Osaka Cultural Shopping and Food Tour
Although it hasn’t been long since my last visit to Osaka, this summer vacation trip feels completely different in mood. The whole family revisited old places, naturally finding ourselves looking back at the funny moments from the last and the time before last, as well as our shared memories. Our child was more relaxed and carefree, and the long-awaited graduation summer finally arrived. The trip focused on eating while playing, which was well received by the whole family.
The attractions in the Osaka area are relatively concentrated, with eating, drinking, shopping, and sightseeing all set in the Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori area. Only when shopping with a boy do you realize how much he can buy. He wants to visit every figure shop and always comes back with a full load.
When shopping, I don’t hold back at drugstores either. This time, I highly recommend a drugstore where you can buy a complete range of products and also get a great view for photos. It’s located right at the super popular Instagrammable background that many people rave about. The drugstore prices are transparent, and compared to others, the discounts are generous, making it stand out among the many drugstores. With user-friendly Chinese signage, free coffee, and a series of thoughtful services, it’s my absolute favorite drugstore to visit!
We had a great time shopping, and the food was equally delightful for both adults and children. Takoyaki, teppanyaki, seafood rice, and more. There was also a highly recommended wagyu restaurant that was a big hit on this food-focused trip. The lighting inside was soft, the decor quiet, with a strong Japanese atmosphere. The beef had a snowflake-like even marbling, balanced fat and lean, rich in flavor, and melted in the mouth.
The udon noodles were quite unique in shape, and the broth made the noodles softer and more flavorful, with a rich aroma. Longlong’s appetite increased, bringing him a lot of joy and excitement. Meanwhile, Oskar captured many happy moments of us enjoying the meat. Eating together is truly the most comforting thing.
Every restaurant goes all out to showcase their specialties at the entrance. The owners use every trick to hype up their dishes, making sure every visitor sees the eye-catching signs. You can walk into any izakaya here with your eyes closed and not be disappointed. You’ll even find yourself giving it a thumbs up without thinking. You don’t have to travel far to find a specific restaurant; every place knows how to show off its strengths.
There was a long line in front of the takoyaki shop, and we quickly joined the queue. It was hot and we were outdoors, and just as our patience was about to run out, we got our food. It was packed with toppings and sauce. Since it’s an essential street food item, we each took a couple of bites and saved room to hurry to our next destination.
One of the classic, simple Japanese dishes is the hearty okonomiyaki loaded with ingredients. Large slices of pork belly and konjac pieces made it incredibly satisfying. I preferred the first place, a small stall inside the food street, even better than the one we had for breakfast. If you want to try a Michelin-rated okonomiyaki, come and meet me here!
Enjoying Wagyu Beef
Wagyu lovers naturally head to the Dotonbori wagyu restaurant, A5 Meat 18th Store, to reach this meat lover’s paradise. It was the whole family’s favorite restaurant on this trip. The tender, fresh flavor left a lasting aftertaste. They also accept Alipay and WeChat Pay.
After ordering, we eagerly anticipated our dishes arriving soon. The open kitchen allowed us to clearly see the entire preparation process. The chef carefully cooked the beef on the grill for us, and Longlong and I were drooling!
The first dish to arrive was the most expensive wagyu, and we were amazed by the thickness and density of the meat! No need for a knife and fork; a gentle poke with a fork could easily tear it apart. The beef melted in your mouth—unbelievably tender, smooth, and fragrant. The rich juice burst in your mouth, awakening Japanese flavors and making us fall in love again with the serene and harmonious atmosphere.
Anyone coming to Osaka recently, be sure to jot down this Dotonbori wagyu restaurant. It’s now our first choice for beef. Only high-quality wagyu can have such rich fat aroma. It’s just amazing! Come and activate your taste buds!
This wagyu restaurant not only has excellent beef but also delicious other dishes. One that filled me up completely was the udon noodles—a must-have in the主食 category. Not only were the noodles fantastic, but the broth was also incredibly tasty. The broth was beef stock, and the seasoning paired perfectly with the soft, smooth noodles. It was sweet, light, and clean. One sip told you there were no artificial additives—just a carefully crafted recipe. After eating, I felt very comfortable. It was as if the chef had infused all the essence of the meat into a single bowl of noodles—tender meat with rich juice.
Drugstore with a Beautiful View of Shinsaibashi
As a landmark of Shinsaibashi, the Glico Running Man sign is always a must-photo spot. It’s always crowded with young people posing for photos. We originally planned to go out early in the morning to get a good spot with fewer people, but the area is even more crowded than last time. With the blazing summer sun, we still couldn’t get the perfect shot.
Fortunately, we found a “secret base”—absolutely the best lesser-known photo spot. It’s on the second floor of the second drugstore we visited, Daikoku Drugstore (Dotonbori Store). The feature of this floor is the unique view. As soon as you go upstairs, you can see the spot where everyone comes to take a photo with the Glico poster.
The store focuses on offering beautiful scenery, with free coffee. There are also many free props for photos. Super photogenic and amazing!
What’s more, the store has a very complete selection of products. I bought all the necessary medicines and daily consumables for the family at once.
JunJun normally drinks tea like water, but this time he restocked with Taisho Pharmaceutical Livita Premium Care green tea powder—a national drink in Japan. It’s very convenient to drink; you can mix it with cold or hot water. It’s a “functional food” green tea powder suitable for people worried about high blood pressure, post-meal blood sugar, post-meal blood neutral fats, and gastrointestinal conditions. One packet a day, easy to carry. It regulates the stomach and tastes good.
