Just got back from Osaka. 4 nights 5 days trip, first week of December. Total budget around $2,000 SGD including flights, Shinkansen, hotel, food, everything.
This is my full breakdown – what worked, what didn’t, and what you need to know if you’re planning your own Osaka trip from Singapore.
Trip Summary
| Details | Info |
|---|---|
| Travel Dates | Dec 3-8, 2025 (4N5D) |
| Flight | Scoot to Tokyo Narita (11:20pm – 6:10am+1) |
| Flight Cost | ~SGD $1,000 |
| Shinkansen | Tokyo to Osaka round trip – SGD $270 |
| Hotel | Dotonbori Hotel – SGD $100/night x 4 = $400 |
| Food Budget | SGD $60/day x 5 = $300 |
| Local Transport | ~SGD $50 (trains to Nara, local subway) |
| Total Budget | ~SGD $2,020 |
| Weather | Cold (5-13°C), windy, occasional rain |
Getting There – The Journey
Singapore to Tokyo (Scoot)
Flew Scoot from Changi. Departed 11:20pm Dec 3, landed Tokyo Narita 6:10am Dec 4.
Red-eye flight but honestly prefer it. Sleep on plane, arrive morning, maximize first day. Cost around $1,000 for economy.
Tokyo to Osaka (Shinkansen) – The Real Cost
From Narita Airport, took Narita Express to Tokyo Station. Then caught the Nozomi Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka.
**Shinkansen pricing (Dec 2025):**
| Train Type | One Way | Round Trip | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nozomi (Fastest) | ¥13,850 (~$135 SGD) | ¥27,700 (~$270 SGD) | 2h 15min |
| Hikari | ¥13,850 (~$135 SGD) | ¥27,700 (~$270 SGD) | 2h 45min |
| Kodama (Budget) | ¥10,300 (~$100 SGD) | ¥20,600 (~$200 SGD) | 3h 20min |
I took Nozomi cause I wanted fastest option. ¥27,700 round trip which is about SGD $270. Yeah it’s expensive but saves time.
If you’re on tight budget, take Kodama train. Saves ¥7,000 (SGD $70) but takes 1 hour longer. Still comfortable, just more stops.
**Pro tip:** Book online through Klook or SmartEX app – sometimes got small discounts and you can choose seats in advance.
Source: JR Pass calculator, Klook Shinkansen pricing Dec 2025
Where I Stayed – Dotonbori Hotel
Stayed at Dotonbori Hotel right in the heart of Dotonbori district. Address: 2-3-25 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka.
Cost: SGD $100 per night. Bit pricey but location is unbeatable.
Why This Location Is Perfect
- Walk out hotel, immediately hit the main food street
- 5 mins walk to Glico running man bridge (main photo spot)
- Tons of restaurants, shops, convenience stores nearby
- Osaka-Namba Station 10 mins walk (for trains to Nara, Kyoto)
Room was small (typical Japan hotel size) but clean. Had everything you need – good bed, hot shower, AC/heating, wifi.
Only downside: It’s loud at night cause you’re right in the middle of everything. If you’re light sleeper, bring earplugs.
The Weather – Colder Than Expected
December Osaka is cold, lah. Temperature was 5-13°C during my trip. But the wind makes it feel colder.
First day I stepped out, the wind hit me and I’m like “wah need more layers.”
What to Pack
- Thick jacket (windproof is important)
- Sweaters/hoodies – I wore 2-3 layers daily
- Long pants – jeans or thick pants, not thin ones (Ultra Heattech from Uniqlo)
- Scarf and gloves (seriously, the wind is no joke)
- Comfortable walking shoes – you’ll walk alot
- Umbrella – had a few rainy days
Don’t be like those tourists wearing just 1 thin jacket. You’ll freeze.
Source: Weather data Dec 2025, personal experience
Food – The Main Reason to Visit
Ok let’s talk about food cause this is why you go to Osaka. The city is literally called “Japan’s Kitchen.”
I ate SO MUCH. Probably gained 3kg. Worth it.
Dotonbori Food Street – What to Eat
1. Kinryu Ramen (金龍ラーメン) – The Golden Dragon
Address: 1 Chome-4-16 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward
The famous 24-hour ramen shop with giant golden dragon sign. Can’t miss it.
- Classic tonkotsu ramen: ¥800-900 (~SGD $8-9)
- Add extra egg: +¥100
- Add chashu pork: +¥200
Rich pork bone broth, thick noodles, generous toppings. I went twice – once at midnight after exploring, once at 3am after drinking. Both times amazing.
