Osaka's Dotonbori is a place that is always lively with the local people and tourists. It’s an iconic symbol of Osaka, full of energy, with lots of places to see and things to do. You can find tons of places to eat, good places to shop for souvenirs, and is of course a great place to go sightseeing. Below are 10 things to do while you’re in Dotonbori.
How to get to Dotonbori, Osaka
Dotonbori is an area in central Osaka. It gets its name from the Dotonbori river running on it’s north side. It’s a quick walk from either of the 4 stations below, so it’s in a very convenient place.
- Namba Station (Midosuji Subway Line, Yotsuhashi Line, Sennichimae Line) (map)
- Nihonbashi Station (Sakaisuji Subway Line, Sennichimae Line) (map)
- Osaka Namba Station (Hanshin Dentetsu Line, Kintetsu Line) (map)
- Namba Station (Nankai Dentetsu Line) (map)
Website: http://www.dotonbori.or.jp/en/
11 Things to do in Dotonbori, Osaka
1. Takoyaki
Have you ever heard of Takoyaki? It’s one of the delicious fast foods that Osaka is famous for. They are little balls of baked batter with boiled octopus inside and eaten with a sauce spread on top. It may not sound too tasty when described in words but you’ll find it’s quite delectable. It is popular with foreign tourists as well as the locals. There are many stores in Dotonbori that sell Takoyaki. Usually they’re sold by a set of eight or ten Takoyaki balls, but some sell them in smaller quantities sandwiched between two rice crackers so that you can eat it while walking around. Below are some Takoyaki stores you can try.
- Takoya Dotonbori Kukuru Main Shop (1F Hakua Bldg, 1-10-5 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka) (map)
- Takoyaki Ohako (1F Chuza Kuidaore Bldg, 1-7-21 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka) (map)
- Takohachi (1-5-10 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka) (map)
- Takoyaki Doraku Wanaka (1-6-7 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka) (map)
Looking for more specific reccomendations? Talk to an Osaka local guide about reating a custom food tour of your own!
2. Kani Doraku Osaka Main Shop
Kani Doraku is a restaurant where you can eat crab cuisine. There are different types of menus you can choose from, but you’ll be able to eat fresh crab, fried crab, steamed crab, baked crab, boiled crab, etc. The price starts around a minimum of 5,000 yen so it’s a bit expensive, but worth it if you want to eat your fill of delicious crab.
It’s a popular restaurant so you should try to make a reservation through the website or by calling beforehand. They have branches all over Japan, so if you’re not able to go in Dotonbori, you can try go in another area.
Address: 1-6-18 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka (map)
Website: https://douraku.co.jp/en/
3. Dotonbori Kukuru Konamon Museum
“Konamon” is a unique food culture of the Kansai region of Japan. “Kona” means flour and “mon” means things, so “konamon” means food made out of flour. There are many things made out of a flour based batter like “takoyaki” (explained above) or “okonomiyaki” which is cabbage mixed in with batter and topped with slices of pork or seafood, then fried on a hot plate. At this museum, you’ll be able to learn about the history of this food culture and also eat “takoyaki”. You can choose the ingredients and try make your own unique “takoyaki” too so this could be a fun thing to do for kids.
Address: 1-6-12 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka (map)
Website: https://www.shirohato.com/konamon-m/
4. Glico Billboard
This billboard is one of the most symbolic things of Osaka. Tourists flock to the Ebisu Bridge in Dotonbori to take a picture with this billboard. The billboard itself was first put up in 1935. Now, the 6th version of the ad is made out of LED lights, so the background of the marathon runner in the ad changes after sunset. If you do go take a picture of this billboard, don’t forget to pose in the same position as the marathon runner in the ad with both your hands and your left leg up. The nearby Ebisu Bridge serves as a good photo-spot for this iconic sign.
Address: 1-10-2 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka (map)
5. Tombori Cruise
Another way to see the Dotonbori area is from the canal. There is a 20 minute cruise through the area and it’ll give you a unique view of the area, one which is different from just walking around. It’s not too expensive and there is a cruise departing every hour and half hour during the business hours, so it’s very convenient time-wise. You can get on from the dock in front of the Don Quixote store. It’s the building with a small Ferris Wheel attached to its side.
