Osaka Travel Guide 🇯🇵 What to Eat, See & Do in 2 Days

Osaka Travel Guide 🇯🇵 What to Eat, See & Do in 2 Days

This is Osaka, known as the kitchen of Japan and 
famous for its nightlife, neon-lined streets, and, of course, food. We’ve only got two days 
to eat, explore, and experience as much as we can in what might be Japan’s best city. Along 
the way, we’ll share the best spots we find and a few travel hacks to help you make the most 
out of your trip. So, what are we waiting for? First up, we’re headed to Osaka Castle. This is 
one of the most iconic sites in the city and one of the most famous castles in all of Japan. And 
let’s be honest—who doesn’t love a good castle? The castle grounds are massive, 
at around one square kilometer, but it’s easy to get around because they 
have trains. You can book single rides for 300 to 400 yen or a day pass for 1,000. 
Better yet, entrance to the castle and rides on the train are included with your 
Osaka Amazing Pass, which you can pick up on Klook by scanning this QR code or checking 
out the link in the description of the video. We’re here at the Osaka Castle, 
and to say that it is beautiful is an understatement. You see the pictures 
and you’re like, “Oh, that looks cool.” But honestly, I wasn’t super excited 
to come visit, and I’m very, very happy that I did—because this is by far one of the 
most impressive castles that I’ve ever seen. There is a museum inside and a 360° observation 
deck from the top. But because of all of the people that are here, I can’t imagine being 
inside that building crammed shoulder to shoulder with everybody. And you can’t take 
photos or videos on levels three and four, so I think we’re going to pass and go 
get some food, ‘cause we’re starving. This is a time capsule from the 
World Expo in 1970. Apparently, it’s not meant to be opened until 
the year 6970, which is like 5,000 years later—which is just mind-blowing. I 
wish I was here to see what cool trinkets from 70s Japan had here, but I won’t be… 
‘cause that’s just not how life works. On our way to grab some food, we’re stopping by 
the Osaka Tenmangu Shrine. The complex is huge, with countless smaller shrines tucked inside—our 
favorite one being this one dedicated to the spirit Inari. The bright orange torii gates 
and fox statues give this place a vibe that just stands out from the rest. We’d stay 
longer, but Osaka doesn’t wait for anyone. That was such a peaceful and beautiful 
shrine. Now that we’re in Tenma, a vibey little local neighborhood outside 
of the center of Osaka, it only makes sense to check out Tenjinbashi-suji, which 
is Japan’s longest shopping arcade. This massive covered arcade is over 2 km long 
and packed full of quirky shops, cafes, and izakayas—which is right up our alley. Apparently, 
it takes like 40 minutes to walk this whole thing, and it became really popular when it became 
the main approach to the shrine we just left. I’ve never been to shopping arcades 
before—never saw them—but we’ve seen them in Japan everywhere. And so far, 
this looks like one of the coolest ones. Did you see this place?
No. I think we should check it out. It’s 
apparently the railway lost item market. What?!
Yeah, I think we should go check it out.
Yeah, for sure. Yep, you heard that right. This shop 
sells items that were lost and never claimed from the JR train lines. You 
can find anything in here—silk kimonos, stuffed toys and collectibles, 
hats, watches, wallets—you name it. We picked up a Jim Thompson silk coin purse, 
magnetic phone ring, and a brand new Uniqlo long sleeve shirt for so cheap. If I didn’t drag Ashley 
out of here, we’d have bought the whole place. When it comes to looking for food, we 
always find the best places are usually tucked away in the little back alleys and side 
streets. Just off the main shopping arcade, you can find so many vibey spots to grab a bite. You can even do something that 
is uniquely Japan—vending machine beers. Which I think is so crazy, 
‘cause I’ve never seen a beer and liquor vending machine in my life. 
