Top things to do in Osaka, fun things to do, see and eat

Osaka is a city to discover, full of must-visit places, things to do, see and eat.

If you don’t have Osaka on your list of places to stay then you are missing one of the most vibrant and fun cities in Japan. Because if you’re only staying a few hours you won’t experience its great vibe and will surely miss the bar and food places that explode into life at night.

Whilst we loved exploring Kyoto and Tokyo’s old temples, shrines and gardens like many other travellers, it is surprising how many overlook Osaka as a place to stay and merely plan a daytrip to see the castle, attend a sumo tournament or play at Universal Studios.

I agree that Osaka doesn’t have the breathtaking landscapes and truly spectacular sights found in other destinations throughout Japan, but it is the place to be for shopaholics and a mecca for food lovers. Osaka has an endless fascination, easygoing vibe and great food. Oh yes, great food, with a fantastic food culture it makes Oskaka the culinary capital of Japan.

Kitchen of Japan

Sure Kyoto and Tokyo have great bars and eating places. But Osaka, well known for its food, is known as ‘the kitchen of Japan’ and has over 200 restaurants listed on the Michelin Guide. The locals have prodigious appetites for food and high expectations of the quality of their cuisine. Most local dishes are economical, but despite this, tourists in Osaka spend more on food than on anything else.

It is the perfect place to wander mysterious alleys and stop at unexpected culinary wonders. Gastronomy is the heart of Osaka’s identity and the offerings go well beyond sushi, ramen and tempura. Osaka offers an exceptional food experience and is a thriving, eclectic example of modern day Japan.

Smaller in size than Tokyo but with the excitement of a major city, Osaka’s neighbourhoods are very accessible and filled with a veritable treasure trove of enjoyable food choices.

Namba

Any visit to Osaka simply must include a walk through Namba and Dotonbori. After dark the sights, sounds and smells bring the area alive. Namba is a sensory feast, full of charm and brimming with restaurants competing with each other on price and flavour. As you roam the labyrinth of alleyways and backstreets of Namba area, you could easily walk past some of the small, inconspicuous restaurants. They are no fills, tucked away in little streets where tourists don’t normally venture. But if you head through the right doorway you will be taken on an epicurean adventure.

Ura Namba located in the Minami district, is an area within Sennichimae-dori to the north, Nansan-dori to the south, Takashimaya Department store to the west and Kuromon Ichiba Market to the east. Ura Namba means back, or secret, and is full of trendy Japanese sake bars, standing bars and cool eateries, each serving their unique style of kusiage, beef tenderloin, beef tongue, yakitori, sushi, soba noodles, bluefin tuna, Kobe beef or craft beers. If you see horumon sakaba this will be an eatery serving offal, usually beef or pork. Some restaurants prepare and serve horse meat which is healthy and very popular with the women.

Some eateries are tiny and offer counter only seating, where you’ll likely end up bumping elbows with strangers. Others have entry through a tiny door in an unassuming building. Or you might climb several floors to find an unexpected wonder. Regardless, you’ll soon be feeling like a local. There are Tachinomi (standing bars) that have a very cool atmosphere to mix and mingle in. Don’t worry about the façade, if there is a long line of people outside an unassuming building you can presume you’ve stumbled upon one of the areas true hidden gems.

Izakayas (Japanese style bars) have a lively atmosphere and offer bar snacks and alcohol usually at reasonable prices.

Between jugs of sake, small plates of super tasty nibbles like sashimi scallops or grilled avocado and enoki mushrooms with ponzu sauce and grated daikon, sure beat a bag of nuts for around ¥300.

Mixing with the locals in one of these unique hole in the wall Izakayas is great way to get a true taste of Namba. They are easy to love and perfectly laid back for unwinding after a long day of sightseeing. Osakans are friendly, easygoing people, who are welcoming to visitors to the region.

Namba and Dotonbori  are the best places to visit and experience the kuidaore style of extreme love of food, which is often interpreted to mean eat until you drop. Kuidaore is a term used to describe Osaka’s food scene, but actually means to ruin oneself by the extravagance of food. And one thing Osaka has, is lots of food.

The people of Osaka love comedy and a popular landmark in Namba is Grand Kagetsu Theatre where comedy shows play all year. The theatre is run by the Yoshimoto Creative Agency, and is a stage for professional comics.

Namba is not just a place to go to eat. Namba is a place to entertain all your senses.

