Dotonbori

It’s like non-​stop sensory overload. Thing Times Square NYC, that just keeps going and going and going. You could spend 3 – 4 days here.

Dotonbori c’est le côté fou du Japon avec des enseignes marrantes, des stands de bouffe tous les mètres qui proposent gyozas à prix imbattable, takoyaki la spécialité du coin (boulettes de poulpe) et autres boutiques de souvenirs.
Perso j’ai adoré cette ambiance un peu dingue et je né savais plus où donner de la tête.
On a mangé dans plusieurs stands et tout était bon.
En plus il y a aussi pas mal de game center, bref de quoi passer une bonne demi journée.

A must see place when visiting Osaka.
It is very touristy but still it is a very interesting visit here in Osaka.
Food, chaos and other attractions can all be found here.
Touristy or not, it cannot be denied that you can find some really good food especially takoyaki in Dotobonri.
Enjoy your visit.

Want takoyaki? Come here! Want okonomiyaki? Come here! Want crab, ramen, rice, and random crap to buy? You’ll find it all in Dotonbori!
Dotonbori is easily accessible from multiple subway lines, but I took the JR line to Jr Namba station where it’s a short 5 – 10 minute walk. At night, the streets are all lit up and it becomes crazy crowded with tourists who halt all of a sudden for a selfie (yeah, tourists suck!!! *irony*). There’s a bunch of great food and if you can manage to get out of Dotonbori after a few hours without buying a single thing to eat, you are amazing! I have been here twice (and I only just arrived yesterday) and have tried many different street foods, but I am keeping my takoyaki and okonomiyaki business for other shops that are in different areas at a better price with better value (and company). This place is very touristy so it’s easy to find a shop with an English menu or pictures on the menu. I was very surprised to see many Koreans managing shops too, as I ordered a croissant taiyaki and the chef touched his elbow when he handed me my taiyaki.
If you find that you need something like from Daiso or a drug store, you can find them here. There’s like 3 – 4 Daisos in the area if you happen to miss one. Plus lots of Japanese traditional sweets and omiyage shops! You can’t help but buy stuff.
Dotonbori is a fun place to go for tourists to see the craziness. Just be prepared for crowds! Oh the crowds at night suck! But, it’s a lot of fun and will keep you entertained forever. Plus, the food is really tasty!

Even though «Blade Runner» takes place in a dystopian L.A. circa 2019, it sure looks a lot like the neon-​saturated Dotonbori district in Namba Osaka. OK, not as nihilistic but I wonder if filmmaker Ridley Scott took inspiration from this area for the set decorations. After a long day touring Kyoto and Nara and an hour-​long drive through heavy traffic, Jamie W. and I were ready for some relaxing relief from all the historic shrines and temples. We were staying at the Swissotel Namba Hotel right above the big Takashimaya department store and Nankai Namba station (photo:
).
After taking advantage of a couple of complementary cocktails at the hotel, we strolled right through the long Shinshaibashi Arcade crowded with tourists and trendy-​looking locals (photo:
). This is where you start recognizing that Osaka has a far different vibe from Tokyo: looser, louder and not very Ozu-​like. The end of the shopping arcade pours right into the bright lights and commercial ads that surround Dotonbori Canal (photo:
). Katy Perry was staring at us from a huge billboard, but turn around and see the Glico Man. Originally installed in 1935, the giant neon athlete on a blue track is a symbol of Glico candy (photo:
).
The surrounding alleys offer plenty of dining options of all different kinds like Sex Machine, a hilariously named yakiniku place (photo:
). We were actually on the hunt for okanomiyaki, the savory egg pancakes which are a local specialty, and it turned out to be more difficult to find than a geisha in the Gion. We ended up at a DIY okanomiyaki place called Dohtonbori where we frankly could have used more stepwise guidance (review:
). In complete contrast to the serene sights of neighboring Kyoto and Nara, Dotonbori is what makes Osaka uniquely flashy, seedy and photogenic among Japan’s metropolises.

For someone who loves food and a lot of it, I sure do appreciate the Dotonbori. But there comes a time when a place can be overly touristy… and that’s really Dotonbori’s only downfall. However, I would still suggest coming here because you just gots to!
So that big ass crab shop (with the big ass crab lol) is kind of like your checkpoint. If you see it, you’re in the right place! Also if you see herds of people walking all over the place, you’re also probably in the right place lol.
I didn’t eat at the crab place. I should have but it was so packed. But I went alllll along that area and found that there are SO MANY places to eat at. I mean it was GREAT, but also not so great because how the hell am I supposed to decide on something???
I kinda just got little things here and there to sample some Osaka flavors. lol gyoza place (with giant gyoza outside of it lol) served some mean gyozas! So fresh and hot with crisp bottoms ohhhh yum. We also got some delicious smoky yakitori MMMM. After a while we decided on a katsu place. Actually it was a katsu skewer place lol. I feel like it was a little expensive for what it was (assorted katsu skewers + rice) and how much they give, but I’m gonna just chalk that up to it being in such a touristy place. Plus it was actually quite good.
There’s also dessert places to hit, but we were toooo full. Although we did stop by Lord Stowe’s Egg tarts and picked up a couple for later consumption ;) Had these before in Macau but I forgot just how luscious they are. Ohhhhyum.
So yeah, for sure you’ll be able to find something delicious here. We actually came back the next morning to eat breakfast at Ichiran (I LOVE ICHIRAN) lol.

