Osaka Travel Tips: 10 Things to Know Before You Go to Osaka
Things YOU need to know before you travel to Osaka Japan. Osaka is the third most populated city in Japan with 2.7M in the city and 19 Million in the region. Osaka is often overlooked for Tokyo and Kyoto, but Osaka has its own charm that makes it a wonderful destination for visitors. Osaka is a welcoming, exciting, and place that should really be on your travel radar!
Osaka is located on the main island of Honshu, roughly in the center of Japan. Osaka is a great place to base yourself when visiting Japan. In the centre of the Kansai region, landing at it’s international airport will place you within an hours local train journey to Kyoto, Nara and Kobe. Osaka is worth worth 3-5 days.
2- Food
Osaka is famous in Japan for their food. Its nickname is “the nation’s kitchen”.
Most well known: okonomiyaki, which is a dish made with meat, seafood, and noodles.
Takoyaki, delicious fried octopus balls that are sure to curve your hunger cravings at night.
Kushikatsu. Kushi refers to the bamboo skewers that the food is on and you can find meat, vegetable and even cheese varieties here. Don’t forget to dip your fried goods into the tonkatsu sauce (but strictly NO double dipping)
And of course Ramen!
Osaka is home to 200+ Michelin starred restaurants and Dontoburi is the epicentre of that.
Aside from the delicious food, Osaka is also well known for its high quality Sake, or Japanese rice wine. The sake is made from fresh water that comes from the Osaka mountains
3-Kita (Umeda) North District
One of 2 major districts in Osaka
Newly rebuilt JR Osaka station is the heart
Business and lots of Hotels
Grand Front Osaka is amazing
YenTenjimbashi-suji Shopping Street
This 2.6km covered shopping arcade is the longest in Osaka
Umeda Sky Building is one of the tallest and most impressive buildings in Osaka. It’s more like two buildings connected by a bridge at the top. There’s a great observation deck at the top called the Kuchu Teien (“Garden in the Sky”) Observatory.
HEP 5 Ferris Wheel - 500
4- Minami (Namba) South District
Osaka’s 2nd downtown
Neon lights, crazy signs
Japan's version of Times Square
Shinsaibashi and Namba
Dotombori Arcade runs parallel to the canal on the south side and it’s lined with some of Osaka’s most famous and largest restaurants, which compete for business with huge signs and giant mechanical crabs etc.
Midosuji (shopping street)
Osaka’s “main street,” Midosuji is a broad street All the major international luxury brands have outlets here
Hozenji Yokocho (traditional alley)
Two small blocks east of Midosuji and two small blocks south of the Dotombori Arcade, you’ll find one of the most beautiful streets in all of Osaka and it looks like it was magically transported from somewhere in Kyoto. Entering this street is like slipping 200 years back in time.
Doguyasuji Arcade (kitchen and cooking supply shopping arcade)
About five minutes’ walk southeast of Namba subway station (easily reached on foot from Dotombori
Amerika Mura (trendy district)
Amerika Mura (or “Amemura” to the locals)
5- Otaku Paradise
Den Den Town. Osaka’s answer to Akihabara and not far from Namba station, here you’ll find all the weird and wonderful Japanese toys and manga you’ve heard about on the internet. Watch your step or you could unintentionally fall into adult-only territory. (Or intentionally, if that’s what you’re after.)
Den-Den is the city’s electronics, camera, computer and pop culture shopping neighborhood. It’s about 10 minutes’ walk southwest of Namba Station, in Nippombashi, running roughly between Nippombashi and Ebisucho stations on the Sakaisuji subway line. Many of the shops here have someone on hand who can speak English, so don’t be afraid to ask for help when looking for something.
6- Language:
7- Escalators
8- Getting to Osaka
9- Getting Around Osaka
10 - Other big attractions in Osaka
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Soni Mura - Japanese Country Village
Went on a tour with some friends to Soni Mura, a village near my home city. It was a rainy day, but we still got to see some really nice places and a lion dance festival. Soni Mura is in Mie prefecture which is in the center of Japan, the tour was done by ENNTours of Nabari City.
