Home > Osaka > Osaka Afternoon Walking Tour with Osaka River Cruise
USD $90.00
Osaka Afternoon Walking Tour with Osaka River Cruise
Osaka, Japan
Combine the best of Osaka on this half-day walking tour in the afternoon. With your expert and friendly guide, explore Osaka Castle — the city’s best-known sight that is especially popular during cherry blossom season. Then take a 1-hour river cruise on the Aqua Liner, a pleasure boat with panoramic views including Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky Building and City Hall on Nakanoshima lsle.
After meeting your guide at Hotel Granvia Osaka, make your way to Higashi-Umeda Station and board the subway train to Tenmabashi Station. Disembark and follow your guide on a walk to the renowned Osaka Castle, constructed with immense stones in the 16th century. Explore around the magnificent castle, which stands on a stone rampart and towers over the city. These surroundings are lovely in any season and particularly brilliant when cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Inside, spend time looking over the 3D exhibits, holograms and eye-catching displays that depict old Osaka. Before accompanying you on your river cruise, your guide will point out the many relics of the Toyotomi who originally built the castle. Leaving this monument behind, it’s a short walk to the nearby embarkation point of the Aqua Liner. Board the pleasure boat for a 1-hour river cruise around Nakanoshima lsle with your guide. You’ll enjoy seasonal views of autumn leaves or cherry blossoms strewn among Osaka's major landmarks including Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky Building and City Hall. After your relaxing boat ride, disembark and walk with your guide to Osakajo-Koen Station for the return ride on the JR local line to Osaka Station. From there, make your own way back to your hotel.
Although our tour guide was nice, she was not very knowledgeable about Osaka. During our 30-minute walk to the Osaka castle, she offered very little information about the buildings and parks that we passed by. And when I asked her questions about the city's history and landmarks, she did not seem familiar enough with the city to give specific answers to my questions. When we got to the Osaka castle, she waited outside, while all of us tour participants went inside to tour the castle on our own. And when she brought us to go on the river cruise, she did her best to tell us what she knew about the sites along the cruise route -- but there was already a pre-recorded tape of a different tour guide blaring over the ship's speakers, explaining the sites in both Japanese and English. So we could not even hear our own tour guide over the blaring speakers. I was hoping to gain more knowledge and appreciation for Osaka by taking this tour, but I think I would have been better off just going to the Osaka Castle and taking the river cruise on my own.
Review by: Monica Santos, June 2018
This tour was great because our guide Yuki was very knowledgable about the history of Osaka and other facts about the castle, this tour only consisted of a tour inside the Osaka Castle, in case you might wander around the castle grounds you have to do it some other time since this tour has time constraints. After the Osaka Castle we headed to the river cruise, for me it was just OK, i honestly got a little bored with it as there is not much interesting to see, or maybe if they provided a great audio guide on the building and places we passed by that would have been great.
Review by: Pedro Jr B, February 2018
Enjoyed the walking tour! Tour guide was very helpful and gave us good information and overview about the area.
Review by: Rolando G, November 2017
The tour guide was very helpful in sharing her insight and knowledge about Osaka and its various districts/neighborhoods. The tour guide was ensuring that we had enough time at each site and that we were being informed and enjoying the experience.
Review by: Luca C, October 2017
Amazing from the top floor of Osaka castle. Nice relaxing cruise along the river. The guide was amazing.
Review by: Siew Ling W, September 2017
Enjoyed the tour very much, particular the Noji castle tour. Guide spoke good English and was very knowledgeable.
Review by: Marie H, August 2017
It's been a while since I did this trip, but I still remember it. Quite a bit of walking, but worth it to see the beautiful Japanese castle and to efficiently get around the historical area in a limited time.
Review by: hazelmangio, June 2017
It was a lot of walking especially we had young children with us. It's a good tour to see the sights in one trip.
Review by: Christine I, April 2017
We were disappointed that we paid about 85 each for a 25 minute visit to Osaka Castle and a boat ride in the river. Part of the problem was that a whole-day tour joined our afternoon tour and we had to wait for them to finish a late lunch. Still, had they been on time, our castle visit would not have been much longer. We would have been better off to go to the castle on our own and explore the grounds and all the floors at our leisure. The boat ride was ok -- probably breathtaking during the cherry blossom season -- but nothing special. Our guide was friendly and helpful, but given the time constraints, couldn't do much about the situation.