So I think we’re going to get one. It’s so cool too, like—it lights 
up to let you know, like, “Oh, you don’t have enough for this,” 
or, “You do have enough for this.” Kanpai! Okay, side quest completed. Now it’s 
time to find the cheapest izakaya in Japan. As it turns out, we’re 
standing right in front of it. It’s the place right in front of us. As fate would have it… This is Taishu-sakaba Hassen Tenma. It’s 
widely regarded as the cheapest izakaya in all of Japan. And with 50-yen 
highballs and 90-yen chicken wings, it’s easy to see how it got that reputation. This place is awesome. It’s full 
of people having a great time, the energy is electric, they have 
a massive menu, and solid otoshi, which is a little appetizer served at 
most izakayas that acts as a cover charge. We kept it simple and got two 
highballs, some meat on a stick, and chicken wings—’cause who can 
pass up 90-yen chicken wings? The food was awesome, the drinks were 
great, and the service was 10 out of 10. Tenma is a hidden gem that is worth coming 
out of the way for. Add it to your list, and you can thank us later. To get where we’re going next, 
we’ve got to take the metro. So, here’s a little hack for iPhone users: 
if your IC card is in your phone, you don’t even have to unlock it 
to scan on and off. Wild, right? If you don’t have your IC card in your phone, 
all you have to do is open your Wallet app, tap the plus sign, select “Transit 
Card,” search “Japan,” and then select Suica. Then just add some money 
and you’re all set. Easy peasy. While we’re talking about travel hacks, 
let’s talk about data. ‘Cause let’s face it—travel is fun. Delicious food, 
jaw-dropping sights, and of course, the adventure. But all of that can come to 
a screeching halt when you don’t have data. For instance, we’d have been totally lost trying 
to get to Osaka when our bus didn’t work out, or even when we were trying to find that 
izakaya we just left. That’s why we use Holafly. With Holafly, you get unlimited data 
from the moment you arrive. No need to worry about running out of data while 
you’re using maps, booking activities, translating menus, or—worse—posting 
about your travels on social media. Plus, it offers a hotspot feature so you can share 
to all of your devices while you’re on the road. Before your trip, just select your destination, 
set your travel days, and get your QR code. Scan it and follow the instructions to install—and 
you’re set. You’ll be online the second you land. Holafly is available in over 200 destinations. And 
if you’re hopping between countries like we do, Holafly’s regional plans cover entire 
regions. And there’s even a global plan, so you don’t have to swap SIMs 
every time you cross a border. Honestly, eSIMs make travel easier. 
And Holafly makes eSIMs simple. Grab yourself a Holafly eSIM for 
your next adventure by scanning the QR code on the screen or 
by clicking the link in our description. And don’t forget to use our 
code MIKEANDASHLEY for 5% off your eSIM. Thank you to Holafly for sponsoring this video. Now, let’s go check out Dotonbori. So we are in Dotonbori, which 
is arguably the most popular, iconic place to visit when you’re here in Osaka. 
Bright glowing lights, crazy signs, tons of good smells from food—and honestly, the energy is 
just electric and alive. It’s complete chaos and sensory overload—but in the best way possible. 
It just feels like we finally made it to Osaka. Dotonbori is Osaka with the volume turned 
all the way up. It’s glowing with neon and packed with people chasing food and fun. 
Takoyaki stands, ramen shops, and giant signs line the canal like art in a museum. It’s 
a place that never really seems to slow down. We’re here looking for something to eat, 
but it’s so easy to get sidetracked by everything happening around us. A little 
claw game action? Don’t mind if we do. It’s so ugly, but I absolutely love 
gyoza, so I feel like it’s only right. Okay. Looks good. Oh, come on. No. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 
Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. No. Oh… So sad. That would have been so 
cool. I’ve never wanted to win more. Wish me luck.
I wish you luck. Hit the like button to wish Ashley luck. Come on. Come on. Come on. Please, please, please. Sorry, my love.