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Adventures by A Himitsu Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Music released by Argofox Music provided by Audio Library
Missing Someone (Vlog Music ) by Dj Quads
The Weirdest Cafes in Tokyo
While living in Tokyo, Japan I set out to explore the weirdest cafes in Tokyo including a cat cafe, owl cafe, hedgehog cafe and maid cafe.
For more Tokyo Cafes information visit
Cat Cafe - The most famous themed Tokyo Cafe has to be the Cat Cafe, and it did not disappoint. There were cats all over the two-floor Cat Cafe Mocha in Shibuya, and the unlimited vending machine refreshments added a nice touch to a fun Tokyo experience.
Owl Cafe - As you can see from the video, I had mixed emotions about the Owl Cafe in Tokyo. This one was called Owl Cafe and Bar Owl Village in Harajuku, and the owls just sat there while you learn about them. Tokyo Owl Cafes are growing in popularity, I just don't like seeing birds tied up.
Hedgehog Cafe - Harry Hedgehog Cafe was the quirkiest cafe we visited, and it was so cute to see all the hedgehogs around the cafe. There were babies, big guys, and so many to go around for everyone to hold and feed - this is probably my favorite themed Tokyo Cafe.
Maid Cafe - Maidreamin in Shibuya is something you have to do while visiting Tokyo. The maid cafe is so much different than anything I have ever experienced before, with Japanese women singing, dancing, and serving in maid costumes - you will never forget this one!
Luckily, there are many different maid cafes in Tokyo that you can visit.
What is your favorite themed Tokyo Cafe?
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TOP 5 ADORABLE Animal Cafe in TOKYO
If you are heading down to Tokyo Top 5 animal cafe here in Tokyo including cat cafe, owl cafe, Rabbit Cafe, hedgehog cafe and Otter Cafe. A Must Visit Experience here in Tokyo - The cutest animal cafe in japan
** PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION BELOW ON MY OPINION ON OWL CAFÉ **
This episode is a little fun guide on the top animal café in Tokyo and whilst there are more to explore in Tokyo, I have to say my best and most favourite café is definitely the Hedgehog Café (You are able to purchase them and take them home – which I found more like a pet store instead of an entertainment industry) – I love animals and if you only have time to see one Animal Café, I’d love to recommend you Harry’s Zoo Café as it has all the animals pretty much featured on all the clips here. This is a great things to do in tokyo with family .
More Travel Vlog to come so don’t forget to subscribe
OPINION ON OWL CAFÉ – PLEASE READ
I love animals and have a dog myself, while this Episode is all about my fun adventures exploring Tokyo, I did cut out most of the clips in the Owl’s Forest where I was actually talking about the chains these owl had on them as I had a lot of mix feelings coming into editing and uploading this clip, 1 minute into the Owl Forest I saw these majestic creatures in chains, It was sad for me to witness, I spent a maximum of 3 minutes there filming the place of the Unlimited Time we were given at the owl forest.
I do understand in a travel vlog like this I would like to keep you all entertained and happy but I just wanted to share to you how I felt about this place especially.