Review by: Andrew J, April 2017
The tour guide was useless. He was in a terrible stress the whole time and did not speak to the group or explain anything I'm not sure he could even speak English?. This was the worst tour I have ever been on anywhere. This was supposed to be a walking tour and he literally ran, causing great distress to the slower members in our group. There were too many people booked on the tour for one person to handle, especially when catching a train. We were left to do the castle completely on our own with no explanation, and the commentary on the boat tour was not in English and we couldn't hear it anyway, so we had no idea where we were. Everyone on the tour was disgusted and laughing at how bad it was. We would have been far better doing this tour on our own which we literally did anyway! - it was a complete waste of money.
Review by: O'Brien C, March 2017
Really enjoyed this trip. Good value for money and enough time to walk around the castle on your own. Would recommend. Walking is at a moderate pace.
Review by: Johnson W, March 2017
Great tour guide, Junco
Review by: Walker M, February 2017
I really enjoyed the tour of Osaka Castle. But the river tour was not that exciting although you do get a view of Osaka that is not available by walking or traveling by bus.
Review by: HD, January 2017
Not worth the money we paid for this tour. We did not enjoy at all and we just got tired during the tour. Most of the 4 hours of the tour was just spent commuting by train from the meeting area towards the castle, crossing the streets, and walking and climbing stairs towards the castle, without enough time to appreciate the displays inside the castle. It did not help that it also rained during the tour. Tour guide was also rushing us all the time without giving consideration to senior adults in the group who cannot walk as fast as she could. No time to take pictures also. We could have done this tour better on our own because she was of no help in our learning about the castle. Very limited commentaries from her about the castle. She gave us only 45mins to explore the 8-storey castle on our own, leaving us less than 6 mins per floor to climb up and down the stairs and explore the exhibits on each floor. After the castle tour, we had to walk 2 kilometers again in a rush to catch the 1 hour river cruise. Nothing special with the sites during the cruise. Some of us just slept it through the cruise as were already tired of so much walking. We do not recommend this tour at all.
Review by: jimbeau333, November 2016
Small group with lots of flexibility within confined time slots. Sumi, the tour escort was excellent. Got to ride the subway and local commuter train with all the residents of the area. Lots of walking, but not strenuous.
Review by: W J B, September 2016
I had a great time. Our guide, Yuki, was knowledgeable and very personable. Our visit to the Osaka Castle was very informative, and the river cruise afterward was scenic and relaxing,
Review by: ozgun k, July 2016
This tour was amazing!
Review by: PamF, July 2016
Not up to Viator and #39;s normal standard. 23 plus our diminutive guide, June far too many when rushing to Metro. Not enough time at Osaka Castle which was disappointing. River Trip enjoyable.
Review by: Charles V, June 2016
Great guide and the castle was interesting, particularly on the weekend with some weddings taking place. River cruise was ok.
Review by: Philip G, June 2016
Osaka Castle is very cool! Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable and our tour group was nice and small. We definitely recommend visiting the castle._br/_ The river cruise was OK, but we probably would have preferred to visit another site in Osaka instead. However, our feet were a bit tired after the walking we did at the castle, so it was nice to give them a break.
Review by: Nancy M, April 2016
Great tour at a wonderful time of year as the cherry blossoms were in full bloom! Our tour guide, Psycho not sure how she spells her name, but that is how it she pronounced it, was especially good. She made sure everyone enjoyed the tour and also that we all knew where to go to our different destinations afterwards. Our party wanted to go to a steakhouse and she made a number of phone calls to get us a reservation and even walked outside the train station with us to guide us on our way! Our dinner was great.
Review by: finch7, November 2015
This Tour was very Interesting the guide was very caring and very informative. She chatted to everyone and _br/_ answered everyone's questions. The cruise on the river was a nice way to end the day
Review by: yvestokyo, October 2015
Our guide was interesting and informative. I did not care too much about the palace nor the river cruise. Relaxing cruise but boring. Osaka is not, architecturally, a beautiful city. So, the river cruise, could not show you any beautiful buildings.
Review by: Cecelia N, September 2015
Our tour guide KC is an excellent tour guide, very friendly and experienced. He guided us all through the Osaka Castle and river boat tour. He was helpful and knowledgable. We recommend this tour.
Review by: Andrew C, June 2015
Great afternoon walk and boat cruise. I enjoyed the stories from the guide who was very friendly and helpful.
Review by: gjoya8, June 2015
Great tour ! Though it was humid and thr were rainshowers, KC made it fun. Thank you Viator for good service.
Review by: Wayne J, June 2015
This tour covered our areas of interest and was well guided!
Review by: Georgia S, March 2015
This your was fantastic!!! It was perfectly planned and exceeded our expectations. Our tour guide (Seiko) had great knowledge of not only the area but also the rich history of Osaka castle and its samurai warriors- mustn't also forget her brilliant sense of humour and passion for her work.
