• Dotombori District - Enjoy a stroll through Dotonbori street, famous for its massive billboards and a plethora of restaurants and food stalls offering local delicacies like Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki.
• Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street - A must-visit in Osaka, Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street is a vast shopping arcade filled with cosmetics stores, apparel shops, and eateries, stretching 600 meters. Discover this vibrant Osaka neighborhood and learn how to reach it with this comprehensive guide!
• Kuromon Market - Known for its summer conger pike and winter Fugu, Kuromon Market is a lively, covered market extending about 580 meters with around 150 bustling shops. It offers everything from fresh seafood, blowfish, and soft-shelled turtle specialty shops to restaurants, fruit and vegetable stalls, butchers, pickled goods, dried foods, Japanese sweets, and Western cakes.
• Ikuno Korea Town - Discover Koreatown in Ikuno, popularized by a Korean Variety Show (Superman Returns). This area offers a variety of Korean food items, including at least 10 types of fermented vegetables (kimchi, radish, cucumbers, etc.), Korean mochi (ddok, ddok cake, ddokboki), seaweed (gim), sushi rolls (kimbab), pancakes, potato chips, red pepper paste, and more.
• Shinsekai - Shinsekai (新世界, meaning “New World”) is an Osaka district developed before the war and later neglected for decades. At its center stands Tsutenkaku Tower, a nostalgic symbol of Shinsekai. The area was redesigned after the 1903 National Industrial Exposition, which attracted over five million visitors in just five months. Following the expo, efforts began to enhance and modernize Shinsekai.
• National Bunraku Theater - For centuries, Osaka has been the hub of bunraku, traditional Japanese puppet theater. During the Edo Period, bunraku gained popularity as a unique form of entertainment for the common people, similar to kabuki. The National Bunraku Theater (国立文楽劇場, Kokuritsu Bunraku Gekijō) in Osaka is one of the few places to experience this captivating art form today. English programs and earphones are available, with performances typically held in three-week runs in January, April, June, July/August, and November.
• Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street - This 150-meter-long shopping street is lined with specialty stores offering every cooking utensil and kitchen item imaginable. The Doguyasuji Festival on October 9 (Tool Day) features various tools on sale and the Garapon Lottery. Visitors can also participate in hands-on food sample making and glass-etching experiences, along with an increasing number of artisanal restaurants.
• Hozenji Yokocho - Behind Hozenji Temple lies a collection of small, traditional alleyways cherished by locals since the 17th century. Despite being just minutes from Dotonbori and Namba, it is often overlooked by tourists. Hozenji Yokocho is best visited in the evening, just before dark. Start with a quick visit to Hozenji Temple, then find a local izakaya (traditional pub) for a drink. Don’t miss the statue of Fudō Myō-ō, the god of fury, where locals pour water over it as a purification ritual and say a prayer. There’s plenty to explore in this maze of alleyways, so if you’re feeling adventurous, give this lesser-known area a try.
• Tenjimbashisuji Shopping Street - For a quiet, less crowded outing or date, Tenjimbashisuji is the perfect spot. It was nearly deserted around 6 pm on a weekday visit. This area seems to be a relic of an old shopping district that may not be as popular as before, or perhaps it was due to the evening hour. The experience was pleasant and unhurried, though it felt a bit unsafe. It’s possible that one end of this long suji closes earlier than the other, leading to an early deserted feel.
• America-mura - Translating the name is tricky; it literally means ‘America Village (mura)’, but applying Japanese grammar might suggest ‘Village America’. Regardless, for high-end shopping, this is the place: Prada, Louis Vuitton, and more. With endless fashionable shops, you’ll be spoilt for choice. There’s even a Big Bang (Korean boyband) Café. Be aware, people tend to dress up in this area.
• Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine - Sumiyoshi Taisha (住吉大社, “Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine”) in Osaka is one of Japan’s oldest shrines. Established in the 3rd century before Buddhism’s introduction, it showcases a unique shrine architecture style, Sumiyoshi-zukuri, uninfluenced by the Asian mainland. Only two other shrine architecture styles are considered purely Japanese: Shinmei-zukuri at the Ise Shrines and Taisha-zukuri at Izumo Taisha.

• Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Osaka
• Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
• Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from ‘What to expect’ list

• Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
• Private transportation
• You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
• Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.

Join our certified multilingual tour guide on a value-filled exploration journey around Osaka’s off-the-beaten-track locations! We’re excited to show you some of the city’s best old-fashioned neighborhoods. If you’re looking to experience local life and the warm nostalgic feelings that accompany it, the backstreets of Shinsekai, Tenjimbashi-suji, Ameyoko, and Koreantown come highly recommended during your Osaka stay.

You’ll have the opportunity to explore with an English-speaking guide while indulging in delicious local foods and drinks along the way! Simply tell us what experiences call out to you and your guide will tailor a six-hour tour designed to suit your interests!

Note1: Kindly choose your preferred places of interest from a provided tour list to build your personalized itinerary.
Note2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter title, bestowed by the Japanese government, signifies an in-depth understanding and knowledge of Japanese culture and history.

• This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.