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Dōtonbori

Osaka, Japan

This famous area is named after the canal which runs parallel to its streets. Lit up on all sides like rides at a fairground, the busy shopping and dining areas here are home to a number of giant, moving creatures and foodstuffs which hang from the sides of buildings, including enormous crabs, takoyaki and hands holding pieces of nigiri sushi. Wandering around this area at night brings to life the Osaka of most people’s imaginations. Leading on from the canal side streets are tiny alleyways such as Hozenji Yokocho – cobbled areas with an old-time feel and countless doorways that open to delicious encounters. Dōtonbori is most easily accessed from Namba Station.

Address

1-9 Dotonbori Chuo Ward Osaka 542-0071

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Shinsaibashi

Osaka, Japan

Another loud and lively area of Osaka’s central district, this district is home to Shinsaibashi shopping street – a covered arcade of hundreds of shops, from international chains through to local character shops, Osaka souvenirs and plenty of sweet treats. On a walk from Shinsaibashi to Namba station visitors will encounter Amerikamura, a centre of youth culture filled with nightclubs, quirky fashions, vintage clothing shops and ice cream parlours claiming to sell the tallest ice creams in the whole of Japan.

Address

2-2-22 Shinsaibashisuji Chuo Ward Osaka 542-0085

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Shinsekai

Osaka, Japan

Translated as “new world”, Shinsekai is a district in which the atmosphere of neon-lit bars and restaurants is a wondrous assault on the senses. Make sure to stop off for kushikatsu, a Osaka street food favourite, which involves deep fried yakitori skewers dipped in a delicious sweet, brown sauce. This is another area of Osaka which is best visited at night, when the bright lights draw in fun-loving crowds like moths to a flame.

Address

1 Ebisuhigashi Naniwa Ward Osaka 556-0002

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Osaka Castle

Osaka, Japan

Like Tokyo, Osaka is often considered a city of districts and atmospheres rather than one filled with distinctive cultural monuments. Yet one historic building not to be missed is Osaka Castle, a regal, pearly-white castle sitting at the centre of a series of stone walls and moats. The castle has been rebuilt countless times, suffering various attacks throughout civil conflicts since its origins in 1583. Though not in its original form, the castle is nonetheless an attractive nod to Japan’s past, and is a popular spot for hanami (flower-viewing) parties during the cherry blossom season each April.

Address

1-1 Osakajo Chuo Ward Osaka 540-0002

+81 6 6941 3044 Go to website

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Cycle Osaka

Osaka, Japan

Cycle Osaka’s eat, drink and cycle food tour is a three-hour rendezvous that takes in the best backstreet bites and bistros that most visitors would be hard-pressed to discover from a simple wander. The tour guides vary each route depending on what may interest guests most, taking groups through temples, shopping arcades, markets and suburban areas to hunt down sushi, Korean pancakes, wagyu beef, kushikatsu skewers and other must-try morsels in the country’s food capital. En route, they usually stop off at Shitennoji Temple – the oldest of its kind in Japan – and throw in a knife demonstration to boot. Each tour costs 8,000 yen per person (around £61) all inclusive.

+81 90 9165 7168 Go to website

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Festivals

Osaka, Japan

Every village, town and city in Japan has its very own festival, and Osaka, as the country’s second city, is home to several of its most famous. In late July each year the Tenjin Matsuri sees thousands of people flock to the streets to carry lavishly decorated wooden floats, while the rivers are awash with longboats and white-costumed festival rowers. The best lookout spots to catch the boats in action are between Tenjinbashi Bridge and Temmabashi Bridge. Stroll along the water as the sun goes down to catch the festivities as lights from the boats’ lanterns start to flutter on the water’s surface. In mid-September the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival sees 600,000 people visit the city to nervously look on as one of the country’s most dangerous festival performances takes place. Large, wooden carts are swung around street corners and driven at lightning speed through the city streets during this injury-inducing festival. The carts are elaborately carved and decorated and often see the head carpenter – as though any more risk is needed – dancing on top.