Osaka is by far one of the most popular cities in Japan to visit. Compared to Tokyo, it has much less of the high-tech super-city vibes but is still distinctly Japanese, home to its own plethora of attractions and particular B-grade gourmet dining. It is also only a very short train ride away from Nara, Kyoto, and Kobe, making it an ideal hub to stay and remain within reach of some of Japan’s most famous locations, sites, and experiences.
We adore the city of Osaka, significantly slower than Tokyo, though still offering all the best parts of the country. It’s cheaper to stay, and since the size of the city is also much smaller than the capital, it’s much easier to navigate with less travel time, meaning you can stay outside of the city centre and travel in for a very short amount of time. The food is homier, and the people also seem warmer, though that may be out of bias than anything else.
Those are only a small number of reasons why we highly recommend Osaka as a place to stop in Japan, though the number of visitors to the city (at least, pre-pandemic!) is already indicative of its popularity. However, it’s not as commonly known that Osaka offers an Amazing Pass, a tourism ticket that gets you public transport rides as well as free or discounted entry to a huge number of Osaka’s most famous attractions!
The Osaka Amazing Pass
What is the Amazing Pass?
You can read all about it on their website (English). As mentioned, it’s a ticket that can be used for rides on public transport (buses and trains), with a barcode that can be scanned to get you either free or discounted entry to a huge number of attractions. It can also be used at certain retail stores and restaurants for discounts, or free gifts (with purchases). There are 1-Day or 2-Day Passes, which makes it suitable for a lot of styles of travel. It’s an incredible ticket that is heavily geared to push the tourism industry, but that’s what makes it so convenient for visitors!
Purchasing the Amazing Pass
The 1-Day pass is ¥2,800 (US$25.80) and the 2-Day pass is ¥3,600 (US$33.15) as of the publishing of this article. It’s available for purchase at a long list of locations including at Information Centres, all Osaka Metro train stations, and some hotels. It should be noted that some offices only sell 1-Day passes, and not all locations accept credit cards. You can also purchase the Amazing Pass online, which was not an option when we travelled before. Once you purchase the ticket online, you will still need to go to an exchange location to swap the proof of purchase for the real ticket.
Pass Validity
Be careful that the 1-Day and 2-Day passes vary slightly in terms of which public transport you can use. The Amazing Pass website has a clear infographic outlining which lines are available, so we recommend referring to it for more information. The Pass will get you free entry into over 40 different attractions, which are outlined on the Amazing Pass website. These include attractions such as museums, boat rides, and gardens, just to name a few. You can also use it to get discounts on a number of other attractions. However, there are limitations, so read the notes on the website carefully! Some attractions only allow you to use the pass during a certain time of day, and some are only valid for certain days of the week. The Amazing Pass also lists the dates when attractions close for maintenance. We recommend making up a general plan so as to avoid disappointment.
The Pass is also valid for discounts on a number of restaurants and retail establishments, many of which focus on Osaka specialty dishes such as okonomiyaki savoury pancake restaurants, souvenir stores, and even cooking classes. These are also subject to change, so make sure you check up on them close to your dates of travel.
Using the Amazing Pass
Tickets to the Gozabune Boat Ride at Osaka Castle 
Tickets to the Aqua-Liner, one of the many attractions available for the Amazing Pass.
Amazing Passes are activated when it is first used, such as for scanning in to a train station. You need to be careful when planning your days of use as the pass availability is NOT over a 24- or 48-hour window. Instead, the 1-Day pass finishes on the midnight of the day it is activated, and the 2-day pass finishes on the midnight the day after it is activated. If, for example, you first use the 1-Day ticket on a 9pm train on a Monday, it will no longer be valid on Tuesday. Don’t be caught out by this!
Besides this, the Amazing Pass acts as any other normal ticket. At train stations, slot it into the machine at the gate to let you through (don’t forget to pick it up on the other side!), and at attractions you will need to present it so that the attendants can scan the barcode so they can give you the attraction-relevant ticket. For attractions where there are limited spaces, such as for boat rides, we recommend heading to the ticket booth before you do anything else so you can snag tickets for your preferred time.
Is the Pass Worth It?
So the age-old question comes up. For the price, is it worth it for an Amazing Pass? The answer, of course, depends on what you want out of your travels. If you’re only hopping on a couple of trains a day and spending a lot of time at a single attraction, it may be more economical not to go with the Pass. However, if you’re like us with only a short time in the city and a hunger to see everything there is before you go, it’s definitely easy to utilise the Pass and get maximum value! This is especially the case with a little bit of planning. Check out our two-day itinerary below to see how we saved almost $100.
(Note: we visited in June of 2019.)
