Osaka Amazing Pass Guide 2026: Must-See Attractions and Highlights by Area
The Osaka Amazing Pass is a digital pass that combines unlimited subway rides with free entry to more than 40 attractions. For 2026 it is a fully digital QR code ticket, and visiting just 2-3 paid attractions in a day pays for itself.
Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory
One of Osaka’s landmarks in Kita Ward’s Umeda, where the tops of two towers are joined by a ring-shaped sky corridor, with 360-degree views of the city and the Yodo River at night.
The regular price is ¥2,000 for adults. With the pass it is free if you enter before 15:00. It is open 9:30 to 22:30 (last entry 22:00), so we suggest going early in the afternoon.
Tsutenkaku Observatory
A landmark tower in the Shinsekai area. Inside is a statue of Billiken, the lucky figure, and rubbing the soles of his feet is said to bring good luck.
From April 2026 the regular price is ¥1,500 (standard plus special observatory), and it is free with the pass. The TOWER SLIDER in the same building has a separate fee (adults ¥1,100 from April 2026); please check the official website to see whether the pass applies.
Tennoji Zoo
One of Osaka’s oldest zoos, next to Tennoji Park and Shitennoji, with about 1,000 animals of about 200 species including giraffes and lions.
The regular price is ¥500 for adults and it is free with the pass. It suits a half-day family outing, and the zoo has a dining area and a souvenir shop.
Tennoji Zoo is inside Tennoji Park and is open from 9:30 to 17:00 (last entry 16:00). It is closed on Mondays; please check the official website for closure days.
Osaka Castle Gozabune Boat
Cruise the castle moat on a gold-leaf decorated sightseeing boat for about 20 minutes along the Osaka Castle stone walls, the best angle for photographing the reflection of the main keep.
The regular price is ¥1,800 for adults and it is free with the pass. On the same day you can also enter Osaka Castle’s main keep and the Toyotomi Stone Wall Museum for free. In peak season, we suggest going to the boarding point early.
The boarding point is inside Osaka Castle Park, and we suggest combining it with the main keep in the same trip.
Santa Maria Cruise (Tempozan)
A sightseeing boat modeled on the Santa Maria sailing ship, leaving from Tempozan Pier to tour Osaka’s harbor area, with sea breezes and harbor sunsets.
The regular price is ¥1,800. With the pass you can ride the daytime and twilight cruises for free. The cruise takes about 45 minutes and suits a half day in the harbor area on a two-day itinerary.
The boarding point is next to Tempozan Harbor Village and can be combined with the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel in the same trip.
HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel
A red Ferris wheel on the roof of the HEP FIVE shopping building in Umeda, 106 meters high, with views over the whole Umeda district and out toward Osaka Bay.
The regular price is ¥600 and it is free with the pass. Lit up at night, it becomes one of Umeda’s night-view highlights, and one ride takes about 15 minutes.
HEP FIVE is in the Umeda area, within walking distance of JR Osaka Station, and fits well on the same day as the Umeda Sky Building.
Dotonbori Sightseeing Cruise
See the Glico Running Man sign and the bustling shopping streets from the Dotonbori canal on a cruise of about 20 minutes, with even better lighting effects at night.
The Tombori River Cruise regularly costs ¥1,500 and is free with the pass. We suggest combining it with Namba and Shinsaibashi in your plan.
The boarding point is near Tombori River Walk along the Dotonbori River, so you can enjoy the Glico sign on the way.
How to Get There: Osaka Airport Transport and How to Buy the Pass
To make the most of the Osaka Amazing Pass around the city, the first step is understanding how to get from the airport to the city and where and how to buy the pass. Below are the most common options travelers use, including the Kansai Airport Limousine Bus, the Nankai Limited Express Rapi:t and the JR Kansai Airport Rapid Service, plus the physical and online ways to buy the Osaka Amazing Pass in the city, so first-time independent travelers can get started quickly without wasting time at the airport.
Getting to Osaka: Airport Transport and How to Buy the Pass at a Glance
🚌 Kansai Airport Limousine Bus: from ¥1,600, direct to hotels and stations in Namba and Umeda, every 20-30 minutes, with luggage stored under the cabin.
🚄 Nankai Limited Express Rapi:t: about ¥1,450 (including limited express ticket), 34 minutes direct to Nankai Namba Station, all seats reserved, and we recommend booking on the official website.
