TopFlight-Travel.com
  • Home
  • Warm
  • Cold
  • Budget
  • Luxury
  • Unique
  • Festive
  • Food & Drink
  • Destination
  • Travel Ideas
No Result
View All Result
TopFlight-Travel.com
  • Home
  • Warm
  • Cold
  • Budget
  • Luxury
  • Unique
  • Festive
  • Food & Drink
  • Destination
  • Travel Ideas
No Result
View All Result
TopFlight-Travel.com
No Result
View All Result
Home Destination

What To Do In Osaka: 7 Interesting Options

Ashleigh Graham by Ashleigh Graham
0
What To Do In Osaka

Often when you start asking people about what to do in Osaka, tonnes of suggestions start popping up. Glico man, Tako Balls, dining and shopping, but which ones are worth going for? (I mean, we don’t stay in Osaka, right?) Although many will say shopping in Osaka isn’t as fantastic as in Tokyo, it’s different. Of course, it’s still an urban city centre, but the pace here is definitely slower than in Tokyo, and that can be a good thing!

Dotonbοri and Shinsaibashi are probably the two most popular attractions in Osaka for shopping and dining.

RelatedPosts

14 Things to Know When Island Hopping in the Mediterranean

7 Tips for Backpacking in a National Park

What to Know When Traveling to Wildlife Safari in Africa

What to do in Osaka: Where to start?

Shinsaibashi is a long stretch of shopping arcade with side lanes linking to smaller streets with restaurants, bars and cafes, and Dotonbοri is a small river/canal with boats running through. Both are also connected, so you can visit them on a single trip. For example, if you start off from Shinsaibashi, all you need to do is just walk straight, and you’ll end up in Dotonbori.

what to do in Osaka_Dotonbori
Source: Pixabay

So, where should we start? Our starting point? Namba station. We were lucky enough to find a hotel in Namba despite the long weekend with Shinsaibashi just 5 minutes walk away.

The starting part of Shinsaibashi street is mainly low to mid-end fashion. Still, if you branch out from the side lanes to the departmental store area, you’ll come across the more high-end options. To sum up Shinsaibashi, there are shops like Uniqlo to Fossil. More local marts like ABC mart sell shoes to high-end shopping malls like Daimaru, which sells paintings from Yayoi Kusama that cost the same as a car in Singapore. Overall there’s a fair balance between low and high-end, so there’s something for everyone here.

To keep the post short, we’ll list down some of the most exciting things to look out for.

What to do in Osaka #1: Take a photo of the iconic Glico Man

I’m sure when you start googling for Osaka, similar images of the iconic Glico man will pop up. This isn’t a sight to die for, but why not! How can you visit Dotonburi without taking a shot of Glico man! It’s right along the river, so snap away when you walk past it!

What to do in Osaka_Glico Man
Source: Tripadvisor

What to do in Osaka #2: Take a boat ride along the river

Remember we said boat ride earlier on? You may think that’s common. Well, it’s not another regular boat ride if you pick the right boat! See the trumpet on the first yellow boat? Many boats go up and down along the river, but some carry an orchestra or band. Playing music as you float slowly down the river. BUT if only the regular touristy / guided boat ride, perhaps you want to skip it because everything is in Japanese.

What to do in Osaka #3: Eat and make your own Takoyaki (Tako Balls)

Each city in Japan is popular or famous for something, and for Osaka, it will be the Takoyaki. Looking like a fish-ball, these flour dishes are cooked into a round shape using a special pan with a small piece of octopus inside. It’s thinly crisped on the outside and soft and tender inside! But a note of precaution, try not to pop the whole ball into your mouth! The interior oozes out, and it’s boiling!

What to do in Osaka_takoyaki
Source: Pixabay

If you are interested in making one yourself, you can also visit the Konamon Museum to make your own Takoyaki! (we didn’t go to that one because we had not enough time). All these are along the Dotonbori stretch as well.

What to do in Osaka #4: Shop at the Don Quijote Dotonbori Store!