Takoyaki

The first food we tried after arriving in Namba, Osaka’s downtown area of Minami, was the fast food option Takoyaki. Ball shaped, the takoyaki are made from a batter filled with octopus (tako), tempura scraps, pickled ginger and green onion. These little doughy, cheesy octopus balls are extremely hot, but so delicious to eat. Takoyaki is extremely popular, so while waiting in line anticipating the scrumptious flavour of the dumplings, it is fun to watch them being made and you can admire the skills of the cook. Watching the chefs poke and turn until it forms small spheres using two metal chopsticks is a spectacle itself.

The batter is cooked on a special cast iron griddle, and the cooks turn them using their skill and agility. The takoyaki is drizzled with sauce and mayonnaise, then sprinkled with dried Bonito flakes that dance in the heat. You need an asbestos mouth as with all the anticipation of watching them being made, you just want to put them in your mouth whole. They are so delicious, but the the gooey, cheesy balls are piping hot. You need to take time to watch the rising steam make the flakes dance and wriggle, before they are finally cool enough to just melt in your mouth. This is the perfect street food and is available everywhere. The streets throughout Namba and Dotonbori are filled with their appetizing smell.

You can try making your own Takoyaki at the Konamon Museum at Dotonbori, a place where you can not only learn about Osaka’s soul food, but make it as well. You get to take home what you produce, as what you’ll be making is a wax sample. In the basement bistro you can be served carefully selected champagne with your takoyaki.

Okonomiyaki

Known for having the best food in Japan, Osaka is famous for its Okonomiyaki, sometimes called Japanese pizza. This giant savoury cabbage pancake is made from a batter of flour, yam, egg, dashi, cabbage, pickled ginger and green onion. That is the base to which shrimp, squid, pork, or even clams or oysters can be added. And it is absolutely mouthwatering and very affordable. Known as Osaka’s soul food, it was our favourite meal of the whole trip, and one we enjoyed several times.

Okonomiyaki was created in Osaka just before WWII when during the war, rice was scarce, and people had to modify recipes using available ingredients.

We loved that okonomiyaki is cooked in front of you, adding to the food experience. After it’s cooked, it’s topped with a thick, brown sauce, mayonnaise and bonito flakes, and each person is provided a mini spatula, a hera or kote. Still on the grill, the okonomiyaki is cut in half, then quarters, and piece by piece, lifted to an individual plate to devour. Yum. This is the ultimate comfort food.  Surprisingly, as there are only a few ingredients, this dish is so satisfying.

We highly recommend this as one food you can’t visit Osaka without trying. So nom.

Another place we stumbled across that serves amazing Okonomiyaki is Ura-Namba Torame Yokocho. This trendy group of restaurants is easily recognized by the tigers and large vermillion torii gate at the entrance. Being a cluster of restaurants, it is a must visit place for an authentic taste of the quintessential Osakan cuisine and vibe. Bonus as it was only a few steps from our hotel.

We also saw desserts to die for, like the Pablo chains’ rich baked cheesecake and a cheese tea stand. Yes you read that right, cheese tea and no, I didn’t try it. One thing I did want to try, was the food trend of the moment in Japan, fluffy soufflé pancakes. Gram and Happy Pancake are two names that continually come into my feed on Instagram.

Shopping

Osaka has several world class shopping districts, being Umeda and Minami or Namba. Both areas have a high concentration of upscale, brand name and designer goods being sold in the many department stores, shopping arcades and covered malls. Inexpensive discount chains and thrift shops can also be found throughout the arcades and streets.

HEP Five near Umeda Station, Namba Parks near Namba Station and Tempozan Marketplace in Osaka Bay are all examples of modern shopping complexes in Osaka. Takashimaya is an upmarket retail giant offering the ultimate shopping experience carrying a wide range of products from electronics to wedding dresses. Founded in 1831 and one of Japan’s leading department stores, the company’s flagship location is right near Namba Staion, Osaka’s central hub for shopping.

One of Osaka’s oldest and busiest shopping destinations is the covered shopping arcade Shinsaibashi Suji which runs for 600 metres from Ebisubashi Suji, Dotonbori.

Dotonbori

It won’t take long after all the shopping to work up an appetite. And luckily Dotonbori’s riverside promenade is the perfect place to shop, eat, drink and repeat. There are limitless selections of eating options serving bowls of steaming ramen, takoyaki and okonomiyaki joints, and bars to pause for a drink. The abundance of waterside stalls, izakaya and restaurants are ideal to catch your breath between shopping, to simply relax and watch the world go by.