🚃 JR Kansai Airport Rapid Service: ¥1,210, 70 minutes, all unreserved seats, and you can pay with ICOCA or the JR West Pass. It is an economical choice.
🎫 Osaka Amazing Pass: 1-day pass ¥3,500, 2-day pass ¥5,000, bought online through the official Suru-tto QRtto website or Klook or KKday (adults only, digital QR code ticket). It covers subway, bus and many attraction tickets, and riding and visiting 2-3 attractions pays for itself.
How Much Is the Osaka Amazing Pass? Ticket Prices and Recommended Itineraries
In 2026 the Osaka Amazing Pass went fully digital, with major changes to validity and ticket-type rules. They are explained one by one below.
Fully Digital for 2026: QR Code Tickets and Purchase Rules
The Osaka Amazing Pass is now a digital ticket with a mobile QR code. The 2026 tickets are on sale from March 25, 2026 to March 31, 2027, for adults only, paid by credit card, and physical magnetic cards are no longer issued.
At subway gates and attractions, you now log in to the SURUTTO QRtto website on your phone and show the QR code to scan, with no physical card tap. After buying, be sure to take a screenshot as a backup in case the network is unstable.
How Validity Is Counted
The pass is not valid for 24 or 48 hours from activation. Instead, a day runs from 03:00 on the day of activation until 02:59 the next morning.
In other words, if you activate it late at night, you can still use it until just before 3:00 a.m. the next day. Keep this rule in mind when planning late-night outings or travel across midnight, so you don’t run over.
1-Day Pass ¥3,500
The official price is ¥3,500, sold as an adult ticket only with no child ticket, valid from 03:00 on the day of activation to 02:59 the next day. It gives free rides on Osaka Metro, Osaka City Bus, and the Osaka city sections of five major private railways: Hankyu, Hanshin, Keihan, Kintetsu and Nankai.
It suits travelers who pack many sights into one day. Visiting just 2-3 paid attractions that day (such as Tsutenkaku plus Osaka Castle’s main keep) easily pays for itself, and it is the most recommended ticket for first-time visitors to Osaka.
2-Day Pass ¥5,000
The official price is ¥5,000, used on two consecutive days, and only for Osaka Metro and Osaka City Bus. Note that the 2-day pass cannot be used on any private railway line, which differs from the 1-day pass.
It suits travelers with a longer stay who want to cover landmarks such as Umeda, Namba and Tempozan over two days. If your itinerary is mostly along private railway lines, buying two 1-day passes is better value.
Classic Landmarks One-Day Itinerary
Suggested route: Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden in the morning (enter before 15:00), Tsutenkaku Observatory at noon, then Tennoji Zoo and Shitennoji in the afternoon, adding Osaka Castle’s main keep if time allows.
This route links four landmarks: Umeda, Shinsekai, Tennoji and Osaka Castle. The regular ticket prices total about ¥5,200 (Floating Garden ¥2,000, Tsutenkaku ¥1,500, main keep ¥1,200, zoo ¥500), and after subtracting the ¥3,500 1-day pass you save about ¥1,700.
Two-Day Bay-Area Sweep Itinerary
On the first day, follow the classic landmarks route. On the second day, go to Tempozan for the Santa Maria Cruise and the harbor-area Ferris wheel, then return to the city for a night ride on the Dotonbori cruise.
The regular ticket prices over two days total about ¥9,000 or more, and after subtracting the ¥5,000 2-day pass you save about ¥4,000. It suits travelers with a longer stay who want to see the harbor area and the city in depth.
Family Itinerary
We recommend Tennoji Zoo in the morning, then the HEP FIVE Ferris wheel and the Osaka Castle Gozabune boat in the afternoon. The route is gentle with short walks, suiting those traveling with children or older relatives.
The zoo and Ferris wheel are favorites with children, and the Gozabune boat is a novel experience. The pass is sold only as an adult ticket, so transport and admission for children must be bought separately. When traveling with children, we suggest estimating the total cost first.
Romantic Date Itinerary
We suggest going first to the Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden in the afternoon (free if you enter before 15:00), then to Dotonbori for a night cruise along the canal, and finally strolling the Shinsaibashi shopping street.
Night views combined with a night cruise make for a very romantic mood. The regular prices of the two attractions total about ¥3,500, and with the pass both the Floating Garden before 15:00 and the cruise are free, which suits couples and honeymooners planning an evening date.
How to Buy and Redeem the E-Ticket
You can buy online through KKday or the official SURUTTO KANSAI website. After payment you receive a link to an e-ticket with a QR code, with no need to pick up a ticket at a counter.
