Osaka calls itself the nation's kitchen (kuidaore, "eat until you drop", is the local motto) and lives up to it, a city noticeably less formal than Tokyo, louder, funnier, and organized almost entirely around eating well and often.
Dotonbori and Street Food
Dotonbori's neon canal-front, dominated by the giant mechanical Glico running man sign, is the city's food and nightlife epicentre, takoyaki (octopus balls), okonomiyaki (savory pancakes), and kushikatsu (fried skewers) are all best eaten here, standing at a stall counter.
Kuromon Ichiba Market, a covered market a short walk from Dotonbori, is the better spot for a slower, less chaotic food crawl, fresh seafood, wagyu skewers, and fruit sold by vendors who've worked the same stall for decades.
Osaka Castle and Day Trips
Osaka Castle, rebuilt in concrete after wartime destruction but still visually striking, sits in a large park that's especially beautiful during cherry blossom season, the museum inside covers the castle's role in unifying Japan under Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Osaka's location makes it a practical base for day trips to both Nara (with its free-roaming deer and giant Buddha) and Kyoto, both under an hour away by train.
Recommended Stay · Osaka · Nakanoshima
Conrad Osaka
Occupying the top floors of a riverside tower with sweeping views over the city, a short subway ride to Dotonbori and Osaka Castle, the rooftop bar looks straight down the Nakanoshima river islands.
