Dotonbori, Osaka’s busiest district and main travel destination. Street food stalls, souvenir shops, and restaurants line the streets of Dotonbori – a place where you can spend entire days eating and shopping ‘till you basically drop. With so many things to do here, it’s no surprise to see Dotonbori be the centerpiece of most people’s trips to Osaka. Even in my own previous visits, Dotonbori took up almost the entire schedule, with just enough free time to explore outside of the area. But now that I’m back here again, let’s see if the area is still as wonderful as I remembered, and is it really worth exploring. Let’s find out. How Good is Dotonbori Actually?
–Street Foods & Restaurants–
–Glico Sign & Ebisu Bridge–
–Snacks & Souvenir Shops–
–Nearby Locations–
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🍣 Street Foods & Restaurants 🍣
Dotonbori is Osaka’s main tourist spot, so of course the area is packed with a selection of Osaka’s local cuisine. From street foods like Takoyaki and Butaman pork buns, to sit-down restaurants serving Udon and Okonomiyaki, you can basically dedicate an entire day trying out the food here and still not cover everything they have. I was around the area for about a day and a half, so these are some of the options I was able to try out this time.
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🍢 Kushikatsu Daruma 🍢
Full Review: Kushikatsu Daruma
Out of everything here, Kushikatsu Daruma was the place I was most looking forward to. Kushikatsu are skewers of meat, veggies, and other bite sized items, breaded in fine panko breadcrumbs and deep fried. Overall an extremely solid place, not much to complain about. Prices range from ¥120 and ¥130 (Mochi and Classic Beef) up to ¥260 (seasonal items), with combo dishes available if you want a quick set to try out. It’s not that heavy of a meal, so you can easily grab a few, and continue exploring Dotonbori’s other street food offerings. Definitely stop by if you’re around.
Kushikatsu Daruma – Dotonbori Store
🗺 Map 🗺
https://goo.gl/maps/SQg87jppPL3Wq7Ag9
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
11:30A.M. to 10:30P.M.
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🐙 Creo-Ru Takoyaki (Onsen Egg and Spring Onion Takoyaki – ¥630) 🐙
One of Osaka’s most famous street foods, Takoyaki stalls can be found all across Dotonbori.
We stopped by Creo-Ru today to try out their Takoyaki, and after quite the long wait in line, my friend got their Onsen Egg and Spring Onion Takoyaki – not the most traditional option, but surprisingly their #1 Best Seller.
It’s definitely an interesting combination, as the crisp scallions offer some added freshness and texture to the Takoyaki, with an Onsen Egg on top for an added layer of sweetness. Overall not a bad topping, but my friend said he probably prefers the flavor profile of the standard Takoyaki toppings. The Takoyaki itself was quite nice, of course.
There’s a lot of other Takoyaki options here as well, from the Classic Takoyaki (¥530), Truffle Salt Takoyaki (their #2 Best Seller… I’m gonna assume that these only rank the non-traditional options), and combos featuring different toppings. Have a look around and see which of these options you might be interested in.
Creo-Ru Takoyaki- Dotonbori Store
🗺 Map 🗺
https://goo.gl/maps/PcrUSd8hfF54rAUM6
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
11:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M.
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🦀 Kani Doraku 🦀
Located right by the Ebisu Bridge, Kani Doraku (and its giant crab signboard) is hard to miss. As a crab specialty store, this place offers a wide variety of crab dishes (obviously…), from fresh Snow Crab Nigiri, Chirashi, Tempura, and Claypot Baked Rice.
As one would expect from the price, the Snow Crab here was really great. The Snow Crab in the nigiri was fresh and sweet, while the grilled and steamed variety offered a slightly milder flavor (with the same qualities of the sashimi option, of course).
If you have the budget for some great tasting Snow Crab, stop by at Kani Doraku. The lines can get pretty long at times, but the experience is well worth it.
🦀 Kani Doraku 🦀
🗺 Map 🗺
https://goo.gl/maps/c99jzZC5YwEJG3RG9
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
11:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.
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🐟 Naruto Taiyaki Hompo (Premium Custard Taiyaki – ¥280) 🐟
While not necessarily an Osaka-originating dish, my friend suggested we grab some Taiyaki before we head back to the hotel.