Daikoku Drugstore Taisho Counter
When we arrived at the third drugstore, I didn’t want to leave once I went in. Daikoku Drugstore (Sennichimae Store) is accessible directly from Namba Station via an underground passage to the Sennichimae shopping street. The storefront is very conspicuous, and you can find it easily after walking a few steps on the shopping street.
They have everything you could want—very complete. Although I had already stocked up on my list, I discovered a particularly attractive section here: the exclusive counter for Taisho Pharmaceutical. The shelves were filled with this brand’s household essentials. Here, it’s easy to see everything, and you can buy it all: cold medicine, probiotics, Livita, etc., all very popular among our compatriots. These items often sell out quickly, and sometimes you can’t find them scattered in other drugstores, but here they are all in one place.
Not only are Japanese nationals highly loyal and satisfied with the Taisho brand, but Chinese tourists also trust it very much when they come to Japan. Especially the cold medicine, which is a blockbuster among hot items. Many drugstores sell out due to the rush.
The guaifenesin contained in PARBON GOLD A Cold [Granules] helps expel pathogens stuck to the throat and relieve cold symptoms. Besides relieving cold symptoms, it can also be used as a household staple. It has a very high market share in Japan. The PARBON series is a brand with a very high market share in the Japanese comprehensive cold medicine market. Every family should have it in their medicine cabinet. Highly recommended!
At the Daikoku Drugstore (Sennichimae Store) counter, you can confidently choose Taisho products. You can pick up other necessities from the same brand at the same time. It saves time and effort. JunJun didn’t want to leave because she felt she needed many of the products for different scenarios. I love Osaka, and I also love the smooth experience of picking and choosing things for myself.
Vibrant Tsutenkaku and the Anime World
Tsutenkaku made up for the regret from our last Osaka cherry blossom sea trip. One of Osaka’s precious symbols, it carries historical traces. The colorful signboards and retro building signs in this central area are exceptionally eye-catching, as if stepping back into a nostalgic era.
Osaka’s iconic sightseeing landmark, the bustling streets feel like stepping into an anime world. This part of the itinerary was the most exciting for the kids, who clamored to take funny imitation photos.
The observation deck of Tsutenkaku plays the role of a time machine in a nostalgic atmosphere. It is an important scenic element that forms the “New World.” It allows visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of Osaka city from indoors. There’s plenty of time to play here, with opening hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. There’s a popular slide and the same angle as in Conan’s movies, showing the prosperity and boom of old Osaka.
Toy Figures Shopping Until Your Legs Give Out
Longlong searched and walked through every gacha shop he could find, to the point that our luggage almost couldn’t fit everything. Fortunately, my boy can now help with many travel tasks. Thinking of that, just go ahead and shop to your heart’s content! With detailed sections, it was very easy to shop. My son went straight to the toy floor, already familiar with the store layout. Every day, he would laughingly carry home his “treasures.” Looking closely, the craftsmanship was really exquisite.
The next morning, we got up early and went to Kizu Market. This is a cost-effective market where locals buy fish. I prefer to call it the morning sunshine market. The fish is fresh early in the morning, and the stall owners will help process the seafood. It was lively with a great atmosphere.
In the smoky morning air of the open shops, I found my favorite sashimi shop. They serve sea urchin, oysters, and seafood rice that are freshly prepared on the spot. The taste was so fresh it left a sweet aftertaste. A bowl full of milky richness and boldness—very authentic. Go ahead and try it; it’s very nourishing early in the morning!
The line was long, and actually it wasn’t that early anymore. By noon, only a few shops were still open. Transportation is convenient; you can walk from the subway station exit. Finally, we picked up some fresh fruit and thick-cut salmon and returned to the hotel.
Must-Stay: OMO7 Osaka by Hoshino Resorts | A City Garden Not to Be Missed
It’s hard to imagine that in the expensive, cramped Osaka city center, OMO7 has a large lawn and relaxation area. The room windows also run the full length of the room, and some rooms even have a view of Tsutenkaku!
After dinner, you can go to the bathhouse for a soak. The hotel lobby provides yukata. After bathing, take a short rest in the hotel garden and enjoy a drink. The feeling is just amazing!
I must mention the OMO series’ “local guide” and “street guide” that take you to explore these lesser-known spots and local foods.
This time, we also chose two tours. One was to taste food and explore the New World. The other was an early morning tour of Kizu Market. The guide with a little yellow hat was very nice and introduced us to the little-known history of these spots, as well as some TV drama filming locations and photo spots.
OMO7 Osaka is located right next to JR Loop Line Shin-Imamiya Station. You can reach Tennoji Station and Osaka Station without changing trains.
Every time we come to Japan, the child’s experience is very good and different, which is the most delightful and rare. Revisiting familiar places, from the little kid who used to accompany us on transfers and rushed around, he has now become the one who helps push luggage, pack, and remember routes. He even takes beautiful videos for me and Oskar as souvenirs. Whether looking up maps or searching for guides, he shares the same feelings as adults about things and expresses many thoughts during the trip. Love for life is built up bit by bit. The warmth of growing up is worth recording together. Time flies, and we look forward to our next trip, and every trip, taking little you to see the big world.
