La Carmina’s Alternative Osaka Travel Guide

Should you’re searching for an alternate Osaka journey information, you’ve simply landed on the best web page. Japan professional, La Carmina, shares her greatest ideas and recommendation for exploring the extra underground aspect of Osaka.

Solely three hours from Tokyo by bullet prepare, Osaka is a turbo-charged setting for an extended weekend getaway. Though it’s value seeing historic landmarks resembling Osaka Citadel, vacationers shouldn’t miss out on exploring the underground tradition for an alternate perspective of the town. As an example, Osaka is house to a gritty and raucous music scene that’s matched solely by its ingesting holes — the place the workers has feathered and dyed hair, the audio system blast Def Leppard, and the partitions are adorned with grinning skulls.

I’ve been writing about Japan and visiting Osaka for effectively over a decade on my La Carmina travel blog. Listed here are a few of my favourite subculture hangouts within the metropolis, which I hope you’ll get to take a look at in your subsequent journey.

See additionally: A day in Osaka, Japan

Osaka purchasing information

Let’s begin off this different Osaka journey information with just a few classic, indie and distinctive purchasing spots in Osaka.

Shinsaibashi

Shinsaibashi’s Procuring Arcade is a bustling treasure hunt: search for indie and classic boutiques, resembling Harmful Nude, amidst the mass retailers. Close by Amerikamura is the cultural equal of Tokyo’s Harajuku, with Goths, punks and rockers hanging out in Triangle Park (here’s a map of the perfect shops). Poke your head by means of the beaded curtains for cyber vogue, tarot playing cards and Nineteen Eighties toys.

EST Heart

A stone’s throw from Umeda Station, EST is a younger girls’s “purchasing city with dream and pleasure.” The boutiques lure you in with frantic J-pop music and the stylish outfits seen in Cutie and ViVi magazines. If the hundred-plus indie and different outlets aren’t sufficient, throughout the road is Hep Five, a purchasing and leisure megalopolis with a crimson Ferris wheel.

Sightseeing in Osaka

Listed here are just a few extra distinctive sights to go to in Osaka.

Pokemon Heart

Consider it or not, the Pokemon Center is likely one of the prime vacationer sights in all of Japan. The gargantuan Umeda, Osaka retailer is stocked with each character conceivable. Kids in Pikachu hats will remind you that the model’s motto is “gotta catch em all,” so convey your pockets.

Kaiyukan Aquarium

Kaiyukan is likely one of the largest aquariums on the earth and a household favourite. Younger Osaka resident Takumi Tanaka reminisces on his childhood visits. “It’s at all times enjoyable to see the penguins and dolphins enjoying, however my favourite factor to do is go to the Floating Jellyfish tanks. It’s so enjoyable to look at the intertwining tendrils,” he says. “Additionally I like to look at the workers feed the ocean otters, who play like kids.”

Osaka Citadel

Tanaka additionally encourages first-timers to go to the historic Osaka Citadel, particularly throughout the cherry blossom season. “There are at all times festivals and gatherings within the lovely park, and little stalls that promote conventional meals like takoyaki. It’s enjoyable to simply sit on the benches and watch folks go by,” says Tanaka.

Associated tour: Guided Walking Tour around Osaka Castle

Bars and Nightlife in Osaka

What’s an Osaka journey information and not using a listing of the perfect bars and nightlife?

Associated tour: Osaka: Nightlife Experience

Bar Midian

Followers of Visible Kei/J-rockers Blood have been heartbroken when the group disbanded. However like a Goth Elvis, vocalist Fu-ki is alive and ominously wielding an ice decide behind the counter of his Bar Midian.

The Umeda dive is near-impossible to seek out, so I counsel finding out these detailed instructions on my La Carmina Blog. Midian’s decor is a heavy steel wet-dream: a dripping candle sits in a Dracula wine bottle; an axe rests within the umbrella stand. That evening, we sat with tattooed rockers who headbanged to Black Sabbath movies and scandalized us with their boy-on-boy antics.

