If you want to know the things to see and do in Osaka here we tell you what we did: its castle, the Dotombori and Shinsekai neighborhoods and much more!
- 'There's nothing to do'.
- 'It's ugly.'
- 'It only has neons and octopus balls'.
- '3 days in Osaka? Wtf! '
These and other similar phrases are the ones we heard in Kyoto when we commented that we were going to pass 3 days in the third largest city in Japan: Osaka.
We arrived after spending the day wandering around (and avoiding deer fights) in Nara. What we found was a large city full of skyscrapers, neons, lights, people and the smell of food. Food of the rich. Street food
The reflection of a pink sunset in the building where we were staying was a kind of nod to the destination ... the feeling was that Osaka was going to like us, and so it was!
If you don't like Osaka, you are a big deal!
The truth is that we did not do much either: one day we spent it wandering and getting lost in the streets full of locals, markets, pachinkos, izakayas, bumping into strange and curious things ... of which we like so much!
Although if there is one thing to see yes or yes it is the imposing Osaka Castle, that we only saw from outside (having budget backpacking and knowing that we were going to visit Himeji Castle did not hurt so much).
Right in front of the castle, while we were sitting resting, an old man with vintage glasses and a sweet look began to speak to us. Saito, that's his name, told us he has a passion for him origami, the ancient Japanese art of creating varied forms just by folding a paper. In a second he made us a peacock and a dragonfly that he gave us with the biggest of smiles.
For the rest of the park many trees were seen in which, timidly, they began to shine their flowers while people, at all timidly, began to enjoy the hanami (which literally means seeing flowers) and we could see how they shared food, drinks and laughter on the banks of the river.
Over there we also meet the most sociable puppy of all Osaka, that as soon as he saw Rober he could not resist the temptation to get on his arms and enjoy a Spanish massage (which will not be as good as Thai but is made with love).
In Osaka we were staying next to Dotonbori, the most famous area of the city. Dotombori is a world of colors, neons and advertising signsmechanics, like that of Kani Doraku crab, giant octopus or the occasional puffer fish.
In Dotonbori we got lost among hundreds of colorful shops, obviously we went to meet the Glico corridor and ...
… Of course, we tried one of the richest street foods in Japan: the takoyaki.
Takoyakis are balls of flour dough (similar to pancake) with tako (octopus). On these balls, okonomyaki sauce, hanakatsuo (dried bonito shavings), aonori seaweed powder and mayonnaise. We liked it so much we repeated. And as we are very sweet, we also tried the gyozas (dumplings) that, as always, were rich-rich.
And speaking of gastronomy ... in Osaka it is very typical to eat some skewers of vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, batter and fried called kushikatsu. We 'kushikatsueamos' in the Shinsekai neighborhood With our friend Ikuo.
My mother, the account at the end was quite salty that between skewers and beer we went crazy, but it was a great night ... learning more about Japanese food and culture and discovering one of Osaka's most curious neighborhoods.
Here between barecitos and lights you can admire the Tsutenkaku tower or relax in it Spa World (something that after the feast and the release of yen we could do only in dreams!). Shinsekai is reputed to be one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods in all of Japan (after the Second World War it was ...) although today it is one of the Osaka's most characteristic places and much-much-much less crowded than Dotonbori!
In Osaka Rober he also tried to be a 'handsome' Japanese boy, we found a street full of samurai mini-armor, we saw a cart of super achuchables children ice cream and old men playing traditional games ... and more modernillos.
And you? Do you know more things to see and do in Osaka? Did you like it?
