Planning a trip to Osaka? Here’s what to do, what to eat, and where to go in Dotonbori!
Osaka’s quirky, laidback, and old school charm can be best experienced in Dotonbori, one of the city’s most famous entertainment districts. Elements of modern and traditional Japanese influences come together here. With bright, dazzling lights and quaint decor, it’s a must-see for every traveller visiting Osaka. Let’s dive into the best street food, shopping, billboards, and popular nightlife.
What Dotonbori is known for
Rivers are Osaka’s lifeblood, and the ones that run through the area once helped to transport goods from Kyoto (Japan’s ancient capital) into Osaka’s neighbourhoods. The ‘Dotonbori’ district refers to the name of the canal built from these rivers in the 1600s to improve access to trade and commerce. The modern-day Dotonbori River is 2.7km long and runs from the Dotonbashi Bridge to the Nipponbashi Bridge.
Originally, Dotonbori was one of Osaka’s main theatre districts, full of traditional Japanese theatres with live performances by Kabuki troupes, as well as shows with Bunraku, or wooden puppets of varying roles and sizes. Kabuki troupes used to carry out river parades on boats along the Dotonbori River to promote their upcoming plays.
You can still see some river cruise guides dressed in kabuki robes, a subtle nod to the area’s cultural roots. Today, Dotonbori serves as a different kind of entertainment district, and it’s the place to be if you’re looking for a good time!
Things to do in Dotonbori
Take pictures of famous billboards
Dotonbori is filled with vibrant billboards – some over the top – and seeing them is a real treat. ‘Glico Man’ is perhaps the most famous billboard in the area; tourists and locals come to take photos while striking the same pose. This particular billboard has been updated over the years, and today’s Glico Man features four distinct backgrounds of Osaka rendered in bright LED lights: Osaka Castle, Osaka Aquarium, the Kyocera Dome (where baseball games are played), and Tsutenkaku (a famous TV tower in the city).
Many of Dotonbori’s billboards are also three-dimensional – a notable one is the Kani Doraku crab: its legs, claws, and eyes can even move independently!
Billboards also serve as theatrical advertisements, with giant versions of the food served in restaurants, or as mascots for each store. The streets of Dotonbori are filled with quirky and colourful characters, making it a fascinating area to wander around.
Shop for omiyage
Omiyage refers to souvenirs purchased on vacation. For the Japanese, omiyage usually means food-based souvenirs that an area is famous for, like snacks, chocolate, or cookies. For non-locals, omiyage can extend to cute memorabilia of a fun and exciting trip.
“Kuidaore” is an old Osakan proverb that describes the city’s food scene. It means “to go broke eating extravagantly,” or more colloquially, “to eat until you drop”. The image of Kuidaore Taro, a clown puppet beating a drum, is one of Osaka’s well-known symbols. It also harkens back to Dotonbori’s theatre district past. You’ll find him on display throughout Dotonbori, and some shops even sell Kuidaore Taro merch (like socks, keychains, snacks, and hand towels).
Get lost inside Don Quijote
Everyone loves Don Quijote for its good deals and wide range of products. We’re talking about groceries, furniture, Japan-themed souvenirs, clothing, designer brands, electronic products, cosmetics, and beauty products.
Some Donki outlets also have international grocery sections, making them a massive hit with Japan’s expat community. P.S. they have tax-free shopping counters for purchases over ¥5,000 (approx $43) and stay open till late, with some branches (including Dotonbori’s) closing as late as 3am to 4am!
Dotonbori’s Don Quijote is located in the Ebisu Tower, and you can see the penguin Donpen with Ebisu, the god of fishermen and good luck, on the huge yellow Ferris Wheel.
Enjoy the nightlife scene
With plenty of bars and restaurants open till the wee hours, Dotonbori is one of the areas in Osaka that never sleeps! First up: karaoke. You’ll get a private room with a large TV, microphones, and a tablet with Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and English tracks. Food and alcohol are available, and at certain hours, you might even find a nomi-houdai (all-you-can-drink) deal. The most reputable karaoke chains in Japan are Big Echo, JoySound, Jankara, and JoyJoy.
For live music performances of jazz and blues, check out Music Bar Sora, an 11-minute walk from Dotonbori. With a wooden interior that’s cosy and welcoming, this bar offers a peek at Japan’s local music scene. Nibble on pasta, pizza, burgers, and sandwiches while you enjoy the tunes.