The Good: It’s bright and flashy and there is loads to eat nearby.
There is a lot of local color in this area.
There is a ton of shopping in all and I mean all price ranges if you walk up Shinsaibashi.
The Bad: It is filled and I mean sardine can tight at times with tourists, which in turn brings out Osaka’s seedier elements.
Touts and prostitutes of both genders can get aggressive and I’ve seen fights break out on occasion.
Watch your valuables in this area as there are pickpockets.

Need to come here. This is a must for foodies!
Some key places you should check out are the different Takoyaki stands; many of them come in different sizes, I prefer the smaller ones as they do not break or seem like they were not cooked all the way through.
There is a taiyaki stand somewhere, it comes with red bean, cream, and you can also get a mini ice cream sandwich filled taiyaki. Sorry I forget the exact location and name.
There is a cream puff booth! It closes early, about 10pm I think!
Many other foods to try out, you really just have to find them! There are also TWO Don Quijote’s in this area! I recommend the BIGGER one (with penguin) it has more kit kat flavors!

It just a Landmark, fun place to take a picture, good food :)

You can miss Osaka Castle as an Osaka tourist and maybe get away with it, but you absolutely cannot miss Dotonbori! This neon-​powered district is perhaps one of Osaka’s most iconic districts with some famous, over-​the-​top signs like the massive mechanical crab and the giant manga Glico running man sign. Aside from filling up your eyes with glamorous lights, the district also has many great Osaka specialty food like takoyaki and okonomiyaki to fill up your stomach.
Make sure you come in hungry! Even if you come in full though, prepare to be dazzled by lights that parallel New York’s Times Square!

Dotombori is Osaka. Any time I think of Osaka, images of many people, lots of lights, eating food by the river, and shopping pop up in my mind — all in Dotombori.
Sure, it is super crowded all the time, a bit dirty/​smelly, and also just crazy to walk through… this place has so much character and is a must-​see if you are around the Osaka area.
Anywhere you go, you are likely to find something interesting, whether it is a small shop with Japanese crafts or a market of cool-​looking shoes, or a huge building that reminds you a bit of Walmart and Spencer’s, Dotombori has it.
Don’t even get me started about the food. We’re talking takoyaki and okonomiyaki every couple minutes, excellent ramen, izakayas galore, and some non-​Japanese food options as well.
Definitely make sure to come at nighttime when the lights of the buildings are on. Also, besides the boat ride down the river, one of the super touristy things to do is to take a running man picture by the Glico running man sign.
I’ve heard that Dotombori is where you can eat, drink, party, then do it all over again. So true.

Dotombori is like a adult playground in Osaka. It is an entire shopping arcade with restaurants, shops, pachinko, etc. I am not sure how large it is since it seemed like you could walk for miles just being there.
The huge electronic neon signs hypnotize you to enter each shop, given that you are attracted to it.
I ended up buying some summer/​fall clothing to wear for my portion of my trip in Osaka and Kyoto.
If you like tonkatsu, there is a restaurant Tonkatsu Ganko that is located there.

there are many shops from restaurants to fashion shops.
you can see mamy creepy and cute character in here.
kushi katsu, daruma and kani doraku are famous in here.
its near from america village, its very unique, funny place.
also fun to take pics in front of Gurico.

Dotombori 道頓堀 is like home to me. Well, being in Japan is home for me (was born there). Dotombori holds a special place in my heart. I love it and always try to go back every time I’m there.
Recently, I brought my husband here. We took the Midosuji subway from Umeda, Osaka to get here. Easy as can be. Let me just warn people, Dotombori is a zoo. So if you hate crowded, noisy, busy places, this is not for you. Dotombori is known for its rowdiness, its food and crowds and its lights!
Basically, it’s a long street full of food vendors, shops, arcades, and everything in between. You can spend hours there, eating, shopping, browsing the stores. Make sure you go into the side streets too, you can find some interesting shops there too. Often times cheaper eats too! I would definitely recommend eating some takoyaki or okonomiyaki if you have a chance. And also, if you’re bored of Dotombori, walk over to Shinsaibashi, which again, goes on for miles and miles.
Highly recommend spending a day out here! Tons to do!