Decent ramen, which comes with self-serve garlic, kimchi and chives. Opt for the small bowl (¥800) so you can try other street food in the area.
Osaka's answer to Tokyo's Akihabara, come to check out the anime and manga culture, as well as the city's electronics, camera, and computer shopping.
Stop by to try some fresh scallops fired up on a charcoal grill, or fresh uni prepared while you wait.
Katsudon restaurant opened by an ex-sumo wrestler with a monster 5cm cutlet option. It was good, but be prepared to wait. Lunch option may be better as a sando.
Some of the cutest and coolest original designs on stickers, keychains, tshirts and more.
Great okonomiyaki, teppenyaki, yakisoba, omelettes and more that you can eat straight off the hot plate.
A great place to grab some breakfast in the morning, as a lot of spots along Dotonbouri open around 10-11am. You can pick up plenty of seafood, wagyu, fruit and even fugu (puffer fish).
Some great burgers, I had the Motz burger, which was an Oklahoma onion burger, with the onions pressed into the meat patty on the grill). IYKYK.
Iconic spot for a tourist photo, with throngs of people around. But search YouTube or TikTok for the better photo spot 😉
Really fun virtual roller coaster, which can be enjoyed by the smaller kids too. Be prepared for a wait though, or get the express pass.
This Don Quijote store is packed, so prepare yourself for the crowds! It's easy to find, as it has the Ferris Wheel which you can also ride.
Cheap eats, similar to Yoshinoya. Order from the vending machine, and pass your ticket to the counter.
This arcade is huge with 3 floors of games and machines. Get ready for some sensory overload ;)
A great place for computer parts, from computer chassis. monitors, memory cards and motherboards and everything else to build your own machine. Three floors of tech stuff, even with gaming chairs.
A big, crowded shopping area full of tourists, connected to Dotonbori. There are plenty of international brands like GAP, Zara, H&M, etc. And also more local Japanese brands too, like Uniqlo.
Nice little park full of tourists heading to Arashiyama Bamboo Forrest. Find one of the Pokémon manhole covers scattered across Japan too.
A decent sized restaurant, specialising in wagyu box sets, with a view of a beautiful garden outside.
The bamboo grove is an iconic photo spot in Kyoto, but gets crowded quickly, so go early to try to beat the crowds.
Lots of Pokemon toys, clothes, food and all the merchandise you could think of. Also a place to play a few games too.
Another iconic place in Kyoto that gets crowded with tourists coming to take their photos. The big red torii gates are impressive though.
A quieter side of Japan, with a plenty of iconic places for photos, which are spread out around the city. From the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Golden Pavilion and torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha.
A large park surrounding Osaka Castle, which is great for a stroll and to get some fresh air while finding the perfect angle for some castle pics.
A large store where you can pick up plenty of merchandise, or have a game on the big screens. Make sure you get a pic with 8-bit Mario while you’re there.
See some of the fantastic Lego displays, or pick up a Lego sets or luggage for your next trip.
Check out the Ghibli Store for movie merchandise, and get a photo of My Neighbour Totoro or on the train with No Face.
Sick of waiting for hour plus queue at the main store a couple of blocks away? A much better alternative to get the famous 5cm sumo pork katsu sando instead.
There’s the market to one side, and plenty of restaurants and fairground games on the other. Come at night to see the lights, or visit the tower for the views, or go down slide from the 3rd story.
Check out the pop culture floors on level 5 and 6. Capcom, Ghibili Store, Lego, Sumikko Gurashi, Snoopy Town, Godzilla and more.
Built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583, but was damaged during WWII. The main keep was restored and now serves as a museum. Trek up the eight flights of stairs to see the scenic views from the top.
Great place to get fresh sushi nigiri made in front of you at the counter. There is another location across the road, where you sit at tables rather than the bar/counter.
A long marketplace full of food stores, but eat in the shop seated areas or in front - don’t walk and eat.
Decently sized room (by Japanese standards) with microwave, fridge and kettle, private bathroom/shower, and wifi. Close enough to walk to Dotonbori, but far away enough to be a bit quieter.
We waited a good hour to get in, but a better option is their katsudon sando at lunch time, which is available from their permanent food truck a couple of blocks away on 2 Chome-16 Shimanouchi.
So much anime and manga sticker, keychains and other memorabilia. Immerse yourself, and spend hours searching for collectables.
A large selection of books, comics, doujinshi, and light novels, and also character goods, figurines, trading cards, candy toys, anime goods and software games, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays.
Head to the 13th Floor for Nintendo Osaka, Pokemon Centre, One Piece Store and Capcom store, all on one floor!
Check out the exclusive One Piece merchandise, and grab a photo with Luffy.
A crowded store, but it has all your Onitsuka Tiger sneaker needs, from the classics to the new styles.
Come try Iekei ramen, the Yokohama-style ramen characterised by thick, straight noodles and a pork bone and soy sauce base.
We went during early afternoon, and many stores were closed. However, there were a few small food and beverage stores open, and a couple of clothing a souvenir shops too.
A large range of pre-loved shoes, bags, jackets, jeans and other clothes. Well worth a look.
The master chef has spent over 30 years mastering unagi, so give it a try if you are in the area. Delicious.
Osaka's answer to Harajuku, it's where the cool kids hang out, with trendy shops, restaurants. At night, there's an occasional group of skateboarders hanging out at the triangle park too.
Download the USJ app, jump on the free park wifi, and get the Area Timed Entry Tickets. The queues can get pretty crazy, so the express pass is also a good option.
Plenty of butchers and vendors selling fresh kimchi and banchan, one store I saw have been selling here since 1958! There are also plenty of clothing and souvenir shops, restaurants and snack shops.
Get the free Area Time Entry ticket from the USJ app, or when you arrive at the park. You can also claim the tax back from the powerband that you need to buy to play the games.
