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First impressions of OSAKA, Japan - I did not expect this!
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First impressions of OSAKA, Japan – I did not expect this!



First impressions of OSAKA, Japan – I did not expect this!

Hi everyone! I am still in the Land of the Rising Sun, and in this video, I’m exploring Japan’s third largest city – Osaka.

The vlog starts off with me visiting Osaka Castle and the surrounding park. The castle was built in the 16th century by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but had to be rebuilt and restored on several occasions, including under the Tokugawa Shogunate, which highly valued the security of Japan and adopted an isolationist stance.

After walking around the castle complex and noticing several interesting features, including a time capsule preserving the future so to speak, and a vending machine selling Häagen-Dazs ice cream (because this is Japan!), I decide to head into the city to explore more, including a stop at my hotel to arm myself with warmer attire in the form of a beanie and a scarf. Along the way, I show the breakfast options at the hotel I stayed at. I also stop for a latte at the Family Mart, one of several convenience store chains in Japan. I talk about the industrial makeover Osaka and Japan in general experienced in the 20th century, where “Made in Japan” became a symbol of quality – think of companies such as Panasonic and Sony in the electronics space and several automotive companies including Toyota, Nissan and Honda.

I pass several food establishments selling some interesting food choices, showing me that Osaka is indeed the Kitchen of Japan. I also walk through a seemingly cosmopolitan part of the city featuring several Italian restaurants, coffee shops with English names and even a seemingly English tea shop. Walking along one of the rivers, I also come across Western architectural styles in the form of the Osaka Central Public Hall. Before arriving at my hotel, I pass several statues and notice more of the concrete muscle of the city.

Warmer attire suitably gathered at the hotel, I head to Tenjinbashi-suji (or Tenjinbashisuji) shopping street, the longest shopping street in all of Japan – stretching about 2.6 km! The street has deep historical roots that date back to the early Edo period, which began in 1603 under Tokugawa Ieyasu. The street originally developed around Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, a famous Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of learning, Sugawara no Michizane. Merchants and visitors coming to the shrine, especially for the Tenjin Matsuri (one of Japan’s most famous festivals), naturally created demand for markets and shops in the surrounding area. Over time, this evolved into a formal shopping street, gradually expanding into what is now Japan’s longest covered shopping arcade. In the arcade, I come across two Japanese gentlemen who struggled to communicate with me, but were nonetheless curious about my activities.

I then decide to take a ride on the Osaka Metro towards the Dotonbori area. I take a train to Nippombashi station and walk towards the entertainment area, looking amongst other things to see the famous Glico Man. But in no way was I prepared for the experience I eventually had. I strolled along a magnificent street featuring neon lights, colourful signs, interesting stalls and art and an electric atmosphere. Through all the madness, I make my way to the Glico Man, where the vlog ends. Or does it? You will have to wait and see 😊

I hope you enjoy this vlog on Osaka! If you haven’t done it yet, please hit the LIKE and SUBSCRIBE buttons, and leave a COMMENT for me in the comments section. Sharing this video also helps spread the word and gives the algorithm a nudge to promote the video further. Your support in this regard is greatly appreciated.

Happy exploring!

Willie

#osakavlog #japantravel #dotonbori

皆さん、こんにちは！私はまだ日の出ずる国にいます。今回の動画では、日本で3番目に大きな都市、大阪を探索しています。楽しんでいただけたら嬉しいです！

23 Comments

  2. @MilanFornusek

    Thanks for another great video. I like that you're always well prepared when visiting a city. Is it possible to go inside that Osaka's castle? And are you going to visit the Expo 2025?

