Osaka's Majestic Past: A Journey Through Time at the Historic Castle

• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Step into the heart of Osaka’s history with an exclusive tour of the city’s iconic Castle, where ancient tales come to life. Experience the grandeur of the past, discover the secrets held within its walls, and capture the breathtaking cityscape from its summit.

Destination

Osaka, Japan

Category

Skip The Line Tours

Duration

2.5 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Español, Indonesian, 日本語

Included

• Private Guide
• Entrance Tickets to Castle
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Netural

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 6 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 Outside Lawson S Otemae North - 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. Beautiful Surroundings

   To better understand what you’ll see inside the Osaka Castle, your local host will start by showing you other hidden gems around the attraction. That way, you can get to know more about Osaka and the Castle for a perfect introduction to your tour

4. How It Works

   Before entering the Castle, meet your host and get an introduction to your tour.

5. Ahead of the Crowds

   On this tour, follow your local host’s lead and spend time inside the Osaka Castle discovering its highlights and hidden gems

6. Inside the

   Once you are inside, follow your local host’s insights as you check out the must-sees, as well as the hidden gems that not many know about. Be part of an enriching tour that will satisfy your curiosity and answer many of your questions!

7. Keep Exploring

   After the time with your host is over, you can either stay inside the attraction and keep exploring by yourself or say goodbye outside the attraction where your host will point out other spots to explore in Osaka

8. 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

Anneke

(About local Maria)

31 March 2025

Maria is a warm, thoughtful and dedicated guide. Our family was so fortunate to have her as our guide for our Osaka adventure. We enjoyed. Her storytelling, her flexibility and her good spirits. Amazing host!

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!!!

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

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

leo🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Sebastian)

29 December 2024

Sebestian was an amazing guide, he took care of my Aging mums leg issue and plan the trip so well and even arrange a lift service for her. And he is such a history geek that he shares interesting stories of Japan. Would be looking forward to plan another trip with him in a few months time SUCH AN AMAZING GUIDE

Rianna

(About local Hiromi)

15 December 2024

Hiromi was a wonderful guide, both of Osaka castle and the broader city. We first spent time learning about Osaka castle, then ventured to other areas of Osaka that Hiromi recommended. She took us on a tour of places we never would’ve found otherwise, including a very local shopping area with izakayas. Overall it was a great trip and Hiromi is a fantastic guide!Wonderful local tour of Osaka

Scott🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sebastian)

13 June 2024

Sebastian was just a fun vibe. Very relaxed and did well with my elderly mother.Such a fun time!

Elena🇺🇸 United States

(About local Naoki)

15 May 2024

We had a great time with Naoki visiting Osaka castle. He went above and beyond to make sure our needs are met. He was very engaging and knowledgeable. He showed us another shrine in the neighborhood and walked us to a sushi place we were planning to have lunch at. Such a delight! Amazing experience!

Magnus

(About local Maria)

20 April 2025

We really enjoyed taking the food tour with Maria, who is an extremely friendly guide and very knowledgeable about all the hidden gems. She showed us all the best places and even helped us to get home when we ended up with ticket problems on the train. A strong recommendation from us!!Fantastic Experiencr

Kelly

(About local Maria)

19 April 2025

Maria was a fabulous host. She not only conveyed information about the food but also the back-story of the people that first cooked it and the area that we were in. A wonderful experience!

Kayla🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Hiromi)

19 April 2025

Toppppp! It was Great! We have seen and tasted so many different foods! And birthday cake was amazing surprise! Thank you very much Hiromi - that was wonderful Tour in Osaka ! Hiromi is perfect Guide! Wonderful Tour with Hirimi!

Unknown

(About local Hiromi)

17 April 2025

We had the BEST time with Hiromi as our food tour guide in Osaka! From the moment we met her, she was warm, funny, and full of energy. She took us to all the coolest local food spots—places we never would have found on our own—and every single bite was a hit. One of the highlights was when she introduced us to plum wine, which was absolutely incredible. We loved it so much we ended up buying a couple of bottles to take home! Hiromi's passion for food and her deep knowledge of the Osaka food scene really made this tour special. If you're looking for an amazing, fun, and knowledgeable guide, Hiromi is the one. We can't recommend her enough!What an amazing tour!

