Although Osaka is often outshined by Japan’s Capital city of Tokyo, I absolutely fell in LOVE with Osaka and might even say it was my favorite place from my 2-week travels in Japan. Not only is it the food capital of “The Land of the Rising Sun,” it has a very down-to-earth vibe to it that made me feel like I could live there. How I would describe it is: Osaka is Japan’s Boston like Tokyo is Japan’s New York City. (Comment below if you know what I mean by this!) In this post, I will be breaking down the top things to do in Osaka, Japan and also the best place to stay during your visit. Although I was only there for 3 days, I feel like we absolutely nailed our itinerary and truly saw the best of Osaka! ENJOY!
15 Top Things To Do in Osaka
1. Eat everything you see:
As the food capital of Japan, you better be ready to eat everything you see in Osaka! We indulged a LOT, and our taste-buds and bellies were so very happy. Here are some top food favorites to try:
Takoyaki: These are flour-battered octopus balls cooked in a special molded pan that originated in Osaka and is one of Japan’s most famous street snacks! We tried them at multiple stalls and liked them each and every time.
Ramen: How can you come to Japan and not eat Ramen? #sacrilegious. We were recommended to try Naniwa Okina, but due to the New Year Holiday it was closed. Maybe it was a blessing because it led us to Ramen Seseragi, a tiny little unassuming Ramen shop we would have never gone to otherwise – and it was DELICIOUS.
Sushi: Give me all the raw fish. Our best sushi throughout the ENTIRE trip in Japan was in Osaka, at the Kuromon Ichiba Market (#2 on the list!) which was by far the freshest and cleanest sushi I’ve ever had. We were also recommended to try MARUYOSH and Amano, but they were both closed for the New Year Holiday when we were in town.
Tempura: Basically battered and deep-fried seafood and vegetables and your trip to Japan won’t be complete unless you try some! You can get this easily at street stalls or order a bowl of Udon with tempura in it – either way you can’t go wrong!
Udon: Speaking of udon…you will likely turn into a bowl of udon by the end of your trip, but it’s so good you won’t mind. We tried a little hole in the wall shop called Ajiman and it was one of the best bowls of Udon I had all trip! We planned on trying Udon Kyutaro but again, it was closed for the New Year Holiday…
Yakitori: This is Japanese style skewered chicken and is not to be missed! This is often served at little izakayas (aka casual Japanese “pubs” serving alcohol and casual food.)
Okonomiyaki: A savory, wheat-flour based pancake consisting mainly of cabbage, egg, green onion, meat and or seafood, and topped with seaweed and bonito flakes. In full transparency – I was not a big fan of okonomiyaki. I am putting it on this list however because it’s an iconic Japanese street-food style dish and the experience of going out to eat this is pretty fun. Make sure you go to a sit-down restaurant where they cook it on a hot griddle in front of you – it’s the experience that makes me recommend this to you!
***SPECIAL NOTE: I was originally inspired to visit Osaka, Japan because of the Osaka Street Food episode on Netflix. This documentary-style Netflix show features an outdoor izakaya called Izakaya Toyo (run by a man named Toyo) and I fell in love with his story and how they described Osaka. I was DEVASTATED to learn that Izakaya Toyo was closed for the New Year Holiday during our visit to Osaka, so if any of you go to Osaka, please go here, eat the fatty-tuna special and send me a picture of Toyo while he sticks his hands into the flames…(for this to all make sense please Google Izakaya Toyo OR watch the Osaka Street Food episode on Netflix.)
2. Eat your way through Kuromon Ichiba Market
If Osaka is the food capital of Japan, then Kuromon Ichiba Market is its kitchen! This is THE place to go if you want to try the flavors of Osaka and really get a taste for what food is all about in Japan.
You can basically try everything listed above on #1 of the list plus SO MUCH MORE. Not only will you have the opportunity to try so many different types of food, but you’ll also have a blast checking out all of the vendors (ESPECIALLY the seafood vendors) and be mesmerized by the giant clams, giant scallops, crabs – you name it.
3. Wander around uber-hip America Mura:
This is a super-duper hip neighborhood located just a 5-minute walk from Shinsaibashi shopping street (which is also on the list of top things to do in Osaka). In this neighborhood, you’ll find quirky street art, vintage shops, cool cafes and some hip Osakan youngsters hanging out in the main square (Triangle Park.)