I’ve never had authentic Taiyaki, and assumed it to be just a softer, more cakey version of one of my favorite fusion snacks, the Croissant Taiyaki. Boy, was I very wrong. The batter took on a more wafer-y like texture, neutral flavored and slightly crispy, serving as a parcel for the warm filling – Custard in my case. (My friend got the more traditional Adzuki Bean (Red Bean) filling.)
Naruto Taiyaki Hompo is a few mins away from the main Dotonbori area, but it’s right around Nipponbashi Station if you are arriving / departing from that station. Definitely worth the quick walk, in any case.
🐟 Naruto Taiyaki Hompo 🐟
🗺 Map 🗺
https://goo.gl/maps/6k4AXuUe4mEVdQr68
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
11:00 A.M. to 2:00 A.M.
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🍜 Ichiran (Ichiran Ramen – ¥980) 🍜
I can’t have a trip to Japan without Ichiran, so here’s Ichiran. Originating in Fukuoka, Ichiran has stores all across Japan, with a couple located within Dotonbori.
Specializing in a single product – Tonkotsu Ramen – once you’ve selected the ramen and any other side dishes via their vending machine, you’ll then head to one of their seats – a personal booth separating you from any distraction during your ramen-eating experience.
Customize your order through their multiple-choice sheet (hence Ichiran’s nickname: Exam Ramen), and wait for your ramen to arrive.
Once your order is served, you’re in your own private world with a bowl of ramen right in front of you. Ichiran prides itself for having every element of their dining experience crafted to the highest standards. And you know what? I completely agree.
The Tonkotsu broth is rich and creamy, the noodles are cooked to your liking, the pork, the chili sauce… Top it off with a unique dining experience, and Ichiran is easily one of the more memorable parts of one’s trip. I try not to fanboy over Ichiran, but the place makes it very difficult to not do so.
I can go on forever on how good this place is, but I’ll save my full thoughts when I take a deep-dive in a couple of weeks. But, for now, all you need to know is that Ichiran is amazing, and a trip to Japan (at least, to me) isn’t complete without it.
Oh… I should note that Osaka is also well known for their Kitsune Udon (Udon topped with deep fried Aburaage tofu). My advice? Grab some Kitsune Udon at Dotonbori if you want to try out Osaka’s local cuisine, but do keep Ichiran in mind later in your trip.
🍜 Ichiran 🍜
🗺 Map (Store 1) 🗺
https://goo.gl/maps/12s8cjPjrZ6TKKuL9
🗺 Map (Store 2) 🗺
https://goo.gl/maps/EnZK31G9MLYX8cHa8
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
Open 24 hours
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🌇 Glico Sign & Ebisu Bridge 🌇
Street foods aren’t the only main attraction of Dotonbori, of course, as the entire district is prime location for some incredible photos – with the Glico Sign being by far the most famous spot. Originally intended to be an advertisement of the Glico snack brand, the billboard of a man running towards the finish line (through multiple versions since its debut in 1935) has transformed into one of Osaka’s most famous landmarks.
How do you actually grab some good shots of the Glico Sign? By far the most popular would be the Ebisu Bridge, another one of Dotonbori’s iconic landmarks. It’s often extremely crowded, of course, and almost impossible not to include other people in your shot. But let’s be real… it’s probably weirder to take photos here and NOT have anyone at all in your shot.
For a less crowded area, the Tombori walk is also another great spot. Here, you’ll be able to view the Glico Sign in its entirety, and be able to see more than just the billboard. The riverwalk also spans the entire Dotonbori area, so you can always explore around from a different angle.
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🛍 Snacks & Souvenir Shops 🛍
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🍡 Glico-ya Dotonbori Store 🍡
After grabbing some photos at the Dotonbori Glico sign, why not stop by for some Glico sweets? The Glico Store here features a collection of Glico snacks, from Pocky, Pretz and Collon, to limited edition items exclusive to the Dotonbori Store. There’s also a bunch of interesting flavors as well – a few I came across were the Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki flavored Pretz and a seasonal Winter Edition Pocky.
