In the event you’re on the lookout for another Osaka journey information, you’ve simply landed on the best web page. Japan professional, La Carmina, shares her greatest ideas and recommendation for exploring the extra underground aspect of Osaka.
Solely three hours from Tokyo by bullet prepare, Osaka is a turbo-charged setting for a protracted weekend getaway. Though it’s price seeing historic landmarks akin to Osaka Fort, vacationers shouldn’t miss out on exploring the underground tradition for another perspective of the town. As an illustration, Osaka is residence to a gritty and raucous music scene that’s matched solely by its ingesting holes — the place the employees has feathered and dyed hair, the audio system blast Def Leppard, and the partitions are embellished with grinning skulls.
I’ve been writing about Japan and visiting Osaka for properly over a decade on my La Carmina journey weblog. Listed below are a few of my favourite subculture hangouts within the metropolis, which I hope you’ll get to take a look at in your subsequent journey.
See additionally: A day in Osaka, Japan
Osaka buying information
Let’s begin off this different Osaka journey information with a number of classic, indie and distinctive buying spots in Osaka.
Shinsaibashi
Shinsaibashi’s Procuring Arcade is a bustling treasure hunt: search for indie and classic boutiques, akin to Harmful Nude, amidst the mass retailers. Close by Amerikamura is the cultural equal of Tokyo’s Harajuku, with Goths, punks and rockers hanging out in Triangle Park (right here’s a map of the perfect shops). Poke your head via the beaded curtains for cyber vogue, tarot playing cards and Eighties toys.
EST Heart
A stone’s throw from Umeda Station, EST is a younger girls’s “buying city with dream and pleasure.” The boutiques lure you in with frantic J-pop music and the stylish outfits seen in Cutie and ViVi magazines. If the hundred-plus indie and different outlets aren’t sufficient, throughout the road is Hep 5, a buying and leisure megalopolis with a crimson Ferris wheel.
Sightseeing in Osaka
Listed below are a number of extra distinctive sights to go to in Osaka.
Pokemon Heart
Imagine it or not, the Pokemon Heart is likely one of the prime vacationer sights in all of Japan. The gargantuan Umeda, Osaka retailer is stocked with each character conceivable. Kids in Pikachu hats will remind you that the model’s motto is “gotta catch em all,” so deliver your pockets.
Kaiyukan Aquarium
Kaiyukan is likely one of the largest aquariums on the planet and a household favourite. Younger Osaka resident Takumi Tanaka reminisces on his childhood visits. “It’s at all times enjoyable to see the penguins and dolphins enjoying, however my favourite factor to do is go to the Floating Jellyfish tanks. It’s so stress-free to observe the intertwining tendrils,” he says. “Additionally I really like to observe the employees feed the ocean otters, who play like kids.”
Osaka Fort
Tanaka additionally encourages first-timers to go to the historic Osaka Fort, particularly throughout the cherry blossom season. “There are at all times festivals and gatherings within the stunning park, and little stalls that promote conventional meals like takoyaki. It’s enjoyable to simply sit on the benches and watch folks go by,” says Tanaka.
Associated tour: Guided Strolling Tour round Osaka Fort
Bars and Nightlife in Osaka
What’s an Osaka journey information with no checklist of the perfect bars and nightlife?
Associated tour: Osaka: Nightlife Expertise
Bar Midian
Followers of Visible Kei/J-rockers Blood have been heartbroken when the group disbanded. However like a Goth Elvis, vocalist Fu-ki is alive and ominously wielding an ice decide behind the counter of his Bar Midian.
The Umeda dive is near-impossible to seek out, so I recommend finding out these detailed instructions on my La Carmina Weblog. Midian’s decor is a heavy metallic wet-dream: a dripping candle sits in a Dracula wine bottle; an axe rests within the umbrella stand. That night time, we sat with tattooed rockers who headbanged to Black Sabbath movies and scandalized us with their boy-on-boy antics.
Drinks are 500 yen and have names akin to Black Rose and Devil. Fu-ki mixes a powerful cocktail and can gladly make you a particular one, or pour you a Belgian Devil Beer. He’s additionally identified to choose up the tab for newcomers, particularly for those who bond over music — so don’t neglect to ask him about his Motley Crue cowl band.
