Osaka is one of those cities that truly has something for everyone. Whether it’s the enchanting history, the sumptuous food culture, or tourist sites like Universal Studios and the ongoing Osaka Expo.
However, what about if you’ve got a toddler or two in tow. Even in a place as diverse and engaging as Osaka, finding something to keep the kids happy could be a tricky business.
Well, thankfully, you don’t need to worry because once again, here at Osaka.com we’ve got you covered.
Here are 10 popular places to visit with your young ones in Osaka.
1) Legoland Discovery Center Osaka
Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love Lego?
Well, apart from when you accidentally step on a large piece of it, of course!
Anyway, this most engaging and educational of kids toys has its own dedicated center right here in Osaka. Situated in the Tempozan Market Place Shopping Center, in Osaka’s Minato Ward, Legoland Discovery Center Osaka is a great place to visit for kids and adults alike.
At the “master builder academy” kids can learn as they create their own Lego masterpieces. There’s also the added attraction of the Miniland which recreates a number of famous Osaka landmarks in miniaturized Lego form.
Legoland Discovery Center Osaka also offers a number of different themed events and experiences throughout the year. Tickets start from 2,200 yen and must be booked in advance via the center’s website.
Also, please remember that Legoland Discovery Center is an attraction geared towards children, so adults must bring at least one child (aged 15 or under) to gain entry.
Legoland Discovery Center Osaka is open daily from 10am to 5.30pm. The center is about 5 minutes on foot from Osakako Station on the Osaka Chuo Subway line.
How to Get to Legoland Osaka from Osakako Station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LGtnT7jGh93WvK6j8
2) The Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium
If you do decide to visit Legoland, then you won’t have far to travel for our next adventure. The Osaka Kaiyukan is one of the country’s largest aquariums. It is also literally just across the road from Tempozan Market Place, which hosts Legoland and numerous other shops and restaurants.
The Kaiyukan is specifically designed with families and those with disabilities in mind.
It’s wide, even walkways allow for both wheelchair and baby buggy access. There are also rest points dotted throughout the building, for if the little ones get a bit tired after chasing after the dolphins and marveling at the adorable penguins.
The Kaiyukan is a great way to spend a few hours for anyone visiting Osaka. However, for families especially, when paired with the aforementioned Legoland, you’ve got almost an entire day out pre-planned and ready to go.
For a more in-depth look at the fascinating sights, sounds and experiences the Kaiyukan has to offer, please check out our in-depth guide.
The Kaiyukan is open daily from 10am to 8pm. The aquarium has recently implemented a “dynamic pricing system” so ticket costs vary depending on the chosen visit date.
Please check the homepage for more up to date information.
How to Get to The Kaiyukan from Osaka Station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qTUYutfsjfaNXU6j6
3) Kids Plaza Osaka
Billed on its own website as “The first fully-fledged museum for children in Osaka”, Kids Plaza Osaka provides an engaging and entertaining blend of education and fun.
Best of all, its an entirely indoor center so, its perfect those rainy days, all too common in June and July, the peak of the Japanese rainy season.
With its focus firmly centered on encouraging kids to experiment and seek out their own answers, Kids Plaza has a number of interactive exhibits, which kids and feel and touch as they learn through play.
Frequent workshops also take place throughout the day where young visitors are encouraged to build things, come up with their own ideas, and experience the joy of creativity.
Overall, this is a great way to spend a few hours for kids with enquiring minds and that seemingly endless thirst for knowledge that so many youngsters thrive on.
Kids Plaza Osaka is located about 3 minutes’ walk from Tenma Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line. Opening times are from 9.30 am to 5pm. Tickets cost 1500 yen for adults, 800 yen for kids and 500 yen for infants under 5 years old.
How to Get to Kids Plaza Osaka from Tenma Station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yCE5gk6m89toSWaC9
4）Universal Studios Japan
Universal Studios Japan may, perhaps, be most familiar to Osaka visitors as a popular spot for families, couples and groups of friends. However, there’s also plenty there to entertain young kids too.
Recent expansions to the already massive theme park include a number of attractions aimed specifically at younger visitors.
Many of us grew up learning valuable life lessons, as well as basic numeracy and literacy from the characters of long-running US Children’s TV show Sesame Street.
Well, USJ continues this fine tradition, with the likes of Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster and even Oscar the Grouch on hand to keep your young ones entertained.
The park also has a number of ongoing collaborations with popular pre-school characters such as Doraemon, Super Mario and Pokemon. Indeed, the involvement of Nintendo characters at USJ has expanded considerably since the official opening of their Nintendo World attraction last year.
The dedicated Super Mario Land, within Nintendo world, will evoke not only childhood nostalgia in mum and dad, but will give your toddlers plenty to enjoy as well.
One Day Passes for Universal Studios are priced at 8,600 yen for adults and 5,600 yen for children. However, if you have kids aged 3 or under then they get in for free!
USJ is about 15 minutes by train from JR Osaka Station.
For more information, please check out the official USJ ticket homepage
How to Get to USJ from JR Osaka Station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ckcH9ufHuQq2jKQUA
5) Shinsaibashi Pokemon Café
After all that running around a theme park, maybe you’re in need of a sit-down and perhaps a light snack?
But the kids want more Pikachu! Well, in that case, the Shinsaibashi Pokemon Cafe may be just the place for you.
Kids can marvel at the decor, which is adorned with all their favorite Pokemon characters, and enjoy a lunch menu based on the numerous characters and items they’ll know from the cartoon.
