Osaka Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path Tour, Licensed Guide

This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore off the beaten areas in Osaka! We would like to introduce some of the best nostalgic neighborhood locations. If you want to experience the local life and enjoy the nostalgic warm feelings, these backstreets of Shinsekai, Tenjimbashi-suji, Ameyoko and Koreantown are totally recommended to visit while your stay in Osaka. You can walk with English speaking guide and enjoy some foods and drinks on the way! Let us know what you would like to experience, and your guide will arrange a six-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

1. 1

   Dotombori District

   1 hour

   We will take a walk through Dotonbori street with its huge billboards, hundreds of restaurants and food stalls selling local foods including the famous Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki.

2. 2

   Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street

   30 min

   Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street is a must-visit in Osaka. This giant shopping arcade of cosmetics stores, apparel shops, and restaurants extends 600 meters. Read this detailed guide to learn about this lively Osaka neighborhood and how to get to the area!

3. 3

   Kuromon Market

   30 min

   The most famous fish at Kuromon Market are the conger pike in summer and Fugu in winter. At least 10% of the seafood shop in Kuromon specialize in Fugu and Hamo. A lively and roofed market which stretches about 580m, there are about 150 shops and is always bustling with people. This market has everything you want. From fresh seafood, blow fish and soft shelled turtle specialty shops, to restaurants, fruit and vegetables shops, butchers, pickled goods, dried food, Japanese sweets and Western cakes.

4. 4

   Ikuno Korea Town

   1 hour

   Koreatown at Ikuno. I knew about this place from watching a Korean Variety Show (Superman Returns). This place sells many Korean food items ranging from (at least) 10 different kinds of fermented vegetables (kimchi, radish, cucumbers etc), Korean mochi (ddok, ddok cake, ddokboki), seaweed (gim), sushi roll (kimbab), pancakes, potato chips, red pepper paste, etc.

5. 5

   Shinsekai

   30 min

   Shinsekai (新世界, lit. "New World") is a district in Osaka that was developed before the war and then neglected in the decades afterwards. At the district's center stands Tsutenkaku Tower, the nostalgia-evoking symbol of Shinsekai. The area was developed into its current layout following the success of the 1903 National Industrial Exposition, which brought over five million people to the neighborhood within just five months. Shortly after the expo closed its doors, work began to improve and update Shinsekai.

6. 6

   National Bunraku Theater

   Pass by

   Osaka has been the capital for bunraku, traditional Japanese puppet theater, for many centuries. The popularity of the theater form had grown in the city during the Edo Period when bunraku (like kabuki) was a rare kind of art entertainment for the common public rather than the nobility. The National Bunraku Theater (国立文楽劇場, Kokuritsu Bunraku Gekijō) in Osaka is one of the few places to view the fascinating art form today. English programs and earphones are available. Performances are usually held in three week runs in January, April, June, July/August and November.

7. 7

   Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street

   15 min

   A 150 meter long shopping street lined with specialty stores with every cooking utensil and kitchen item available. The Doguyasuji Festival on October 9 (Tool Day) is an event where various tools are on sale, and where the Garapon Lottery will also be held. In addition, you can take part in hands-on food sample making and glass-etching experiences, as well as an ever-increasing number of artisanal restaurants.

8. 8

   Hozenji Yokocho

   30 min

   Behind Hozenji Temple is a group of small, traditional alleyways that has been popular with locals since the 17th century. Despite being just a few minutes’ walk from Dotonbori and Namba, it is often overlooked by tourists. Hozenji Yokocho is ideal to visit in the evening, not long before it gets dark. You can start with a quick visit to Hozenji Temple before finding a local izakaya (traditional pub) to enjoy a drink. If you have time, be sure to check out the statue of Fudō Myō-ō, the god of fury. Locals pour water over the statue, symbolic of purification, and say a prayer. There is a lot to do in this labyrinth of alleyways, so if you’re feeling adventurous, be sure to give this lesser-known area a try.

9. 9

   Tenjimbashisuji Shopping Street

   30 min

   If you are looking for a quiet, less crowded place to go to or to date, I think this is the place to go to. It was almost deserted around 6pm when I went on a weekday. Tenjimbashi-suji seems to be a relic of an old shopping area that may not be as popular as before, or maybe it was due to the evening hour. I went alone and I felt nice and unrushed, but also unsafe. It may also be possible that one end of this extremely long suji closes earlier than the other end, and I just happened onto the end that became deserted early.

10. 10

    Stop 10

    30 min

    I’m not sure how to translate this name, it literally means ‘America Village (mura)’, but if you apply Japanese grammar, it might be ‘Village America’ instead. Now I’m confused. Anyway, if you are looking for high-end shopping, it’s all here: Prada, Louis Vuitton, you name it. With endless fashionable shops lining the streets, you’d definitely be spoilt for choice. There is even a Big Bang (Korean boyband) Café. Beware though, people tend to dress-up in this area.

11. 11

    Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

    30 min

    Osaka's Sumiyoshi Taisha (住吉大社, "Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine") is one of Japan's oldest shrines. Founded in the 3rd century before the introduction of Buddhism, it displays a unique style of shrine architecture, called Sumiyoshi-zukuri, that is free of influence from the Asian mainland. Only two other shrine architecture styles are also considered purely Japanese: Shinmei-zukuri as seen at the Ise Shrines and Taisha-zukuri as seen at Izumo Taisha.

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Wheelchair accessible

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