Before use, you need to log in to the SURUTTO QRtto website to activate the ticket and choose the date of use, and validity only starts counting after activation. We suggest completing the registration and testing it the night before you leave to confirm your phone displays the QR code screen properly.
Comparison with the Osaka e-Pass
The Osaka e-Pass does not include unlimited subway rides. It only offers attraction discounts or free entry, and transport must be bought separately, so it suits travelers who just want to save on attraction tickets.
The Osaka Amazing Pass offers savings on both transport and attractions. If your itinerary involves frequent movement and sightseeing across areas, the pass is usually better value overall and suits travelers who sightsee intensively.
Comparison with the Kansai Thru Pass and ICOCA Card
The Kansai Thru Pass covers a wider area, including non-JR lines across Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara and more, but does not include free attraction entry, and suits travelers moving between several cities.
ICOCA is a stored-value IC card that covers almost all transport including JR but has no attraction discounts. If you only sightsee at fixed places within Osaka city, the pass is still the cheapest choice.
What to Know When Using the Osaka Amazing Pass: Practical Info and Tips for Covered Attractions
Before using the Osaka Amazing Pass, we suggest understanding which attractions and transport areas are free with the card so you can plan the best-value one-day or two-day route. Below are some representative must-visit attractions with the pass, with practical visit notes, so first-time visitors to Osaka can plan with confidence.
Osaka Castle Main Keep
Osaka Castle’s main keep (1-1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka) was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The current reinforced-concrete building dates from the 1931 reconstruction, and the museum inside displays artifacts about his life. It is free with the Osaka Amazing Pass (regular price ¥1,200), and the observation deck on the 8th floor overlooks Osaka Castle Park and the moat. We suggest going soon after it opens at 9:00 to avoid afternoon tour groups. The cherry blossom season (late March to early April) and the autumn leaves season (mid-November) are charming but crowded. Wear comfortable shoes. A visit including the surrounding park takes about 2-3 hours.
After your visit you can enjoy cherry blossoms at Nishinomaru Garden and matcha at the Yamazatomaru tea house. The Gozabune boat by the moat (regular price ¥1,800) is free with the pass.
Tsutenkaku
Tsutenkaku, an Osaka landmark (1-18-6 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka; rebuilt in 1956), is free to climb with the Osaka Amazing Pass (regular price ¥1,500 from April 2026), and the top floor overlooks the city. Inside the tower is the lucky god Billiken, and touching the soles of his feet is said to bring good luck. The observatory is open from 9:00 to 22:00 (last entry 21:30), and we suggest arriving 30 minutes before sunset.
The Shinsekai shopping street below Tsutenkaku is full of retro Showa-era atmosphere, lined with kushikatsu restaurants. After visiting Tsutenkaku you can try kushikatsu and fugu dishes here.
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Kaiyukan is in Osaka’s harbor area. Its huge ring-shaped tank recreates the ecosystems of the Pacific Rim from the Arctic to the Antarctic, with more than 620 species and 30,000 creatures including whale sharks. Tickets use variable pricing (adults ¥2,700 to ¥3,500).
We suggest going on a weekday before it opens at 10:00. The eight-level tank takes 2-2.5 hours to see, and feeding show times are posted daily.
It is close to the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel and the Legoland Discovery Center for a half-day trip. The pass gives free rides on the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel, and a ticket discount at Kaiyukan.
Shitennoji
Shitennoji is in Osaka’s Tennoji Ward. Founded by Prince Shotoku in 593, it is Japan’s oldest government-sponsored temple. The five-story pagoda and the Kondo (Golden Hall) are representative buildings of an Asuka-period temple complex and a must-photograph focus. The pass gives free entry to the central temple precinct (regular price ¥500).
The temple sells omamori charms for good luck, study success and traffic safety, and offers goshuin stamps at about ¥300 each. Flea markets called Daishi-e and Taishi-e are held on the 21st and 22nd of each month.
We suggest visiting in the morning and allowing 1.5-2 hours to enjoy the Gokuraku Jodo Garden and feel the quiet of the thousand-year-old temple, a contrast to the bustle of Osaka Castle.
Sumiyoshi Taisha
Sumiyoshi Taisha (2-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka) is the head shrine of Sumiyoshi shrines across Japan, founded in 211 and mainly enshrining the guardian deities of the sea. The National Treasure main hall in Sumiyoshi-zukuri style and the vermilion arched Taiko Bridge are well-known landmarks. It is not a free attraction with the pass, but it is easy to reach and can be visited on the way.