Jo🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Allysa)

17 April 2025

Alyssa was a fantastic tour host. She was friendly and knowledgeable. She put together a lovely tour suitable for our family and we all enjoyed it immensely. A lovely afternoon in Osaka

Unknown

(About local Sebastian)

14 April 2025

We loved our biking tour with Sebastian! He was easy to talk to and full of information! He obviously has a passion for history and Japan. We loved all of the temples and shrines and other landmarks that he pulled over to to tell us a story about. We would highly recommend him to anyone!Favorite tour guide yet!

Kerstin🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Maria)

14 April 2025

Wir hatten eine tolle Führung mit Maria. Sie hat sich völlig auf unsere Bedürfnisse angepasst und ist auf alle Wünsche eingegangen. Wir waren gemeinsam auch in einem echten Local Restaurant Mittagessen. Das wäre ohne sie nicht gegangen. Sehr zu empfehlen. Herzlich & einfühlsam

Shirin🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ricky)

13 April 2025

We loved our tour with Ricky - he tailored the tour to our needs and took us to great spots we would not have found on our own! He was very flexible He even made great suggestions for spots for us to try on our own after the tour. Great food tour!

Aidan

(About local Hiromi)

13 April 2025

Hiromi was really great the whole time. Went to some really great food places highlights include sashimi and udon. Would book again and taking my friends to some places she took us.Outstanding Start to Finish

Laurie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sebastian)

12 April 2025

We had a blast with Sabastian. He has a great sense of humor, knows his stuff and some great off the beaten path adventures. Can’t go wrong with The way to see Kyoto.

Rachel🇺🇸 United States

(About local Hiromi)

11 April 2025

Our family had a wonderful food tour with Hiromi. We really enjoyed walking around Osaka and eating with her -- she is a kind and interesting person and we really enjoyed our time with her. She shared some interesting Osaka history and interesting facts about Kanji and Japanese language and history. And the food was so delicious. Shr took my son's love of beef and fried chicken into account and we had some really really good beef tempura, sushi, karaage, udon, takoyaki and okonomiyaki. I'm really glad we decided to do this food tour experience. I had looked at some bigger food tour companies and was really happy we decided on this smaller experience instead where we could really get to know Hiromi and eat at her favorite spots!Wonderful food tour with Hiromi

Douglas🇺🇸 United States

(About local Allysa)

10 April 2025

Allysa was a great guide. Her English is native speaker. She was good at adjusting to our custom ideas on what to see and do. Perfect day with Allysa!Allysa is the best.

Susanne

(About local Hiromi)

9 April 2025

We enjoyed a fun evening with Hiromi. She introduced us to many local street foods and shared her knowledge of local culture. Thanks Hiromi!Thanks Hiromi

Julie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sebastian)

8 April 2025

We absolutely loved our tour with Sebastian! He was super friendly and engaging and his English is very good. He showed us so many little hidden gems and we learned so much from his tour. Would definitely hire him again! JessicaAbsolutely loved our tour with Sebastian!

Thierry

(About local Hiromi)

6 April 2025

We took Hiromi’s food tour and we had a blast. She was so kind, friendly, fun, and informative. She took us to delicious little gem restaurants not visited by tourists. One of the highlights of our time in Osaka. HIGHLY recommended.Amazing food tour with Hiromi

Emma🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Hiromi)

6 April 2025

We had a wonderful time with Hiromi! We explored a variety of interesting places together and Hiromi answered all our questions. It was our proper first day in Japan after a huge amount of travel and jet lag and having Hiromi take care of us was exactly what we needed. Many thanks to Hiromi for everything :-)Wonderful time!

Pablo

(About local Maria)

5 April 2025

Maria took us through great places and we tasted fantastic food. She was very flexible and friendly., and taught us about Japan’s cuisine and culture. Amazing

Cynthia

(About local Maria)

5 April 2025

Loved the food tour with Maria - she was great, delicious food and good explanations of what we were eating and why and great info on the local area. Highly recommend ❤️Fantastic Food Tour

Rahul🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Maria)

4 April 2025

Maria was exceptionally patient and flexible to accomodate our requests. We walked around Dotonburi and then Shinsekai and she stopped and took us to places which the locals frequented ( less tourists and more locals) . She was punctual and proved great company for the evening. The evening rounded up with a great Okonomiyaki treat and left us wanting for moreGreat Evening with a great host

Susan

(About local Maria)

2 April 2025

Thankyou Maria, we had such an amazing time..the tour was so much fun and completely bespoke. We tried the loval food specialities we had read about plus the restaurants recommended by Maria..she was so knowledgeable and informed about Osaka and the local areas. Highly recommended. Exceptional tour

