Hi Friends!
We really had no idea how much we were going to fall in love with Dotonbori until we were right in the middle of it—surrounded by all of the fun neon lights, sizzling and amazing smelling street food, and that electric energy that makes Osaka so unforgettable. This area truly has it all: iconic signs (hello, Glico Man!), endless takoyaki stalls, quirky shops to wander through, and just an overall vibe that just pulls you in and makes you want to explore every corner! It feels like we did it all when we were there so I wanted to share some of the highlights with you! Whether you're wanting to snack your way through the streets, wanting to take a nighttime stroll along the canal, or just sit and people-watching with a drink in hand, I promise Dotonbori delivers on all of that! Happy reading!
All blog posts for this Osaka and Tokyo Japan Trip
Packing for a 14 Day Trip to Osaka and Tokyo Japan
Where to Eat, Stay and Play in Osaka, Japan
20 Tips to Know Before You Go to Japan
Spend a Day at Disney Sea in Japan
Where to Stay and Play in Tokyo, Japan
Spend a Day at Disneyland Tokyo
A Day Trip to Nara Park + Kyoto from Osaka, Japan
Where to Eat, Stay and Play at Disneyland Tokyo and Disney Sea
📍 Where Is Dotonbori?
We stayed at Henn Na Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi which we really think was a great location and only about a 12 minute walk to Dotonbori. Dotonbori is just a short walk from Namba Station and if you aren’t staying in the area I recommend getting to Dotonbori by train. Dotonbori runs along the Dotonbori Canal and this is where you will see all of the amazing things that the area has to offer—day or night!
🍠 What to Eat in Dotonbori (aka the Main Event)
If Dotonbori had a love language, it would be food. Here are the foods we kept seeing and foods we heard were must-eats:
Takoyaki - Octopus Balls
Okonomiyaki - Savory Pancake
Kushikatsu - Fried Skewers
Taiyaki - Fish Shaped Waffles with Fillings
Matcha Soft Serve
Candied Strawberries on Sticks
Ramen Shops (I go into detail about the one we tried below)!
Hanamaruken Namba Hozenji Ramen Shop - This ramen was SO SO SO good, it might have been the best ramen that I had while we were in Japan. My ramen had beef short ribs on top and I can’t even believe how good it was! The gyoza was also good and Dustin loved his ramen! This was one of those shops that only had about 10 spots to sit and there were so many locals that were eating lunch in here which made us feel good about how much we liked it here! It is in the middle of Dotonburi so plan to stop here if you are in the area exploring on your own trip!
🍻Bars near Dotonbori in Osaka
Bar Fun - This was the bar that we went to after wandering around Dotonbori all afternoon and we just stopped in to get one drink. One drink turned into two and that turned into us spending the whole night there until it was time to go find a snack before heading to bed! The vibe was very chill, we sat at the bar and played cards for about 3.5 hours and the owner kept serving us and talking with other people that came in and out of the bar throughout the night! It was up on the third level of the building it was in and at first when we got to the door we thought it was closed but it wasn’t so definitely make sure you check the door before deciding to turn away!
Kenny Bar Osaka - We stopped in this bar for our first drink on Dustin’s birthday and we were greeted with literally the nicest old lady that was running the bar! She was so happy that we were in there! I had a glass of red wine and Dustin got this drink that was almost like an experience, it was explained to us that the first shot was the Japanese whiskey as it comes normally and then the second shot is the same Japanese whiskey that had been aged in a barrel. He said it was pretty good! We also got a snack of different nuts that were seasoned with Japanese peppers and they were seriously better than I could have ever imagined. I liked them so much I want to recreate them and have them on hand here at home! Overall the bar was very low key but that is how we like things so it was perfect for us to spend time there.
Kizuna - This bar was where we went after the Kenny Bar on Dustin’s birthday and WOAH. It was seriously a blast, the owner and the other bartender were so fun and nice. They just wanted us to have a good time! They had so many things to offer us, they had a book that translated basic sayings and we actually learned a lot that night. They people that were in the bar were mostly locals that had just gotten off of work and we sang karaoke with them for the entire night! Keeping in mind that this spot is TINY and really only could hold 10-15 people, it was full and everyone was in a great mood! When the whole bar found out it was Dustin’s birthday the owner popped a bottle of champagne and everyone in the bar toasted to Dustin and drank and just had the best time! I can’t recommend this place enough! We loved it!
🌃 What to Do (Besides Eat!)
There’s more to Dotonbori than just food:
Glico Running Man sign— It is really just a sign to look at but there were so many people taking photos and selfies with this giant sign that was overlooking the canal, this is also where we saw the canal tours happening as well!
Tombori River Cruise, we didn’t get a chance to do this but we saw a lot of tours happening while we were there walking along the canal. But it was the perfect way to take in Dotonbori from the water!
Hozenji Yokocho - This was a cute alley full of traditional eateries and a peaceful moss-covered temple tucked away in the middle of the action, we were so surprised to see this in the middle of the hustle and bustle!
Don Quijote Ferris Wheel - Yes, it’s attached to a store. Yes, you should ride it.
Kani Doraku crab sign, another famous landmark but honestly there are SO many signs to look at while you are exploring around! Like giant dumplings, a giant crab, huge chicken nuggets for some reason, different fish… It was actually really cool!
🛒 Shopping & Souvenirs in Dotonbori
Don Quijote Dotonbori is a massive, 24-hour discount store that’s an experience all on its own, seriously a shopping experience I will never forget. Anything you could ever want or need was inside this store. There is this quirky song playing the whole time and when we were in there, suddenly like three hours had passed. I wish I would have taken photos or a video inside the store but if you look up Don Quijote on Tiktok or Instagram you will get a good idea as to what I am talking about haha!
Local Souvenir Shops: From keychains to fun themed socks, beauty products, clothing and everything in between, in these souvenir shops you’ll find something quirky and memorable to take home!
Gaming Arcades - We went into a couple of these like gaming arcades, they were stories high with claw machines, different arcade games and so much to look at! Think of like a Dave n’ Busters here but three stories high on steroids! It was actually very fun to go into and loose a ton of coins to the claw machines after a couple of drinks! But that might have just been that we weren’t great at playing the claw machines beucase there were actually a ton of people walking around with the prizes that they were trying to get!
Local Snacks: There are so many shop to go in and stock up on Japanese Kit-Kats, candies, instant ramen varieties, and so many other treats to take back home with you after your trip!
💡 Last Tips for Visiting Dotonbori
Go at Night: That’s when the lights are brightest & the energy is highest.
Cash is King: Not all vendors accept cards (most do), but bring yen.
Watch for Lines: If there’s a queue, it’s probably worth the wait!
Like I mentioned and you could probably tell by this post, Dotonbori had totally won us over and it has been one of those places that has stuck with us since we’ve left and been home. It has so much to offer like the fun glowing lights and signs, the busy canal and all of the reflections on the water, to the mouthwatering street food and nonstop energy. I really think Dotonbori is such a special part of Osaka that truly had its own personality. I hope this little guide helps you dive into all the fun and flavor Dotonbori has to offer. And if you end up trying anything from here that you loved, found a special hidden gem, or just a note about your own trip, let me know! I’d love to hear your favorites. As always, feel free to drop a comment or email me at tarynintotravel@gmail.com with any questions.
Much Love,
Emma
WHAT TO READ NEXT!