2. Takoyaki (たこ焼き) – Octopus Balls
Osaka invented takoyaki. Every street corner has a stall. Best ones at Dotonbori:
- Regular takoyaki (6-8 pieces): ¥500-700 (~SGD $5-7)
- Premium with extra toppings: ¥800-1000 (~SGD $8-10)
Get it fresh off the griddle. Crispy outside, gooey inside, big chunk of octopus in each ball. Put the whole thing in your mouth – that’s how locals eat it.
3. Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) – Japanese Pancake
Savory pancake with cabbage, meat, seafood, topped with special sauce and mayo.
- Basic okonomiyaki: ¥800-1000 (~SGD $8-10)
- Premium with seafood/wagyu: ¥1200-1800 (~SGD $12-18)
Filling meal. One okonomiyaki can be lunch. Some places let you cook it yourself on the hot plate at your table which is fun.
4. Gyoza (餃子) – Dumplings
Fresh pan-fried dumplings everywhere. Way better than Singapore’s frozen ones.
- Regular plate (6-8 pieces): ¥400-600 (~SGD $4-6)
- Large plate (12 pieces): ¥800-900 (~SGD $8-9)
Crispy bottom, juicy filling. I could eat 2 plates easy.
5. Kushikatsu (串カツ) – Deep Fried Skewers
Osaka specialty. Different ingredients on skewers, battered and deep fried.
- Per skewer: ¥150-300 (~SGD $1.50-3)
- Set of 10 skewers: ¥1500-2000 (~SGD $15-20)
Beef, pork, chicken, vegetables, cheese, even fruits. Dip in sauce once only (double-dipping is big no-no). Addictive snack.
6. Ichiran Ramen (一蘭)
Famous ramen chain. Solo dining booths for focused ramen eating.
- Classic ramen: ¥1000-1200 (~SGD $10-12)
- With extra noodles (kaedama): +¥200
Customize everything – spice level, noodle firmness, garlic amount. Order from vending machine, eat in private booth. Very Japanese experience.
Affordable Restaurant Meals
Beyond street food, here’s what restaurant meals cost:
| Meal Type | Price Range | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience Store Meal | ¥400-700 (~SGD $4-7) | Onigiri, bento, sandwich |
| Casual Restaurant Lunch | ¥800-1200 (~SGD $8-12) | Ramen, curry rice, donburi |
| Mid-Range Dinner | ¥1500-2500 (~SGD $15-25) | Izakaya, seafood, yakiniku |
| Fancy Dinner | ¥3000-5000 (~SGD $30-50) | Sushi, kaiseki, wagyu |
| Street Snacks | ¥300-600 (~SGD $3-6) | Crepes, taiyaki, karaage |
Source: Personal spending Dec 2025, Tripadvisor Dotonbori prices, Jasumo food guide
My Daily Food Budget Breakdown
I spent around SGD $60 per day on food. Here’s typical day:
Breakfast (¥500-800 / SGD $5-8): – 7-Eleven onigiri (rice balls): ¥120 x 2 = ¥240 – Hot coffee: ¥100 – Yogurt drink: ¥150 Total: ¥490 (~SGD $5)
Lunch (¥1000-1500 / SGD $10-15): – Ramen at casual shop: ¥900 – Gyoza side: ¥450 – Green tea: ¥100 Total: ¥1450 (~SGD $14)
Afternoon Snack (¥500-800 / SGD $5-8): – Takoyaki: ¥600 – Matcha soft serve: ¥450 Total: ¥1050 (~SGD $10)
Dinner (¥1500-2500 / SGD $15-25): – Okonomiyaki: ¥1200 – Beer: ¥500 – Kushikatsu (5 skewers): ¥800 Total: ¥2500 (~SGD $24)
Late Night Snack (¥300-500 / SGD $3-5): – Convenience store onigiri: ¥120 – Pocari Sweat: ¥150 Total: ¥270 (~SGD $3)
Daily Total: ¥5,760 (~SGD $56)
Some days I spent more (like ¥7000 when I had fancy sushi), some days less (when I ate more convenience store food). But average around SGD $60/day.
Food Portion Sizes – Bigger Than You Think
One thing that surprised me: portions in Osaka are generous. Not American-huge, but definitely satisfying.
A bowl of ramen fills you up properly. An okonomiyaki is a full meal. Even the “small” yakitori plates have 6-8 skewers.