Bar Moonwalk
When metallic and rock bands tour Osaka, they steadily cease by Moonwalk, a bar that pumps Marilyn Manson and Japanese glam metallic to a younger, heavily-pierced crowd.
My journey comrade and I had an immediate crush on our eyeliner-smeared server Kouta, who performs bass in a brand new Visible Kei band. The fantasy light a bit when he went into the kitchen to prepare dinner our orders: tasty 315 yen plates of Korean fried rice and lotus pork truffles. There’s a 400 yen cowl cost, however the drink menu — which has over 300 choices for 200 yen every – greater than makes up for it. Received a candy tooth? Strive the raspberry yogurt cocktail. Extra of a hardcore sort? Go for the brandy ginger mixer. And don’t be shocked if the charming bartender brings over free photographs.
Bar Rock Rock
Alice Cooper. Unhealthy Faith. Motley Crue. Metallica. They’re among the many a whole lot of famed faces who’ve raised hell at Rock Rock for the reason that bar opened in 1995, abandoning autographed photographs and tales of destruction.
The environment jogs my memory of a extremely chill jazz membership, solely with screamo vocals. The bar performs something from punk to metallic and has occasions all year long that usher in throngs of rock followers. These embrace particular DJ nights akin to Hell’s Bells (AC/DC), Emotion is Useless (emo) and the self-explanatory Loud & Heavy.
The menu is a typical number of pizzas, pastas and salads (600-800 yen). The drinks are requirements, plus a number of fruity cocktails (500-800 yen). A bit pricy, however price it once they’re poured by celeb bartender “Noxl Rose.”
Meals in Osaka
Take your tastebuds on an journey.
See additionally: Japanese Pork Chop in Downtown Osaka
Okonomiyaki
Non-Japanese audio system, memorize the phrase “okonomiyaki.” It’s a tragedy for those who go away with out tasting the grilled savory pancake (often with seafood, and topped with bonito flakes and brown sauce) that’s Kansai’s soul meals. Search for household eating places akin to Tengu, the place recipes are handed down from a number of generations.
Takoyaki
Takoyaki — grilled octopus balls produced from pouring batter into molds — are one other Osaka specialty. Each main road has a stand the place you should buy a dozen for 500 yen. Twists on the unique embrace egg or melted cheese toppings, and takoyaki stuffed in a crepe. However nothing beats mom-and-pop outlets, akin to Tako Home at Umeda station, the place a shy grandma oversees the cooking.
Yuzu (citrus fruit)
Yuzu is a divine mating between a lemon and a tangerine. In Osaka, you’ll discover the flavour in seemingly each sort of dish: sorbet, sake, shochu. The fruit is never discovered contemporary outdoors of Japan, so don’t hesitate to gorge on it at each meal.
Associated tour: Eat Like a Native Road Meals Tour
Day Journeys from Osaka
If you wish to escape from Osaka for a day, take a look at a number of of those close by locations.
Kobe
Take a jaunt to Kobe to discover its excellent parks, zoo, and harbor. For a stroll on the darkish aspect, go to Gothic / fetish / occult / Satanic Bar Concept. The pleasant women behind the nail-spiked bar will chat with you and carry out darkish rituals, together with shibari or rope bondage demonstrations.
Nara
Get away from the grit with a day journey to Nara, solely an hour away by subway. The cultural capital dazzles with six Buddhist temples, a Shinto shrine and the Imperial Place. However the largest thrill, for vacationers of all ages, is petting the sacred deer that roam in Nara Park.
Associated tour: From Kyoto or Osaka: Non-public Strolling Tour via Nara
Kyoto
Kyoto is positioned north of Osaka, and residential to 1000’s of well-preserved locations of worship akin to Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion). First constructed within the 14th century, the three-story gilded construction holds the Buddha’s ashes and is ready in an beautiful backyard with a mirror pond.
Associated tour: From Osaka: Kyoto High Highlights Day Journey
LaCarmina
La Carmina launched her LaCarmina.com weblog in 2007, and has been reporting worldwide on different tradition, vogue and journey ever since. She is the writer of 4 books (with Simon & Schuster, and Penguin Random Home), seems on journey TV exhibits for networks like Discovery, CNN and Journey Channel, and is a SATW award profitable journalist. La Carmina is especially identified for her dispatches on Japanese and Gothic subcultures in over 70 nations.