There’s Michelin Star takoyaki (the flour-battered octopus balls I was telling you about) located right in Triangle Park for you to try, but you’ll most definitely have to wait in a long queue – it’s a popular spot! Once you get your takoyaki, take a seat in bustling Triangle Park and spend a little time just people watching. Afterward, meander the streets to check out the local fashion trends and stop by Streamer Coffee Company for a coffee and a cookie!
One more suggestion: I recommend walking to this neighborhood from Ebisu Bridge in Dotonbori (#6 on this top things to do in Osaka list). Why? Because you can walk along the river path and pass some cool street art while taking in the view of Dotonbori from a new angle!
4. Discover Osaka by bike:
If you’ve read other posts of mine, you know that getting around by bike is my favorite way to discover a new city and I’ve done this around the world in places like Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Colombia, Canada, and more…
We found Osaka to be a super safe place to bike and spent about 4-hours biking around from Hotel Noum to Osaka castle to Kitakyuhojimachi to the Fukushima area! You can rent a really nice tokyobike directly from the front desk at Hotel Noum and a full-day rental is about $10USD.
5. Explore amusement-park-like Shinsekai:
Similar to Dotonbori, I recommend experiencing this part of town both during the day and at night because they are sure to have such different feels! We only were able to visit during the day, and although I loved wandering this area in the daylight, I can’t help but think that this part of town simply comes to life at night when it’s all lit up with neon lights.
The reason I call Shinsekai “amusement-park-like” is because of the giant statues and crazy-decorative store-fronts that made it truly seem like an amusement park. Apparently, an amusement park did exist here and operated from 1912 until it closed in 1923 and now it’s more of an entertainment district with shops and restaurants but definitely still has that amusement park feel!
6. Check out Ebisu Bridge & Dotonbori:
We went to see the iconic Ebisu Bridge both during the day and at night to see the difference and I would absolutely recommend it. During the day there are fewer people and you have a clear view of the river, but at night, it’s lit up and bursting with color from the neon signs (like the Dotonbori Glico Sign dating back to 1935) and cannot be missed!
7. Wander Hozenji Yokocho Alley:
After you take some time admiring the bright lights found at Ebisu Bridge, start making your way towards Hozenji Tokocho Alley and the neighboring alleyways. This is a network of little izakayas and taverns tucked away and seemingly hidden from the rest of the city.
By that I mean, that when you’re walking down the alleyways, you feel like you’ve come across a hidden gem of sorts – like you’ve come across a secret part of Osaka that no one else knows about. It most definitely is not a secret, as you will find all of the izakayas packed with locals and visitors, but there is something about it that feels so mysterious!
8. Observe the locals at Hozenji Temple:
Nearby is Hozenji Temple, a very small Buddhist temple tucked along a quaint alleyway away from the bright lights of Dottonbori where you can watch locals pour water onto a moss-covered statue of the deity Fudomyoo. I was mesmerized by this tradition and was astonished by the line of Japanese people waiting their turn to partake in this ritual. It’s like a little dose of religious culture in the middle of a crazy busy part of the city!
9. Shop on Shinsaibashi Shopping Street:
This commercial avenue sells everything from high-end designer clothing to street-wear, cosmetics, and accessories and even has some drugstores selling all sorts of Japanese goods like packaged food, candy, and beauty supplies (which I had the most fun perusing).
Although I didn’t do any shopping here, it’s still really fun to walk this bustling avenue and take in the sights and sounds. Also, if you start from the entrance near the train stop and keep walking, it will take you directly to the iconic Ebisu Bridge in Dotonbori!
10. Hop around from izakaya to izakaya in Kyobashi (including TAKEZO!)
This was one of the most memorable nights of my trip. We didn’t have a plan, we just went to this area to check it out and ended up getting summoned into a random yakitori shop by two Japanese guys – and it was hilarious.
The random yakitori shop is called TAKEZO and I ended up falling in love with it! Not only because of our hilarious conversation with a few locals (which was mostly hand gestures since we don’t speak Japanese) but because of the quirky decor on the walls and ceiling, and especially the hand-drawn menus (pictured above) which we could clearly not read. So, the two local guys who invited us in ended up ordering for us – and it was delicious. After many chicken skewers and pints of Asahi, we said goodbye to our new friends and the friendly staff and continued to wander around the neighborhood!