Outside of Glico items, you can also find snacks and other souvenirs from other brands as well, so if you want a place to grab some Japanese-exclusive snacks to try out or bring back home, the Glico-ya store is definitely worth the visit.
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💊 Matsumoto Kiyoshi / Tsuruha / SunDrug 💊
One thing you can always expect to see at Japan’s shopping districts are drugstores, and Dotonbori is no different. Right by the Ebisu Bridge, you can find Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Tsuruha, with SunDrug and other chains located around Dotonbori. These stores don’t just specialize in selling medicine, with areas dedicated to snacks, souvenirs, and cosmetics – many at discount prices. Japanese medicine and cosmetics are quite popular souvenirs (my family asked me to grab some, in fact), so have a look around. Maybe there will be some random item here that catches your eye.
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🛍 Don Quijote / Donki 🛍
Speaking of discount stores, we have Don Quijote (or Donki). Located at the Ebisu Tower (with a fully functional Ferris Wheel), Donki is home to a massive selection of snacks, electronics, medicine, and cosmetics. Donki has always been quite the popular destination for last-minute shopping, as it has just about everything you need (or maybe even more).
Out of all the snacks they have over at Donki, my personal recommendation would have to be BAKE Creamy Cheese. It’s essentially a bite sized cheesecake-like snack that’s sweet and slightly tangy. The crust is somewhat crumbly, but once you bite through that layer, the filling just melts in your mouth. I’m sure there are also other great snacks at Donki, but this is the one I always come back to.
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🗾 Nearby Locations 🗾
Dotonbori is a huge area by itself, and you can easily spend a day or two here. But with a few more districts directly connecting the area, here’s a quick overview of some of the other areas.
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🗾 Shinsaibashi-Suji 🗾
If Dotonbori is all about food, then Shinsaibashi-Suji ‘s all about shopping. Located just north of Dotonbori (and connecting via the Ebisu Bridge) is Shinsaibashi-Suji, a shopping street spanning over 500m filled with shops selling snacks, clothing, and luxury goods.
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🐟 Kuromon Market 🐟
Full Review: Kuromon Market
Dotonbori is usually the liveliest during the afternoon to evening hours, so if you need somewhere to explore in the morning, Kuromon Market offers just that. With fresh seafood delivered that very morning, Kuromon Ichiba is a great place to check out Osaka’s seasonal produce and grab some quick bites (or a full breakfast) to start off the day.
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👾 Den Den Town 👾
Full Review: Den Den Town
Also known as Den Den Town, the area serves like Osaka’s version of Akihabara, with streets lined with shops selling electronics, gaming, and anime products, from chain stores like Mandarake to Sofmap, to local stores offering rare collectibles.
During my stay in Osaka, Den Den Town was the go-to place whenever I needed to take a quick break from exploring Dotonbori (and to burn off those calories after all that eating). From hunting down retro games, to playing Guilty Gear and grabbing prize figures at the Taito Station arcade, if you ever want to experience the anime and gaming side of Japan, then Den Den Town is the place to head to.
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⭐VERDICT⭐
This was by far my longest overview yet, but let’s answer the question: So how good is Dotonbori actually? As THE main area of Osaka, a majority of your time will probably be spent at Dotonbori, and I’m happy to say that Dotonbori is 100% worth the visit. I mean, the area is so vast, there’s almost everything you could possibly need. Great food, beautiful scenery, plenty to shop around. All in all, it’s a great place to visit and spend a couple of days just basking in what Dotonbori has to offer. So if you want to experience one of Osaka’s liveliest streets, while getting some great food and photos for the trip, then Dotonbori is definitely the place to visit.
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🚗HOW TO GET THERE 🚗
Dotonbori’s quite the big area, but the best way to get there is via the Namba metro station (Midosuji, Sennichimae, and Yotsubashi lines). Once there, take the stairs to Exit 14, and it’s only a 5 minute walk away.
Dotonbori
🌏 Location 🌏
1 Chome Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071, Japan
🗺 Map 🗺
https://goo.gl/maps/JRGnsAKkTVa1hRd97
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
Varies by Store
💻 Website 💻
http://www.dotonbori.or.jp/en/
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