Mark

(About local Maria)

1 April 2025

We had a wonderful tour with Maria on our first day in Japan. It was a fantastic introduction to some of Japan’s different specialities, and we visited local eateries that we either wouldn’t have known existed or wouldn’t have been brave enough to visit alone. In addition to introducing us to many different foods, Maria was a mine of useful information about local traditions, how the train ticket system worked, and suggested different places we might want to visit. All in all the tour was well worthwhile - we were so full by the end we couldn’t visit our last eatery!Osaka Food Tour

John

(About local Ricky)

31 March 2025

Our tour in Osaka with Ricky was good though we felt that the portions were maybe a bit too much and that maybe the Dotombori area would have been better to get a mix of smaller street food bites.Osaka food tour

Loretta🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Maria)

29 March 2025

Maria was a wonderful guide, full of knowledge about food and Osaka. She took us to very interesting places to eat and through the backside of more popular streets. Then she even accompanied us to the subway station to make sure we were on the right track back to the the hotel! Couldn’t have asked for a better guide in Osaka!Excellent food and great guide!

Ian🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Hiromi)

28 March 2025

Hiromi was an excellent host who was adaptable and informative. She took things at our pace and we never felt rushed. We would thoroughly recommend her.An excellent host

John

(About local Hiromi)

26 March 2025

We met Hiromi in Tennoji for a wonderful introduction to Japanese (and Osaka) food. Hiromi made sure that for two octogenarians the distances between venues were relatively short although we did find ourselves slowing down as we took on board more food and drink! We would never have found on our own the restaurants she took us to. The highlight though for us was Hiromi herself. The opportunity to chat with a local about all sorts of things was for us the highlight of the tour.A memorable evening with Hiromi

John

(About local Hiroki)

26 March 2025

The joy of our time with Hiroki was he was totally flexible. We met him on our first evening in Osaka and we wanted to get oriented in this large city. He was able to help us use an ATM, show us how to buy train tickets ,shop for groceries, point out the sort of shops that would interest us and he took us for a meal in a busy part of the city Along the way he was able to answer lots of questions about Japanese life, especially for a young person. Hiroki is a thoroughly pleasant young guy who we would absolutely recommend.Total flexibilty

Pam

(About local Hiromi)

25 March 2025

Our time with Hiromi was great; we saw and learned so much! Her warm and inviting demeanor made us feel welcome and her expertise on the local history and culture left us with a rich appreciation of our visit. We would highly recommend touring with Hiromi!Memorable time in Osaka

Susan🇺🇸 United States

(About local Maria)

22 March 2025

María was a fantastic guide. We had a wonderful experience walking through different areas of Osaka. She introduced us to food we probably would not have tried on our own. She’s very knowledgeable and knows her way around taking us through the non touristy areas. We were a family of six traveling with a toddler and she was very accommodating. We would definitely recommend Maria. You won’t be disappointed. Awesome experience

Unknown

(About local Allysa)

22 March 2025

I had the absolute pleasure of exploring Osaka with Allysa as my tour guide, and I can’t recommend her enough! From the moment we met, she was warm, knowledgeable, and incredibly engaging. She tailored the tour perfectly to my interests, balancing history, culture, and local food experiences seamlessly. Allysa’s deep knowledge of Osaka’s rich history and hidden gems made the city come alive. Whether we were strolling through the bustling streets of Dotonbori, admiring the beauty of Osaka Castle, or savoring some of the best street food I’ve ever had, her insights and recommendations were spot on. What truly set Allysa apart was her enthusiasm and genuine passion for sharing Osaka’s culture. She answered every question with a smile, shared fascinating stories, and even taught me some helpful Japanese phrases. It felt like exploring the city with a friend rather than just a guide. If you’re visiting Osaka and want an unforgettable experience, do yourself a favor and book a tour with Allysa. She’s simply the best! Unforgettable Osaka Experience with Allysa

Lindi🇺🇸 United States

(About local Allysa)

22 March 2025

Allysa by far is now my favorite person ever! Not only did she really know her stuff for the tour, but the Overall vibe really just felt like a friend showing around her home! She was super accommodating, we had the unfortunate displeasure of having a major delay in our last flight to get to Osaka, and she was able to easily change our time where we would at least get a little bit asleep before! The Sweetest

Richard🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Hiromi)