  3. @VeganAfrikanerTraveller

    Baie interessante video, Willie! Ek het gedink ek sal weer die 1ste een wees wat hier kommentaar lewer, maar iemand met 'n 1 woord opmerking het my voorgespring! Baie indrukwekkende kasteel daai aan die begin. Dit moet seker vrek duur wees as jy nie ingegaan het nie! Jy't paar keer in jou Japan reeks genoem dat dit net in Japan is waar mens masjiene sal sien waar hulle drankies verkoop, maar hier in Hong Kong is dit oral. Ek het dit ook al in Malasie gesien. Daar het hulle baie spoggerige "vending machines" wat vir jou 'n vars vrugtesap maak as jy 'n 5 ringgit noot in dit sit. Ek's bly jy kon met van die mense in die episode praat. Een ding wat my nogal verbaas is dat jy nog nie oor die vrouens se pragtige lang, swart hare gepraat het nie. Dis iets wat my ma mal oor is en 'n ou soos jy, wat self lang hare het, kan dit mos nie miskyk nie😉 Weet jy dalk wat daai goue kalf simboliseer wat prominent vertoon het tydens jou aand stappie. Dit laat my dink aan die goue kalf wat Aaron gemaak het toe Moses op die berg was!

  5. @ratel8598

    Loved the English tea shop and its queue of people. Osaka looks like a very organised city and super clean, as expected. The metro will confuse me with all those different signs. Dotonbori district looks great especially at night.

  6. @johanvandersandt8904

    Baie indrukwekende kasteel! Ek love time capsules! Daar is net iets interesants daaraan om te dink dat mense van een era goed stoor om vir mense in n ander era te wys hoe hulle geleef het. Vir daai ding om n paar duisend jaar te hou moet hy redelik solied wees! Baie groot verskeidenheid kos vir ontbyt. Lyk heerlik! Daai plek lyk baie "glitzy". Dis een groot toeriste aantreklikheid! Hoop jou naweek loop mooi Willie!

  9. @errol-zs1aci

    Another very insightful video! The castle, the neon signs, the figurines, and all the food stalls were absolutely amazing. It looked like you were inside a Christmas tree! Thank you for showing me places and things I’ll probably never experience in person. Groete en baie dankie.

  10. @turquoiseblue228

    I enjoyed the Castle and the last bit (Dotonbori?) as they are very Japanese. The middle bit could be anywhere in a large city, so not interesting at all. Why don't you go to more Japanese places in Japan, like Shinto shrines, zen temples, gardens and parks with Japanese vegetation, etc? Also, isn't Osaka on the sea? No view of the harbour etc? I'm just giving suggestions to increase your audience. You need to show beautiful typical things of the country, not concrete buildings and coffee-machines and the price of Coca-Cola. I will visit my son in Tokyo in May, so I'm looking forward to the next video about Tokyo. Cheers.

  16. @mayousimon1

    Another awesome video willie it's inspiring interesting ideal peacefully but reminds me of inspiration from blade runner as rick deckard. Hopefully we get more video of you visiting these iconic places Illustrated night life and i like highlights of mythical symbols of city shopping areas and other outstanding centres of the city thanks willie!

  17. @sheilam4525

    I am shocked at the amount of vending machines there are for a country that prides itself on cleanliness, as the level of bacteria is extremely high! You should have got a drink in the English tea shop, Willie, would have been nice to see inside there. The castle was very impressive. It's a shame that Osaka has lost it's identity by following European trends. I liked the street with all the lights but far too busy for me!

  18. @AZqyc

    Hey, Mr Willie … thanks for bringing back some really nice memories from Osaka. Neat city in a neat country. Now, let me guess … Kyoto is next??!!

  19. @SabineR-q7j

    Hi Willie thank you for the efforts you gave
    I liked Osaka
    Very different vibe from Tokyo

    All the best and we are looking forward to next one

  20. @christineketland1345

    Hi Willie, sorry not been on recently. Fascinating place particularly liked the evening bit with so much lit up… love the cow in the air . It’s inevitable that cities start to look alike as tourism is big business and people like a bit of familiarity. Always love your historic facts . Amazing the amount of vending machines not sure I actually like that aspect but with such large amount of population and tourists I suppose it’s the quickest method. Need to backtrack on your other vlogs . Keep well my friend 😊

  22. @marygird7715

    Hi Willie what a great city, the new and the old, very nice how they keep their heritage in Japan, the Castle is very beautiful. Loved all the shopping areas and signage on display,ING all the foods