Shinsaibashi-suji and Dotonbori

Day or night, rain or shine, Shinsaibashi-suji is a perfect destination for anyone traveling Osaka. It's a gregarious atmosphere packed with restaurants and food stands, boasting Osaka’s lively and delicious food culture, bars, cafes, souvenir shops and just about anything in between one could look for in a downtown river side scene. It is a ten-block long indoor pedestrian shopping area, just a ten-minute taxi ride from Osaka Station.

You’ll hear vendors yelling for takoyaki, octopus and tempura vegetable bits rolled up into perfectly edible egg batter balls. Incredibly popular, easy to find and affordable, grabbing a few on a bench or with a drink at a restaurant is really hard to beat. When you reach the end you can see the Dotonbori River running perpendicular and the dozens of people walking and relaxing around it. Reminiscent of Tokyo, neon signs illuminate the entire area bathing the surroundings in ever changing, vibrant light.

Regardless of where you stay in Japan, getting some authentic ramen is a must, and Osaka is not lacking. In Shinsaibashi you will find many ramen shops, some with just seats ten or less. Paying for your meal outside at a ticket machine and handing your stub to the employee behind the counter is an efficient and simple way to get your meal quick and unmistaken.