As an officially licensed venue, the menu prices at The Pokemon Cafe are a little on the steep side. Most of the drinks are around 1,000 yen and the main dishes are around 2,500 yen a piece. However, as a one-off experience that your little ones will never forget, it’s a great lunch option while you are in Osaka.
The Shinsaibashi Pokemon Cafe is located about 5 minutes from the Dotombori canal area, and is within an easy 5-10 minute walk of both Shinsaibashi and Namba Subway Stations.
Due to the huge popularity of this venue, advance booking is required. For more information, please check out the Osaka Pokemon Cafe Homepage.
How to Get to The Pokemon Cafe from Shinsaibashi Station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3euFcgCSZwMsRLsK8
6) Osaka Castle Park
Sometimes, what’s really needed to calm the kids down is a nice big open space where they can run around, play and enjoy the scenery in a safe and traffic free environment.
Well, there is probably no better place for this in all of Osaka than Osaka Castle Park. A popular venue for springtime Cherry Blossom viewing parties (Hanami), the park is known for its wide open spaces, stunning views of the elevated castle keep and numerous clean, safe paths for walking, jogging, or in this case, maybe pushing a stroller.
I’m only speaking from personal experience here, but as a child growing up in Scotland and England, I used to marvel at the many castles, national parks and other such monuments dotted around the countryside. Osaka Castle Park offers you the chance to instill that same sense of wonder and awe in your kids from a very early age.
Admission to the park is free, though it can get very busy if events are on, so please check ahead of your planned visit.
Osaka Castle Park is about 3 minutes walk from Osaka-Jo Koen Station, which is about 15 minutes from JR Osaka Station.
How to Get to Osaka Castle Park from Osaka-Jo Koen Station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QiAoMFGdkQ7U6Gt1A
7) Bornelund Asobi no Sekai at Grand Front Osaka
In a city as busy as Osaka, you’d wonder how, especially in a place with as high real estate value as Grand Front Osaka, someone found the time, space and money to set up a kids play area. And yet, that’s exactly what Bornelund Asobi on Sekai (Bornelund World of Play) is.
With a soft play area, jungle gym and numerous other educational toys for young kids to enjoy, this large venue has everything an inquisitive and active young mind could want.
For toddlers, there’s a special area just for kids aged 6-18 months.
There is also an adjoining toy shop as well where you can take home some of the items the kids played with during their time at the center.
Bornelund Asobi no Sekai is open daily from 10am to 7pm. It’s located within Grand Front Osaka, which is just 3 minutes walk from JR Osaka Station.
Tickets are priced 800 yen for kids and 700 yen for adults for 30 minutes of play time. There is also the option of a one-day pass for 2,600 yen for kids and 700 yen for adults.
For further information, check out the official site here.
How to get to Bornelund Asobi No Sekai from Osaka Station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/K7VAhM9bisBf1NZc8
8) ATC Asobi Mare
Most foreign residents of Osaka and the surrounding area will associate the ATC and its environs with the Immigration Office, where we all must go periodically for our dreaded visa renewals.
However, it also has something to offer kids these days, in the form of the ATC Asobi Mare. This huge indoor kids theme park offers all manner of soft play areas, games and other fun activities for youngsters. It’s a little bit out of the way, being about 7 minutes walk from Trade Center Mae Station in Suminoe Ward. However, it’s a bigger and cheaper option than the aforementioned Bornelund Asobi no Sekai. On weekdays, daily admission is just 1,000 yen for kids and adults. This goes up to 1,200 yen on weekends and national holidays.
For more information, please check out the homepage (in Japanese) here:
How to Get to ATC Asobi Mare From Trade Center Mae Station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vcXXrJckMHiJWXmJA
9) Expo 70 Memorial Park
The 2025 Expo remains a bit of a touchy subject for many in Osaka, given its high cost, lack of facilities and overcrowding. The same can’t be said though of the Expo ‘70 Park. Located about 40 minutes away from the city center, this beautiful, tranquil park is a different story altogether. If you just want a nice big, green, open space for the kids to play and for you to relax, then this is it.
Again, it is a bit out of the way, located in Suita City. However, Expo 70 Memorial Park provides the perfect tonic to the hustle and bustle of a city as vibrant and busy as Osaka. However, it’s still within an easy commute of the city center, making it a great choice for both visiting and resident families alike.
The Expo ’70 Memorial Park is about ten minutes on foot from Koen Higashiguchi Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line.
How to Get to Expo ’70 Memorial Park from Koen Higashiguchi Station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sMnB7caCDJ4ZVbNh9
10) Teamlab Botanical Garden
As you’ve probably gathered from some of my choices for this list today, my parents instilled in me a love of nature and the great outdoors from a very young age. It’s just a shame we didn’t have something like Teamlab Botanical Garden in Glasgow when I was growing up!
Unlike the rest of today’s entries, Teamlab Botanical Garden is an exclusively nighttime experience. Opening at 7pm every day, this open-air museum offers kids and adults alike the chance to get up close to a variety of flora and fauna not just from Osaka, but from all over the world.
Maybe you’re at a loose end for something to do with the kids in the evening. If all the other places have closed for the day, then this is the perfect solution.
The Botanical Garden is within Nagai Park, about ten minutes walk from Nagai Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line
Admission is 2,000 yen for adults. Toddlers are free. For more info, have look at the Garden’s Homepage.
Osaka is such a dynamic city, even the youngest are never short of things to see and do. But what do you think? Got any more suggestions for places to take the kids when you’re in Osaka? Leave a comment and let’s start a conversation!
How to get to Teammlab Botanical Garden from Nagai Station:https://maps.app.goo.gl/GJjy3Qc4eNqeNXddA