Review by: Gregory C, February 2015
The tour guide was very helpful! She even walked me to a store to buy old Japanese currency and stamps. Great way to learn your way around Osaka!
Review by: Ernest P, January 2015
We enjoyed this walk, including an informal walk thru the food ection of a large department store. Osaka Castle was interesting, but armour and weaponry exhibits were a bit sparse. On a hot day, the walk may be a bit tiring for some, so check out the length of walk._br/_
Our guide was informative, but his speaker system wasn't good enough, so people at the rear of the group missed out on some information._br/_
The short boat trip (about 1 hour) was interesting and gave us a different view of the city.
Review by: anarica m, October 2014
Tiring but fun
Review by: ROLAND N, July 2014
Tour included a visit to the famous castle and a river cruise only. Thought the river cruise was a little too long. Recommend reducing the cruise duration and including a walking tour of the city center, The tour guide was very helpful.
Review by: daniel m, May 2014
Love Japan ... Would go again
Review by: Mason C, August 2013
- great tour guide. -well understandable of her English. -good choice of destinationns
Review by: Sandra W, June 2013
Tour was great, really enjoyed it, Guide spoke english well and was very knowledgeable.
Review by: Larisa M, September 2012
It was a great tour. Lots of insight information, great views of the castle and spectacular boat ride. Thank you.
Review by: Flavio L, December 2011
Incredible tour with a great tour guide that was able to bring the history of Osaka alive. We would recommend this tour to anyone that is going to Osaka. Very well organized and extremely good value, well worth the money._br/_
Laura, Toronto Canada
Review by: Ken S, August 2011
The walking tour was good. The tour guide was polite and knowlegeable, and he mingled well with everyone in the group. I would say no one felt left out. My only gripe about the tour was its cost. It is on the high side. I took a tour to Kyoto and Nara, also with Viator, the following day, which cost slightly more than this tour, and that one took us to many more places and, sights and sounds. Price-wise, the two tours are not on par with each other, the Osaka tour is very much on the high side, with only two attractions (Osaka Castle and River Cruise) while Kyoto/Nara tour was a full day one packed with numerous venues, with coach transportation from venue to venue, and a buffet lunch thrown in.
Review by: Kelly V, April 2011
A recommended walking tour by a knowledgeable tour guide. Tour guide went out of his way to show us which subway line to take back to our hotel.
Review by: Ricky V, April 2011
A recommended walking tour by a knowledgeable tour guide. Tour guide went out of his way to show us which subway line to take back to our hotel.
Review by: Ken S, December 2010
The walking tour was good. The tour guide was polite and knowlegeable, and he mingled well with everyone in the group. I would say no one felt left out. My only gripe about the tour was its cost. It is on the high side. I took a tour to Kyoto and Nara, also with Viator, the following day, which cost slightly more than this tour, and that one took us to many more places and, sights and sounds. Price-wise, the two tours are not on par with each other, the Osaka tour is very much on the high side, with only two attractions (Osaka Castle and River Cruise) while Kyoto/Nara tour was a full day one packed with numerous venues, with coach transportation from venue to venue, and a buffet lunch thrown in.
Review by: Catherine C, Philippines, April 2010
I was a little disappointed because it was not really a walking tour; we took the subway to get to the Osaka Castle, where we were given only a few minutes inside, not enough time to see the museum. Worse, I was left behind! It would have been better if we were briefed on where we should go in case we got separated from the group like I did. Good thing the tour guide came back for me after I tried to contact the tour operator in spite the language barrier. I was helped by a kind Japanese couple who explained my predicament to them & who accompanied me to where the river boats were moored.
Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom, November 2009
Should be differently named as not a walking tour at all but a trip to the castle and a river cruise. But a very good afternoon with an informative guide.
Review by: Susan J, November 2009
Should be differently named as not a walking tour at all but a trip to the castle and a river cruise. But a very good afternoon with an informative guide.
Review by: , November 2009
Should be differently named as not a walking tour at all but a trip to the castle and a river cruise. But a very good afternoon with an informative guide.
Review by: SUVICHA M, August 2008
Not impressed with river cruise; not so much information from guide.
Review by: Arvin P, August 2008
Enjoyed the walking tour and boat ride.
Review by: Suvicha M, Thailand, November 2007
Not impressed with river cruise; not so much information from guide.
Review by: SUVICHA M, November 2007
Not impressed with river cruise; not so much information from guide.
Review by: Hendrikus C, Netherlands, October 2007
We saw the castle and went on the cruise. Neither one was very spectacular. The guide did her work and sometimes gave comments.
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