21 March 2025

My family and I had a great food tour with Hiromi. We stopped at a bunch of locations enjoying the best that Osaka had to offer. Hiromi provided some quick info and highlights of Osaka along the way. We hit up some of the less touristy locations to avoid the heavy food traffic by Dotonburi. It was great fun and well worth it! Food fun in Osaka

Jessica🇺🇸 United States

(About local Naoki)

21 March 2025

Naoki was an incredible guide. So friendly and knowledgeable. Not only did he accommodate some dietary restrictions, he went above and beyond by altering the tour last minute when we made a request to visit Osaka Castle. He was a wealth of information and a pleasure to be with. I would recommend him to anyone visiting OsakaBest part of our time in Osaka

Michael

(About local Hiromi)

20 March 2025

Our family of 4 had a wonderful evening food tour with Hiromi. She was able to adjust the food tour based on our evolving cravings. She is very knowledgeable about Japanese culture and food. In addition to the focus on food she was able to highlight the history of the areas we were touring. After the tour she provided suggestions for other areas to potentially explore. Hiromi is a gracious host. Would highly recommend her to anyone seeking a food tour in Osaka. Amazing food tour

Lynette Berg🇺🇸 United States

(About local Naoki)

20 March 2025

We spent a pleasant and informative day with Naoki! He came to pick us up in Kyoto and then helped us negotiate train to Osaka and then tour Osaka. He was always engaging, patient and very knowledgeable. He took us to major sights like the Sky Tower and Osaka Castle. I had a special interest in Koreans in Japan, and he took us to the historical Korea town and showed us around there, including an old temple where the emperor came to learn about the Koreans. All in all, Naoki was top-notch! I highly recommend him if you need a guide in Osaka. Naoki is an excellent guide!

Bridget

(About local Ricky)

20 March 2025

Ricky was a great guide! He communicated very proactively and was easy to meet up with. He showed us three very different restaurants with three different cuisines. Then he gave us great tips for the rest of our trip. Thanks Ricky!Enthusiastic guide with excellent English

hans🇲🇾 Malaysia

(About local Hiromi)

16 March 2025

Thank you so much Hiromi for showing me around local food areas giving me a taste of Osaka’s wonderful food. I had a great time, easy flowing and interesting conversation, and picked up some Japanese language along the way. 100 pct recommend going with Hiromi on the food tour!Fantastic local food experience

Maureen

(About local Ricky)

16 March 2025

Ricky was very accomodating to our changing travel plans. He was fun and led us to many local spots. We had a great time with him.Fun few hours with Ricky

Duncan🇫🇷 France

(About local Naoki)

13 March 2025

We were a group of 23 and Naoki took us on a bespoke tour of Osaka that we all thoroughly enjoyed. His local knowledge was excellent, we can safely say he is an fantastic ambassador for the city. He even recommended and arranged dinner for our group and stayed in touch with us answering all our questions. We highly recommend his services. Enjoyable and informative!

Ivan

(About local Hiromi)

13 March 2025

Hiromi did an amazing job showing us around and introducing us to small hidden gems away from tourist crowds. She was adjusting tour on the go so that we try something new instead of the things that were planned in the tour but we were already familiar with. She was very knowledgable and communicative and answered all of our questions about Osaka and Japan and gave us an excellent intro into society in perfect english. I would highly recommend this tour and Hiromi as a guide. Amazing food tour in Osaka

Robyn

(About local Ricky)

11 March 2025

We had fun and Ricky was so helpful, showing us how to order and explaining the food to us.

Ann

(About local Hiromi)

9 March 2025

Hiromi she kept in touch with us . Very easy to reach her . Very knowledgeable, learned so much history from . Very friendly and easy to talk to . She was very accommodating to our request. Very very satisfied customer Excellent

Robbie 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Naoki)

9 March 2025

We had a wonderful day with Naoki. We asked for a tour to include Kyoto and Osaka with a focus on the people and their culture. Naoki met us just off the cruise ship and guided us through the train systems to Kyoto. This was important, so that we would learn to use the electronic kiosks and find the correct train/subway on our own in the future. We explored the markets, streets, temples and shrines of Kyoto. All the while receiving an enjoyable explanation of all that we saw. In the afternoon, Naoki guided us to the various restaurant districts in Osaka. He took us to his favorite restaurants and ordered the dishes that define Osaka. We concluded the day with Naoki escorting us back to our starting point. It was an enchanting eleven hour day with a guide who enjoys sharing his home town with visitors.Wonderful day in Kyoto and Osaka