Don Quijote is the biggest discount shop in Japan. It’s styled like an amusement park and packed with stuff! Daily necessities, snacks, clothes, appliances, restaurants, everything you need is there! It’s always with a long queue outside at the cashier but not to worry, the line moves quite fast. Also, there’s a tax-free queue for tourists!

What to do in Osaka #5: Buy Osaka snacks at Kuidaore Taro Shop

Just right before you step into full view of the Dotonbori river. You’ll come across a shop styled with the famous clown mascot Kuidaore Taro. Honestly, it looks creepy and funny at the same time. Still, you can’t say you visited Osaka without buying one of these spooky clown snacks.

What to do in osaka_shiroi koibito
Source: Alchetron

These are shops carry a wide variety of Osaka snacks. Many are ‘spoofs’ of its famous Tokyo or Hokkaido relatives. Our favourite was Omoshiroi Koibito / 面白い恋人. A spoofed version of Shiroi Kobito (White Lover) from Hokkaido. The spoofed version translated to ‘Funny Lover’. Next time if your friends ask you to get Shiroi Kobito back from Japan, maybe you might want to consider giving them the spoofed version instead.

What to do in Osaka #6: Dine at Kani Douraku

The giant mechanic crabs above the entrance are always styled with the giant mechanic crabs above the entrance; Kani Douraku is a famous seafood chain in Japan, most notably for its crab dishes. Crab sushi, crab sashimi, boiled crabs, crab croquette and more. Prices are not cheap, and most of the time, it’s fully booked on weekends as this is the leading shop in Japan, but if you love crabs, then this place is worth dying for.

What to do in Osaka_Kani Doraku
Source: Appetiteforjapan

What to do in Osaka #7: Dine at Ichiran Ramen

Right along the river is Ichiran! The much-raved ramen store of Japan claimed it to be the best ramen chain in Japan. What’s special about Ichiran is the delicious ramen and the unique style of ‘cubicle dining’. Customers will first have to order their food by buying a ticket from the vending machine at the entrance; they then have to wait for their cubicle to be assigned. Each cubicle will have a curtain that separates the customers from the kitchen staff. The staff behind the curtain will then open the curtain to serve the ramen. Once you are done, you can press a bell on the table to let them know you are done!

Conclusion

We spent almost 2 full days there shopping and eating, yet we are sure that there’s plenty more to do at Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi which we aren’t aware of. So take these ideas as a flavour to what the area can offer and try to visit this place towards your trip to avoid spending all your money on the first few days!

Tags: DotonboriGlico ManJapanShinsaibashiTakoyaki
ShareTweetPinSendSend
Previous Post

10 Places To Visit In Minsk

Next Post

What To Do In Oslo During A Weekend Trip?

Related Posts

Island hopping in the Mediterranean

14 Things to Know When Island Hopping in the Mediterranean

by Gemma Marks

Ready to explore the stunning islands of the Mediterranean? Read our guide to island hopping, including the best islands to...

7 Tips for Backpacking in a National Park

7 Tips for Backpacking in a National Park

by Gemma Marks

Looking for an adventure on a budget? Backpacking in national parks is a popular way to experience the great outdoors....

wildlife safari

What to Know When Traveling to Wildlife Safari in Africa

by Gemma Marks

Embark on a journey to the heart of Africa and experience the thrill of a lifetime with a wildlife safari....

The alps -Skiing and Snowboarding Destinations in the Winter

15 Skiing and Snowboarding Destinations in the Winter

by Gemma Marks

Discover the top skiing and snowboarding destinations for your winter vacation. This guide will help you plan the perfect winter...

Bali - Best Islands in Indonesia

Best Islands in Indonesia: Which One To Visit?

by Gemma Marks

Indonesia is known for its stunning islands with crystal-clear waters, lush greenery, and diverse wildlife. Read on for a travel...

Family Road Trip With Kids Sitting On Top Of A Blue Car (Source: Canva)

Family Road Trip: 10 Tips And Tricks For A Memorable Journey With Kids

by Gemma Arnold

Embarking on a family road trip is an exhilarating way to forge unforgettable memories and strengthen the bond with your...

Next Post
What to do in Oslo

What To Do In Oslo During A Weekend Trip?