Fees: 1200 yen / adults , 800 yen for junior students, 400 yen / children
Business hours: 11 am to 9 pm (departures every hour and half hour)
Address: 7-13 Souemoncho, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Website: https://osaka-info.jp/en/page/tombori-river-cruise
6. Tombori River Walk
The Tombori River Walk is a deck along both sides of the canal between Sakaisuji and Midosuji Avenues. You can enjoy a cool walk along the river while enjoying the sights of Dotonbori. You can watch as the river cruise glides by and stroll along while eating some of the delicious fast foods that the Dotonbori area has to offer. The view of the neon lights that adorn all the buildings at night is also an amazing sight to see.
Website: http://www.tonbori.jp/
7. Kuidaore Taro
“Kuidaore Taro” is the name of a doll in a clown suit. This is another famous sightseeing spot that symbolizes Osaka. It’s a not quite life sized doll, but it’s not the actual doll that’s famous, but the concept it symbolizes. It was a mascot for a now gone restaurant called Kuidaore, and had become famous bit by bit since around the early 1990s.
Now it stands in the entrance of the new Nakaza Kuidaore building. “Kuidaore” means to eat till you drop and that’s the spirit the city of Osaka embodies. The food culture of this unique city is something you won’t find anywhere else in Japan, so make sure you try eating this and that when visiting.
Address: Nakaza Kuidaore Bldg., 1-8-22 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (map)
Website: http://nakaza-cuidaore.com/en/
8. Nanba Grand Kagetsu
This is a theater created for laughter. The Yoshimoto Kogyo company holds performances everyday of Japanese comedy. There are modern performances like stand-up comedy and there are more traditional performances called “rakugo”, where people in kimonos tell entertaining stories. It’s an unique cultural experience that you can’t have anywhere but in Japan. So try it if you’re interested even if you can’t understand Japanese.
Tickets: Prices Vary
Address: 11-6 Nambasennichimaecho, Chuo-ku, Osaka (map)
Website: https://osaka-info.jp/en/page/namba-grand-kagetsu
9. Osaka Shochukiza
This is a western style theater where plays and kabuki performances are held. It is managed by the same company as the Kabukiza theater in Tokyo, so you’ll be able to see the same performances as in Tokyo, as the Kabuki theater actors travel around the country holding performances.
Kabuki is one of Japan’s three major traditional theater and is a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. So, if you have the chance, make sure you try and catch a performance. It’s quite interesting as you get to see actors in traditional kimono costumes and it’s pretty different from western theater.
Ticket fees: depends on the performance
Address: 1-9-9 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka (map)
Website: https://www.shochiku.com/
10. Ichibiri-an (souvenirs)
If you want to buy souvenirs from Osaka, this is one of the shops you can visit in the Osaka area. They have about 4,000 choices to choose from so it should take you some time to look through it all. And they’re open until 11 pm, so you’ll still have time to visit the store even after you’ve had dinner. Sometimes you’re so busy sightseeing during the day, night time is the only time you have to do some shopping so the late closing time is a lifesaver.
Business hours: 10:30 am - 11 pm
Address: 1-7-21 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka (map)
Osaka is a busy city with lots to offer besides what you’ll find in the Dotonbori area. A tour of this city is a great way to spend your time. GoWithGuide provides a service of matching customers with the best tour and guide for them. It’s like a marketplace of guides where you are able to choose the guide and tour that you really want.
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Most of the tours are walking tours. They are created so that you can use the public transportation system while sightseeing and get a feel the transportation system around the city. It’s also an experience that will give you insight on how the local people move around. However, there is also an option of hiring a private car and driver for your tour or just to get around. This option is helpful or necessary for people with disabilities or elderly people who aren’t able to walk for long distances. Catching a taxi is also an option, but sometimes it becomes more expensive, so hiring a car is convenient and cost efficient.
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