The city has not one, but four giant Ferris wheels and they are scattered around in various parts of the city. If slotting all of them into your itinerary is too ambitious, here’s one that would fit: It’s named after the Japanese god of shopping, Ebisu. His rotund image adorns the face of this 77m tall Ferris Wheel, the only oval-shaped one in the world. It is set at the storefront of Don Quijote Dotonbori, Osaka’s most famous store for souvenirs and a variety of discounted items.

The 15-minute ride offers a bird’s eye view of Dotonbori as well as some of Osaka’s popular sights. The gondolas are large enough to fit a family of four, and children 3 to 6 years have to be accompanied by an adult. 

Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel runs from 4pm to 10pm. Prices run from 600 yen per person.

The aquarium is situated on Osaka Bay, which is an attraction in itself. In addition, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is one of the world’s largest aquariums, with a total water volume of over 11,000 tons and covers a wide range of marine biodiversity found along the Pacific Rim. Children will love the giant tanks of swimming whale sharks, diaphanous jellyfish, penguin and seal enclosures as well as the interactive exhibitions. The realistic recreation of the landscapes makes it one of the most immersive travel experiences your child will have. 

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is open everyday from 10am to 8pm. Prices for entrance tickets run from 900 yen for infants to 3,500 yen per adult.

A lush green lung in the heart of Ikeda in Osaka’s Norther prefecture, this park is a must-visit especially if you are in Osaka during springtime — the Ikeda Satsukiyama Cherry Blossom Festival is held from late March to early April. Paper lanterns fill the air with colour and light up the cherry blossoms with an ethereal hue. They also hold an open-air tea ceremony, which you can take part in. 

Satsukiyama Park at 315.3m is also a hikers’ paradise with the Hinomaru Observation Deck at its crown. The Satsukiyama Zoo houses some rare animals including those from the Australian wild such as wombats, wallabies, and alpacas. The park is also famous for its azaleas and autumn sights, making it a year-round delight.

Satsukiyama Park is open all days from 9am to 5pm.

Walking along the streets lined with traditional Japanese structures with their gabled roofs, one almost expects a ninja to be leaping across. At Ninja-Do, you and your little ones can experience what it is like to be one. You will be taught some real-life ninja moves, adorn real ninja armour and costumes and battle with warlords via a VR (virtual reality) experience. They also have ninja shows to suit all age groups. 

Ninja-Do is open from 10am to 5pm , Monday to Sunday. Prices for costume rental and ninja experience run from 5,500 yen.

When in Osaka, takoyaki and okonomiyaki are delicacies that are a must in your culinary experience. The Dotonburi area where the Kukuru Konamon Museum is located — off Namba station —  is famous for these delicious flour-based treats. What does a museum have to do with savouring a local delicacy? For starters, Konamon is Japanese for food made of flour. so you will definitely get to taste the famous takoyaki but also learn to make it — so you can personalise it with fillings of your preference. 

Start with some insight into the history of the food at Konamon History Museum, before heading to the third floor to the Maneko Tako section where you can make your own wax sculptures and accessories — takoyaki headbands, anyone? 

This would be one spot that will take care of food cravings for the day, unleash your creativity and inculcate a new appreciation of Japanese street food. 

Dotonbori Kukuru Konamon Museum is open from 11am to 10pm. Food making experiences run from 11:30am to 7:15pm. Some of the workshops require advance booking. Prices for workshops such as wax model making run from 2,000 yen.

From downright luxurious to thoughtfully family-centric to quirky and lavish, Osaka has it all. Here are our top picks:

The Park Front Hotel at Universal Studios Japan is like a time machine that takes you through America from past to present to even an unknown year in the future. Each area, from the facade to the lift lobby to the rooms itself, transports you to a different part of the USA. The hotel is located at the gates of Universal Studios, but children will feel like they are in a theme park right in the hotel itself. As for the rooms, you can choose from Southern hospitality in the 1900s to Miami art deco vibe of the 1940s to an unknown time in the future, which is on the luxury floor and accessed by a lift that looks like a time machine. There are connecting rooms available for up to five people. Prices run from $577 for a Superior Room with Park View that can sleep four adults. 

Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel is one of the tallest buildings in Japan and sits bang in the centre of the city near all the major attractions — from Universal Studios Japan to Osaka Castle and more. Families will love the comfortable rooms with spectacular rooms — and plenty of lounging spaces within the hotel A lavish breakfast spread makes it an easy choice for picky eaters. Connecting twin and double rooms affords parents the privacy as well as the reassurance that they can keep an eye on the young ones. Prices run from $825 for a Junior Suite Twin Room to $1,200 for connecting rooms for a family of four.

Citadines Namba Osaka gives the feel of a home away from home inside and with its surroundings. Away from the tourist haunts, yet conveniently located, it renders a true Japanese vibe without compromising on the needs of travellers. The serviced residence has a 24-hour fitness room and a residents’ lounge that is perfect for weary feet, while a children’s playroom will keep children occupied on those days when you don’t have a packed itinerary. A laundrette and specialty store and restaurant among others add to the convenience. Accommodations are sized from Studio rooms to Family Rooms and One and Two-Bedroom Apartments that can house a family of four. Prices run from $130.

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