Our Osaka Amazing Pass Itinerary Day 1
Train to Osaka Business Park Station – ¥230
Osaka Castle Gozabune Boat Ride – ¥1,500
This is a boat ride around the moat of Osaka Castle. It’s exactly 20 minutes long, with commentary played over speakers in both Japanese and English to provide some commentary on the moat and the castle walls. You get a full view of the castle, and a fantastic perspective of just how huge the walls are. You will need to go to the ticket booth near the boarding pier as each boat is small with limited seats. Get in early and book for the time you prefer. The boat will board a few minutes prior to the stated time, and leave the dock with typical Japanese promptness.
Osaka Castle – ¥600
Osaka Castle has been destroyed several times since it was first built, from things such as natural disasters to war. It has since been renovated into a museum, retaining its original exterior but with a modern interior with exhibitions and information from that time. You can’t take photographs inside. As well as stairs, there is an elevator to go inside, so it is somewhat wheelchair-friendly, but the museum is made up of several small floors so you may find yourself taking many small rides to visit each exhibition.
Osaka Castle Nishinomaru Garden – ¥200
The garden is expansive, and visible from the viewing platform of the castle. It is not much in terms of plants, consisting mostly of grass over flat ground with some trees, but it is famous for cherry blossoms during spring.
Aqua-Liner Osaka Suijyo – ¥1,700
The Aqua-Liner is a boat that runs along the river that flows through Osaka city. There are 4 piers from which you can board or alight, which makes it an excellent attraction not only for a ride through the river, but as a mode of transportation! We took the Aqua-Liner from the Osaka Castle Pier to Yodoya-bashi Pier, and took the train from Yodoya-bashi elsewhere. The Aqua-Liner is a fairly large boat, but it has limited assigned seating. We recommend heading to the ticket booth early to get seats on the boat.
Pablo Sweets – Free gift
Pablo Sweets is a famous bakery in Osaka known for its cheese tart – similar to a cheesecake but melty and almost pudding-like, served in a tart shell. With any purchase and a show of the Amazing Pass, you can get yourself a free Pablo original sweet, which was a cream cheese dacquoise (meringue and cream cheese on a biscuit/cookie base) during our time of visit. As of publishing, this offer is no longer available, which is a shame! But the tart is worth trying and for us, Pablo cheese tarts are a much tastier alternative to the jiggly Japanese cheesecakes.
Umeda Sky Building Observatory – ¥1,500
The Umeda Sky Building Observatory is without a doubt one of the most popular locations to visit in Osaka, thanks to its stunning 360° view of the city, and its aesthetic escalator ride up to the observatory, which is often captured for Instagram feeds.
While the night view of the city is favoured, use of the Amazing Pass (at least, during the time we visited) was restricted. Entrance with the pass is only allowed up until 6pm, and any time afterwards will be charged normal fees. We didn’t find this an issue; the daytime view is also stunning, with a bright, endless panorama of the city for miles.
Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum – ¥1,000
In the tower opposite the Sky Building there is an exhibition for the Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum. It’s not for the faint of heart, with the vibrant, provocative, surrealist art style portraying the artist Koji Kinutani’s perspective of religion, life, and death. It includes a 3-dimensional video experience, making it an interesting stop for anyone looking for something different, even if for a short while.
HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel – ¥600
If you can’t see the night view of the city from the Umeda Sky Building, then the HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel is a fantastic alternative. Located in the HEP FIVE shopping complex, the fifteen-minute ride may not necessarily get a view from as high up as the Sky Building, but it’s a relaxed and cosy experience with a view of more metropolitan scene, particularly of the train tracks of the busy Umeda Station. If you have the time to stop over, we highly recommend this experience. We went right at dusk, when the sun was beginning to set, which made for a beautiful experience.
Train home – ¥230
Our Osaka Amazing Pass Itinerary Day 2
Tsutenkaku Tower – ¥700
When we were there, the Amazing Pass was only valid for the Tower on weekdays. It’s located a little further south closer to the Tennoji area. It’s not very tall compared to the Umeda Sky Building but it is still a great view especially over the nearby Tennoji Park, and it has a lot more to see in comparison. The experience starts with a ride from the ground floor up to the viewing platform, where there is also an exhibition for Glico, the food company famous for Pocky sticks.
You can either take the stairs at the centre of the tower or the elevator down, where you’ll go through other Japanese pop culture-inspired exhibits, and gift stores with a lot of incredibly quirky souvenirs. We highly recommend taking the stairs down the tower if you can – it’s a little way down, but about a third of the way there’s a secret little outdoor garden, gorgeously maintained and very peaceful. It made the visit infinitely better.
Shitennoji Temple – ¥300
The Shitennoji Temple is a Buddhist temple located only a few minutes’ walk from the Tsutenkaku Tower. Though the temple buildings have been rebuilt throughout time, it is apparently regarded as the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan.