11. Go for late-night food and drinks at Kafu + check out the whole Temma area:
Because of the New Year holiday a lot of bars and restaurants were closing early, but there was one place that was open late – Kafu! Usually, the last place open isn’t your top choice but this place was just so dang cool! From the outside, it didn’t look like much, and upon walking in, it was the smallest little restaurant you’ve ever seen – with only a few bar stools to sit at. However, the host told us to follow him up a steep and very narrow flight of stairs that took us to the top floor. Here we found a vintage shop with a couple of cocktail tables and was a very interesting place to enjoy a drink and a snack. Would definitely recommend for a fun little night out with friends!
12. Swing by Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle is one of the most touristic things to do while in Osaka, and although I’m not super big on touristy things like this I still think it’s important to visit historic buildings and sites when you travel. #CULTURED. We didn’t go in, but if you’d like to go in, it’s 600 yen (about 5.50 USD). Instead, we biked around the outside grounds and checked out the beautiful castle from afar!
13. Try Rikuro Ojisan No Mise cheesecake:
Shout out to Paolo from Tokyo for recommending this place to me because I don’t know if I would have stumbled upon it otherwise! The reason this has its own # on the top things to do in Osaka list instead of being in the food category is that a visit to one of their shops is an experience in itself!
You can watch all of the workers mixing and making the cheesecakes and watch them take these fluffy creations out of the oven and brand them with their logo. Every time a fresh batch comes out of the oven they ring a bell and sing a little song. It is worth a visit to Rikuro Ojisan No Mise just for that, but the cheesecake itself is out of this world. It will be unlike any cheesecake you’ve ever had, as it is super eggy and literally bounces as it comes out of the oven. Maybe all of this sounds weird – just do yourself a favor and go try one, okay?! There are several locations and I believe they cost around $7 USD for the whole cheesecake.
14. Walk the entire Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street:
This is the longest shopping street in all of Japan at 1.5 miles long! I’ve been to crazy-long outdoor shopping streets before in Bangkok, Thailand, but Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street was less chaotic and more spacious & organized. Located in Tenma, this covered outdoor shopping street boasts hundreds and hundreds of stalls without feeling overwhelming. It’s a great place to find street-food, stop into a tiny izakaya for a drink, or peruse some local goods. I didn’t find it to be a good place to find souvenirs or gifts – it was more everyday items for local people.
15. Go cafe-hopping:
There are lots of cool cafes in Osaka, and if you’re a cafe freak like me you’ll definitely want to set aside some time to spend reading/chilling at these spots.
Hotel Noum Cafe/Lounge
If you want to experience EXCELLENT coffee in Japan, then you can’t skip the cafe on the first floor of Hotel Noum. I had the best latte I’ve had since living in Melbourne in 2015 at this cafe and it is so clear how much thought and care is put into every cup by the master baristas. Besides the fantastic coffee, the minimalistic-chic design of the cafe (and the hotel in general) plus the super cool playlists will have you feeling extra chilled out and loving the ambiance.
RJ Cafe
This super funky cafe is like a retro time machine and inside you’ll find an original Heidelberg Printing Press from the 1920s, old-timey speakers, leather studded couches and other fun (and also random) decor details. They are known for their matcha tea served in an edible cookie espresso cup called Ecopresso!
Kaico Cafe
I loved Kaico for its blend of traditional and modern. On the first floor, you’ll find a modern store-front selling some artsy pieces of Japanese pottery and other gifty items (great place for gifts! And then the second floor is a Japanese style room with a section lined with tatami-mats where you take your shoes off and sit at a low-rise table to enjoy your coffee/tea. It’s located right at the start of Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street, so you could easily stop here for a coffee and snack before taking a walk down!
Streamer Cafe
As mentioned in #4 of this list of top things to do in Osaka, Streamer Coffee Company is a great cafe located in America Mura that is a perfect place for a rest and a good cup o’ joe after walking around all day. We pulled out our books and relaxed here for about an hour while sipping our yummy coffee.
