Tokyo & Osaka - Explore two of Japan’s greatest cities as they take to the world stage Tokyo & Osaka - Explore two of Japan’s greatest cities as they take to the world stage

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OSAKA & TOKYO

Tokyo and Osaka, the East and the West. Both these cities have served as seats of power within Japan’s history; Tokyo as the nation’s current capital and Osaka as the city where a divided Japan was united. Over time, these two thriving metropolises have developed their own unique culture, atmosphere, food, and even dialect. While they have their differences, they have one thing in common, and it’s that both are well loved by those visiting Japan. Both cities have a lot to offer, from unique cultural experiences to mouthwatering cuisine, luxurious accommodation to stunning natural scenery, and next year they’ll both be front and center on the world stage.

TOKYO

OSAKA

Mega Events

Experience

Stay

Eat

Wellness

Mega Events

Experience

Stay

Eat

Wellness

Explore two of Japan’s greatest cities as they take to the world stage

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Mega Events

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games may have been and gone, but sports is here to stay in the nation’s capital. In 2025, Tokyo will host the World Athletics Championships TOKYO 25 and the TOKYO 2025 DEAFLYMPICS. Athletes from around the world will descend upon the city to take part in the events. Here are some ways you can take in the sporting atmosphere.

At the venue for the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, visitors can imagine the roar of the crowds as they walk the hallowed grounds where sporting history has been and continues to be made. The stadium is open for tours where you can tread in the footsteps of sporting legends, running on the track, readying yourself in the locker room or crafting a victory speech in the interview room.

Japan National Stadium Tour

Scheduled to be used for the TOKYO 2025 DEAFLYMPICS, Komazawa Park makes for a great day out. Built for the 1964 Summer Olympics, the park has one of the best sports complexes in Tokyo with greenery that allows visitors to feel energized and refreshed.

Komazawa Olympic Park

With its unique architectural design, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building is a must visit for a number of reasons. Popular for its observation deck that offers stunning views of the city as well as its newly introduced world record breaking nighttime projection mapping, the building also acted as the starting point for the Tokyo Marathon 2025.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatories

If the Tokyo Government building served as the start of the Tokyo Marathon 2025 then the finish line can be found close to Tokyo Midtown Yaesu. The commercial complex is home to numerous Japanese brands, souvenirs, and food, with restaurants and cafes found throughout. Who wouldn’t want a delicious kakigori (shaved ice) dessert after running a marathon?

Tokyo Midtown Yaesu

Experience

Looking towards the future of entertainment and arts Tokyo offers the newly opened teamLab borderless series in Azabudai Hills. Immerse yourselves in a digital technology art spectacle that knows no borders as you wander through an ever-dynamic artistic landscape. Allow the outside world to melt away as teamLab transports you to a futuristic world of color and life.

Azabudai Hills・teamLab Borderless

Built in 1958, Tokyo Tower is one of the city’s landmarks and affords guests superb views of the city from various viewing stations. The tower is also home to the futuristic games center Red° where you can try out games both retro and modern, including a number of VR gaming experiences. On select dates, the Tower sparkles in a shower of glittering lights for 30 minutes following the sunset in a romantic visual display.

Tokyo Tower

No trip to Tokyo is complete without catching at least a glimpse of the residences of the current Japanese Royal Family. Tokyo Imperial Palace stands on the former grounds of Edo Castle and consists of the buildings surrounded by a massive park and moat. Visitors can explore the grounds and take in traditional Japanese gardens in every season, guided tours are offered in English.

Tokyo Imperial Palace

A secret theater-style restaurant and bar, Suigian is located under the historic Fukutoku Shrine in Nihonbashi. Indulge in some phenomenal kaiseki cuisine whilst watching traditional Japanese performing arts, such as Noh, Kagura, or Kyogen, on the stage right in front of you. For those seeking out Japan’s long-standing cultural arts, then Suigian is not to be missed.

