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Kinki
Osaka Prefecture
Osaka
Chuo
Things to Do in Chuo
Osaka Museum of History
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Osaka Museum of History

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See all things to do
Osaka Museum of History
4
600
#9 of 378 things to do in Chuo
History Museums
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9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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Top ways to experience Osaka Museum of History and nearby attractions

The area
Address
How to get there
  • Tanimachi Yonchōme • 5 min walk
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
600 reviews
Excellent
202
Very good
264
Average
113
Poor
15
Terrible
6
Richard Z
53 contributions
Great museum
The museum covers the rich history of Osaka and Kansei region pretty well. A must visit if you're a history buff. Employees are nice and helpful, they also offer free games and expedition tours for kids. Something that makes me uncomfortable is the WW2 history section only covers the sacrifice and suffering of Osaka citizens, nothing mentioned about the role that Japan played in the war. But I guess the museum is about Osaka history so I can't really complain...?
Written December 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
steve1118
Shanghai, China93 contributions
Good way to get an overview of osaka
This is a well done history museum that provides good context for the Osaka castle and the rest of osaka. Would recommend visiting this place early in your trip to understand the background of Osaka. There is a fun “quiz and stamp rally” that will help entertain kids, and the puzzles and archaeology exhibit is good for kids too.
Written October 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Peggy_lim
Malaysia81 contributions
Spend 2 hours here...Know more on the Osaka history and Osaka castle buid up
Solo
I liked history very much... it had few floors to brief on Japan and Osaka history..... Must go and lots of photos to take... u can see the osaka castle view from different floors....
Written February 4, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Met10
Baltimore, MD12 contributions
If you want to learn about Osaka's history, this is not the place to find it.
Solo
Japanese do a lot of things extremely well. One thing they do not do well is design good museums. The Osaka Museum of History is a case in point. A ton of money was spent on this facility and its various exhibits, but like many other museums in Japan, the curatorial planning is haphazard, almost amateurish. There is no narrative flow to the museum whatsoever (certainly not in English). Some periods are highlighted; others are not. There are some recreations of certain scenes like the ancient Naniwa culture and the roaring 20's that are somewhat interesting and there are several models of Edo period Osaka that are nicely done. But there are also some glaring omissions. For instance, while there is quite a bit on daily life in the feudal period, there is virtually nothing on Osaka Castle, the major landmark in the city and the site of a pivotal battle between two feudal lords that led to 200 years of Tokugawa rule (for more on this, you must visit the Osaka Castle museum). Another omission is the carpet bombing of Osaka by the US during World War II, in which the entire city was essentially destroyed. Maybe this is too painful a memory for locals to recount in their depiction of the past, but the truth is that it forever changed the face of the city. What we see today bares almost no resemblance to what Osaka was like before the war. Finally, Osaka was home to the 1970 World's Fair, which was the largest event in Osaka's modern history and was a kind of coming out ceremony, along with the Tokyo Olympics, of postwar Japan. Nothing on this either. When you move from floor to floor, you jump from one major period to another with absolutely no transition. I just don't think you can come away from a visit to this museum with a comprehensive sense of Osaka's rich history--just snippets of history that are somewhat randomly highlighted. Maybe that's an excusable omission for the uninitiated tourist to Osaka, but knowing a bit more about Osaka, I can't say this museum gives this resilient, remarkable town justice.
Written June 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
carpe_itineris
Carlsbad, CA440 contributions
Loved our time here
Family
The museum walks the visitor through the history of this region. It was a fabulous introduction to understanding settlement patterns and cultural changes. Well worth the time! And, there is a combo ticket which includes a visit to the castle!!
Written July 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
faysie2015
Armidale, Australia666 contributions
Should have got the English translation
Couples
Visited this well thought out museum at Osaka. It is located in the top four floors of a very impressive building. I should, however, invested the 200 yen in an English audio guide that was available - there were many bits with small English sections but for a couple of bucks it would have made it more interesting.
Written January 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Langfar Sardo
64 contributions
Nice place. Recommend.
Solo
Osaka Museum of History.