It’s okay. You did really well. Okay, now let’s try for 
something we know we can get. Which one did you get? I don’t know. We just did 
takoyaki for all of them. Takoyaki is Osaka’s signature street 
snack, dating back to the 1930s. They’re little balls of batter stuffed with 
octopus and cooked on hot grills. Vendors hand them over still steaming, topped with 
sauce, mayo, and a sprinkle of bonito flakes. I’m honestly not too thrilled to try 
them. But hey—when you’re in Osaka. What’s it smell like?
It’s a very fishy smell. Normally, there’s like the big bonito flakes on 
it, and I was actually kind of stoked, but I think it’s just little itty bitty 
shredded bonito flakes. So I’m not 100% sure that I’m going to love this. But 
we can’t come here without trying it. It’s very soft inside.
Wish I had a beer. All right. So I don’t know what could be 
more Osaka than takoyaki and an Asahi. Here goes nothing. Honestly—
Which one do you want to get? Oh, you like mouth—
Hot! Honestly, it doesn’t taste bad at all. I hate 
the texture. It’s so soft. It’s like a pancake that hasn’t been cooked properly inside. But the 
flavor is fine. It’s just very liquidy—and that, I do not prefer, if I’m being honest. But 
flavor-wise? Not bad. Not at all what I expected. Nowadays, there are so many varieties of 
takoyaki to try. The guy sitting next to us offered to trade us one of his stuffed with 
Wagyu beef. So you know we had to check it out. Awesome. Thank you so much. Oh, it looks so hot.
Okay, cool. I’m going to try this one. We got this Wagyu takoyaki from these 
really nice gentlemen next to us, and I’m much more excited to try this one. Mmm. I see what you mean—it is really soft. Flavor is good though.
Yeah, the flavor is great. You want to try the—
Yeah. You can have this whole bite. That’s way better.
Yeah. Oh, the rest of these are mine. Yep.
Okay. Itadakimasu. Now it’s time to get something Ashley’s been dying 
to try all night. We’re going to try melon pan. I’m so excited about this—considering I 
didn’t even know it existed five minutes ago. But this is what it looks like, and 
I’m not sure why it’s called melon pan. I think the pan is obviously like 
a play on “bread” or whatever, and I think it looks like a melon—maybe 
because it’s crosshatched? I’m not really sure. But do you want to try it first?
No, no. I would never dream of it. Is it good, or is it just falling apart? This thing was so delicious, we didn’t 
even have words for it. Imagine those Dutch butter cookies you get at grandma’s house, stuffed with rich vanilla ice cream. We can 
totally see why they’re so hyped up. Good call. Dotonbori is alive in a way few streets ever are. Every corner hits you with flashing 
lights, the smell of incredible food, and the buzz of people who don’t look ready to 
go home. It’s hectic, loud, and unforgettable. But we’ve got a full day planned 
tomorrow, so it’s time we call it a night. So we’re going to test a theory real quick. 
We heard a pro tip that if you go to the 16th floor of the Abeno Harukas building, you 
can basically get the same view for free, rather than paying for the observatory at the top. We’re not 100% sure if this is legit, so we’ve got to test this theory. Free 
viewpoint sounds right up our alley. Abeno Harukas rises 300 meters over 
Osaka. Once the tallest building in Japan, it’s still the biggest in the 
city. Inside, you’ll find shops, restaurants, and even a museum. 
But the real prize is the view. On a clear day, you can see all the 
way to Kyoto. The entrance fee to the observation deck is about 14 bucks a 
person. But we promised you travel hacks, so we’re going to stop at the 16th floor 
and check out the view from there—for free. This floor is where the art museum 
lives, so right before you enter, there’s an open-air observatory with 
panoramic views looking out over Osaka. It’s a great place to check out 
the city from above, take a break, and relax. You really can’t beat 
free panoramic views of the city. If we were to do it all over again, we’d 
probably stop at a konbini like Lawson’s, grab a couple snacks or some lunch, 
and come up here and have a picnic. This is an incredibly peaceful place to 
escape the hustle and bustle of the city. All right, now we’re going to go find some food.