Keitakuen Garden – ¥150
The Keitakuen Garden is not huge, but it does have a lot of components that can keep you there for some time to explore different sections of the garden. At the centre is a pond, and it’s beautifully quiet despite the bustling of Osaka. We found many artists stationed around the pond, painting or sketching. For the small entrance fee, it’s not too crowded, but it provides a lot of subjects to draw.
Train to Nanba Station – ¥230
Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum – ¥500
The Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum is in the main Nanba area, with its exhibits focusing on kamigata woodblock art that was common in the Edo period in Japan. It’s fascinating to see how woodblock prints can be used to create such intricate details, and you can try your hand at woodblock art yourself at the museum.
However, it’s not hugely accessible – the building is quite small, with the exhibits spread over a number of small floors and you will need to take stairs up and down. It’s worth seeing, especially if you’re looking for something very cultural, historic, or art-focused.
Train to Osakako Station – ¥280
The next set of attractions we looked to visit was located further west. There are plenty of attractions in the Minato and Suminoe Wards that are likely a little more overlooked because of its location around 15-20 minutes’ train ride from the central Osaka area.
Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel – ¥800
When they say Giant, they mean it. Despite the HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel being located on top of the HEP FIVE building, its apex is only 106m above ground. The diameter of the Tempozan is 112m – making it even taller despite being firmly fixed on the ground. It also gives a great view of the ocean as it’s located fairly seaside.
Of the 60 Tempozan cars, 8 have crystal-bottom cabins, allowing for a 360° view. As expected, this is a popular option, so you may find yourself waiting significantly longer if you’re looking to get into one of these cars. We opted for the normal car, which had no wait compared to the 15 minutes for the glass cabins, at the time of our visit. It was still a great experience.
Santa Maria Day Cruise – ¥1,600
The Santa Maria Cruise has both day and night options, though you can only choose one over the other. The Day Cruise leaves every hour on the hour. The Twilight cruise is much less frequent, so be sure to check the schedule for it if you’re looking to take this one. Unlike the Aqua-Liner or the Osaka Castle boat ride, the Santa Maria is much larger, so it isn’t restricted by number. We were able to jump on right as they were closing the boat, with no need for a ticket besides just flashing the Amazing Pass for them to scan. Be careful of the weather – since most of the ship is uncovered, it may not be ideal for wet or windy weather.
Train ride home – ¥280
Total Savings and Final Thoughts
| Attraction | Cost (¥) |
| Train – accommodation to Osaka Business Park Station | 230 |
| Gozabune Boat Ride | 1,500 |
| Osaka Castle | 600 |
| Osaka Castle Nishinomaru Gardens | 200 |
| Aqua-Liner – Osaka-Jo Pier to Yodoya-bashi Pier | 1,700 |
| Train – Yodoya-bashi Station to Umeda Station | 180 |
| Umeda Sky Building Observatory | 1,500 |
| Koji-Kinutani Tenku Art Museum | 1,000 |
| HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel | 600 |
| Train – Umeda Station to accommodation | 230 |
| Tsutenkaku Tower | 700 |
| Shitennoji Temple | 300 |
| Keitakuen Garden | 150 |
| Train – Tennoji Station to Nanba Station | 230 |
| Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum | 500 |
| Train – Nanba Station to Osakako Station | 280 |
| Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel | 800 |
| Santa Maria Day Cruise | 1,600 |
| Train – Osakako Station to accommodation | 280 |
| Total | 12,580 |
Going by our itinerary, we can see that attractions that would normally have cost over ¥12,000 (US$110) in total was covered by the ¥3,600 (US$33) pass! We understand that everyone’s travel style is different and that some people may not try to cram in so much as what we did, but even with 10am starts, we had a fair amount of time dedicated to each location, enjoy meals and snacks, and stroll between attractions, such as through Nanba and the underground station area, which is monstrously huge.
We even had plenty of time on the end of the second day, where we could have squeezed in another attraction or two, such as the nearby Sakishima Cosmo Tower Observatory. Other interesting attractions that we would like to have gone to are the public baths Naniwanoyu or Hot Spring Suminoe, which would certainly have been a unique experience. There is definitely no shortage of places to visit, and even with significantly less on your plate you can definitely get your money’s worth, with the added bonus of discount booklets, a stress-free train and bus ticket, and a whole lot of information in English.
In short, if you’re a budget-conscious traveller looking for a very easy way to maximise your cash and aren’t afraid of a little bit of planning, this Amazing Pass is definitely that exactly – amazing. Make sure to check out the Amazing Pass website, which is easy to navigate, regularly updated, and available in English.
Note: We are not affiliated with the Osaka Amazing Pass whatsoever – we just genuinely had such a great time and highly recommend the pass.
If you’re thinking of visiting Japan we highly recommend getting a Japan Rail Pass and pocket WiFi for stress-free travel! You can check out our post on choosing the best JR Pass for you, or click here to purchase a pass on the JRPass.com website. Purchases made using our affiliate link won’t cost extra, but we earn commissions which help to support us as small creators.
