Osaka, Japan

I recently returned from my second trip to Japan in which we visited Tokyo and Osaka in about 10 days total. This was my first time visiting Osaka and I was extremely excited as I’ve heard it’s a bit different to Tokyo and the rest of Japan. As somebody who has been to Japan before, I tried to learn more about the culture and everyday life of the people who live in Osaka vs seeing the popular sites and areas. 

After a few days here’s what I learned:

The Food

When I think of Japanese food, I think of Ramen and Sushi. Although both of these dishes are extremely prevalent in Japan, the culinary scene in Osaka provided much more unique options. 

One of my favorite places we ate in Osaka, and in Japan in general, was Izakaya Toyo. If you’re willing to wait for 30min – 1hr, Izakaya Toyo provides a dining experience you will never forget. Built right into the streets of Osaka, this restaurant is completely open and filled with standing tables. What makes this place truly stand out is the man who started it, Toyo. He may be the head chef but he’s also a great entertainer. Unfortunately, he was not there the day we visited but the man who took over was just as eccentric. 

The People

What stood out the most for me, was the friendliness of the Osakan people. I made a real effort to meet some people who were from Osaka to get a true sense of what life was like here. On a trip to the Nakazakicho area we ventured into a place where the windows were covered from the outside. We were able to make out a few feet through the front door so we thought we’d give it a chance. Inside was a completely packed room including people standing shoulder to shoulder in a horseshoe shape with the kitchen in the middle. Right away, we felt out of place. We were clearly the only tourists brave enough to venture into the local watering hole because i felt eyes glancing directly at us immediately. One of the chefs pointed to two open slots at the bar and we stood in front of an all Japanese menu. Clearly looking confused, we pulled out our phones to use google translate and thought maybe we were a bit in over our heads. We struggled for a few minutes when the lady next to me said in perfect English “Do you need help?” She went on to explain that this place was where many people who worked around the area came after work because it was cheap and good quality. After she said she has been coming here for years, I let her order whatever she thought was best. 

Here’s a few of the dishes we received:

We spent the next hour chatting about everything Osaka and Japan in general. She was fascinated by the United States and Baseball. Afterwards, she helped us pay our bill and we left being extremely grateful for her hospitality and friendliness. 

The Environment

As Japan becomes more and more popular with tourists from around the world, Osaka still feels like it’s maintaining a unique culture from Tokyo. Not only was the food different but as you walk around the city, it’s not hard to get immersed in local Japanese life. If you can escape the shops of Dotonbori, the surrounding neighborhoods are filled with local shops and restaurants that aren’t as frequented by tourists. Osaka also has its own unique culture when compared to the rest of Japan. The city feels a bit more rugged and authentic than Tokyo. While Tokyo is pristine, Osaka seemed less concerned with hiding its rough edges and more interested in embracing them. It was easy to find Osakan people who were outgoing and willing to chat as well. This made me feel welcome and excited to explore the rest of what the city had to offer. 

One issue I had with Osaka itself is the lack of greenery throughout the city. I typically like to go for a run while I travel because it allows me to see the beautiful parks and open spaces within each city. In Osaka, this was hard to find and even in Ueno park which turned out to be one of the main green spaces in the city, there was a lack of running space. This was much easier to find in Tokyo as the park surrounding Edo Castle was a wide open space. 

Overall, Osaka is a unique city in Japan and provides visitors an experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the country. I highly recommend visiting Osaka and truly embrace every part of this wonderful city.