That’s cool—and it was $3.99 too. Such a game changer. This is Shinsekai, an old Osaka neighborhood 
built in the early 1900s. This place feels frozen in time with retro signs, classic eateries, 
and the Tsutenkaku Tower rising above it all. It’s a little gritty, a little nostalgic, 
and full of character. Walking through, you get a glimpse of an Osaka 
that just refuses to fade. Now it’s a popular tourist stop. You can 
find anything here—and we do mean anything. There’s carnival games, souvenirs, 
vintage shops, and of course, food. This place is known for something 
called kushikatsu—but we’ll get to that a little later in the video. We’ve got another idea. Right when you walk into 
this little arcade area, there’s a karaage stand that just looked too good to pass up. So 
we opted for the karaage with a Coke Zero. And it’s really, really cool because 
the karaage sits inside of the Coke cup, which is something I’ve never seen before. 
He’s taking chicken and he’s frying it fresh—so he’s breading it and frying it, and it 
just looks really, really good. So I’m excited. So this is my karaage cup. That’s 
what my little thing looks like. That’s such a brilliant idea.
So, so smart. And these are my little karaage 
sticks—fresh out of the fryer. So hot. It’s actually really, really good. It’s definitely been breaded, 
but it’s like the most delicate, light breading I’ve ever had on karaage 
before. And look at that juiciness. This is so good.
Thirsty. We’re here at the Kuromon Ichiba Fish Market, which is known for its fresh seafood, 
restaurants, and souvenirs. In the summer, it’s known for its conger pike, and in 
the winter, it’s known for its fugu. We’re starving, so we’re hopefully 
going to grab some lunch here. Kuromon Market is part grocery, part street 
kitchen. Stalls line the walkway selling everything from fresh seafood, okonomiyaki, 
skewered wagyu, and strawberry daifuku. You really can’t go wrong with anything here, but these giant 
shrimp tempura feel like they’re calling my name. It was 500 yen, and now my 
timer’s going off. Perfect timing. This is probably the biggest 
shrimp tempura I’ve ever seen. That is delicious.
Is it? Mhm. Even without a bunch of sauce on it.
Yeah. It’s just really, really good. A little bit 
of saltiness from the soy sauce, the crispiest tempura batter I’ve ever had, and the shrimp 
is just delicious—nice and tender and fresh. Okay, what’s next?
We have to try wagyu, right? This vendor is so sweet, so of course, we 
couldn’t refuse a draft beer to wash it all down. I am so excited. It looks so juicy. We went with 
the A3–A4 for our first time, and it was amazing. Honestly, some of the best beef we’ve ever 
had. I can only imagine the A5 is next level. Come by.
I wish we would have come here a little bit earlier because I do feel like everything’s 
closing down—and it’s right around 5:00 right now. But I totally feel like you could have a 
scavenger hunt just trying to find all the massive realistic sea creatures that are just 
strung up by the ceilings here. I think there’s an octopus down there.
Let’s go check it out.

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Visiting Osaka, Japan? This video is your guide to the best things to do, see, and eat in Japan’s kitchen capital! From iconic sights like Osaka Castle and Dotonbori to hidden gems in Tenma and Shinsekai, we’re packing two days full of food, culture, and unforgettable vibes.

We’ll show you where to find the cheapest izakaya in Japan, how to ride Osaka’s retro trains, what to eat at Kuromon Market, and a few local hacks to help you save money (and avoid tourist traps).

Whether you’re planning your first trip to Osaka or coming back for seconds, this video is packed with travel hacks, food recommendations, and can’t-miss spots to help you make the most of your time.

*Planning Your Trip?*
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*Best Hotels in Osaka*
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Shinsekai Food Tour with 13 Dishes at 5 Eateries: https://gyg.me/9M2SmPYD
Osaka Castle: Museum and Tower Entry Ticket: https://gyg.me/8QTIIEFq
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