• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Want to see the best of Osaka? We got you covered. But as you can expect from a Withlocals experience, the real excitement is its hidden gems. Join your favorite local and get a feeling of the city's real vibe on a tour that has it all, so you can say: I experienced the real Osaka!

Destination

Osaka, Japan

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Indonesian, 日本語, Melayu, Español

Included

• Private Guide
• 1 Local Snack or Drink
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to attractions

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 9 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Osaka City Central Public Hall, next to the main entrance - Osaka to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. City Highlights

   See from Osaka City Central Public Hall, Nakanoshima Park, Osaka Castle, and other landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots in town so you can get the perfect overview of what makes Osaka so unique

4. Hidden Gems

   Along the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists experience

5. Magical Storytelling

   Behind every landmark and every stop, there’s a story, and your local host is ready to tell it all. Get ready to listen to incredible stories, one-of-a-kind insights, and fun facts only a knowledgeable local would know!

6. Special Treat

   Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Unknown

(About local Jessica)

6 March 2025

We really loved our time with Jessica. She did a great job explaining everything to us and really had the food scene down. That was our main interest. She was specially good at pivoting around our interests. Highly recommend her!Great Guide!

Bruce🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Naoki)

19 February 2025

Naoki was a lovely, softly spoken, humble person, who took us across at least 4 locations in the city giving us a holistic perspective. As someone who grew up in the centre of the city, he knows every part of it. He took us from the Town Hall, local Shinto Shrine, Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market, and Dontonbori. He was so generous with his time, that we went past the 3 hours. (Just make sure you have an ICOCA card for the trains, we travelled by train between locations). We learnt a tremendous amount about the history of Osaka, the Shinto and Buddhist religions, the culture of the city, shopping areas, and of course food. Aoki, as someone who has spent his lifetime in the city, is a great person to lead a With Locals experience. Fantastic insights from an Osaka native

Lucas

(About local Allysa)

20 January 2025

We had a great time walking around Osaka with Allysa. She was very pleasant to be with and very knowledgeable about Osaka now and the history. Allysa changed the itinerary to our requests and we did everything we wanted together. Made many pictures together.and became friends in only 3 hours time. Great and personal experience with Allysa

Rachael🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Max)

20 January 2025

Max was great. Easy to communicate with in the lead up to the tour, and friendly throughout. He made a considerable effort to include stops that appealed to our kids which was appreciated and led to a better experience for everyone. The snippets of stories around the history of Osaka were brilliant. Would highly recommend Max for anyone coming to Osaka. Great Osaka Stroll

J.🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jessica)

1 January 2025

I CANNOT say now awesome Jessica was to me and my daughters. She knew the city, where to get the best food, and engaged so well with my teens. She went out of her way to make sure we had the best experience in Osaka! Only regret is too little time!

Kara🇯🇵 Japan

(About local Naoki)

28 December 2024

We had a great time touring Osaka with Naoki! He did a great job explaining the history and cultural aspects. Naoki provided the most thorough explanation that we've heard of Shinto traditions. He was great with my three kids and very flexible. He went above and beyond ensuring we knew where to get to our next stop after the tour. Top marks and happily recommend his tour!Wonderful tour!

Ann🇺🇸 United States

(About local Hiromi)

15 December 2024

We had a great time with Hiromi. She took us to so many local sites including Osaka castle, shrines, and a temple. She also took us to some great food spots and gave us great advice that we used for the rest of our trip. We had so much fun on the shopping street that she took us to that we went back the next day. I was able to get a kimono there at an excellent price. I did not see a better price for the rest of our trip. What a fantastic experience!Excellent Morning in Osaka

Ken🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Naoki)

15 December 2024

Family of four (with 2 late teens sons). We booked an Osaka to Kyoto day trip, and Osaka Highlights and Hidden Gem the next day with Naoki. Our sons commented that Naoki felt like a cousin from overseas taking us around. Apart from Naomi’s local knowledge and experience, his genuine warmth and kindness made this a memorable experience! Like travelling with your local cousin

Renee🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Jessica)

22 November 2024

Jessica was a wonderful and considerate guide. We were lucky to have her show us amazing Osaka. She answered all our questions and we had a lot! She was very knowledgeable. Thank you Jessica m! Thank you Jessica!

