutes

The Osaka Museum of History museum boasts various impressive exhibits that chronicle Osaka's history, from ancient times up to the modern era. Great views can be had of the nearby castle from the museum's top floors.

Take the Tanimachi Subway Line from Tanimachi Yonchome Station to Shitennoji-mae-Yuhigaoka Station

5 minutes

Shitennoji Temple

One of the oldest temples in Japan 60 minutes

Established in 593, Shitennoji Temple is free to enter but contains multiple areas for which admission must be paid, including an inner precinct with the main hall and a five-storied pagoda, a traditional garden and a treasure house showcasing various important artifacts.

Take Tanimachi Subway Line from Shitennoji-mae-Yuhigaoka to Tennoji

5 minutes

Tennoji Station

Take the Hankai Tramway to Sumiyoshitorii-mae Station

15 minutes

Sumiyoshi Taisha

Head shrine of all Sumiyoshi shrines 50 minutes

Founded in the 3rd century before the introduction of Buddhism to Japan, Sumiyoshi Taisha displays one of the oldest styles of shrine architecture, called Sumiyoshi-zukuri, that shows little influence from the Asian mainland.

Finish

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine

Founded in the 10th century, this is one of the most important of hundreds of shrines across Japan devoted to the Shinto deity of scholarship. Destroyed and rebuilt many times throughout history, the current main hall and main gate date back to 1845.

Abeno Harukas

Japan's tallest skyscraper boasts the Harukas 300 observation deck on floors 58 to 60. From here visitors are afforded great views of the city and many of its historical sites.