Start Daytime Bar Hopping in Tenma, Osaka!

📍 Osaka · 👁 768 reads

Introducing affordable and delicious hidden gem izakaya♪

Hi, I'm Daniel.

I'm from California, and this is my seventh year in Osaka. I love Japanese food culture and am currently apprenticing in the kitchen of an Osaka hotel restaurant.

My hobby is eating my way through the streets! On my days off, I explore small restaurants and go on eating adventures.

This time I'm introducing Tenma, a heaven-like place where you can drink even during the day❤ I experienced bar hopping starting from daytime in Tenma, a place where you can enjoy yourself even alone!

To reach the daytime drinking paradise—Ura-Tenma—the easiest way is to take the Osaka Metro to Ōgimachi Station.

It's 2:30 PM. Let's go—searching for delicious drinks and food!

My first stop is my favorite sushi restaurant! The neon-decorated, cute and stylish "KOTOBUKITSUKASA." There's outdoor seating, and the relaxed atmosphere inside is super comfortable♪

I quickly went in and chose a counter seat where I could clearly see the sushi ingredients. KOTOBUKITSUKASA seems to use QR code ordering! At first, I was a bit lost since the menu was only in Japanese, but a staff member helped me, and I ordered quickly.

Sitting at the counter, there's no time to get bored waiting for the sushi. Looking at the fresh sushi ingredients in the display case builds anticipation, and being able to watch the sushi chef's skill up close is delightful. I couldn't wait to see what sushi would be served!

I ordered KOTOBUKITSUKASA's specialty, "Avalanche Sushi"!

It was amazing. The sushi chef was making it right in front of me. Layers of rolled sushi piled high with salmon, tuna, negitoro (chopped fatty tuna), and salmon roe… It truly lived up to its name—it looked like it was about to avalanche!

Look at this super photogenic mountain of sushi! And this portion size!

It was actually quite heavy to lift. Of course, I took lots of photos✌

Time to eat! But I had no idea where to start or how to eat it… (laughs)

Whoa! I mustered my courage and stuck my chopsticks in—and sure enough, an avalanche occurred. (laughs)

But never mind that; first, I tasted the piled-high sashimi on top! Then I took big bites of the sushi buried underneath. Ah—each bite spread the fresh taste of the sea in my mouth～. Authentic Japanese sushi is truly fresh and delicious!

The "Avalanche Sushi" costs 1,980 yen. Though a bit pricey, the portion is huge and very satisfying, offering great value. I highly recommend ordering this here. They also have nigiri sushi starting at 80 yen per piece, which is cheap!

I originally planned to have a light snack before moving to the next place, but I ended up quite full at the first shop. If you come to Tenma for sushi, definitely try KOTOBUKITSUKASA!

So, what to eat at the second shop?

I walked and pondered, then suddenly found a shop selling pig trotters and offal! Curious, I entered "Kobayashi Shoten." It was crowded, but I was lucky to find a seat.

My first order at Kobayashi Shoten was pig trotters! With a gentle poke of my chopsticks, the meat fell off the bone—so tender and juicy.

The trotters were stewed soft and well-flavored, melting in my mouth. They were so delicious I finished them in no time! I think even people who usually don't like trotters would enjoy these.

Next, I ordered the grilled meat combo.

You can choose two types of meat, and it comes with free vegetables, which the staff grills on the iron plate!

I chose skirt steak and brisket.

The skirt steak is very chewy and rich in meaty flavor.

The brisket is tender yet firm and chewy—a cut rarely seen at Japanese yakiniku restaurants. The collagen in the brisket is sweet, and every bite releases a burst of flavor! The vegetables soaked in meat fat were also incredibly tasty. So I ended up eating quite a bit more. (laughs)

Continuing further in, I reached "Ura-Tenma Chōchin Street."

The lanterns aren't lit during the day, but at night they look like this! Very photogenic, right?

I was a bit full, so I strolled around. It's really lively even from midday. The aromas filled the street, making it fun just to wander. Everything looked so delicious…

After a while, I spotted a bustling-looking shop on the corner.

The outdoor seating at "Hokkoridainingutanaka" was comfortable, and you can drink there during the day.

I was too full, so I just ordered a few small snacks… A pasta salad appetizer, karasumi (salt-cured mullet roe), and ginger.

Karasumi is made by salting and drying the ovaries of mullet. It was once eaten as preserved food, but over time it has become one of Japan's three great delicacies! My first time trying it—it had a unique, addictive flavor, like a delicious cheese.

I was drinking alone, when suddenly a middle-aged man appeared with a smile and said "Hello～!"

Before I knew it, I was drinking with him. (laughs)

The man who struck up a conversation was "Uncle Isao," who often drinks while walking around Tenma. He spoke good English and enthusiastically told me about his love for Tenma! Uncle Isao thinks Tenma's charm is its lively and friendly atmosphere, plus many cheap and delicious shops. I completely agree. We hit it off as if we'd known each other for years!

In fact, at the first two shops I visited, the people next to me also kindly chatted with me. Whether or not we shared a common language, everyone drinking together becomes friends! Tenma is a place where you can experience this. I said, "See you later!" to Uncle Isao and moved on to my last stop—an izakaya typical of Tenma.

My final stop was the lively "Tajimaya."

As soon as I entered—wow! The menu strips covered the entire wall.

If you're torn about what to order… just look at what others are eating and point. If still unsure, ask the staff for a recommendation—you can't go wrong!

The person next to me poured me a beer! Pouring each other's drinks is a nice Japanese custom.

The noisy chatter of people serves as background music. Drinking in such an atmosphere is truly enjoyable!

I ordered the house specialty, dote-ni (miso-stewed beef offal). Perfect with alcohol.

Then, of course, I had kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers), which is a must in Osaka. I love kushikatsu. Tajimaya's kushikatsu was crispy, hot, and satisfying♪

How does this sound? My recommended way to enjoy Tenma is by going around like this, bar hopping!

The essence is not to stay long in one shop, but to quickly have one or two drinks and a few tasty dishes, then move on.

Many shops in Tenma are open from daytime until night, allowing you to taste various flavors and meet different people at each place.

Night is great, but drinking from the daytime makes you feel like you've truly enjoyed your day off～. If you're visiting Osaka, consider adding daytime bar hopping in Tenma to your itinerary♪

Look, there are so many cheap shops. It's getting dark, but it's not time to go home yet～!

I couldn't resist, so I decided to visit another shop. (laughs)

Trip directory:

1. ● For daytime drinking, head to the holy land of bar hopping—Ura-Tenma

2. ● Must-see photo spot! The hefty Avalanche Sushi

3. ● Bar hopping with pig trotters and offal—the more you drink, the more you want!

4. ● Ura-Tenma Chōchin Street, bustling even during the day

5. ● A once-in-a-lifetime bar hopping encounter—cheers with strangers at shared tables♪

6. ● Finally, visit Tenma's hidden gem izakaya tucked away in back alleys