The shrine offers omamori charms for safe childbirth, traffic safety and good fortune, and goshuin stamps are about ¥500. It gets crowded during New Year’s Hatsumode and the June Nagoshi no Harae.
We suggest visiting in the morning to avoid the strong sun and staying 1-1.5 hours. After worship you can stroll through Sumiyoshi Park.
Dotonbori Imai Honten and the Shinsaibashi Shopping Area
Dotonbori in Osaka (1-chome Dotonbori, Chuo Ward) is a famous food and entertainment district, known for the Glico Running Man and Kani Doraku crab signs. The pass gives free rides on the Tombori River Cruise, and some shops offer extra deals; see the official website for details. We suggest going after 5:00 p.m., when the neon lights are on and the atmosphere is best, and staying 2 hours or more to eat takoyaki, okonomiyaki and the original kushikatsu Daruma. Right next to it is the 600-meter Shinsaibashi-suji shopping street, with hundreds of drugstores, clothing shops and souvenir shops, open about 11:00 to 21:00, good for shopping after dinner.
Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory
The Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory is at the top of the Umeda Sky Building (1-1-88 Oyodonaka, Kita Ward, Osaka). It consists of two 40-story towers joined by a circular corridor at a height of 173 meters, and its novel design was once chosen as one of the world’s top ten new and unusual buildings. With the Osaka Amazing Pass you can go up for free if you enter before 15:00 (regular price ¥2,000).
To see the sunset and night view you need to buy a separate ticket after 15:00. The outdoor deck is windy, so bring a warm coat in winter. Allow 1-1.5 hours for the whole visit including photos.
On the basement level, Takimi Koji recreates a Showa-era street scene, with several affordable izakaya and ramen shops, good for a meal after the tower, a nostalgic atmosphere and a popular spot for photographers.
Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living (8th floor, Sumai Information Center Building, 6-4-20 Tenjinbashi, Kita Ward, Osaka) recreates a townhouse street of the Tenpo era (1830s) at full scale, with shops, homes and a shrine, and you can try on kimono (extra fee). It is free with the pass (regular price ¥600), and a visit takes 1-1.5 hours. The lighting inside simulates day, night and the seasons, with sound effects, ideal for retro-style photos. It is close to the 2.6-kilometer Tenjinbashisuji shopping street, where you can pick up snacks and sundries, and most shops stay open until about 8 p.m.
Where to Stay Nearby
The Osaka Amazing Pass 1-day pass covers Osaka Metro, Osaka City Bus and the Osaka city sections of five private railways, and the sights are concentrated around Umeda, Namba, Tennoji and Osaka Castle. Staying around Namba makes it easy to go back and forth to these sights by subway, and also suits starting early and returning late to get the most from a 1-day pass.
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between the Osaka Amazing Pass 1-day and 2-day passes?
The ¥3,500 1-day pass covers the Osaka city sections of private railways, while the ¥5,000 2-day pass is limited to the subway and city buses and cannot be used on private railways. Be sure to check the difference before buying.
Q: Can I ride JR with the Osaka Amazing Pass?
No. The pass only covers Osaka Metro, Osaka City Bus and the Osaka city sections of designated private railways. JR lines are never included in the free range.
Q: Is airport transport included in the pass?
No. Getting between Kansai Airport (KIX) and the city requires a separate Nankai limited express ticket or JR HARUKA ticket. The pass does not cover airport transfers at all.
Q: How is the validity of the Osaka Amazing Pass counted?
Validity is not 24 or 48 hours from activation. A day runs from 03:00 on the day of activation until 02:59 the next morning, so keep this rule in mind.
Q: What if I need to refund the pass or bought the wrong one?
Once an e-ticket is activated it cannot be refunded. Before activation, you can request a refund under the policy of the platform where you bought it (such as KKday). We suggest confirming the date of use before buying.
Q: What if I lose my phone or the QR code won’t display?
We suggest taking a screenshot of the QR code in advance and noting your order number. If you lose your phone, contact the ticket platform’s customer service for help reissuing it.
Q: How many days of travel is the Osaka Amazing Pass suited to?
It suits travelers staying 1-2 days who focus on attractions in Osaka city. If your trip is longer than 3 days or includes Kyoto and Nara, we suggest mixing in other tickets to save more.