Gabriele🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Naoki)

13 October 2024

We had a great afternoon walking tour with Noaki. It was our first day in Osaka so we discovered the everyday Osaka including the longest covered shopping street in Japan, the Dontonburi and some old Osaka with two temple visits and the castle. Noaki had in-depth knowledge of all sites and was very helpful with some shopping tips which he sent the details of after the tour. He is a lovely and considerate person with a friendly and gentle manner. He went well over time when we were meant to finish. I would definitely book Noaki again on our next trip. 20 out of 10!Osaka highlights

chris🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Hiromi)

29 September 2024

Perfect!Excellent guide

erika🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Naoki)

11 September 2024

Naoki spreekt vlot Engels. Hij heeft ons geweldige plaatsen laten zien. Hij is zeer sympathiek. Beste gids ooit!

Kevin🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Naoki)

31 July 2024

Naoki was great. No effort was too much for him. Communicates very clearly in English, which is very pleasant when it is not your native language. Book him, you won’t be disappointed !

Gert🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Sebastian)

12 July 2024

Sebatstian is an amazing guide. He knows everything and is a very good storytellers. Full points for the tour we had with him!amazing guide

Vicki🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Jessica)

16 June 2024

Jessica gave us a great look around, she had good local knowledge A great look around

Alan🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Hiromi)

27 May 2024

Hiromi was lovely and showed us a more local side of Osaka. We enjoyed being out of the tourist zone and having an insight from a local. There were a couple of things she was unsure of when we asked, but she made sure to follow up and sent through information after our tour. She was enthusiastic for us to try some truly local products which we may not have tried otherwise, and gave us lots of helpful local tips.Grest insights

Caren🇺🇸 United States

(About local Naoki)

23 May 2024

Our tour with Naoki was both fun and educational! He was also kind , patient and generous with his time and knowledge. We all so enjoyed the tour and our time spent with Naoki.Kind and knowledgeable tour guide!

Andrew🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Naoki)

13 May 2024

It was my first time travelling to Japan and Osaka so I knew very little about the country, culture or city itself. Naoki not only provided me with a lot of great detail about all the sites we visited, they helped calm my initial nerves and helped me fully experience the wonders of the city to the fullest. Due to my limited timeframe for being in the city, he expertly crafted a tour for me that was tailored to what I most wanted to see, even making sure to end the tour on a street that had a massive appeal to my own personal tastes so help me explore more on my own after we parted ways. I honestly don’t think I would have had as much fun with anyone else or especially on my own. I used to think coming to Japan would have been a once in a life time trip, but now I can’t wait to come back again soon, and hopefully booking a Naoki again for another tour!What an amazing day

Nico🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Naoki)

15 March 2024

Had a very good tour of Osaka with Naoki. He has loads of knowledge as a true local and his English is very well. Liked the temple visit and local food especially. Perfect tour

Christy

(About local Jessica)

10 March 2024

Jessica was really lovely. She balanced history and interesting facts with general conversation to build rapport. We asked Jessica for tips for the rest of our stay and she told us some and then later sent us a list of places to visit on our own. Her local treat that came with the tour was delicious and we really appreciated the thought that she put into choosing a snack. Would recommend Jessica for a great small tour. Great tips and great chats along the way

Evelyn 🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Naoki)

2 December 2023

We have not joined any private walking tour in the past and was very pleased to have Naoki guide us through the Hidden Gems of Osaka. Naoki was very patient and went out of his way to finish the tour despite it being overrun by a little more than 30 minutes. We told him that we can skip the last stop but he said it was not a problem for him. Very happy with his explanation and indeed very insightful for us. Wonderful walking tour

Mircea🇺🇸 United States

(About local Naoki)

9 July 2023

Naoki is a fantastic tour guide, and did a wonderful job with our Osaka tour. He’s relatable, interesting, and flexible with his time and the tour. We would definitely book him again when we are back. Amazing!

