Osaka Amazing Pass: is it worth it in 2026?
What the 1-day and 2-day Osaka Amazing Pass cost, which of the 40 or so attractions are worth the most, the 15:00 Umeda Sky rule, sample days that pay off, and when to skip it.
The Osaka Amazing Pass is the city’s own sightseeing pass, sold by Osaka Metro and its partners. It combines unlimited local transport with free entry to a long list of attractions. Bought in the right way it can pay for itself twice over in a day; bought for the wrong day it is ¥3,500 spent on subway rides. Here is how to tell which day you have.
Worth it if you will visit three or more of the paid sights in one day. Not worth it for a food-and-shopping day in Namba.
- Price: ¥3,500 for 1 day, ¥5,000 for 2 consecutive days. Children pay the same as adults.
- Includes: unlimited Osaka Metro and city buses, private railways within the city, and one free entry each to about 40 attractions.
- Does not include: JR lines (including the Osaka Loop Line) and Universal Studios Japan.
- Best value sights: Tombori River Cruise (¥2,000), Umeda Sky Building before 15:00 (¥2,000), Tsutenkaku (¥1,500), Osaka Castle Museum (¥1,200).
2026 prices and validity
| Version | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1-day pass | ¥3,500 | Same price for adults and children |
| 2-day pass | ¥5,000 | Two consecutive calendar days |
| Itami Airport version | ¥3,800 / ¥5,400 | For arrivals at Osaka (Itami) Airport; see the official site for what it adds |
| Kansai Airport version (28 hours) | ¥5,300 | Sold 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027; adds one Nankai ride from Kansai Airport to Namba |
- Calendar days, not 24 hours. A “day” runs from 03:00 to 02:59 the next morning. Start the 1-day pass at 15:00 and you get less than half a day of value.
- Each attraction once. On the 2-day pass, each attraction can still be used only once across both days.
- Sales period: the current version is sold from 25 March 2026 to 31 March 2027.
- Digital pass: the official digital version can be bought for up to four people per purchase, and runs on your phone.
What the transport side covers
The pass covers all Osaka Metro lines, Osaka City buses (a few routes are excluded) and the New Tram to the Bay Area. It also covers the Hankyu, Hanshin, Keihan, Kintetsu and Nankai railways within the city of Osaka, which is handy for Umeda and Namba. It does not cover any JR line, including the Osaka Loop Line, so plan your day around the subway.
Single Osaka Metro fares run from ¥190 to ¥390 depending on distance. A typical sightseeing day of five or six rides costs roughly ¥1,200 to ¥1,500 in fares, so transport alone does not justify the pass. The attractions do.
The attractions that matter
About 40 attractions accept the pass. These are the ones with the highest regular price, which is where the value is.
| Attraction | Regular adult price | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Dive & Walk | ¥3,000 | |
| Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory | ¥2,000 | Free only until 15:00; after that the pass gives 10% off |
| Tombori River Cruise (Dotonbori) | ¥2,000 | Exchange for a timed slot; evening slots sell out early |
| Wonder Cruise | ¥2,000 | |
| Aqua-Liner water bus | ¥2,000 | |
| Gozabune boat (Osaka Castle moat) | ¥1,800 | Closed 28 December to 3 January |
| Santa Maria day cruise | ¥1,800 | |
| Tsutenkaku observation deck | ¥1,500 | |
| Osaka Castle Main Tower (museum) | ¥1,200 | Closed 28 December to 1 January |
| Sakishima Cosmo Tower observatory | ¥1,200 | |
| Tsutenkaku Tower Slider | ¥1,100 | |
| HEP FIVE Ferris wheel | ¥1,000 | |
| Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel | ¥1,000 | |
| Kaiyodo Figure Museum | ¥1,000 | |
| Shitennoji temple | ¥800 | |
| Tennoji Zoo | ¥800 | |
| Osaka Museum of History | ¥600 |
Two closures to know about this season: the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living is closed from 1 September 2026 to 5 January 2027, and the OSAKA WHEEL at Expocity is closed for maintenance. Always check the official attraction page on the day, because hours and closures change.
Three sample days
Example Regular prices from the official attraction list; fares estimated at five Osaka Metro rides.
| Day | Included sights | Value without pass | With 1-day pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Osaka | Osaka Castle Museum ¥1,200 + Gozabune ¥1,800 + Umeda Sky before 15:00 ¥2,000 + Tombori River Cruise ¥2,000 + fares about ¥1,200 | about ¥8,200 | ¥3,500 |
| South Osaka | Shitennoji ¥800 + Tennoji Zoo ¥800 + Tsutenkaku ¥1,500 + Tower Slider ¥1,100 + Tombori ¥2,000 + fares about ¥1,000 | about ¥7,200 | ¥3,500 |
| Food and shopping | Kuromon Market, Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori; no paid sights; fares about ¥1,000 | about ¥1,000 | ¥3,500 (skip the pass) |
A family of three on the “Classic Osaka” day pays ¥10,500 for three passes against about ¥24,600 in tickets and fares. Because children pay the adult price for the pass, a family with young children who would get cheap or free entry anyway should do the sums with child prices.
