Japan Honeymoon: Day 6 (Osaka Castle to Tsutenkaku Tower)

What a day of finding new things and fun surprises we had in Osaka! Our morning started with a big visit to old places, where we even rode on calm waters, seeing amazing views. Later, our senses led us to a secret food spot, where we ate tasty food that truly showed what the city is all about. As the sun started to go down, we went up very high, seeing an amazing sight as the city lights began to twinkle. Finally, we finished our fun day with some cool things we found, ending our trip nicely. Join us as we share all the details of this special Osaka experience!

Here’s the day’s itinerary:

• 10:00 AM: Explored the Grand Osaka Castle
• 1:00 PM: Went on a tranquil cruise on the Osaka-jo Gozabune (Japanese traditional boat) around Osaka Castle.
• 2:30 PM: Savored authentic Okonomiyaki at Bonshige
• 4:00 PM: Ascended the iconic Tsutenkaku Tower and spotted the lucky Billiken statue
• 5:00 PM: Enjoyed the Osaka sunset from the Tembo Paradise
• 6:00 PM: We did some shopping at Keihan City Mall

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Stepping into History: Exploring Osaka Castle

Our first stop for the day was the famous Osaka Castle Park, and even though we arrived quite early, there were already lots of people! This castle is super old and important, first built way back in the late 1500s by a powerful leader named Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The castle we see today is a newer version, but it still feels like a grand old fortress. We had a bit of a walk from the Ote-Mon gate to reach the main castle building, but it was worth it. Along the way, we took tons of pictures, especially at the famous pond that perfectly reflects the castle – it looks amazing in photos, just like you see on TikTok and Instagram!

Once we were ready to go inside, we used our Osaka Amazing 2-Day Pass, which was fantastic because we didn’t have to wait in any lines! Inside, we learned so much about the castle’s history. Did you know that the castle has been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries, often due to wars or fires? Also, the main tower actually houses a museum with artifacts and exhibits about its past. There was definitely a lot of walking involved, especially going up all the floors by stairs, which was pretty tiring. But it was totally worthwhile because we learned so much and got to see amazing views from the top!

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Cruising Around History through the Osaka-jo Gozabune Boat Ride Experience

After exploring Osaka Castle on foot, our next exciting activity was a boat ride around it on the Osaka-jo Gozabune boat! This was also included in our Osaka Amazing 2-Day Pass, which we bought through Agoda for ₱3,890 – a great deal! The boat tour lasted about 20 minutes, giving us a unique view of the castle from the water. The boat even made special stops at famous photo spots, so we could get amazing pictures of Osaka Castle from a different angle.

One really fun part of the ride was trying to spot the human-faced stone in the castle walls! Trivia: This stone is actually a natural formation that, with a bit of imagination, looks like a face, and it’s become a popular little mystery for visitors to find. It was a fun challenge to look for it as we cruised along. It is said that the stone protects the unlucky direction of the Osaka Castle. The whole boat ride was a relaxing and enjoyable way to see the castle from a new perspective and learn a little more about its interesting features.

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Okonomiyaki Bonshige: Our Delicious “Hole-in-the-Wall” Find in Osaka!

Afterward, we left through the Kyobashi-guchi Entrance and walked for about 10 minutes to find Okonomiyaki Bonshige. We were really craving okonomiyaki, and this place was a perfect find! Okonomiyaki is a famous Japanese savory pancake, often called “Japanese pizza,” and it’s especially popular in Osaka. It’s made with flour, eggs, and shredded cabbage, mixed with various ingredients like pork, seafood, or vegetables, then grilled. Bonshige is quite famous, having been around for about 75 years! It had that wonderful “hole-in-the-wall” feel – a true hidden gem that we were so lucky and happy to discover.

The inside of the restaurant felt very homey, with local artworks on the walls and warm wooden furniture. We loved that we could actually see our chef cooking our food, which made the experience even more special! I ordered the Pork Okonomiyaki Set Meal for ¥960, and my husband chose the Yakisoba Set Meal for ¥910. Both dishes were incredibly tasty, rich in umami flavor, and definitely worth every yen we spent. Furthermore, we tried our food with their famous Honda Sauce, and it really made the taste and the whole experience even better. On top of that, the portions were huge, so we left feeling very full and happy!

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Reaching for the Sky at Osaka’s Tsutenkaku Tower

Following our delicious lunch, our next adventure took us to the Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka’s lively Shinsekai district. This iconic landmark stands tall and proud! Upon arrival, a super cool tube slide, stretching 60 meters, offered a grand 10-second exit from the 3rd floor. Conveniently, our Osaka Amazing 2-Day Pass covered our visit, and we easily redeemed tickets on the first floor without any fuss.

We ascended to the 5th floor’s Golden Observation Deck, meeting the famous Billiken statue. This charm doll, popular in Osaka since 1908, is a “God of Things As They Ought to Be”; people rub his feet for luck! He’s also considered one of Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods, and I collected their “eki stamps.” Next, we explored the 3rd floor to learn Tsutenkaku’s history. The original tower, built in 1912, drew inspiration from the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, becoming Asia’s second tallest at 64 meters. It connected to Luna Park via a cable car. A 1943 fire damaged it, and its steel went to WWII efforts. However, with strong local support, it was rebuilt in 1956, now standing 103 meters tall. It was a fun and fascinating stop on our Osaka journey.

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Chasing the Sunset at Tsutenkaku’s Tembo Paradise

Midway our exploration, we ventured even higher in the Tsutenkaku Tower to reach the Tembo Paradise, hoping to watch the sunset over the Osaka skyline. Our Osaka 2-Day Pass did not cover this special area, so we paid an extra 500 yen each to access it. It was a wonderful spot to simply relax, sit down, and capture some great pictures. Thankfully, the sky was clear, and the sunset was truly a beauty to behold. Although this area had only a few seats, perhaps to encourage visitors to keep moving, it was still a worthwhile experience for the breathtaking views.

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Evening Shopping at Keihan City Mall

Afterward, we spent the rest of our evening at Keihan City Mall, enjoying some relaxed shopping. We were on a mission for some practical buys! We found a wireless iron at the EDION store, inspired by the super convenient one at our hotel. (A quick tip for you: Japanese voltage is different from the Philippines, so always use a voltage regulator for your appliances, or they might break like ours did, haha!) We also picked up a Panasonic battery charger from the same store.

Next, we dropped by GU to grab some more outfits. We love GU because it offers great quality clothes at really cheap prices, often comparable to Uniqlo. It was perfect for finding some extra layers against the cool Osaka winds. We had a fun and productive shopping trip, capping off our day with some useful purchases and stylish finds!

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You may watch the day’s vlog below!

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Thank you for reading this blog post! Here are other lifestyle blog posts you might like.

• Japan Honeymoon: Day 5 (Quick Transfer: Kyoto to Osaka)
• Japan Honeymoon: Day 4 (Gion to Nara via Aoniyoshi Sightseeing Train)
• Japan Honeymoon: Day 3 (Fushimi Inari, Ramen and Shopping)
• Japan Honeymoon: Day 2 (Amazing Arashiyama)
• Japan Honeymoon: Day 1 (The Charm of Central Kyoto)
• Japan Honeymoon: Day 0 (Flight to KIX and First Impressions)