In the mood to party? Try Ghost for Western hip-hop and trendy hits – you’ll find a mix of foreigners and locals there. Cover charges are lower for women than men, and you can stuff your belongings in lockers for a small fee. Meanwhile, with its all-pink interiors, Club Super Pink (or Club Cho Pink) plays Western, Korean, and Japanese hip-hop with live dancers, LED light shows and strobe light performances. Cover charges vary depending on when you enter the club.
P.S. Japanese nightclubs require identification to prove you’re over 20, the legal drinking age in Japan. Saturday nights are the best time to party, so aim for the weekend if you want a proper rave. However, keep in mind that a lot of Japanese clubs still allow smoking indoors, so not every venue will have a smoke-free environment.
What to eat in Dotonbori
Osaka is known as Japan’s kitchen because of its plethora of tasty foods, but you can’t miss out on iconic bites like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, yakisoba and kushikatsu in Dotonbori!
Takoyaki
Takoyaki is made with octopus in balls of fried dough and can be found on any corner in Dotonbori, with six bites being the usual serving size. Not a fan of the brown sauce and mayonnaise? Most takoyaki shops have alternative toppings, from butter shoyu to truffle salt and even mochi cheese flavours. Usually enjoyed as a street food, these morsels are crispy on the outside, but lava on the inside – so make sure it cools before taking a bite.
Tip: try Takoyaki Juhachiban on the corner of Nakaza Cuidaore Building. It’s famous for using a rich batter made with milk and soup stock. You’ll spot it when you see a long line of people under the huge takoyaki on top of the storefront.
Okonomiyaki and yakisoba
Considered the soul food of Osaka, okonomiyaki is a savoury pancake made from a wheat flour batter and grilled on an iron griddle called a teppan. It’s stuffed with a variety of fillings, including shredded cabbage, meat and seafood, and topped with a savoury brown sauce, dried seaweed flakes, Japanese mayo, bonito flakes, and pickled ginger. P.S. some places even let you customise your fillings, staying true to the literal meaning of okonomi (“however you like” in Japanese).
Yakisoba, or fried noodles, are commonly served at places that make okonomiyaki. Much like the savoury pancakes, these buckwheat noodles are cooked on the teppan in okonomiyaki sauce, before adding toppings like cabbage, pork, and pickled ginger.
Try both items at the popular Okonomiyaki Mizuno. Founded in 1945, it’s consistently listed as the best place by Michelin foodies. These folks source all their ingredients locally from Kuromon Market and the average price per item is around ¥2000 to ¥3000 (approx $17 to $26).
Kushikatsu
Kushikatsu (sometimes called kushiage) refers to meat, seafood, or vegetables loaded onto skewers (kushi) that are lightly breaded in panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) or rice flour, and fried in hot oil.
Served with a lightly vinegared, soy-based dipping sauce, more traditional kushikatsu restaurants have communal dipping bowls – so no double-dipping! A famous chain Osaka is Kushikatsu Daruma – you can’t miss it ‘cos the mascot chef has a prominent billboard in Dotonbori.
How to get to Dotonbori
The best way to get to Dotonbori is on foot from Namba. Since Namba is a big train hub, four nearby stations give you easy access to Dotonbori.
1. Osaka Metro Namba Station (3-minute walk)
The closest station to Dotonbori is Osaka Metro Namba Station. Three subway lines service this station: the Midosuji line, the Sennichimae line, and the Yotsubashi line.
2. Nankai Namba Station (7-minute walk)
If you’re coming straight from Kansai International Airport (KIX), most trains will take you directly to Nankai Namba Station. Landmarks include: Namba City, a big mall with lots of omiyage to take home; and Namba Parks, a mall complex built to resemble a natural canyon.
3. JR Namba Station (10-minute walk)
The JR Yamatoji Line can get you from Namba Station to Tennoji, and it even goes all the way to Nara!
4. Kintetsu Nippombashi Station (10-minute walk)
This station is serviced by the Kintetsu Nara Line, which gives you access to Nara, Kobe, Nagoya, and Mie Prefectures, although transfers may be necessary at Tsuruhashi Station depending on your final destination.
Make your next visit to Osaka an unforgettable one with our handy guide to Dotonbori!