Suigian

Stay

Tokyo, especially Shinjuku, is a place of diversity and openness, and this is exemplified at The Knot Tokyo Shinjuku. A short walk away from the vibrant energy of Kabukicho, this stylish and sustainable hotel is ideally located next to Shinjuku Central Park West. Refurbished from a 40- year-old traditional establishment, The Knot Tokyo serves as a gathering point for people who wish to connect in an open and friendly manner.

THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku

For lovers of sport and films, or simply elegant hotels, The New Otani is a must stay. Originally built to host guests for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, The New Otani was designed with luxury and accessibility in mind. Three years after the Olympics, the hotel then welcomed 007 himself, James Bond, in the 1967 film ‘You Only Live Twice.’ You can follow in Bond’s footsteps, walking through the hotel’s immaculate Japanese gardens where he chased down his enemies.

The New Otani

One of Tokyo’s newest luxury hotels, Janu Tokyo opened its doors in March 2024. Located at the heart of Tokyo’s Azabudai Hills, Janu Tokyo introduces 122 guest rooms and eight dining and socialising venues. Most of the elegant rooms offer their own private balconies immersing guests in the city skyline or Azabudai Hills’ surrounding greenery, and many also connect with neighbouring rooms and suites, creating a seamless sense of belonging for groups and families travelling together. For those looking to relax and reenergize whilst staying in the city, Janu Tokyo is perfect with 4,000 sqm wellness & spa space, with one of Tokyo’s largest hotel gyms to explore the full breadth of wellness and movement.

Janu Tokyo

If you are looking for a respite from the bustling streets of the city without actually leaving Tokyo, then head to Hinohara Village in Okutama. Here, nestled in the mountains, you’ll discover a 200-year-old Japanese ryokan (traditional inn) complete with thatched roof. Breathe in the fresh air and sample traditional, locally sourced, cuisine while allowing the serenity of the environment to wash over you.

Kabuto-ya Ryokan

Eat

Take your tastebuds on a historical journey as you walk down streets designed to emulate Japan’s Edo period. Having only opened in February 2024, the Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai continues the exciting atmosphere of Tsukiji Market. With plenty of restaurants and shops selling carefully curated food and wares to explore, you can easily pass the day away here.

Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai

If you want to be spoiled for choice, head to Chaos Kitchen in Shibuya. This basement food hall has a plethora of restaurants, including Ata, which has made its way onto the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand. The hall’s vibrant design pulls together restaurants serving some of the best food from around the country, but best get there before the lunch rush as people will wait in queues to get their hands on some of these dishes.

Chaos Kitchen

Depachika (food halls) in Japan are something else, so no trip to Tokyo is complete without checking one out. Shibuya Tokyu Food Show is one such example and is frequented by food lovers for its sumptuous offerings. Here you can browse through confectionery, bento, ready to go meals, baked goods, and more.

Shibuya Tokyu Food Show

A renowned Japanese restaurant, Nihonryori Ryugin prides itself on its exquisite omakase course, crafted from carefully selected ingredients sourced from all over Japan. This luxury restaurant showcases the finest in Japanese cuisine, carefully selected and prepared by chefs who truly believe in delivering the most authentic and considered cuisine Japan can offer.

Nihonryori Ryugin

Wellness

You wouldn’t think that, in the middle of a densely populated area, you would find such an oasis of quiet and calm. Within Todoroki Valley is a soothing 20 - 30 minute walk along a path next to a tranquil river. The walk leads to the Fudo Falls where you will take the steps up to an atmospheric temple, Todoroki Fudo. Parts of the walking trail is temporarily closed due to possibility of falling trees.

Todoroki Valley

Mt. Mitake is a stunning mountain where hiking enthusiasts can enjoy unspoiled nature and breathtaking views. Because of its popularity as a pilgrimage route, the mountain has many minshuku (Japanese style family run B&Bs) on the route. Some even offer takigyo experiences, where you sit (or stand) and meditate under a waterfall.

Mt. Mitake

Experience the soothing and contemplative landscaping of a Japanese garden at Rikugien. Enclosed by walls, you may forget you're in a bustling metropolis as you relax, wander through the scenic garden, take in the seasonal foliage, and maybe grab a matcha tea at the tea house.