Dieci cafe
We were sad to see that this cafe was closed for the first week of January due to the New Year Holiday, as we were looking forward to checking out the shop on the first floor and trying their coffee. If you end up checking out Dieci, please let me know so I can have #cafeenvy.
Cobato Cafe
Similar to Dieci, Cobato Cafe was closed until the final morning of our trip in Osaka and we didn’t have enough time to stop and try it! It looked really cute so if you have time, definitely stop by this little coffee joint and let me know how it is!
Where to Stay in Osaka
Hotel Noum
Guys, I found SUCH A GEM. Hotel Noum is everything I love in a Boutique hotel: 1.) Great “local location” close to great cafes and restaurants 2.) gorgeous details and touches you can only find at a boutique-style hotel 3.) amazing food/cafe 4.) staff members that treat you like friends. CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK. Let me get right into it:
Location
I have learned over the years that my favorite places to stay are usually the ones located in more local neighborhoods rather than being located in the touristic/busy centers. By staying at boutique accommodations located in more local neighborhoods, you give yourself the opportunity to see the city more from the eyes of a local than a tourist coming in to see the main sites and that’s it.
Hotel Noum is located in the quaint & hip neighborhood of Tenma on the edge of the Tosahori River. This is north of all the Osaka hot spots like Dotonbori and Shinsekai yet, it’s only a 1o minute walk to the closest metro station (we used Kitahama a lot) from Hotel Noum.
I loved how when you walked out of the front door at Hotel Noum, you were greeted by nice views of the river and just by turning the corner you found yourself in a cute neighborhood littered with cafes and restaurants occupied with locals 🙂
Ps. This was the view from our room at night^ – so pretty!
Design
Alex described this as “such a Luluu hotel” meaning the design details are everything I love – lots of natural wood elements, greenery, pretty tiles and stonework, and that minimalistic chic vibe.
They put thought and care into every detail, even down to the silverware! One detail I loved was the wall behind reception (pictured above) – and how they made the outline around their “N” logo a little darker to represent the bend in the river that Hotel Noum sits on! I thought that was so clever and one of those thoughtful design details that again, you would only find at a boutique-style hotel.
Breakfast
The Hotel Noum Cafe/Lounge is located on the first floor of the hotel and serves up DELECTABLE cafe-style breakfasts. Anybody is welcome to enjoy their menu, but hotel guests are rewarded with complimentary breakfast! You get the choice of one main dish, a fresh-squeezed green juice/carrot/nut juice, plus coffee, tea, and grapefruit & orange juices. There were so many options that I got to try something new each day and some favorites were the avocado toast on freshly baked bread topped with hazelnuts (best avo toast I’ve EVER had) and the eggs Benedict which had the tastiest, and richest sauce.
Room
If you are traveling with a friend or as a couple I would highly recommend reserving a Riverview King room (pictured above – how gorgeous?!), as they are significantly more spacious and will be a lot more comfortable for you if you’re used to a little more space. Alex and I stayed in a Riverview Double room and it was definitely a lot smaller than we are used to. However, if I was traveling solo, a Riverview Double room would be the most perfect room ever for a solo traveler.
I think if we were traveling with less luggage it wouldn’t have been a problem, but our suitcases basically took up most of the floor room that we had. Although it was a little too small for us, we actually loved how cozy it was and talked about our cozy little nook throughout the trip. I also loved how the ensuite bathroom seemed like a separate entity, and we also LOVED the view from our room. I’d say go for the Riverview Double room if you’re on a budget, but if you can afford to, go for the Riverview King.
Staff
Okay and now to my favorite thing about Hotel Noum: THE PEOPLE! Shin, Yuri, and the entire staff went above and beyond to make us feel at home – and not because they were trying to. You can just tell that this is how they are as people and that they naturally treat their guests like friends. We ended up sitting down with the staff for a couple of glasses of wine and some beers and by the end, it was like we had been friends for ages!
They gave us so many awesome local recommendations and taught us a lot about the Osakan culture and its people. One thing we learned is that people from Osaka are fun-loving, have a GREAT sense of humor, and they don’t take life too seriously. They are the main reason why I fell in love with Osaka!!
BOOK YOUR STAY WITH Hotel Noum HERE!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary stay with Hotel Noum in exchange for my opinions, but all opinions are my own. I only recommend places that I love!
Wander On,
Wanderluluu xx