Drinks are 500 yen and have names resembling Black Rose and Devil. Fu-ki mixes a powerful cocktail and can gladly make you a particular one, or pour you a Belgian Devil Beer. He’s additionally recognized to select up the tab for newcomers, particularly if you happen to bond over music — so don’t neglect to ask him about his Motley Crue cowl band.

Bar Moonwalk

When steel and rock bands tour Osaka, they incessantly cease by Moonwalk, a bar that pumps Marilyn Manson and Japanese glam steel to a younger, heavily-pierced crowd.

My journey comrade and I had an on the spot crush on our eyeliner-smeared server Kouta, who performs bass in a brand new Visible Kei band. The fantasy pale a little bit when he went into the kitchen to cook dinner our orders: tasty 315 yen plates of Korean fried rice and lotus pork truffles. There’s a 400 yen cowl cost, however the drink menu — which has over 300 choices for 200 yen every – greater than makes up for it. Acquired a candy tooth? Strive the raspberry yogurt cocktail. Extra of a hardcore kind? Go for the brandy ginger mixer. And don’t be shocked if the charming bartender brings over free photographs.

Bar Rock Rock

Alice Cooper. Unhealthy Faith. Motley Crue. Metallica. They’re among the many a whole lot of famed faces who’ve raised hell at Rock Rock for the reason that bar opened in 1995, forsaking autographed pictures and tales of destruction.

The environment jogs my memory of a very chill jazz membership, solely with screamo vocals. The bar performs something from punk to steel and has occasions all year long that herald throngs of rock followers. These embody particular DJ nights resembling Hell’s Bells (AC/DC), Emotion is Lifeless (emo) and the self-explanatory Loud & Heavy.

The menu is a typical choice of pizzas, pastas and salads (600-800 yen). The drinks are requirements, plus a choice of fruity cocktails (500-800 yen). Just a little pricy, however value it once they’re poured by movie star bartender “Noxl Rose.”

Meals in Osaka

Take your tastebuds on an journey.

See additionally: Japanese Pork Chop in Downtown Osaka

Okonomiyaki

Non-Japanese audio system, memorize the phrase “okonomiyaki.” It’s a tragedy if you happen to go away with out tasting the grilled savory pancake (often with seafood, and topped with bonito flakes and brown sauce) that’s Kansai’s soul meals. Search for household eating places resembling Tengu, the place recipes are handed down from a number of generations.

Takoyaki

Takoyaki — grilled octopus balls comprised of pouring batter into molds — are one other Osaka specialty. Each main road has a stand the place you should purchase a dozen for 500 yen. Twists on the unique embody egg or melted cheese toppings, and takoyaki stuffed in a crepe. However nothing beats mom-and-pop outlets, resembling Tako Home at Umeda station, the place a shy grandma oversees the cooking.

Yuzu (citrus fruit)

Yuzu is a divine mating between a lemon and a tangerine. In Osaka, you’ll discover the flavour in seemingly each kind of dish: sorbet, sake, shochu. The fruit is never discovered contemporary exterior of Japan, so don’t hesitate to gorge on it at each meal.

Associated tour: Eat Like a Local Street Food Tour

Day Journeys from Osaka

If you wish to escape from Osaka for a day, try just a few of those close by locations.

Kobe

Take a jaunt to Kobe to discover its excellent parks, zoo, and harbor. For a stroll on the darkish aspect, go to Gothic / fetish / occult / Satanic Bar Idea. The pleasant girls behind the nail-spiked bar will chat with you and carry out darkish rituals, together with shibari or rope bondage demonstrations.

Nara

Get away from the grit with a day journey to Nara, solely an hour away by subway. The cultural capital dazzles with six Buddhist temples, a Shinto shrine and the Imperial Place. However the greatest thrill, for vacationers of all ages, is petting the sacred deer that roam in Nara Park.

Associated tour: From Kyoto or Osaka: Private Walking Tour through Nara

Kyoto

Kyoto is positioned north of Osaka, and residential to hundreds of well-preserved locations of worship resembling Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion). First constructed within the 14^th century, the three-story gilded construction holds the Buddha’s ashes and is about in an beautiful backyard with a mirror pond.

Associated tour: From Osaka: Kyoto Top Highlights Day Trip