It’s a nice place that you have to visit.
I cannot say that it fulfilled with items, no. But it’s organized so well.
I’d like to say visit it first if you plan to go to Osaka castle first.
Reasons are:
1. Better to start from general story.
2. There is beautiful view from the museum panorama windows.
3. You can save 300¥.

To reach it, you will need “Tanimachi 4-chome” subway station (Chuō line, green one), use exit number 9. Rising to the surface you will see high double building on the left hand. So, it is. Use the left automatic doors.
In a ticket office you will have a chance to buy one ticket to museum for ¥600 or double ticket (museum + Osaka castle) for ¥900. Buying separately you will pay 600+600 yen. So, you have a chance to save ¥300. It’s not too many, but, c’mon it is two of 330ml cans of beer or whatever.
Universal ticket is valuable during 3 days.
So, you can visit museum one day, and the castle another.
Museum takes 4 floors: from 10th (beginning of exposition) till 7th. Each floor related to era.
There are no a lot of items exposed there and all signs mostly on Japanese language, but every item was selected carefully and you can feel a care from a staff in every handmade english sign that is sticked to the main one. And this care is the best evidence of personnel wish to tell you not only HIStory, but THEREstory about there place, named Osaka.
Beautiful visual line and beautiful reproductions full with a small details, that makes them natural and alive. Toilet in a yard, rat crawling in open window, cat hunting it etc.
Silent atmosphere and a lot of rest places.
And after you need just cross a street, walk a bit and you are in the Osaka Castle park.
Strongly recommend.
NB. Never seen so many “NO”’s in one public place. Thanks to owner, I can breath. See pictures )))))
Imho, for sure.
Written July 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kevin M
Newtown, Pennsylvania, United States226 contributions
History, Osaka-Style
Solo
It would make sense to look at the Osaka Museum of History as a counterpart to the Edo-Tokyo Museum in Tokyo. However, Osaka’s museum focuses on the history of the region around Osaka, and goes back farther in history. So, if you’re in both cities, it’s worth visiting both museums. There are a lot of exhibits on the old Naniwa Palace, which existed for a short time in the 7th century. The other floors depict moments of life in the Edo and modern periods. There are a few English descriptions around, but you may want to consider renting an audio guide for 200 yen.
Written October 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
maxi567890
London, UK4 contributions
A low priority in Osaka
Solo
The Osaka Museum of History is located about a 10 minute walk from the Castle, and is very accessible by subway. Buying a combined ticket with the Castle, I first started at the museum. The museum itself is slightly disappointing, and having been to numerous museums in Japan, is definitely one I won't be returning to. Firstly, the exhibition itself isn't particularly structured and there isn't really a sense of continuance; rather just a bunch of artefacts bundled together randomly. This is very unlike the Tokyo-Edo museum, where you feel immersed and part of the story in the evolution of Edo into Tokyo. Furthermore, the exhibition is not english friendly at all, with English signs comprising of one sentence compared to paragraphs of Japanese, which makes it difficult to understand and process any information about the changing nature of Osaka. Unfortunately, the museum is very unemotive and worth avoiding, although Osaka Castle itself is extraordinary and an amazing museum.
Written August 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TQ_Travel-Quest
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates1,340 contributions
Japan History & Culture
Friends
We used “Osaka Amazing Pass” to visit Osaka Museum of History which is located at a 5min walking distance from Osaka Castle. So, it is recommended to visit both sites on the same day. I also recommend buying “Osaka Amazing Pass” (3000 Yen per person for 2 days) which allows you free admission to 28 tourist attraction sites including Osaka Castle & Museum of History. The pass also allows for unlimited use of the public transport.
The museum is well organized with numerous exhibited items that highlight the history and culture of Japan. You will need 1-2 hrs. for the visit.
Written December 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Osaka Museum of History (Chuo) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Osaka Museum of History
Osaka Museum of History is open:
  • Wed - Mon 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Osaka Museum of History tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 6 Osaka Museum of History tours on Tripadvisor