The Dotonbori  Canal is busy both day and night and a cruise on the Aqualiner, or cruise down Osaka’s bustling waterway onboard the Jazz Boat is a pure delight.

If you don’t fancy a river cruise, another great way to view the Canal area is to take a ride on the Dotonbori Ferris Wheel. Built onto the façade of the Don Quixote store, this ride is free if you make a purchase from the store. It takes a full fifteen minutes to do a loop, but it could take much longer to wait in the queue to get onto the ride. We could see the Ferris Wheel from our hotel and when lit up at night makes a great photo opportunity.

Dotonbori is a gastronomic wonderland, and after nightfall, the heart of Osaka comes alive with a plethora of huge, neon billboards. Packed with all types of eateries, you can taste authentic Osakan food at the many unique restaurants along the main thoroughfare. Visitors to Dotonbori are spoilt for choice when it comes to eating, and if you see a queue waiting to get their eat on, you know the food is going to blow your mind.

Mesmerised by the colourful neon signs, the streets are bright, noisy and a hive of energy. They are also filled with the wonderful aromas coming from the surrounding restaurants. In this bright heart of Osaka the standout, apart from the food, is the giant characters. There is an overwhelming number of oversized neon billboards making it a perfect photo spot. We saw a giant mechanical crab, an inflatable fugu pufferfish, gyoza, and octopus and of course the most photographed, iconic landmark and main tourist attraction, Glico Running Man. The billboard for the confectionery company Glico displays a triumphant runner crossing the finish line.

Photo worthy locations

Try finding a spot on Ebisubashi Bridge near the Glico billboard to work your best angles. It’s packed full of tourists, mimicking the running man’s pose, as if running with arms raised, capturing an instaworthy pic for their wall.

Not far away we saw a group of tourists, all looking in the same direction, phone in hand, taking photos. When I looked the same direction I noticed a billboard for Meiji, a Japanese snack food company. The 4 metre billboard features Karl Ojisan and other characters and a large screen where you can see yourself on the billboard.

We found an angry looking chef outside the Kushikatsu Daruma. Their menu consists of Kushi-katsu, first created in Osaka. Each Kusiage is deep fried, panko breadcrumb battered meat, vegetables or cheese on skewers that is dipped in tangy black sauce. The grimacing mascot serves as a warning to abide by the number one golden rule. ‘It’s one and it’s done’, otherwise known as no double dipping, under any circumstances.

After you’ve perfected the perfect Glico shot, filled your belly, and satisfied your appetite with Osaka street food, head to nearby Shinsaibashi, a shopping street where you can find large department stores.

Nearby you will come across Osaka Shochikuza, a theatre where regular performances of Kabuki, a traditional Japanese art form of dance-drama, are held. The classical shows feature elaborate costumes, bold makeup, and date back to the Edo period.

Kuromon Ichiba Market

A place definitely not to miss, is the lively Kuromon Ichiba market in Nippombashi. The market makes for an atmospheric place to stroll around and experience fresh, authentic food. It is best visited on an empty stomach, so bring your appetite as its home to the best variety of street snacks in the city. Referred to as Namba’s kitchen it is a traditional Japanese marketplace that dates back to the Edo Period. The market offers different foods, including a huge variety of fresh seafood. It was previously a fish market so offers fresh oysters, sea urchin and sashimi, as well as the specialty, fugu (blowfish). You can eat plenty of grilled squid, scallops, crab legs and other seafood grilled before your eyes.

Other amazing food items include Wagyu beef, high quality fruit and vegetables, pickles and sweets. We also saw a simmering stew of oden, which the locals highly recommend and find delicious. One stall was cooking limited quantity of fried puffer fish and another  popular stand was selling freshly prepared Torikara sticks, which we later learned were delicious fried chicken skewers. There are 180 shops in the market and many fish mongers will serve you, prepare and cook your food themselves. There are a few areas you can sit down and enjoy a meal, instead of eating and walking.

Be warned, this market spans 580 metres in a narrow covered arcade and is hugely popular with tourists and the chefs from the local restaurants. So if crowds are not your thing, best to head there early.