Nathaniel🇺🇸 United States

(About local HECTOR JULIO)

19 June 2023

I can't help but elaborate more on the incredible things that Hector did to make our Osaka tour absolutely unforgettable. From the moment we met him, it was evident that he was determined to provide a personalized experience that suited our preferences perfectly. Hector's thoughtfulness and generosity truly stood out. He surprised us with little souvenirs throughout the tour, ensuring we had mementos to remember our time in Osaka. But it didn't stop there. He even went as far as covering some of our train ride tickets, relieving us of any financial burden and allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience. What truly amazed us was Hector's unwavering dedication to showing us everything Osaka had to offer. He went above and beyond the call of duty, extending the tour hours to ensure we didn't miss out on any of the city's hidden treasures. His passion for sharing the best of Osaka was contagious and it made our journey all the more thrilling. Transportation logistics can often be a hassle when exploring a new city, but Hector took charge and made sure we never had to worry about catching our next mode of transport. He was meticulous in ensuring we reached our designated transportation on time, allowing us to seamlessly continue our adventure without any stress or delays. Hector's energy was infectious, and it was clear that he had our best interests at heart. His enthusiasm was contagious, and he made it his mission to educate us about the fascinating details and history of Osaka. From local legends to architectural wonders, he shared insights that we would have never discovered on our own. But what truly set Hector apart was his genuine care for our experience. From the very beginning, he reassured us that time constraints were not a concern. He encouraged us to take our time, explore at our own pace, and see everything we wanted, even if it meant exceeding our scheduled time slot. This level of flexibility and understanding made us feel valued as his guests and allowed us to savor every moment of our tour. In Hector, we found a tour guide who was not only sincere and kind but also took immense pride in showcasing the best of Osaka. His dedication and passion were evident in every interaction, and we couldn't have asked for a better guide to lead us through the vibrant streets of Osaka.Hector: Osaka's Unforgettable Guide

Lisa🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sebastian)

7 March 2025

We had such a wonderful time with Sebastian. He had so much knowledge about each stop and created the best schedule to avoid the crowds and make the best use of the time. The meals we had were really special and highlighted local ingredients for super reasonable prices. I would highly recommend him as a guide. Amazing day!

Victoria

(About local Naoki)

7 March 2025

We had a great time with Naoki. He was so knowledgeable and his information and passion was clear from the get-go! We enjoyed some wonderful kushikatsu at the beginning of our tour and then made our way through Namba to Dotonbori. We were shown both a Shinto and Buddhist shrine and educated about the difference between the two. Naoki accompanied us on the subway back towards our hotel and even helped us find a restaurant for dinner after. Cannot recommend him highly enough! Great, informative evening!

Juan🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Naoki)

7 March 2025

We had the absolute pleasure of having Naoki as our guide for our Samurai Heritage tour in Osaka, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience! From the very beginning, Naoki’s warm personality, deep knowledge, and passion for history made this tour truly special. Instead of visiting the Osaka Museum of History, we explored Osaka Castle, and Naoki made the visit incredibly engaging. He shared fascinating stories about the castle’s history, the samurai legacy, and little-known details that brought the past to life. Beyond the historical insights, Naoki was incredibly accommodating, adjusting the pace and content of the tour to match our interests. His recommendations for other sights and local food spots were also fantastic! If you’re considering booking a tour with Naoki through WithLocals, do it! His expertise, enthusiasm, and genuine kindness will make your Osaka experience unforgettable. We highly recommend him to anyone looking to explore the city’s rich history with a knowledgeable and engaging guide.An Unforgettable Osaka Tour

Rosy

(About local Maria)

6 March 2025

Maria was an absolutely fantastic guide. She is incredibly kind and knowledgeable. We tried so many different foods - which was especially great as we were working with some dietary requirements. We saw parts of the city we would not have come across by ourselves and were just so happy with the whole experience. Wonderful tour!

Sereni

(About local Jessica)

6 March 2025

It was the arrival day of our trip to Japan & the Osaka evening walking tour with Jessica was a great start! She shared with us some useful tips & insights about Japanese manners, typical foods of Osaka and restaurant suggestions. Jessica spoke perfect English and she was quick to respond to change of the meeting time. Informative & kind

Unknown

(About local Hiromi)

4 March 2025

Hiromi gave us intro to Osaka specific foods, took us around and also shared a lot of nuance around culture. Being that she was a season traveler herself she loved our questions and was eager to share Udon and sushi spots were delish! Time with Hiromi was excellent!

