Using Enjoy Eco Card & Osaka Enjoy Pass
Using Enjoy Eco Card & Osaka Enjoy Pass is convenient and cost-effective! Explore Osaka's most popular tourist spots
Hello!
My name is Taiyo, I'm 19 years old. My father is Australian and my mother is Japanese. I was born and raised in Osaka.
I love this city, my hometown! Today I'm going to challenge myself to "experience Osaka economically and conveniently" using the "Enjoy Eco Card", a one-day unlimited ride pass for Osaka Metro, and the "Osaka Enjoy Pass", which gives free entry to must-see attractions in Osaka. I'll follow a route that covers popular sightseeing spots!
Actually, this is the first time I'm seriously exploring Osaka's tourist spots, so I'm super excited ♪
● What is the Osaka Metro 1-Day Pass "Enjoy Eco Card"?
It allows unlimited rides on the entire Osaka Metro network and most Osaka City Bus routes from first to last train, with no additional charges no matter how many times you get on and off. It also includes discount coupons valid only on the day of use at various tourist attractions in Osaka. It's a very attractive ticket for visitors ♪
● What is the "Osaka Enjoy Pass"?
This is an ideal electronic pass for Osaka visitors, offering free entry to over 25 popular attractions! It comes in a 1-day pass (2,000 yen including tax) and a 2-day pass (2,500 yen including tax), so you can choose based on your stay and itinerary.
I recommend buying the "Osaka Enjoy Pass" online in advance! Then, on the day, purchase the "Enjoy Eco Card" at the nearest Osaka Metro ticket machine and you're ready to go!
Alright! Let me challenge myself to see how many popular spots I can visit using these great value tickets and passes!
How to buy tickets and pass through ticket gates (and how to pay the fare difference)
My first stop was Osaka Castle, about a 10-minute walk from Morinomiya Station on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line and Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line!
I think this is my first time here since a school trip in elementary school? It's been so long! As they say, you haven't truly visited Osaka until you've seen Osaka Castle. It's a must-visit spot!
At Osaka Castle, the first thing to do is get a ticket for the "Osaka Castle Gozabune Boat" – you can ride it for free with the Enjoy Pass!
This boat is a replica of the one used by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the warlord who unified Japan. True to his love of luxury, the boat is covered in gold! Riding the glittering golden boat while viewing the towering stone walls and castle keep from the water – no wonder it's such a popular sightseeing cruise ♪
The schedule varies by season, but generally from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with departures every 15 to 30 minutes. Seats fill up quickly on some days, so I recommend getting tickets early. Normally costing 1,500 yen (tax included), the boat ticket is free with the Enjoy Pass!
I got my ticket too early, so I had to wait for the boat. My inner "Osaka local" who values cost-efficiency kicked in! To make good use of the waiting time, I decided to visit Osaka Castle's main tower!
As expected from the most famous sightseeing spot in Osaka, the ticket counter was crowded. The Enjoy Pass doesn't include entry to the main tower, but showing the Enjoy Eco Card at the counter gives you a discount – the normal 600 yen (tax included) drops to 540 yen (tax included)!
The 5th floor of the main tower has many exhibits from the Warring States period, realistic and interesting! While looking at the miniature model of the Summer Siege of Osaka, I made eye contact with several people and laughed. It's an exciting space for fans of the Warring States era and samurai.
The view from the observation deck of the main tower is like this! Although the view Toyotomi Hideyoshi saw is now filled with skyscrapers, I wonder if he also gazed out over Osaka like this?
Oh no, it's almost time for the Gozabune Boat! I have to hurry back!
Finally, I'm boarding the boat. It's said that this luxurious vessel uses real gold leaf! I feel like a noble ♪
I thoroughly enjoyed the 20-minute cruise!
Seeing Osaka Castle up close from the water is completely different. It's amazing that people built such magnificent stone walls with the technology of the time. From the main tower to the boat, I fully enjoyed Osaka Castle – totally satisfying ♪
From Tanimachi Yonchome Station on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line (the nearest to Osaka Castle), I took the subway to Sakaisuji-Hommachi Station, then transferred to the Sakaisuji Line to Ebisucho Station!
This is the Shinsekai area, home to kushikatsu, Osaka's signature dishes, and the iconic "Tsutenkaku Tower", a place where you can fully experience THE Osaka. As soon as I exited the station, the retro streetscape appeared, and with Tsutenkaku in the background, it seemed perfect for an Instagram-worthy photo ♪
Walking straight south from the station, I reached the entrance of Tsutenkaku. Here too, showing the Enjoy Pass gives free entry to the normally 900 yen (tax included) observatory and the 1,000 yen (tax included) Tower Slider!!
*Tower Slider is free only on weekdays; the special outdoor observation deck incurs an additional fee.
I also decided to challenge myself on the Tower Slider, sliding down from Tsutenkaku in one go!
After receiving a helmet and mat, I headed to the slide start. I could hear screams from the people sliding down ahead... Unexpectedly, I felt nervous. My palms were sweating～💦
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
Hahaha, that was so fun! I couldn't help screaming too. Although it was short, it's definitely worth waiting in line!
From the regular observatory of Tsutenkaku, you can enjoy a spectacular view of Osaka. The tallest building in the Kansai region, "Abeno Harukas", looked really beautiful.
