The Osaka Amazing Pass

The Osaka Amazing Pass is a combined sightseeing and transit card that is perfect for a day of sightseeing in Osaka. The pass comes in two varieties, a 1-day pass for ¥2,800 or a 2-day pass for ¥3,600, which is valid for 2 consecutive days. 

Visitors to Osaka can use the pass for free entry to more than 40 iconic sightseeing spots in Osaka as well as unlimited travel on buses and trains in Osaka. Some of the attractions you can enter for free include, The Umeda Sky Building, HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel, The National Museum of Art, Tsutenkaku Tower and Osaka Castle. 

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The pass is a must-have for any visit to western Japan’s largest city and definitely lives up to its name offering great value for money. 

We purchased the pass online via the Deep Experience website. You can use the pass on any day you like from April 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024. 

It was a cinch to receive the pass on our day of travel at the Tourist Information Center at JR Osaka Station. The pass comes in a ticket-like form, which you can insert into the ticket wicket at the train station or use the barcode on the ticket for free admission to an amazing number of popular sights. 

We used the Osaka Amazing Pass for one day in Osaka and were able to get into the Umeda Sky Building (¥1,500) and Osaka Castle (¥600) for free using the pass. In fact, we could jump straight to the head of the queue entering Osaka Castle while everyone else was waiting in line to buy a ticket. This saved us an estimated 30-minute wait! 

Unfortunately, you can’t use the pass on the JR Osaka Loop Line but there is no need with the Osaka Metro Line. We were able to use the red Midosuji Line to visit most of the must-see places in Osaka with ease. 

Handy Tip: Make sure you keep the pass away from your smartphone or magnetic cases as this could cause trouble with the pass. 

I would highly recommend the Osaka Amazing Pass for anyone planning to spend a day sightseeing in Osaka. 

Super Nintendo World Opens in Osaka Japan

Some great news this month with the opening of the brand new Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan. This interactive world allows you to immerse yourself in the incredible land of Mario with characters from the Super Mario video game series.  

Universal Studios Japan is a popular theme park in Osaka, Japan which originally opened in 2001. USJ, which it is affectionately called by locals is home to 10 sections: Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Waterworld, Amity Village, Universal Wonderland, Minion Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and the brand new Super Nintendo World.

Super Nintendo World officially opened on March 18, 2021, and is based on the Super Mario, Mario Kart and Yoshi’s Island franchises. 

Photo: Universal Studios Japan

 

The attractions at Super Nintendo World include:

Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge – an interactive ride that features AR (Augmented Reality) technology, based on the Mario Kart franchise. Iconic Mario Kart courses have been brought to life with cutting-edge technology such as AR, projection mapping and special effects.

Yoshi’s Adventure – a ride themed after the Yoshi character and series. Hop on Yoshi for an adorable adventure as you search for Captain Toad on a treasure hunt.

Power Up Band Key Challenges – a treasure-hunt style interactive adventure, where players have to find keys to defeat Bowser Jr. in a final boss battle. Visitors can purchase Power-up Bands, a wristband that can be linked to a smartphone application, which allows players to jump and punch “question blocks” and collect virtual coins and keys which are stored on the app. Visitors can compete with other gamers in the park to be the champion. 

Photo: Universal Studios Japan

 

The fun doesn’t stop at the rides and attractions. You can enjoy delicious Mario themed goodies at Kinopio’s Cafe.

As Mario himself would say, “Let’s-a-go to Super Nintendo World.”