Dotonbori Shoutengai Shinkou Kumiai

This is the Times Square of Osaka. Our hotel was near the area, so we definitely came out to wander the streets of Osaka. Plenty of food options, restaurants, pharmacies, shops, etc. You can spend forever here, haha. :) We ate fugu at a famous puffer fish restaurant, and ate some crepes for dessert too. Very busy and kinda chaotic at night too, since so many people are out and about. :) Stay alert! So many flashing lights!

Traveling by train from Kyoto to Osaka and then by local train to find this place was confusing so by the time we got here I was starving and grumpy. Good thing this place is foodie heaven! A whole street with food stalls and restaurants dedicated to food! Eat till you drop dead!
Takoyaki and okonomiyaki are the main features here. Be prepared to wait in line under the hanging statue of a gigantic octopus for a delicious paper boat filled with takoyaki– dumpling versions filled with little pieces of squid topped with fish flakes, seaweed, and mayonnaise – believe me it is good! Next we wandered down the street and took stairs downward to this basement restaurant for okonomiyaki. It is kind of like a pancake where there is batter mixed with anything you want: we got the deluxe: yakisoba noodles with pork, shrimp, scallops, bacon, all mixed together in a pancake and topped with 6 fried eggs and served to us on a hot griddle. Go crazy and make up any combination you want!
That’s all out stomachs could hold for yhe night. I definitely would have came here everyday if our hotel was located in Osaka! There are so many food places to try!
Oh and don’t forget to check out the souvenier shops to bring back takoyaki treats for your friends back home!

My hostel was located right across the street from this, so we ventured through this plaza every day in search of food whenever we were heading back to the hostel for the night.
Rows and rows of small businesses, shops, arcades and restaurants make up this space. Morning are usually pretty empty, but this place starts buzzing around lunch, dinner and late night.
What I found most intriguing were the restaurant displays. Almost every window had fake food, but some larger restaurants had giant displays of their specialties, like gyoza, crab or octopus. Like another reviewer mentioned, it’s comparable to New York’s Time Square or I guess another would be the strip in Vegas. It can get pretty bright and flashy with all the lights and it’s quite a scene when there are promoters on the street yelling about some show or new restaurant/​shop.
My friend and I found quite a few small gems for dinner here a. Most places also state outside their doors that they have English or translated menus. Always a plus!
Restaurants in the area seem to be familiar with a large number of tourists so they seem to be very curious about you and will occasionally engage in conversation with their limited English. It’s the effort that counts and I appreciate it!

Dotonbori for Osaka is what Times Square is for New York City— a main tourist attraction with flashing lights and glowing energy. However, Dotonbori is much more safe and not many cars pass through. Osaka does have tourism, but I find that most of it is domestic. There were only some tour groups from China, but other than that… it gets busy, but not like shoulder to shoulder busy. Dotonbori is also great, because some of the food stalls may beckon, but no one would ever tout on foot. A very safe and fun family atmosphere.
There are multiple activities going on at all times. But, most people come to Dotonbori for shopping, food, and scenery. There are many souvenir shops and international stores, like H&M and Forever 21. With the trendy shops come cool teenagers dressed up in the latest fashions and then some, plus cosplay costumes. I enjoy walking along with river waterfront and taking in the organized chaos along the corridor walls. The riverboat cruise is also an excellent way to see and experience the riverfront.
If you are a graphic designer, or interested in unique 3D mechanical moving storefronts, then Dotonbori is essentially a free amusement park for the senses.
If you visit Japan, I highly recommend not only going to Tokyo, but try visiting Osaka. And, if you visit Osaka, a convenient and must go-​to place is Dotonbori.