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.
It’s a maze of 32 exits. None of them ever seemed to reliably lead back to where we thought we were. We would leave, explore, and still end up in a different version of the same place. It was a puzzle we could never solve. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
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.
It’s a maze of 32 exits. None of them ever seemed to reliably lead back to where we thought we were. We would leave, explore, and still end up in a different version of the same place. It was a puzzle we could never solve. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
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Sights Featured in This Article
Guide Name: Getting Lost in Osaka, Japan: Food, Dotonbori, Hidden Bars
Guide Location: Japan » Osaka
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Angie Briggs
Read it on Author's Website: https://www.feetdotravel.com/the-blog/getting-lost-in-osaka-japan
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Japan » Osaka
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Angie Briggs
Read it on Author's Website: https://www.feetdotravel.com/the-blog/getting-lost-in-osaka-japan
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Hozenji Yokocho
- Hozenji Temple
- OKO - Fun Okonomiyaki Bar
- Fanny Mae
- CoCo Ichibanya
- Bible Club
- Osaka Castle
- Namba Yasaka Shrine (Lion’s Head)
- 7-Eleven
- Dotonbori
- Umeda Sky Building
- teamLab Borderless
- Namba
- Shinsaibashi
Insider Tips for Osaka, Japan
What to See and Do in Osaka
The first city I ever visited in Japan was Osaka. Unlike for many other people, who usually start their Japan travels in Tokyo, my inaugural taste of the Land of the Rising Sun came in the form of the grittier, more laid-back, yet no less vibrant ‘little’ sister, Osaka. And what a fabulous choice that was.
10 Food We Ate in Japan's Kitchen, Osaka!
As we made our way down into the subterranean network of fast-moving trains and colorful subway lines, it dawned upon us that we have traded the steep history and tradition of Kyoto with the bright lights and exuberance of Osaka.
Things to Do in Osaka
I stayed at Osaka only for 5 Days / 4 Nights. Sounds like you can do many things right? I am not sure about you but to me 5 days/4 Nights is super short stay. I tell you why.
A Culinary Playground: An Osaka Food and Drink Guide
Osaka is a city where the very notion of hunger is a delightful anticipation, rather than a gnawing dread. Here, one finds not merely sustenance, but an entire world of culinary curiosities waiting to be explored. From the bustling, neon-lit streets to the quiet corners of traditional restaurants, Osaka is a culinary playground, and it beckons all who dare to indulge.
A Quick Guide to Osaka’s Korea Town
As we stepped out of the train station and into the attached undercover market that snakes towards the centre of Tsuruhashi, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. I was literally dripping, too – it had been sheeting down all morning and I’d long ago surrendered in the battle of the thousand umbrellas.
Visiting the Instant Ramen Museum - Birthplace of Cup Noodle
When visiting a new city for the first time I like to get a feel for the place through a locals eyes. This gets me a sense of what to see and do next.