Osaka Garden Tours: 3 to Book

1.Private Car Full Day Tour of Osaka Temples, Gardens and Kofun Tombs

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews Our pick

Spend about eight hours with a private guide such as Kevin, Jamie, Hugo, or Levy, traveling by car through Osaka and Sakai. Visit castle grounds, Buddhist and Shinto sites, Shinsekai, ancient kofun tombs, and Daisen Park. The route can change to suit your group, with hotel pickup and a kaiten-sushi lunch stop.

“This was an excellent tour, with our guide Kevin, who was the owner of the company. He picked us up at the port, and specifically tailored our tour to take in the sites that were interesting to us without any feeling of rushing to get back to the ship. We felt like we had a better understanding of the differences between Shinto and Buddhist temples and shrines, and experienced the gardens without hoards of other tourists.”

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2.Private Car Day Trip to the Kobe Mountains, Gardens and Hot Springs from Osaka

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 16 reviews

Leave Osaka by private vehicle for Mount Rokko, ride a historic mountain cable car, walk through Kobe Municipal Arboretum, and finish at Arima Onsen. Guides such as Kevin and Levi can adjust the day to your interests, with flexible pickup and drop-off in Osaka. Allow extra money for admissions, lunch, and the hot spring.

“Great tour Kobe mountains tour with amazing relaxation experience in Osen. Kevin is a great tour guide with excellent knowledge of the area. Provided very flexible pick-up and drop-off location in Osaka. Would definitely recommend this tour to a friend.”

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3.Daytime Hanami (Cherry Blossom) and Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7 reviews · from $161Best value

Walk Osaka’s old Karahori neighborhood with an English-speaking guide, tasting seasonal street food, local drinks, and dishes at several stops. The route ends at a quiet shrine and cherry-tree spot for a real hanami pause. Guides have included Miki and Sanae, and groups are limited to 10 people.

“The tour was great. Miki shared a lot of Osaka food secrets with us—authentic places that real local people go. Unfortunately, it was a cherry bloodbath tour also and the weather and cherry trees did not cooperate. Miki did find a few trees with sakura and ume blossoms but nothing like the root of flowers I was dreaming of. But Miki made the best of the situation.”

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