🎡 Updated June 2026
Osaka Attractions & Passes (2026):
Amazing Pass, Kaiyukan, Umeda Sky & More
The Osaka Amazing Pass bundles unlimited city transport with 40+ free admissions — but USJ and Kaiyukan are out. Here's what's included, whether it pays off, and 1-day vs 2-day.
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Amazing Pass includes
Transport + 40+ admissions
Options
1-day or 2-day
Not included
USJ & Kaiyukan
Format
Fully digital now
In short: The Osaka Amazing Pass pays off when you visit several included sights in a day while moving by subway. It does not cover USJ or the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan — buy those separately.
What Is the Osaka Amazing Pass?
The Osaka Amazing Pass is a sightseeing pass that combines two benefits in one: unlimited rides on the Osaka Metro/subway and city buses within Osaka city, plus free admission to more than 40 facilities. It comes as a 1-day or 2-day pass, and it's now fully digital — there's no physical card to collect.
Included highlights span the city's biggest names: Osaka Castle, the Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory (about ¥2,000 on its own), Tsutenkaku, the HEP FIVE Ferris wheel, and various river cruises. The one big caveat: Universal Studios Japan (USJ) and the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan are not included, so plan those as separate tickets.
What the Amazing Pass Covers (and What It Doesn't)
| Attraction | On Amazing Pass? | Standalone price (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Osaka Castle (Castle Tower) | ✓ Included | approx ¥600 |
| Umeda Sky Building — Floating Garden Observatory | ✓ Included | approx ¥2,000 |
| Tsutenkaku Tower | ✓ Included | approx ¥1,000 |
| HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel | ✓ Included | approx ¥800 |
| Tombori River Cruise & other river cruises | ✓ Included | approx ¥1,500 |
| Metro / subway & city buses (Osaka city) | ✓ Unlimited | Pay-as-you-go otherwise |
| Universal Studios Japan (USJ) | ✗ Not included | Buy separately |
| Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan | ✗ Not included | approx ¥2,300 |
Standalone prices are approximate and the included-facility list can change — figures are for 2026 and subject to change; confirm at booking. USJ and Kaiyukan are not covered by the pass and must be bought separately.
Does the Osaka Amazing Pass Pay Off?
The math is simple: add up the standalone admission prices of the included sights you'll actually visit, plus what you'd otherwise spend on subway and bus fares that day. If that total beats the pass price, you're ahead. Because transport is bundled in, you generally won't need a separate Osaka metro pass for the days you're using the Amazing Pass.
Worth it if…
You plan to hit several included sights in a single day — say Osaka Castle, the Umeda Sky Building observatory, Tsutenkaku, and a river cruise — while criss-crossing the city by subway. The included transport plus 40+ free admissions add up fast, and a busy day can clear the pass price on attractions alone.
Maybe skip it if…
Your Osaka wishlist is mostly USJ and Kaiyukan — neither is on the pass. If you're only visiting one or two included spots, or you walk most places, buying single tickets and a simple IC card may cost less than the pass.
1-day vs 2-day
The 1-day pass includes unlimited transport for the day; the 2-day pass spreads admissions across two days but, on most years, the transport benefit applies to fewer trips than two full days of riding. Choose 1-day for an intense single sightseeing blitz, 2-day if you'd rather pace yourself across more facilities.
USJ & Kaiyukan: Buy These Separately
The two attractions visitors most often assume are covered — and aren't — are USJ and the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. Kaiyukan is famous for its enormous central tank and resident whale sharks; admission is roughly ¥2,300 on a separate ticket. It's well worth a visit, just budget for it outside the Amazing Pass.
For the theme park, see our Universal Studios Japan tickets & Express Pass guide — USJ has its own Studio Pass and online-only rules. You can book a Kaiyukan ticket below.
How to Choose & Use the Pass
Map your day around included sights
List the attractions you actually want to see and check which are on the pass — Osaka Castle, the Umeda Sky Building observatory, Tsutenkaku, the HEP FIVE Ferris wheel, and river cruises are all included. Roughly add up their standalone prices to see if the pass pays for itself.
Pick 1-day or 2-day
Choose the 1-day pass for a single packed sightseeing day, or the 2-day pass if you'd rather spread the included facilities over two days. Both bundle unlimited Osaka city subway and bus travel within their valid period.
Buy online — the pass is now fully digital
The Osaka Amazing Pass is digital, with no physical card to collect. Booking through a reseller like Klook gives you an English checkout, foreign-card support, and a QR code or voucher you activate on first use.
Activate on your sightseeing day and scan to enter
The pass starts when you first use it, so activate it on the day you'll sightsee most. Scan it at participating facilities and at subway/bus gates within Osaka city; keep your separate USJ and Kaiyukan tickets handy, since those aren't covered.
Getting Into Osaka & Around the City
Most of the Amazing Pass sights sit on the Osaka Metro network, which the pass covers in full within Osaka city. Arriving from Kansai Airport first? Compare your options in our Haruka vs Nankai Rapi:t guide, then weigh standalone transit for non-pass days with the Osaka Metro pass vs Enjoy Eco Card comparison.
Common Questions
1. Is the Osaka Amazing Pass worth it?
2. What's included in the Osaka Amazing Pass?
3. Does the Osaka Amazing Pass include USJ or Kaiyukan?
4. Is the Osaka Amazing Pass digital now?
5. Should I get the 1-day or 2-day Osaka Amazing Pass?
6. Does the Osaka Amazing Pass include transport?
See more of Osaka for less
Bundle unlimited city transport with 40+ free admissions on the Osaka Amazing Pass — and add a Kaiyukan aquarium ticket, since the whale sharks aren't on the pass.