Check out my other Japan Travel Vlog Series here:
FEATURES IN THIS EPISODE:
Reissue Café - Harajuku
They do custom 3d Latte Art – (check my Instagram “nickewordz”)
Moff Rell Bunny Café
Area: Akihabara
Subway Station: Suehirocho Station or Akihabara JR
Website:
Address: 2F 4-8-3 Sotokanda Chiyoda-ku Tokyo
Tel: 03-3254-2323
Open Times: 12pm-9pm
Closed Days: Monday (Tuesday if Monday is Public Holiday)
FEES:
- 30 min =JPY 1100 (Includes Free Drink & Rabbit Food)
- 60 min =JPY 1500 (Includes Free Drink & Rabbit Food)
- Extra 30 Min = JPY 600
- Extra Rabbit Food = JPY 200
The Owl & Bengal Cat Forest
Area: Harajuku – Takeshita Street
Subway Station: Harajuku or Meiji-Jingumae
Address: 150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 1 Chome−6−10
Open Times: 11am-7pm
FEES:
Owl’s Forest [Unlimited Time]
680 Yen for 1 Adult,
480 Yen for 1 Child (4 to 12 years old)
Bengal Cat’s Forest
[30 mins] (inclusive of 1 drink):
680 Yen for 1 Adult,
480 Yen for 1 Child (4 to 12 years old)
Both (inclusive of 1 drink):
1350 Yen for 1 Adult,
1000 Yen for 1 Child (4 to 12 years old)
Hedgehog Cafe & Pet Store HARRY Harajuku
Area: Harajuku
Subway Station: Harajuku
Website:
Address: 150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 1 Chome−13−21 シャンゼール原宿２号館
Tel: 03-3404-1180
Open Times: 12pm-8pm
FEES
- 30 min = JPY 1400 (Includes Free Drink)
- 30 min + Snack Set = JPY 1630 (Includes Free Drink & Hedgehog Food)
- 60 min = JPY 2800 (Includes Free Drink)
- 60 min + Snack Set = JPY 3030 (Includes Free Drink & Hedgehog Food)
- Extra Hedgehog Food = JPY 540
Harry Zoo Café
Area: Harajuku
Subway Station: Harajuku
Website:
Address: Zinguumae426 3F,4-26-5, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0001
Tel: 03-3404-1212
Open Times: 11am-7pm
FEES
- 30 min = JPY 1500
- Animal Food = JPY 330 (Choose for Hedgehog, Otter or Chinchillas)
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Kyoto's Pug Cafe | Kinkaku-ji Temple | Japan
Vlog # 115 Discovering Kyoto's 1st Pug Cafe (Living Room Pug Cafe), Trying Wagyu beef and the Golden Pavilion. 2 of 3 cure rainy days!
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How to go to American village in Osaka, and the cheapest entertainment in Americamura! #163
In this video I introduced how to get to America mura [American village in Namba, Osaka] from Dotonbori food street !
Also showing the pinball amusement place [Pinball planet] in Bigstep America mura !
America mura is popular Osaka travel spot!
There are many fashion stores and cute restaurants!
It is like Harajuku Takeshita street in Osaka,
so you can meet many fashionable young people over there!
If you want to know how to get to Dotonbori food street from Namba station, Please check my
How to get to Dotonbori from Namba Station. Full street view with 4K movie #111
Also I introduce Pinball planets which is an amusement center in Bigstep in America Mura.
The cheapest pinball game, you can play from 10 JPY [10 cent],
so if you come visit America mura, you can try this pinball planet as well!
You can have fun with less money! ^^
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Five things to do in Tokyo on your first trip
From hiking trails near Mount Fuji to interacting with exotic creatures, Tokyo is full of adventures.
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ぬるべの郷 曽爾－Sonimura（The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan）
自然が作り出した芸術的な絶景が間近にせまり、雄大な自然を満喫できる曽爾村は、「ぬるべの郷」ともいわれています。
ぬるべの郷は漆部郷のことで、日本の「漆塗り」が始まった場所で、たくさんの物語や伝説を育んだ山里です。
Beautiful kan-onji City | Kagawa | Japan
This tour was arranged by KAGAWA Prefecture in collaboration with Kan-onji City, the Kan-onji City Tourism Association and Gogo Sato Zukuri no Kai.
Sites:
1. Unpenji Rope-way : Which at 2600m in total length and a 660m height is one of the longest rope-way in Japan.
2.Honen ike DAM : It is the one and only stonework multiple arch dam in Japan.This dam was made by local people.
3. Chosa Hall
4. Kotohiki Park : It is said that Zenigata sand sculpture, shaped like an Edo Period Kan-ei-tsuho coin, was made overnight in 1633. It is huge, measuring 122 meters from East to West and 90 meters from Noth to South
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Travel to Japan in 2 minutes!
This video brings to you the amazing experience and the excitement of a long flight and stay in Japan for two weeks! (in a fast forward mode)
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TAGS: JAPAN, TRAVEL, TOKYO, TRIP, SHIBUYA, TOKYO AT NIGHT