For same or lower price than Singapore, you get more food and better quality. Fresh ingredients, made right in front of you.
Must-Try Foods I Loved
- Kinryu Ramen at 3am – Late night ramen hits different. Rich broth after walking around cold streets? Perfect.
- Fresh takoyaki from street stall – Not the mass-produced ones, the small stalls where grandma makes 8 at a time. Those are best.
- Convenience store fried chicken (karaage) – ¥250 for crispy, juicy chicken. Better than most restaurants in Singapore.
- Matcha desserts – Matcha soft serve, matcha tiramisu, matcha everything. Japan does matcha right.
- Yakitori under the train tracks – Small izakaya near Namba Station. Grilled chicken skewers, ice cold beer, locals chatting. That’s the vibe.
Where NOT to Eat
Avoid the super touristy restaurants with pictures of food and English menus outside. They’re usually overpriced and mediocre quality.
Best spots are:
- Small shops with Japanese-only menus
- Places with queues of locals (not tourists)
- Hole-in-the-wall spots near train stations
- Convenience stores (seriously, Japanese convenience store food is good)
Source: Personal eating experience Dec 2025, Ilse On The Go Osaka food guide
Daylight Hours – Plan Your Days Early
Here’s something that caught me off guard: Sunset is at 4:30-5pm in December.
Back in Singapore, sun sets around 7pm. In Osaka winter? By 4:30pm it’s getting dark already.
This means if you wake up at 9-10am like normal, you only got like 6-7 hours of daylight. Not enough to do everything.
My Recommendation
Wake up at 6-7am. Start your day early. Plan 3-4 spots per day max cause travel time between places adds up.
By 4pm when it gets dark, head back to Dotonbori for dinner and evening shopping. The food street is even better at night anyway – all the neon lights, crowds, energy.
What I Did – 4N5D Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive + Dotonbori Exploration
- Landed Tokyo 6:10am, Shinkansen to Osaka, reached hotel around 2pm
- Check in, rest a bit, then walked around Dotonbori
- Tried takoyaki from 3 different stalls (quality control, you know?)
- Dinner: Okonomiyaki + kushikatsu
- Took photos at Glico running man bridge
- Late night Kinryu ramen at midnight
**Food spent Day 1:** ¥4500 (~SGD $44)
Day 2: Nara Deer Park
- Woke up 7am, quick 7-Eleven breakfast
- Train from Osaka-Namba to Nara (35 mins, ¥680 one way)
- Nara Deer Park – fed the deer, visited Todaiji Temple
- Lunch in Nara: Simple udon shop (¥850)
- Back to Osaka by 4pm
- Dinner at Dotonbori: Ramen + gyoza
**Food spent Day 2:** ¥3200 (~SGD $31)
Day 3: Osaka City Spots
- Visited Osaka Castle in morning
- Walked around Shinsaibashi shopping district
- Lunch: Curry rice place (¥950)
- Checked out Anytime Fitness gym nearby (I’m gym guy, had to see it)
- Afternoon snacks: Taiyaki + matcha latte
- Dinner: Fancy sushi place (¥4500 – splurge day)
**Food spent Day 3:** ¥7800 (~SGD $76)
Day 4: More Food + Shopping
- Slow morning, slept in till 9am
- Big breakfast: Hotel buffet-style place (¥1800)
- Uniqlo shopping – way cheaper than Singapore
- Lunch: Conveyor belt sushi (¥2200)
- More walking around, tried different takoyaki stalls
- Dinner: Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) – ¥3500
- Late night: Another round of Kinryu ramen cause why not
**Food spent Day 4:** ¥8900 (~SGD $87)
Day 5: Last Morning + Travel Back
- Final breakfast: Bought bunch of onigiri from 7-Eleven for train ride
- Last minute souvenir shopping (food snacks mostly)
- Shinkansen back to Tokyo
- Flight home evening
**Food spent Day 5:** ¥1500 (~SGD $15)
**Total food spending 5 days:** ¥25,900 (~SGD $253) – came under my $300 budget!
Nara Day Trip – Meeting the Deer
Nara was one of my favorite days. Easy day trip from Osaka.
How to Get There
From Osaka-Namba Station, take Kintetsu Nara Line Express train. Cost ¥680 one way (about SGD $7). Takes 35-40 mins.
JR Line also works but Kintetsu station is closer to deer park.
