La Carmina’s Alternative Osaka Travel Guide

Should you’re in search of another Osaka journey information, you’ve simply landed on the suitable web page. Japan skilled, 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 similar to Osaka Fort, vacationers shouldn’t miss out on exploring the underground tradition for another perspective of town. As an example, Osaka is residence to a gritty and raucous music scene that’s matched solely by its ingesting holes — the place the employees 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 nicely over a decade on my La Carmina travel blog. Listed below 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 buying information

Let’s begin off this different Osaka journey information with a couple of classic, indie and distinctive buying spots in Osaka.

Shinsaibashi

Shinsaibashi’s Procuring Arcade is a bustling treasure hunt: search for indie and classic boutiques, similar to 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 most effective shops). Poke your head by way of the beaded curtains for cyber vogue, tarot playing cards and Nineteen Eighties toys.

EST Middle

A stone’s throw from Umeda Station, EST is a younger ladies’s “buying 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 retailers aren’t sufficient, throughout the road is Hep Five, a buying and leisure megalopolis with a pink Ferris wheel.

Sightseeing in Osaka

Listed below are a couple of extra distinctive sights to go to in Osaka.

Pokemon Middle

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

Kaiyukan Aquarium

Kaiyukan is likely one of the largest aquariums on this planet 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 stress-free to look at the intertwining tendrils,” he says. “Additionally I really like to look at the employees feed the ocean otters, who play like youngsters.”

Osaka Fort

Tanaka additionally encourages first-timers to go to the historic Osaka Fort, particularly in the course of the cherry blossom season. “There are at all times festivals and gatherings within the stunning 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 most effective bars and nightlife?

Associated tour: Osaka: Nightlife Experience

Bar Midian

Followers of Visible Kei/J-rockers Blood had 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 search out, so I recommend learning 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 similar to 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 identified to choose 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 continuously 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 instantaneous crush on our eyeliner-smeared server Kouta, who performs bass in a brand new Visible Kei band. The fantasy light somewhat when he went into the kitchen to cook dinner our orders: tasty 315 yen plates of Korean fried rice and lotus pork desserts. 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. Bought a candy tooth? Attempt the raspberry yogurt cocktail. Extra of a hardcore sort? Go for the brandy ginger mixer. And don’t be stunned if the charming bartender brings over free photographs.

Bar Rock Rock

Alice Cooper. Dangerous Faith. Motley Crue. Metallica. They’re among the many lots of of famed faces who’ve raised hell at Rock Rock for the reason that bar opened in 1995, forsaking autographed photographs 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 usher in throngs of rock followers. These embrace particular DJ nights similar to Hell’s Bells (AC/DC), Emotion is Useless (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). Slightly pricy, however value it after they’re poured by celeb 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 depart 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 similar to 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 avenue has a stand the place you should purchase a dozen for 500 yen. Twists on the unique embrace egg or melted cheese toppings, and takoyaki stuffed in a crepe. However nothing beats mom-and-pop retailers, similar to 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 sort of dish: sorbet, sake, shochu. The fruit is never discovered recent outdoors 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 a couple of 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 women 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 similar to 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 ready in an beautiful backyard with a mirror pond.

Associated tour: From Osaka: Kyoto Top Highlights Day Trip