5 Day Osaka Vlog: Coffee Shops, Street Food & Hidden Temples | Osaka Travel Guide 2025 + Kyoto
Taking Peach Aviation’s inaugural flight from Singapore to Osaka. Not exactly my favorite flight timing though (red-eye flight) My first stop after dropping luggage at the hotel Chose a hotel near Glitch Coffee Osaka so I could have this every day Glitch Coffee – The “Best Coffee Ever” in Osaka. And yes, it’s expensive Prices start at 1,000 yen per cup, going higher for rare beans This latte (Colombia Risaralda Milan) with melon notes costs ¥1,300 (S$11.6) GLITCH COFFEE is known for single-origin, light roast coffees with unique flavor profiles, often described as having melon notes It’s excellent coffee but just too extravagant for a cup I’ve visited Japan over 10 times, but this is my first time trying this local chain Komeda’s Coffee is a popular Japanese coffeehouse chain originally from Nagoya Known for traditional Japanese-style coffee, breakfast sets (including free toast with morning coffee), and warm atmosphere Ordered their signature Shiro Noir ¥650 (S$5.7) – soft serve on Danish pastry And their Cocoa ¥540 (S$4.7) since I already had coffee Found a hidden spot to view the famous Dotonbori Glico Sign from above Missed this spot when I visited years ago I love people-watching while traveling – observing local behaviors, interactions and styles Decided to head back early to rest Some local TV time before bed Doing a day trip to Kyoto today My last Kyoto trip was 6 years ago with my sister Here for this temple’s amazing autumn vibes Ryōan-ji Temple and its gardens are listed as Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and a UNESCO World Heritage Site Japan’s most famous rock garden, originally an aristocrat’s villa during the Heian Period The garden consists of a rectangular plot of pebbles surrounded by low earthen walls With 15 rocks arranged in small groups on patches of moss A unique design feature: from any viewpoint, at least one rock is always hidden Morning visits recommended when crowds are smaller I came around 11am and it got crowded and noisy Back to Osaka Station Unagi no Nakasho specializes in eel dishes, with hitsumabushi being highly recommended Rated very well at 3.32 stars on Tabelog Of course I ordered the Hitsumabushi set ¥4,380 (S$38) Kansai-style grilled eel served with three condiments and fragrant soup stock Three ways to enjoy: 1) Plain grilled eel 2) With condiments 3) Pour broth over remaining portion like ochazuke The grilled eel here is fantastic Hidden in Minoh’s hills, Katsuoji Temple is where emperors and warriors prayed for victory for centuries This temple near Osaka is famous for its thousands of daruma dolls believed to bring good luck But people mainly come for this photo spot A group of elderly pilgrims Founded by award-winning head roaster Yuya Iwasaki They serve rare specialty coffee varieties at this temple of artisanal brews Started in 1992 as a liquor shop selling imported sweets and miscellaneous goods Now features coffee products and a deli with imported goods complementing their wine and coffee offerings A café latte here costs ¥400 (S$3.5) – incredibly cheap for such quality Their ¥200 (S$1.75) donuts are excellent, freshly made daily Woke up very early today A musician doing a photoshoot Yes, I’m here for this Osaka landmark It’s actually majestically huge Osaka Castle during golden hour 🙂 Found a coffee shop near the castle for breakfast With an amazing view Do you also always visit local markets when traveling? Tenma Market is Japan’s oldest wholesale market, established in 1975 Should have come earlier – most shops were already closed Randomly passed a hidden local favorite – Hiroko Takoyaki near Temma Station 3.5 stars on Tabelog (anything above 3.5 is considered VERY GOOD in Japan) Hidden in an alley – comment if you want the exact location Next stop: Osaka’s famous lion head temple As expected, crowded with people photographing the lion head So I explored the temple and got my goshuin instead What is goshuin? Literally “honorable red seal” – stamps collected at Shinto shrines/Buddhist temples as pilgrimage records This is where you get the goshuin And some temple lucky charms One of Osaka’s most popular souvenirs: Buta-man (steamed pork buns) from 551 HORAI Made fresh daily with no preservatives – fluffy buns with savory-sweet filling Bought 2 for ¥460 (S$4) As a bun lover, I had to try these Filling: minced pork with sweet onions and ginger Soft fluffy bun with savory-slightly sweet filling Coming from Singapore with diverse buns, these were just okay The mustard sauce didn’t suit my taste Traditional market full of delicious scents, Osaka energy, and tourists Escaped the crowds right after lunch Look at these crowds A retro-style old butcher shop Love wandering randomly to explore This is slow travel – experiencing local life A laundromat with color-changing lights Retro-style Junkissa American café in Dotonbori The displayed food makes you want to try everything Another Osaka must-eat: Takoyaki Osaka-style takoyaki has a soft, creamy interior Topped generously with green onions ¥500 (S$4.2) for 8 pieces Last day in Osaka but had to visit this place Mel Coffee Roasters started in Osaka (2016) Ranked 3rd in World’s 50 Best Cafes (2019) Shinmachi specialty café serving Melbourne-inspired brews Rich coffee with diverse blends Met a Portuguese woman with a vintage film camera while queuing Had the Geisha latte with A2 milk ¥2,000 (S$17.6) – pricey but worth it Complex aromas, smooth texture, distinctive flavors Taking Nankai Electric Railway’s “Rapi:t” Limited Express to Kansai Airport Known for its retro-futuristic design with circular windows Regular adult ticket: ¥1,300 (S$11.4) one-way Thank you for watching till the end Please follow and subscribe
Touched down in Osaka!
I hopped on Peach Aviation’s inaugural flight from Singapore to Osaka (yes, red-eye 😅) and spent the next few days slow-traveling through hidden cafés, nostalgic streets, and serene temples—with way too many snacks in between.
First things first: coffee.
I planned my entire stay around Glitch Coffee Osaka (no regrets), tried the classic old school vibes at Komeda’s Coffee, and finally visited Mel Coffee Roasters, one of Asia’s top-ranked cafés. Also stumbled into an award-winning roastery, Takamura Coffee Roasters tucked inside a industrial-like space—plus fresh donuts. Win.
For a bit of peace, I made my way to:
– Katsuoji Temple in Minoh: home to thousands of lucky daruma dolls
– Ryōan-ji in Kyoto: Japan’s iconic zen rock garden
– Namba Yasaka Shrine: the famous lion-head temple you’ve probably seen online
As always, food was a big part of the journey.
From grilled unagi at Unagi no Nakasho, fluffy pork buns from 551 Horai, to legit takoyaki hidden in the alleys of Temma—I tasted as much as I could fit into a day. (And my jeans.)
Caught golden hour at Osaka Castle, explored Tenma Market, and ended it all with a ride on the retro-futuristic Nankai Rapi:t Train back to Kansai Airport.
📍Places featured in this vlog:
1. Glitch Coffee Osaka
2. Komeda’s Coffee
3. Mel Coffee Roasters
4. Katsuoji Temple
5. Takamura Coffee Roasters
6. Ryōan-ji Temple, Kyoto
7. Namba Yasaka Shrine
8. Osaka Castle
9. Tully’s Coffee
10. Tenma Market
11. Hiroko Takoyaki
12. Unagi no Nakasho
13. 551 Horai
14. Dotonbori
If you love slow travel, hidden spots, and a whole lot of food + feels—this one’s for you.
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