Eat Sea Urchin

Wandering through Kuromon market, Steve couldn’t resist the temptation to try one of the little golden mounds of sea urchin. These little buttery tongues, known as uni, were in demand like they are the ocean’s foie gras. Steve selected his sea urchin with the assistance of the fish monger. It was already cracked open, cleaned and provided with nori and sauce.

I have read the flavour comes in waves, just like the ocean. First a creamy cheesy flavour, followed by a sweet custard flavour, and finally a deep and profound flavour of the sea. It sounds like an experience where you are transported to a beautiful sandy beach, where you can listen to the sound of the waves as they hit the rocks.

The look on Steve’s face didn’t resemble a person who had just savoured the delightful creamy texture and delicate sweetness of the ocean. He seemed to question why Japan reveres the sea urchin as one of the most sublime delicacies found in the sea. Now it wasn’t that bad he wanted to split it out, but it was for him, an indescribable flavour, perhaps an acquired taste. Despite this, he did eat all five pieces of the gonad. Yum, right? I can see from the look on his face, he wasn’t hearing the waves crashing on the rocks, and maybe his foodie dream just crashed.

This is where I should add I was filming the whole experience to upload on our Youtube channel, or so I thought. But silly me, I forgot to hit record. Ooops! Take two?

Hmm, I think he should have just tried the teriyaki eel.

Sennichimae Doguyasuji

And because Osaka is all about the food, one place you simply must visit is Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shotengai or Kitchenware Street.

Professional chefs, amateur chefs and tourists alike, can browse an entire shopping street dedicated to restaurant grade cooking accessories, staff uniforms, kitchenware, pottery, knives and household goods. These stores are filled to the brim with beautiful ceramics and fragile wares, so you must carefully weave your way through the narrow aisles. Every cooking utensil imaginable is available in one of the shops along the 150 metre long arcade, built in 1970. We bought ourselves a special cast iron takoyaki griddle to make our favourite octopus balls at home.

Where to stay in Namba

There are many options from three star hotels, capsule hotels and guesthouses, located near train stations and sightseeing areas. Another lodging option, and the one we chose, is a love hotel.

Adult only and rated 3 star, Hotel Alps is centrally located in the heart of Ura Namba near nightlife, traditional izakayas, tachinomi and mouth-watering eateries. Directly across from the neon wonderland, the Misuno building, it was the perfect spot for an after dinner stroll toward the lights of Dotonbori, seen from our room. The hotel was peaceful and quiet, despite its location, making it hard to believe it was so close to the busiest part of Namba and was a good choice for us.

The room was a huge 44 square metres, which is about three times the size of our hotel in Tokyo. The hotel has a discreet, separate entrance and exit, and our room included in-house movies, vending machine, change machine, microwave, massage chair and spa. There was also a TV in our bathroom and a little box near the door where room service or fresh towels could be delivered.

Our room also came with its own karaoke machine. True, the quintessential experience to sing your heart out in Osaka is something many are too shy for. But we didn’t have to traipse through the nightlife district to one of the local VIP karaoke or small singing rooms, as we had our very own.

DenDen Town

Namba isn’t just a place for foodies. In Nipponbashi’s Den Den Town, anime and gaming geeks can find floor to ceiling arrangements of collectables and electronics. Compared to the Akihabara district of Tokyo and stretching from Kuromon Market to Shinseikai is a maze of specialty stores stocking all things for the anime and gaming nerd. Here you can celebrate your nerdy streak and roam the streets in a one stop shopping spot for Japanese hobbyists. Think animated movies, maid cafes, vintage video games, manga, capsule toy dispensers, etc. This is a great place to get your hands on rare collectibles  or find the perfect souvenir from your travels in Japan. We stopped by one store that was packed to the brim with classic anime figurines like Sailor Moon and Gundam.

What if I don’t speak Japanese?

Many of the larger restaurants in the area, including some with ticket vending machines are English friendly, so don’t fret when ordering. The ticket issuing, vending machines are more prominent in the stand up Izakays. For the food menus and grocery store items that are not in English, get the GoogleTranslate App on your phone and use your camera to translate.

Travelling to Osaka

From Australia, when travelling to Osaka, we have a choice of flying in and out of either Kansai and Narita. If flying into Narita a Shinkansen will be needed to continue the journey to Shin-Osaka, then the local Midosuji line to Namba Station.