What to Do in Nara
**Nara Deer Park (Free entry, open 24hrs)** Hundreds of wild deer roaming around. They bow when you feed them crackers (¥200 per pack).
Deer are friendly but can be pushy when they see food. They’ll bite your clothes or bag. One deer literally ate the park map out of my hand. Just stay calm.
**Todaiji Temple** Huge temple with giant Buddha statue inside. Entry ¥600. Worth visiting, very impressive.
**Nara Town** Small shops, cafes, traditional streets. Nice for walking around. Grabbed simple udon lunch here (¥850).
Time Needed
Half day is enough. I left Osaka 9am, back by 4pm. Perfect timing to catch Dotonbori dinner crowd.
Source: Personal visit Dec 2025, Klook Nara guide
Transport in Osaka – Easy Once You Figure It Out
Local Trains
Osaka has good subway/train system. But it’s expensive compared to Singapore MRT.
Short trips: ¥180-230 (SGD $1.80-2.30) Cross-city trips: ¥300-500 (SGD $3-5)
Get an IC card (Suica or ICOCA) for convenience. Tap in tap out like EZ-Link.
Walking
Honestly alot of places in central Osaka are walkable. Dotonbori to Shinsaibashi is 10-15 mins walk. Saves money.
But your legs will be tired by end of day. Bring comfortable shoes.
Shopping – Uniqlo Is Way Cheaper
Uniqlo in Japan is significantly cheaper than Singapore. Same Heattech shirt that costs $30 SGD here? Around ¥1500-1900 (SGD $15-19).
I stocked up on winter clothes there. Better quality and selection too.
Other shops like Don Quijote (discount store) also have good deals on snacks, cosmetics, gadgets.
Things to Know Before You Go
Smoking Rules – Strict
You cant smoke anywhere you want in Osaka. There are designated smoking areas only.
Smoking while walking on street = illegal, can get fined.
If you smoke, look for smoking rooms (usually near train stations or in buildings). They’re small enclosed rooms, bit smelly, but that’s where you gotta go.
So Many Singaporeans There
I was surprised how many Singaporeans I saw. At Dotonbori bridge, at shopping street, at Nara deer park – everywhere got people speaking Singlish.
December is peak travel season for Singapore-Japan cause it’s school holidays plus year-end leave.
Good news: You won’t feel lost or alone. Bad news: Places are crowded.
Crowds at Popular Spots
Dotonbori gets packed at night. Like sardine-level crowded on weekends. Hard to take photos without people in background.
If you want less crowded experience, go early morning or weekday afternoon.
Cash Still Important
Many small restaurants and shops only take cash. Bring enough yen. ATMs are at every convenience store tho.
What I Wish I Knew Earlier
- Pack more layers. I brought 2 jackets, should’ve brought 3. Wind is brutal.
- Book Shinkansen online in advance. Sometimes got small discounts. I bought at station, paid full price.
- Bring bigger appetite. Food is so good you’ll want to try everything. Come hungry.
- Download Google Maps offline. Phone data can be slow underground. Offline maps help.
- Bring extra suitcase space. You’ll buy more food souvenirs than you think. I had to buy extra bag.
Is Osaka Worth It for 4N5D?
Yeah, definitely. 4 nights 5 days is good amount of time. Not too rushed, not too long.
You get to explore Osaka properly, do a day trip to Nara, eat alot of good food, shop, and still have chill time.
Total budget of ~$2,000 SGD is reasonable. Could go cheaper if you: – Fly budget airline during promo – Take Kodama Shinkansen instead of Nozomi (saves SGD $70) – Stay at hostel/Airbnb instead of hotel – Eat more convenience store food – Skip fancy dinners
But for comfort and experience I had, $2K is worth it.
Final Thoughts
Osaka is amazing for food lovers. Like if you love eating, this is your city. Dotonbori food street alone is worth the trip.
The food is THAT good. Fresh, affordable, generous portions. I’d go back just to eat everything I missed.
Weather is cold in December but manageable with right clothes. The crowds can be overwhelming but expected for peak season.
Would I go again? Yeah, probably. But maybe in spring (March-April) when it’s warmer and cherry blossoms are blooming. Or autumn (October-November) for fall colors.
For first-timers from Singapore: Osaka is easy to navigate, people are nice, food is incredible. Just pack warm clothes and prepare for early sunsets.
That’s my honest take after 4 nights 5 days there. Hope this helps you plan your own Osaka trip.
Now I need go gym cause I definitely gained weight from all that eating, you know?
