osaka in 3 days, 2 nights

Kuromon Market and Dotonbori's neon on arrival, a day trip to Nara's deer with kushikatsu in Shinsekai after, and Osaka Castle before the train back to the airport. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable.

1. Day 1

   Namba and Dotonbori

   Morning

   Take the overnight flight from KL to Kansai, about 6.5 hours. The Nankai train gets you to Namba in about 45 minutes; drop your bags at the hotel.

   Lunch

   Kuromon Market, walkable from Namba, for seafood, wagyu skewers and fruit to eat as you walk.

   Afternoon

   Check in and rest after the night flight, or wander the Shinsaibashi shopping arcade.

   Evening

   Dotonbori at night: the neon, the Glico running man and takoyaki from the stalls. Then okonomiyaki for dinner, cooked on a hotplate.

2. Day 2

   Nara and Shinsekai

   Morning

   Train from Namba to Nara, under an hour. Walk through Nara Park, where the deer bow for crackers, to Todai-ji and its giant Buddha.

   Lunch

   Lunch in Nara, near the park.

   Afternoon

   Walk on through the park to the stone lanterns of Kasuga Taisha, then take the train back to Osaka and rest.

   Evening

   Shinsekai, a few subway stops from Namba, for kushikatsu under Tsutenkaku tower. No double-dipping in the shared sauce.

3. Day 3

   Castle and home

   Morning

   Osaka Castle by subway. Walk the moats and park, and go up the castle tower if the queue is short.

   Lunch

   Takoyaki or okonomiyaki around Umeda, about 15 minutes away by subway.

   Afternoon

   The open-air deck of the Umeda Sky Building for a last look at the city. Then the train to Kansai, a little over an hour, for the flight home.