Getting Lost in Osaka, Japan: Food, Dotonbori, Hidden Bars, Osaka, Japan

Admittedly, we are country lovers at heart, but after an unexpectedly brilliant trip to Taipei a couple of years before, we thought our views on cities had changed.

Osaka is a sprawling metropolis and, to many, full of fun and packed with highlights. The food, the freedom of expression in clothing and appearance — Osakans appear to have an individuality that differs from anywhere else in Japan we visited. 

Some of the best travel experiences happen when you simply wander. You take a left turn down an interesting-looking alleyway and discover a hidden bar that turns an average evening into a memorable adventure. That is exactly what happened to us in Osaka, though often tinged with a sense of “I have no idea where I am” frustration.

However, once we stopped trying to force Osaka into something neat and predictable, it provided some unforgettable moments.

Namba Station became the centre of our frustrating experience. Flying in and out of Osaka, we based ourselves here for 5 nights, taking day trips to Lake Biwa and Nara. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).