What to do In Orlando

What To Do In Orlando Besides Visiting Theme Parks

Top 8 Church Towers to Climb in Europe
Unique

My Top 8 Church Towers to Climb in Europe

by Ashleigh Graham

One of my favourite things to do when travelling anywhere is to find places with high vantage points that give...

Read more
Magnificent Beaches in Lefkada

10 Magnificent Beaches in Lefkada

Awesome Family Resorts in Minnesota

10 Awesome Family Resorts in Minnesota

26 Healthiest Cities For Vacation

26 Healthiest Cities For Vacation

8+ Cruise Tips and Tricks

8+ Cruise Tips and Tricks – Make the Most of Your Vacation!

Finding a good place to stay when travelling alone
Travel Ideas

Travelling Alone: How To Find A Good Place To Stay

by Ashleigh Graham

Most people’s barrier to travelling alone is that they need other people around them. This used to be my personal...

Read more

10 Of The Most Scenic Places To Visit In Singapore

Wondering What To Do In Warsaw? Here’s My Experience

10 US Cities To Visit In The Fall With Picturesque Scenery

5 Food Places To Visit in New Orleans: What and Where

Florence: How It Became One Of My Favourite Places

Florence
by Ashleigh Graham

I hadn’t heard much about Florence, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was excited about it...

Read more

A Weekend In Sicily On My Own

Sicily trip
by Ashleigh Graham

For this past weekend’s adventure, I was in Sicily!! Before I left for Italy a couple of months ago,...

Read more

Cafes in Perth: 5 Great Places To Try Out

5 Must Visit Cafes in Perth
by Ashleigh Graham

It has been almost 3 months since I returned from Perth, and I finally found time to blog about...

Read more

10 Steps To Travel Planning: A Great Vacation

10 Steps To Travel Planning
by Ashleigh Graham

I’m a weirdo. I LOVE planning vacations and trips. Even if they aren’t my trips, I love researching places...

Read more
What To Do In Ljubljana During A Weekend Trip

What To Do In Ljubljana During A Weekend Trip

by Ashleigh Graham

Two weeks ago, I got the lovely chance to visit the beautiful city of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Why...

Seeking A Luxury Hotel in Paris

Seeking A Luxury Hotel in Paris? 4 Options Near Tourist Destinations

by Ashleigh Graham

Paris – the capital of the sumptuous splendour of light, has become the dream destination of many and a top...

Places To Visit in Chicago | Suggestions From My Last Trip

Places To Visit in Chicago | Suggestions From My Last Trip

by Ashleigh Graham

Admittedly, we didn't have much time in Chicago but exploring another new city this year was great. It seems for...

Tips for Travelling With Kids

Travelling With Kids in India: 10+ Tips and Tricks

by Ashleigh Graham

You’ll be surprised just how rewarding a family trip abroad can be. We were! Here are 10+ tips that made...

  • About
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

Categories

  • Budget
  • Cold
  • Destination
  • Festive
  • Food & Drink
  • Luxury
  • Travel Ideas
  • Unique
  • Warm

Topics

Asia Australia bars Beach beer Brazil California Canada Caribbean Castle Central America China clubs cruise Denmark Europe Finland France fun Germany Greece hotels India Ireland Irish Island Italy Japan lake Mediterranean museums Ontario Scandinavia Slovenia snow South America Spain Sweden Thailand travelling UK US USA vacation WA

Recent News

Waffles - Food tour in Belgium

Food Tour in Belgium: Plan Your Gastric Itinerary

Perfect Vietnamese Destinations for Food Tour

10 Perfect Vietnamese Destinations for Food Tour

Island hopping in the Mediterranean

14 Things to Know When Island Hopping in the Mediterranean

7 Tips for Backpacking in a National Park

7 Tips for Backpacking in a National Park

  • About
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2022 topflight-travel.com - Brought to you by The Dinner Media Group.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Warm
  • Cold
  • Budget
  • Luxury
  • Unique
  • Festive
  • Food & Drink
  • Destination
  • Travel Ideas

© 2022 topflight-travel.com - Brought to you by The Dinner Media Group.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In