Osaka: What To See and Where To Eat

Above, restaurants in Osaka's Dotonbori have interesting signage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The United Kingdom's Evening Standard has an article on what to see and where to eat in Osaka, Japan.

They wrote:

Osaka is considered the food capital of Japan and while it’s not always at the top of most travellers' ‘must do’ lists, it is worth a visit to sample the large variety of local cuisine on offer and to immerse yourself in the Osaka philosophy of ‘kuidaore' - to eat, drink and enjoy life!

Like Tokyo, Osaka is a happening place with neon lights and picturesque streets wherever you turn - but on a much smaller scale than the Japanese capital. While there are a few tourist pulls, like the impressive Osaka Castle and the aquarium, Osaka is really all about the food. It also makes a great base for day trips to other cities like Hiroshima, Kobe or visiting the Buddhist monks in Koyasan.

Like much of Japan, each restaurant specialises in a different cuisine and the best way to rub shoulders with the locals is at some of the city’s best food hotspots through a tour provided by Inside Asia Tours, which tailor make itineraries to suit all interests, budgets or time frames. On the Osaka street-tour, a local expert talks you through everything you are eating and even explains how you can recreate the star dishes at home.

The first thing all foodie fans should do is head to Dotonbori. Part of downtown Osaka and very much the place to be, Dotonbori plays host to some of Osaka’s finest eateries (you'll spot the good spots by the queues forming outside). The city was both the founding place of conveyor belt sushi as well as the plastic food trend - a Japanese tradition that you will spot in almost every restaurant around the country. Opening a restaurant in this food hub is all about standing out and so the shop fronts feature eye-catching, larger-than-life recreations of the food served inside.

To read more, go here.