For part 1: https://steemit.com/vacation/@diremare/osaka-sightseeing-guide-part-1

Day 2

9:00 am Osaka Castle
12 pm Suijyo Bus ( Aqua-Liner)
1 pm Umeda HEP 5
5 pm Umeda Sky Building Observatory

Osaka Castle

Kick start the day by visiting another iconic destination in Osaka. The Osaka Castle (known as Ōsakajō in Japanese) dates back to 1583. Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended the castle to become the center of a new unified Japan. It was the largest castle at the time.

A few years after Hideyoshi's death, the castle was attacked and destroyed by Tokugawa troops which effectively ended the Toyotomi lineage in 1615. The Osaka Castle was rebuilt by Tokugawa Hidetada in the 1620s, but its main castle tower was struck by lightning in 1665 and burnt down. It wasn't until 1931 the main tower was rebuilt.

Major repair work was done in 1997. The castle tower is now entirely modern on the inside and even features an elevator for easier accessibility. It houses an informative museum about the castle's history and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Access: To get to Osaka Castle by Subway, you can take either the Chuo Line or the Nagahori Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Line to Morinomiya Station. The castle can be seen as soon as you exit Morinomiya Station. I recommend going early if you wish to avoid the crowd. Osaka Castle is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Osaka if not all of Japan.

Things to do:

1.) Take a walk around Osaka Park
2.) Visit the plum grove near the outer east moat
3.) Take a photo with samurai armor and/or watch performers in front of the main tower.
4.) Learn about the history of Osaka Castle and Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the museum inside the main tower. (admission is free with Osaka Amazing Pass) Head to the 8th-floor observatory for a fantastic view of the city!

Museum depiction of Tokugawa and Toyotomi battle

View from the 8th floor observatory of the main tower

5.) Buy a souvenir from the Osaka Castle gift shop
6.) Take a 20 min tour on gozabune boats which takes you around moats of the Osaka Castle. Circle around from Gokuraku bridge to the inner moat of Osaka castle park. Running time is 10 am to 4:50 pm. Final departure is at 4:30 pm. (Included with Osaka Amazing Pass)

Umeda

After spending half a day at Osaka Castle, I recommend taking the Suijyo Bus ( Aqua-Liner) (Free with Osaka Amazing Pass) to Yodobayashi Pier. Then head to Yodobayashi Station to take the Midosuji Line to Umeda.

The Umeda district is one of the main city centers in Osaka and is the city's transportation hub. Umeda offers a large variety of shopping and dining experiences with an abundance of attractions in a relatively small area.

terrace inside the massive Osaka-Umeda station

Things to do:

1.) Window shop (or shop for real) at "Whity Umeda". It is an underground shopping mall with 200 shops located under the massive terminal where the JR, Hanshin, Hankyu, and Osaka Subway lines meet. As you exit the station in Umeda, use the Minami (South) gate
2.) Enjoy a panoramic view of the city on the HEP FIVE Ferris wheel (Free with Osaka Amazing Pass)

The view from the top of the Ferris Wheel

3.) Visit the top floor of Grand Front Osaka for a wide selection of high-quality restaurants
4.) More SHOPPING!!
5.) Last but not least, end off the day with a stunning night view of the city from Umeda Sky Building Observatory (Free with Osaka Amazing Pass before 6 pm)

the escalators to the observatory

Sunset view from Kuchu Teien (Umeda Sky Building)