Osaka is the second largest city in Japan and claims to be the food capital of Japan – some foodies claim even of the world. After Kyoto this city certainly had a more modern, less charming character to it. Mainly this is due to the different architecture. Everything in Osaka seems to be high-rise concrete buildings. The food however knows how to deliver. Btw. did you know that the famous conveyor belt sushi was invented in Osaka?
Takoyaki
First dish I tried was a take-away snack called Takoyaki. It’s octopus in a fried batter, covered in a selection of different sauces and dried fish. I loved it and would definitely make it my new favourite fastfood dish if it would be available anywhere in Stockholm.
The hostel I chose for my stay in Osaka was placed in the South-Eastern part, at Momodami directly at the Osaka Loop Subway line. It’s a rather boring area though and nothing to see or do there by foot. So I would not recommend booking accommodation there.
What to do in Osaka? Finally I got to see a castle. A typical Japanese one you’ve probably seen a million times in movies or anime with its traditional roof constructions. The one in Osaka was unfortunately destroyed at some point but the whole place has been rebuild just recently and can now be visited with an extensive museum inside covering 8 floors of interesting history about Osaka and Japan in general.
Osaka Castle Garden
Osaka Castle
View from the top of Osaka Castle
The best dinner area I discovered is the nightlife area around Namba Dotombori. It’s a vast area of stores, bars, restaurants and “other” establishments.
The famous neon ads at Dotonbori
As in all other Japanese cities, the best restaurants are to be found in the small side-streets. Here I found a fantastic place for Okonomiyaki, another famous Osaka dish which is a fried batter cake with vegetables and different fillings. I chose beef but there are also other meat or fish varieties you can choose from. In a good place it is prepared directly in front of you on your own pan-fry area from which you also get to eat it with special tools for Okonomiyaki.
Okonomiyaki
The last thing I did in Osaka besides strolling through the city without any specific plan was going up the tallest building of Japan, the Abeno Harukas with 300m. Naturally you get quite a good view from the top of this building.
View from Abeno Harukas
Nightlife art
Leave a Reply