Rikugien

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and visit the natural beauty of Okutama, home to Lake Okutama, only two hours from the city center by train. Here sports enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, kayaking, and white water rafting before soothing their muscles, and their souls, at a tattoo friendly onsen nestled in the mountains. Guests can stay overnight in the area's many scenic ryokans, glamping, and camping spots.

Lake Okutama

Mega Events

Designed by Sou Fujimoto who utilized the traditional wall-less Nuki construction method found in temples and shrines across the country, the Grad Roof (ring) embodies the Expo theme "Diverse yet One." Once completed, it will stand as one of the biggest wooden structures in the world, allowing guests to take in views of the entire Expo from various vantage points. Looking outward from the ring you can bask in the natural beauty of the Expo site set against a background of sea and sky, including the stunning Seto Inland Sea.

Grand Roof (ring)

A landmark of the Osaka Bay Area, the Sakishima Cosmo Tower is where visitors can enjoy unobstructed 360 degree views of the city from its 252m high observation deck. From here you gaze out over the city, including the Expo site currently under construction. You can literally watch history being made!

Sakishima Cosmo Tower

If you wish to take a piece of the Expo with you then you have to head to an EXPO 2025 official store. Here you’ll find souvenirs and merchandise featuring the official Expo character “MYAKU-MYAKU.” One store is located in Abeno Harukas where visitors can not only buy merchandise but discover more information about the Expo. Daimaru Umeda also contains a store selling official Expo character merchandise.

EXPO 2025 Official store

Next year marks the EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan , where the city plays host to the World Expo. In Osaka, the world’s nations will gather together to share ideas, unveil innovation, celebrate recent achievements and look for solutions for future issues. Here are some ways that visitors can immerse themselves in the event and perhaps even be inspired.

EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan

Experience

At 300 meters high Harukas - taken from an archaic Japanese word, harukasu, meaning clear skies - is the second tallest building in Japan. Guests can head to the very top where they will be treated with a 360 degree view of the entire city and beyond, all the way to the Rokko mountains. For the daring out there you can even walk around the edge of the building, safely attached of course!

Harukas 300

For thrill seekers, a fantastic experience awaits at Tsutenkaku Tower, a landmark tower and registered national tangible cultural property in the heart of the nostalgic Shinsekai district. Test your metal at the tower, where you can take on an athletic course around the outside of the structure and even dive 40 meters above the ground from the tower! Afterwards, reward your bravery at the many colorful restaurants surrounding the tower.

Dive & Walk

Uncover the turbulent past of the region at Osaka Castle, when samurai ruled the lands and a peasant could become a ruler. The castle, built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, that very same peasant who rose to become of the the Great Unifiers of Japan, now stands as a museum where guests can step into Japan’s history and imagine what it might have transpired in these very rooms.

Osaka Castle Museum

Witness the might of the sumo at the newly opened Namba Parks. Here you can watch former professional sumo wrestlers’ spectacle entertaining show featuring powerful sound, enlivening lighting, and videos. THE SUMO HALL HIRAKUZA OSAKA is the first of its kind, allowing you to not only eat a meal while enjoying the show but also if you’re in luck, you can get in the ring and take on a mighty sumo yourself!

THE SUMO HALL HIRAKUZA OSAKA

Stay

If you’re longing to stay somewhere extremely stylish but you are also an environmentally conscious traveler, then we have the perfect hotel for you. Having won the "Architectural Signage & Art Award,” as well as the "Greenery Award'' for its stunning design that reduces solar radiation, OMO7 Osaka is a great example of future facing architecture. Centrally located, the hotel and its staff are there to ensure you can make the most of your stay in Osaka.

OMO7 Osaka by Hoshino Resorts

Fancy walking in the footsteps of Helen Keller, Marilyn Monroe, astronaut Yuri Gagarin, and French actor Alain Delon? Then book a night at the Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka. The prestigious hotel was established before WWⅡ, with the aim of creating a "landmark hotel in Osaka for distinguished guests.” As a distinguished guest you can indulge in the hotel’s many facilities including meeting rooms, shops, and a fitness and spa.

Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka

Hilton is bringing its iconic luxury brand, the Waldorf Astoria, to Osaka, with door opening in April 2025. The hotel combines traditional Japanese design with art deco grandeur and will host top chefs and mixologists for unmatched dining experiences in one-of-a-kind spaces. Located adjacent to Osaka station in the modern culture and retail hub GRAND GREEN OSAKA, the Waldorf Astoria offers direct access to numerous cultural and lifestyle destinations.

Waldorf Astoria Osaka

Head into nature and stay in this gorgeous ryokan, registered as a tangible cultural property. This inn was designed by legendary architect Kingo Tastuno, who also designed the famous Tokyo Station. Here, you can feel as if you are stepping into Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘Spirited Away’ as you cross the red bridge and slip into the revitalizing hot springs. After nourishing your body on the outside, you can do the same for the inside with traditional, locally sourced, Japanese cuisine.

Amami Onsen Nanten-en

Eat

One of the city’s newest spot, “Umeyoko” opened in July 2024 inside KITTE Osaka. Drawing from the area’s history, having been home to the Osaka Central Post Office and original Osaka Station, this venue serves as a place where tradition meets modern. This gourmet alley offers a wide range of Japanese culinary delights, perfect for you to enjoy food crawling.

KITTE Osaka “Umeyoko”

This lively area takes you both back in time and to the future. The neon-soaked streets are packed with restaurants offering Osakan specialities, such as okonomiyaki, kushikatsu, and takoyaki. With giant animatronic signs hanging above and smells that will make your mouth water emanating from within, walking around Shinsekai’s electrifying streets is half the fun.

Shinsekai

Osaka is famous for its food markets, and Kuromon Ichiba is one of the best. Walk through the hustle and bustle to find food sourced both locally and from far and wide sold at shops that are often family run. If overwhelmed by choice, take a moment to sit and eat a delicious meal at one of the restaurants before heading back into the melee. It’s a food and cultural experience you will not want to miss.

Kuromon Ichiba Market

Opened in 2022, this sustainable restaurant inherits the traditions of Naniwa cuisine. Utilizing seasoning that enhances the flavor of nature’s abundant gifts, Koryu wishes to express the unique culture of Osaka’s cuisine through not just taste, but texture, color, sound, and aroma. This sublime restaurant earned two stars in the Michelin Guide Osaka in 2023.

Koryu

Wellness

On the outskirts of Osaka, about one hour from the city center, is the natural beauty of Minoh. Walk alongside the flowing river, on a winding footpath covered in a lush green canopy to reach Minoh Waterfall. Along the way the path is lined with small restaurants, shops, and food vendors. You should try the local specialty, maple leaf tempura.

Minoh

This is one of Japan’s oldest sacred mountains, with a history dating back to 661. It is a site filled with history and spirituality and is the home of Katsuragi Shugendo, an ascetic practice that is based on the ancient worship of mountains. Along with being able to visit the temples, you can undergo a one day training experience designed to help people better understand the ancient practice.

Mt. Inunaki Shipporyuji

For a fun-filled day out, you have to visit Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park. A botanical wonderland, this park has everything, from traditional Japanese spaces, to equestrian centers, to greenhouses that are home to many diverse flora and fauna. The garden is perfect for flower lovers as it was created for the 1990 International Flower and Greenery Exhibition Expo ‘90 and later turned into a public park.

Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park

Get out into nature and get moving at the Fumin no mori Hoshida. Test your metal at this natural escape from the city where you can walk across a 280 meter high, 50 meter long suspension bridge, try your hand at the climbing wall, or simply take a leisurely hike in the surrounding forest. It’s the perfect family day out!

Osaka Prefectural Forest Hoshida Park

Whilst anticipating the future it's always a good idea to look back and see how far we have come already. To do just that, you should head to the Expo’70 Commemorative Park developed on the grounds of the 1970 Japan World Exposition. Whilst retaining features of the Expo’70, such as the Tower of the Sun monument and Expo’70 Commemorative Park, it also brings nature into the heart of the city with seasonal flowers and events held throughout the year.