What to do 1 day in Osaka: The best things!

What to do 1 day in Osaka: The best things to do!

Osaka, Japan’s third-largest city, is a lively blend of traditional culture and modern innovation. From its delicious street food to its bustling shopping streets, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city.

We started at Shinsekai, a district that was created in 1912 where you can find many shops, restaurants and games. Even if it’s a good location to visit at any time, we recommend to go during the night to see the lights. The most iconic part of this district is the 100 meters tower located in the center. The tower, called Tsutenkaku, it’s an observation deck where you can buy a ticket and go to the top to enjoy a panoramic view of Osaka.

After Shinsekai we strolled through Denden Town. Denden Town is a street side to side divided by a road where you can find many merchandise shops, arcade centers, electronics shops and many things. For those who love shopping merchandise, this is the place to go.

From Denden Town we arrived to Namba, where the trendy and youthful vibe mixes perfectly with the area’s unique charm. There we ate okonomiyaki which is a typical dish from Osaka. All the restaurants were full and we had to wait long to enter to any of the restaurants close to the street. However, we saw a small restaurant at the second floor of a builiding with the signs only in Japanese and we gave it a try. Luckily, there was no queue and we were able to eat just after entering.

At the restaurant, we had to order through a phone in Japanese and make our own Okonomiyaki. The Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese pancake made with batter, cabbage, and various toppings like meat or seafood, cooked on a griddle and topped with sauce, mayo and bonito flakes. The instructions to make them where all written in Japanese so, for the parts we didn’t understand, we just guessed. It was a very fun experience!

No trip to Osaka is complete without indulging in its renowned food scene. That’s why we headed to Dotonbori, the city’s iconic entertainment district, known for its bright neon signs and vibrant nightlife. We were quite hungry and we wanted to pay honor to the most famous expression in Osaka, “kuidaore” (食い倒れ) which means “eat till you drop”. So we ate many things. Next thing was Takoyaki which is a savory octopus-filled ball, topped with sauce, mayo and Bonito flakes. Amazing!

Lastly, we tried one of the most unknown but yummiest foods of Osaka, Kushikatsu. Kushikatsu are deep-fried skewers of meat, seafood and vegetables, served with dipping sauce. Make sure you only deep once each piece, not twice!

Dotonbori as we mentioned before, it is a very famous spot to eat and to explore with its bright neon lights. Most probably, the busiest part of Osaka. It’s a street alongside the canal with many shops and restaurants specialized in local food. There, you can find famous spots such as the “moving crab“, the animatronix of a restaurant (Kani Doraku) and the “running man” from Glico. The Glico’s running man is famous because he’s the mascot of a confectionary brand representing victory. One of the most famous products of this brand is the well-known Pocky, sometimes known as Mikado outside Japan.

We had only eaten savory food, so it was time to grab dessert — and where better to go than the famous Rikuro Ojisan no Mise? This shop is famous for their Japanese cheesecake, we queued for 30 minutes to grab one of them. It was fluffy and delicious!

Marc went another day to Osaka and visited another spot in Namba that we also recommend. The Namba Yasaka Shrine, the lion hall. This temple is famous for its main attraction which is a giant lion’s head. The head is 12 meters high and the room inside the head is used as a stage for several performances such as Kagura (Shinto music and dance), Shishimai (lion dance), and Iaido (Japanese martial arts).

We didn’t have time to visit Osaka Castle, one of Japan’s most famous landmarks. Surrounded by beautiful parks and moats, this historic site offers panoramic views of the city and a fascinating look at Japan’s feudal past. The museum inside provides detailed exhibits about the castle’s history and its importance in Japanese warfare. However, we didn’t have time to visit it.

Whether you’re a foodie, history lover, or shopaholic, Osaka has something for everyone. It’s a city that promises excitement, adventure, and unforgettable memories.