Fly into Osaka this year with your kids to have an amazing family vacation! Osaka is not the same as the capital Tokyo but it still has many kid-friendly places starting from the USJ, Osaka Aquarium and Legoland Discovery Center Osaka to much more. Here is a list of 10 kid-friendly places to visit in Osaka when you are there.
- Universal Studios Japan
Universal Studios Japan’s exact location is Tokyo but your Osaka trip with your kids isn’t complete if you miss this! So, head to the USJ and enjoy the day with your favourite cartoon and movie characters. You will have a chance to meet the minions, dinosaurs from Jurassic Park and Elmo from Sesame Street. The highlight of Universal Studios Japan is undoubtedly the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, so if your kids are Harry Potter fans this will be the best experience out of all in this trip.
- Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Head to the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan to explore the underwater world in Japan. It is one of the largest aquariums in Asia and it exhibits different creatures living in the Pacific Rim. Fifteen large tanks display life in certain areas of the Pacific Rim. You will start your tour at the eighth level of the aquarium and go deep down to the first level. The highlight of the Osaka Aquarium is the central tank which provides the home to a whale shark. Make sure to book your tickets in advance to avoid the long queues.
- Legoland Discovery Center
After visiting the Osaka Aquarium you can head to the Legoland Discovery Center to double the fun. It is located on the opposite side of the Osaka Aquarium in the Tempozan Marketplace. A suggestion would be to spend half a day in the Legoland Discovery Center as there are many activities for the kids in different themed zones. Make sure to visit the attractions Mini Land, Duplo Farm and the Kingdom Quest. For those who are interested, you can visit the LEGO Factory and learn more about how LEGO bricks are being made.
- Tempozan Ferris Wheel
Japan has many Ferris Wheels but the Tempozan Ferris Wheel dictates them all. The Tempozan Ferris Wheel was opened in 1997 and at the time it was the tallest Ferris Wheel measuring up to a height of 112.5 metres. The full rotation of the Tempozan Ferris Wheel goes on for 17 minutes. It is a small ride but provides panoramic views across the Osaka Bay and the surrounding areas.
- Hozen-Ji Temple
Hozen-Ji is a Buddhist temple in Osaka and it is one of the most visited in the country. The main image here is the Fudo Myo-o, The Buddhist Spirit of Disciple which survived the bombings during WWII. Therefore, this statue is significant and according to common folklore, throwing a coin over the water or just pouring water to the statue while making a wish grants it. So, ask your kids to do this to get them excited about getting their wishes fulfilled.
- Tombori River Cruise
If your kids are all up for a lovely river cruise don’t forget to check out the Tombori River Cruise Packages. Usually, the river cruises go on for 20 minutes and allow you to learn about history and about the places you will be passing as you go. Each cruise can hold up to five people. So, it will be the perfect adventure for your little family. You can also have access to the Tombori River Cruise along with other major Osaka attractions by getting the Osaka Amazing Pass.
- Tombori Riverwalk
If you are too concerned about getting on a river cruise with your kids or if they aren’t up for the experience, the next best option is to take a stroll in the Tombori Riverwalk.
This is suitable as an evening stroll as the stores and the restaurants light up giving you incredible scenery. Try eating the delicious food at the stalls as they have the most amazing Japanese dumplings! You can also watch the sunset at the Tombori Riverwalk.
- ANIPO Animal Amusement Park
ANIPO Animal Amusement Park is a place not to be missed if you are in Osaka with kids aged 8 and below. It is a small outdoor amusement park with many rides and most of them feature animals. There are 4 attractions within the park with two highlights: sky-walking by bicycle, playing in the water using a water gun, Air Dome and the Mini Train. The sky-walking by bicycle is a thrilling experience because it will let your kids be like birds for a while! The second attraction allows your kids to shoot water through a gun to artificial animals. The one who takes the most shots gets to win.
- Tennoji Park
Tennoji Park is one of the oldest parks in the city of Osaka. It was established in 1909 as a public park and it was renovated in 2015 with new additions. It has a large open space for your kids to play to their heart’s content. You can also arrange for a small picnic in Tennoji Park and spend the day there. It is home to many other attractions like the Tennoji zoo, Osaka City Museum of Art, a Japanese Garden and a children’s play area. Food can be bought from the restaurants available in the park.
- Tennoji Zoo
You should check out the Tennoji Zoo when you are in Osaka with kids. Tennoji Zoo was opened in 1915 and that makes it the third oldest zoo in Japan. This is not a very large zoo but if your kids are animal lovers they will be excited to have this experience. There are lions, monkeys, red pandas, rhinos, chimpanzees, koala bears, hippos and even kiwis. The entrance fee to the park is just USD 5.
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