How to get the most out of it
- Start early. The pass runs by calendar day. Be at the first attraction when it opens.
- Do Umeda Sky before 15:00. It is one of the most expensive inclusions, and free entry stops at 15:00.
- Book your Tombori River Cruise slot first. Exchange the pass for a timed ticket at the dock as soon as you reach Dotonbori; evening cruises go fast.
- Group sights by area. Osaka Castle with the Gozabune boat and the Museum of History; Tennoji with Shitennoji, the zoo and Tsutenkaku; the Bay Area with the Tempozan wheel and the Santa Maria.
- Use the 2-day pass for a slow pace. At ¥5,000, two days of three sights each is easy value, and you are not rushing.
- Do not plan a JR day. Osaka Station, the Loop Line and trains to Universal Studios are JR, and not covered.
When to skip it
- You are spending the day at Universal Studios Japan. The pass does not include it. See USJ Express Pass explained.
- You are using Osaka as a base for a Kyoto or Nara day trip. JR and most intercity trains are outside the pass.
- You arrive in the afternoon. Buy an IC card for the first evening and start the pass the next morning.
- You only want one or two sights. Pay at the door.
Where to buy
You can buy the digital pass on the official website or through Klook, which also sells it for use on your phone; Klook’s code OAP5OFFYEAREND gives 5% off until 31 December 2026, subject to Klook’s terms. Whichever you buy, read the redemption steps before you travel, because some attractions ask you to exchange the pass for a ticket first.
Watch: Osaka 4K walk: Namba to Shinsaibashi via Dotonbori
Jon’s walking video covers Hozenji, Dotonbori, Ebisubashi bridge and the Shinsaibashi shopping arcade, the area where the Tombori River Cruise runs. It was uploaded in 2020, so some shops will have changed.
Amazing Pass or IC card?
For days without paid sights, an IC card such as ICOCA is simpler. You tap in and out on the Metro, buses and JR, and pay only for the rides you take. The pass only wins when the attractions add up.
| Your day | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Three or more paid sights on the list | Amazing Pass |
| One or two paid sights, lots of walking | IC card, pay at the door |
| Day trip to Kyoto, Nara or Kobe | IC card (JR and intercity trains are not covered) |
| Universal Studios Japan | IC card for the JR ride, plus your park ticket |
See Suica, PASMO and ICOCA for how to set one up on your phone.
Common mistakes
- Starting the 1-day pass in the afternoon. It ends at the end of the calendar day.
- Going up Umeda Sky at sunset expecting free entry. After 15:00 the pass only gives a discount.
- Assuming the Loop Line is included. It is JR.
- Visiting during the New Year closures. Osaka Castle Museum closes 28 December to 1 January and the Gozabune boat 28 December to 3 January.
For a full two-day Osaka plan that uses the pass on day one, see Osaka in two days, plus Universal Studios Japan.
FAQ
How much is the Osaka Amazing Pass in 2026?
¥3,500 for the 1-day pass and ¥5,000 for the 2-day pass. Children pay the same as adults. Airport versions cost more: ¥3,800 or ¥5,400 from Itami and ¥5,300 for the 28-hour Kansai Airport version.
Is the Osaka Amazing Pass 24 hours?
No. It works by calendar day, from 03:00 to 02:59 the next morning. The 2-day pass covers two consecutive days.
Does the Osaka Amazing Pass include Universal Studios Japan?
No. It also does not cover JR lines, including the Osaka Loop Line and the JR Yumesaki line to USJ.
Is Umeda Sky Building free with the Amazing Pass?
Only until 15:00. After that, the pass gives 10% off the regular ¥2,000 adult ticket.
How many attractions do I need to visit for the pass to pay off?
Usually three of the higher-priced sights. The Tombori River Cruise, Umeda Sky and Tsutenkaku alone come to ¥5,500 at regular prices.
Does the Osaka Amazing Pass cover the Osaka Loop Line?
No. The Loop Line is a JR line. The pass covers Osaka Metro, city buses, the New Tram and the Hankyu, Hanshin, Keihan, Kintetsu and Nankai railways within the city.
Do children need their own Osaka Amazing Pass?
The pass costs the same for adults and children, so for young children who get cheap or free entry and fares anyway, it is often better to pay as you go for them.