Eric

(About local Hiromi)

2 March 2025

Hiromi was an excellent guide around Osaka! She not only brought us to some very delicious food spots, but she was very knowledgeable about the history of the food. Also, she was very nice, and me and my partner had a great time chatting with her. ありがとうございます！Amazing Food Tour in Osaka

Deanna

(About local Naoki)

2 March 2025

We had an incredible day with Naoki! He was incredibly knowledgeable about Osaka and gave us some excellent suggestions with detailed recommendations for our remaining time there. He was super flexible and helpful and showed us the highlights of Osaka. He also introduced us to takoyaki and okonomiyaki (delicious!). Do not hesitate-- book with Naoki!Amazing day with Naoki

Francisco

(About local Ricky)

2 March 2025

We spent a wonderful day with Ricky exploring everything Osaka has to offer, while at the same time learning about its rich history. Highly recommended!!Historical tour with Ricky

Kristyn

(About local Naoki)

1 March 2025

After traveling in over 50 countries, my husband and I have experienced a lot of guides, and I can honestly say that Naoki was the very best guide we have ever had! I with I had booked a lot more time with him! We did the 10 tastings of Osaka with Naoki and all the food and drink choices were fantastic, but this was so much more than a food tour! Naoki has an incredible amount of knowledge about Osaka and Kyoto and Japan in general, but we also had so many interesting conversations about his life growing up and our cultural comparisons. As we walked between restaurants, Naoki made sure to make a lot of interesting stops at shrines and other important places in the city. Naoki was also constantly making sure to take photos of us without us having to bring it up. The next day Naoki was also emailing us more information about stores and restaurants we had discussed and responded very quickly when I asked for recommendations in Kyoto. I truly can’t say enough about what a wonderful time we had! It was the highlight of our 3 weeks in Japan. By the end of our night with Naoki, we felt like we had made a lifelong friend! Absolutely Amazing Guide!!!

daniela🇲🇽 Mexico

(About local Naoki)

23 February 2025

We absolutely loved taking the food tour with Naoki! He is such a kind and friendly person, and he took us to truly amazing places to eat while sharing great local recommendations. On top of that, his tour was filled with fascinating insights about Japanese culture, which made the experience even more special. If we ever come back to Osaka, we would definitely love to book another tour with him!Great experience full of great food!

elysawalk

(About local Jessica)

23 February 2025

Jessica was a great guide. She was so accommodating to my elderly mother and very helpful. She was totally flexible with what we wanted to do as well.Amazing!

Anna🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Hiromi)

15 February 2025

We had 10 tastings experience with Hiromi and I can highly recommend it. We have read so many posts and watched many videos about Osaka eateries and street food, but it is so different to what Hiromi showed us. The food was amazing with every place and dish carefully chosen to wow us. I would definitely do it again if I come back to Osaka. Unforgettable experience in Osaka

Arlene

(About local Allysa)

14 February 2025

My day with Allysa was one of the best highlights of my trip to Japan! She was immediately aligned with my hopes and expectations of visiting the lesser traveled roads of Kyoto. As a fellow photographer, she showed me beautiful places without the typical crowds. I highly recommend her as a guide, who will provide a memorable experience of the hidden gems in Japan.Great day with Allysa!

Michael

(About local Naoki)

7 February 2025

Naoki-san is a great guide. He met us at our hotel in Osaka and took us to Kyoto via public transportation/trains. This was my third trip to Japan and my son's first. We both learned a lot from Naoki-san. He answered all our questions (however bizarre) very calmly and patiently. He navigated the streets and alleys of Kyoto expertly as we visited numerous shrines, temples and gardens. He even found vegetarian/vegan restaurants to satisfy my son. It was truly a fantastic tour. Fantastic tour of Kyoto with Naoki-san.

Harlan

(About local Hiromi)

4 February 2025

We finished our tasting tour with Hiromi, last night. She was knowledgeable and an excellent teacher throughout the experience but what really made it special was that she customised the experience on the fly as she learned about what we wanted to get out of it. We got to try new things and Hiromi kept taking us to better and better spots as the night went on. She delivered a truly wonderful tour.Horimi is something special!