Once in Namba, there is plenty of public transport, making travelling within the region easy. Using a JR Pass you can catch a train to Osaka from wherever you are in Japan. We have caught Shinkansens from Hiroshima, Kyoto and Tokyo to Osaka, and used the Osaka metro lines to get to nearby sightseeing areas. For the shinkansen, we had to commute to and from the Shin-Osaka station about 20 minutes away from Namba station via the Midosuji line.

Keeping to the foodie theme

There are so many foodie things to do in Osaka. If your belly’s full and you’re looking for something inexpensive and interactive, try the Cup Noodles Museum, free for entry and only ¥300 for a cup to decorate, fill and package to take home as a souvenir. This is in the My Cupnoodles Factory, the most popular part of the museum.

Tempozan

Osaka is a major port city handling cargo, but Osaka Bay is also a premier tourist destination with world class amusement park, Universal Studios.  Osaka’s answer to Tokyo Disneyland has Hello Kitty Fashion Avenue, Cool Japan, Wizarding World of Harry Potter and JAWS and Jurassic Park rides.

Located at the Tempozan Harbour Village about twenty minutes from Osaka Station is Japan’s largest Ferris wheel. The Tempozan Ferris Wheel is 112.5 meters in height, and takes 15 minutes to complete a rotation. What a way to get a bird’s eye view of Osaka Bay, and a sense of magic and excitement.

Another option for checking out the scenery around Osaka Bay, is to board the Santa Maria, a replica of Columbus’ beautiful old ship. The cruise ship sails around the famous spots in Osaka Bay, from Tempozan Harbour Village to Kaiykan West Wharf. A sixty minute twilight dinner cruise service is also available.

Enroute to the Aquarium, outside Legoland Discovery Centre stands proudly a tall, lifesize giraffe made from Lego. We didn’t have to pay for entry to stop by the store and purchase a souvenir Lego piece, and continued on.

Osaka Aquarium is one of the world’s largest aquariums, and a great place to get an up close and personal view of ocean life. You can see everything from dolphins, penguins and otters to my favourite, the strangely delightful jellyfish. It is also one of the few aquariums to have a pair of majestic, giant Whale sharks, the largest known species of fish in the world. Before you exit, stop by the large petting pool with Mantra Rays, Zebra and Leopard Sharks.

Whilst in the area we went into Tempozan Marketplace, a food alley lined with Osaka gourmet shops and spotted a Baskin Robbins. With a bit of pointing we managed to order the flavour we wanted and so enjoyed a delicious ice cream before heading off.

Umeda Sky Building was a place I wanted to visit that will have to wait for our next visit. This futuristic building is said to be a place that won’t disappoint, particularly so if you visit at night.

Conclusion

Osaka is a dynamic city, offering historic sites, shopping and of course great food. The areas previously mentioned, all offer memorable after dark experiences. From the tiny izakayas, hip craft beer joints and private karaoke rooms, to the lively jazz pubs, dilapidated themed bars and noisy pachinko parlours. Osaka’s laid back vibe makes it a unique ‘must visit’ place in Japan, where it’s easy to linger while feasting on local food.

We bought home wonderful memories of meandering through the busy, narrow streets and capturing the down to earth vibe of Dotonbori at night. Venturing beyond the neon lights and giant food sculptures in Dotonbori, is when Osaka revealed its true character to us.

Looking back at what we did, and all the options of this vibrant metropolis, four nights just doesn’t seem enough. Yes Tokyo does get more attention, but there are so many fun and unique things to do in Osaka. The purpose of this post isn’t to persuade you to choose one city over the other. The purpose is to highlight how unique Osaka is, and why it’s worthwhile including in your itinerary, especially for a few days to see for yourself how unique it really is.

Osaka is truly one of the most underrated cities in Japan and is a great choice for travel to see a different side of Japan, filled with countless things to see, do and eat. Just make sure you arrive hungry.

Have you tried Okonomiyaki or Takoyaki? Would you include a stay in Namba to your Japan itinerary?

We have a small favour to ask before you go. Would you please share this post, leave a comment below or just hit the ‘like’ button below? If you want to read more from us why not subscribe to our Newsletter? We won’t spam you or share your personal details. If you’re not already doing so, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or click the Mix, Flipboard or other social media buttons below to share this post with others who might enjoy reading it. If you want to come back to this post again, pin the photo below using the red Pinterest button.

The authors travelled courtesy of Jetstar Australia

* This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of the affiliate links we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.