For those who’re in search of another Osaka journey information, you’ve simply landed on the best web page. Japan knowledgeable, La Carmina, shares her finest 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 an extended weekend getaway. Though it’s value seeing historic landmarks resembling Osaka Fort, vacationers shouldn’t miss out on exploring the underground tradition for another perspective of town. As an example, Osaka is dwelling to a gritty and raucous music scene that’s matched solely by its consuming 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 nicely 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 various 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, resembling 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 one of the best shops). Poke your head via the beaded curtains for cyber trend, tarot playing cards and Nineteen Eighties toys.
EST Middle
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 various outlets aren’t sufficient, throughout the road is Hep 5, a buying and leisure megalopolis with a pink Ferris wheel.
Sightseeing in Osaka
Listed below are a number of extra distinctive sights to go to in Osaka.
Pokemon Middle
Imagine it or not, the Pokemon Middle is likely one of the high 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 carry your pockets.
Kaiyukan Aquarium
Kaiyukan is likely one of the largest aquariums on the earth and a household favourite. Younger Osaka resident Takumi Tanaka reminisces on his childhood visits. “It’s all the time enjoyable to see the penguins and dolphins taking part in, however my favourite factor to do is go to the Floating Jellyfish tanks. It’s so stress-free to look at the intertwining tendrils,” he says. “Additionally I really like to look at the employees feed the ocean otters, who play like youngsters.”
Osaka Fort
Tanaka additionally encourages first-timers to go to the historic Osaka Fort, particularly in the course of the cherry blossom season. “There are all the time festivals and gatherings within the lovely park, and little stalls that promote conventional meals like takoyaki. It’s enjoyable to simply sit on the benches and watch individuals go by,” says Tanaka.
Associated tour: Guided Strolling Tour round Osaka Fort
Bars and Nightlife in Osaka
What’s an Osaka journey information with out a record of one of the best bars and nightlife?
Associated tour: Osaka: Nightlife Expertise
Bar Midian
Followers of Visible Kei/J-rockers Blood had been heartbroken when the group disbanded. However like a Goth Elvis, vocalist Fu-ki is alive and ominously wielding an ice choose behind the counter of his Bar Midian.
The Umeda dive is near-impossible to search out, so I counsel finding out these detailed instructions on my La Carmina Weblog. Midian’s decor is a heavy steel wet-dream: a dripping candle sits in a Dracula wine bottle; an axe rests within the umbrella stand. That evening, 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 resembling Black Rose and Devil. Fu-ki mixes a robust cocktail and can gladly make you a particular one, or pour you a Belgian Devil Beer. He’s additionally recognized to select up the tab for newcomers, particularly in case you bond over music — so don’t neglect to ask him about his Motley Crue cowl band.
Bar Moonwalk
When steel and rock bands tour Osaka, they continuously cease by Moonwalk, a bar that pumps Marilyn Manson and Japanese glam steel to a younger, heavily-pierced crowd.
My journey comrade and I had an instantaneous crush on our eyeliner-smeared server Kouta, who performs bass in a brand new Visible Kei band. The fantasy pale a little bit when he went into the kitchen to cook dinner our orders: tasty 315 yen plates of Korean fried rice and lotus pork muffins. 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. Acquired a candy tooth? Strive the raspberry yogurt cocktail. Extra of a hardcore sort? Go for the brandy ginger mixer. And don’t be stunned 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 bunch 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 ambiance jogs my memory of a extremely chill jazz membership, solely with screamo vocals. The bar performs something from punk to steel and has occasions all year long that herald throngs of rock followers. These embrace particular DJ nights resembling Hell’s Bells (AC/DC), Emotion is Useless (emo) and the self-explanatory Loud & Heavy.
The menu is a typical collection of pizzas, pastas and salads (600-800 yen). The drinks are requirements, plus a collection of fruity cocktails (500-800 yen). A bit pricy, however value it after 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 in case you go away with out tasting the grilled savory pancake (normally with seafood, and topped with bonito flakes and brown sauce) that’s Kansai’s soul meals. Search for household eating places resembling Tengu, the place recipes are handed down from a number of generations.
Takoyaki
Takoyaki — grilled octopus balls constituted of pouring batter into molds — are one other Osaka specialty. Each main avenue has a stand the place you should purchase 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, resembling 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 recent outdoors of Japan, so don’t hesitate to gorge on it at each meal.
Associated tour: Eat Like a Native Avenue Meals Tour
Day Journeys from Osaka
If you wish to escape from Osaka for a day, try 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: Personal Strolling Tour via Nara
Kyoto
Kyoto is positioned north of Osaka, and residential to 1000’s of well-preserved locations of worship resembling 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 about 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 various tradition, trend and journey ever since. She is the creator of 4 books (with Simon & Schuster, and Penguin Random Home), seems on journey TV reveals for networks like Discovery, CNN and Journey Channel, and is a SATW award profitable journalist. La Carmina is especially recognized for her dispatches on Japanese and Gothic subcultures in over 70 international locations.