Right next to Tsutenkaku is a food street with garish signboards. Speaking of Shinsekai's representative food, it's definitely "kushikatsu"! The area is packed with kushikatsu shops, from new ones to long-established ones.
Having kushikatsu for lunch was awesome!
I went to the famous "Kushikatsu Daruma". There are four shops in Shinsekai: "Shinsekai Sohonten", "JiangJiang-ten", "Tsutenkaku-ten", and "Zoo-mae-ten". The taste goes without saying, but each shop has a lively and friendly atmosphere, making it easy for first-timers to enter. I highly recommend it.
The figurine of the "Grandpa who says don't dip twice in the sauce" at the entrance is also famous. When you come to Shinsekai, take a commemorative photo in the same pose★
I also recommend "Nippon Ichi no Kushikatsu Yokozuna Shinsekai Honten". If you're interested, check out this blog post below! ↓
● How to enjoy Shinsekai & Tsutenkaku – delicious stick shops, kushikatsu, shooting galleries, etc. Part 2
Alright, after eating and drinking, let's move on to the second half!!
From the Shinsekai area, I took the Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line to Tenjinbashisuji Rokuchome Station to visit the "Osaka Museum of Housing and Living".
Here too, showing the Enjoy Pass waives the normal 600 yen (tax included) admission fee.
The museum is popular for its recreation of "Osaka Machi Sanchome" from the Edo period. Even the unseen attic spaces are faithfully reproduced – it's impressive.
Inside "Osaka Machi Sanchome", there's a kimono experience service. For an additional 1,000 yen (tax included), they will dress you in a kimono over your clothes, allowing you to easily try it on. How thoughtful ♪ I also changed into a kimono and took a time-travel trip to Osaka Machi Sanchome!
Ta-da! How do I look? Does it suit me?
I often see people wearing kimono on the street, but since it's hot in summer and cold in winter, it's hard to find the right time. Here, since it's indoors, you don't have to worry about weather or season, and you can take photos against the retro Osaka streetscape – great!
Look at this! The atmosphere, the Osaka town and kimono – isn't it like a movie scene? It really feels like I've traveled back to the streets of the Edo period.
The "Modern Osaka" exhibition floor from Meiji to Showa eras features miniature models recreating Osaka Castle as it changed over time, along with old tools and furniture once used by people. It's an indoor museum definitely worth seeing.
Before I knew it, evening had come. From Tenjinbashisuji Rokuchome Station, the nearest to the museum, I took the Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line to Higashi-Umeda Station!
My last stop was the "Umeda Sky Building Kuchu Teien Observatory", about a 15-minute walk from Higashi-Umeda Station. I rushed over, hoping to catch the sunset view.
I made it just before sunset! And I rode that famous glass-walled elevator ♪ Entry to the Umeda Sky Building Kuchu Teien Observatory with the Enjoy Pass is free until 16:00, but after that, you can still get a 30% discount with the Pass!
This time I arrived before 16:00, so I got in free – normally 1,500 yen (tax included)! Awesome! I struck a victory pose on the open-air observation deck. Taking a deep breath, I felt like I inhaled all of Osaka's energy.
Unfortunately, it was cloudy, so I didn't see a beautiful sunset, but I still gazed seriously, thinking about how many people live in this view.
By the way, on a clear day, you can see such a beautiful sunset!
After a day of sightseeing, I was hungry. For dinner in Umeda, I recommend the "Shin-Umeda Shokudo-gai", a retro food street with a long history! There are many shops, and lots of local office workers eat here, making it lively.
Sushi restaurants, izakayas, oden, and takoyaki. I was torn, but I decided to end my Osaka sightseeing with okonomiyaki! After all, Osaka is known for flour-based foods!
Lately, I see many tourists on the streets, and everyone seems to be enjoying Osaka happily. Today I rediscovered Osaka's charm and was delighted ♪
Today I visited four places: Osaka Castle Gozabune Boat, Tsutenkaku, Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, and Umeda Sky Building. Normally, the total cost would be 5,500 yen, but with the Enjoy Pass, it was only 2,000 yen! I saved 3,500 yen, which meant I could afford okonomiyaki. Hehe!
These are all popular facilities, so if you want to take it slow, consider buying the 2-day Enjoy Pass!
Other facilities accessible with the Enjoy Pass include Legoland, Dotonbori Cruise, Ferris wheels, hot springs, and more – all spots where you can experience Osaka's charm. When planning your Osaka itinerary, check out the free facilities.
By the way, there's also a combo ticket for the "Osaka Enjoy Pass 1-Day" and "Osaka Metro & Osaka City Bus 1-Day Pass".
I hope you too can use the Enjoy Pass and Enjoy Eco Card to explore Osaka conveniently and cost-effectively!!
Travel Journal Table of Contents
1. ● Enjoy great value Osaka sightseeing with "Enjoy Eco Card × Enjoy Pass"!
2. ● Spot 1: You haven't truly visited Osaka without seeing "Osaka Castle"?
3. ● Spot 2: Head to the nostalgic, authentic Osaka "Shinsekai Area"
4. ● Spot 3: Travel back in time to old Osaka? Also try kimono at "Osaka Museum of Housing and Living"
5. ● Spot 4: Osaka's romantic sunset spot "Umeda Sky Building Kuchu Teien Observatory"
6. ● Summary: Recalling the trip while eating okonomiyaki at Shin-Umeda Shokudo-gai ♪
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