Banjing

(About local Maria)

4 February 2025

We had an amazing experience with our tour guide during our visit to Osaka! When my son accidentally lost his wallet at a train station, we were struggling to communicate with the lost and found personnel, who only spoke Japanese. We decided to hire a local guide, and we are so glad we did. Our guide went above and beyond, speaking with the lost and found team on our behalf, and when the wallet wasn’t initially found, she didn’t give up. She worked with the train station staff and was able to help us locate the wallet. We were incredibly relieved and grateful. Afterward, she treated us to an insightful tour of Osaka. Her knowledge of the city’s history was impressive, and she shared fascinating details that you won’t find in any guidebook—these were real local insights that made the experience even more special. We feel so fortunate to have met such a dedicated and knowledgeable guide, and we highly recommend her to anyone visiting Osaka. Thank you for everything! This highlights both the practical help she provided and the enriching tour experience!100% truly Amazing Person!!!

Dushan

(About local Naoki)

28 January 2025

Naoki is super knowledgeable and was very informative. Took us to several local spots and took lots of pictures for us. We really enjoyed the experience and was nice to eat food that wasn’t the standard tourist offerings and more what the locals eat. Amazing time with Naoki!

Sallim🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Naoki)

27 January 2025

Naomi was always humble and accommodating. He was able to teak the schedule to our needs. Good insights into the Osaka castle area and Dotonburi area. We enjoyed the walk and the history given. Thank you very much. An enjoyable evening in Osaka

remy

(About local Naoki)

20 January 2025

Wonderful guide ! He accepted to change the date at the last miment because our flight was cancel and delayed. He know everythings about Osaka castle and Japan history! And he was very very kind with us all the time ! Thanks Naoki !Amazing guide

Meghan🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Naoki)

18 January 2025

The tour with Naoki was great! He was a formidable host! Punctual, kind and super insightful! In addition to the food he also showed us some hidden temples and shrines. He took the time to explain to us the rituals and meaning if those places ! We memorable experience, thank you very much ! discovering Osaka food and little corners

C

(About local Naoki)

17 January 2025

From the moment Naoki met with us, it was clear that this would be a great and personalised experience. The food, drink and venue choices were explained and clarified. All were so tasty and of quality This was such a great way to be quickly introduced to aspects of Japanese / Osaka food and eating culture. But that was only the half of it. Naoki also took us to and introduced us to some non food places of interest with both modern, historic and cultural relevance. A caring and generous host: Naoki provided a perfect welcome to Osaka. Naoki was a perfect host.

Carole

(About local Hiroki)

15 January 2025

Hiroki lead my family from our Air BNB to experience Osaka Castle. We travelled as a local on the metro, spared our legs by taking the Osaka train to explore the gardens and the walk up to the first bridge and led us straight through the castle gates. He shared with us his love of Osaka and its history and where to get the best range of ramen in one spot. He was able to answer many questions we had from the museum that should we had gone alone we would not have had answers to. Would recommend a local guide to get those insights.Awesome guide

Gerard🇺🇸 United States

(About local Max)

13 January 2025

Max was just what we needed. We had already been exploring the area we chose for two days and Max was still able to bring us to spots we haven seen or heard of. He really worked with us to make it a great experience.

Thomas🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jessica)

12 January 2025

We spent a beautiful day in Osaka with Jessica. We covered a lot of ground. From the Shitennoji Temple to the Shin Sekai neighborhood to the the Osaka Castle. Jessica is very knowledgeable about Japan's history and culture. She is extremely personable and has a great sense of humor. We enjoyed our visit very much!Great Day in Osaka!

Markos

(About local Maria)

12 January 2025

Maria was very flexible and willing to accommodate all our needs. She took us around different neighborhoods and areas of Osaka. Some of the places were pre-booked others were chosen on the spot depending on we wanted. A great host and guide to take you around townGreat Food Tour with Maria

Cornelius🇺🇸 United States

(About local Naoki)

12 January 2025

We had a wonderful time with Naoki on the tastings tour. He let us customize our time and asked great questions to ensure a great tour, The tour was amazing - we enjoyed his company, the food, the background information, learning about local history and the food itself. He gave great context and even pointed out small, but wonderful details - like the Kimchi in this restaurant was made with honey - "Osaka style." We're even going back to a restaurant we thoroughly enjoyed with Naoki - and would probably go back to more of them if could stay longer. Naoki was friendly, warm and gracious and even provided some additional restaurant recommendations. He's a gem! Don't hesitate to book with Naoki! Amazing and fun tour