The heart of downtown Osaka, Dotonbori is filled with delicious street-food, eye-catching signs and hidden temples As a city known for kuidaore - eating yourself into bankruptcy - there’s no better place to start your explorations of Osaka than the centuries-old entertainment district.
The History of Dotonbori
Drawing in visitors from across Japan as well as overseas, Dotonbori is just north of the transport hub of Namba and consists of a main street running parallel to a walkway-lined canal. Now a bustling food and shopping district, the area grew from surprisingly humble beginnings. Seeking to bring trade to the area in the 17th century, local businessman Yasui Doton widened the small Umezu river to connect two branches of the busy Yokobori River. Although he died in a siege before his plan was completed, the reigning lord named the finished project after him, creating Dotonbori (bori meaning canal). Following growing prosperity and trade, the area was designated as Osaka’s entertainment district in 1662 and blossomed into a thriving hub of theaters, restaurants and bars.
Highlights and Top Things to do at Dotonbori
While practicing kuidaore is a great start, there’s plenty to see and do in the area in-between snacks and sit-down meals. The glowing neon signs draw in visitors and reflections on the surface of the canal are a beautiful sight, making evening a great time to visit. One of the most popular symbols of Osaka is the famous Glico running man - visitors won’t hesitate to strike a pose in front of him, so don’t forget to snap a shot when you reach Ebisu Bridge. For a full view of the neon lights then try out a Tombori River Cruise - you’ll see the lights from a new perspective.
Back on land, look out for the hidden Hozenji Temple with its moss-covered statue and explore the nearby alleyways, known as yokocho in Japanese. For rainy days, Kuromon market is a great undercover spot to explore with food stalls galore to tempt you in. Simply wandering along the main street to snap photos of the giant food will keep you busy when you first arrive, but they may well make you hungry!
Delicious Foods and Restaurants of Dotonbori
Unlike most of Japan, Dotonbori has a relaxed walk-and-eat culture, so you can enjoy some unusual snacks while you explore. Flipped at lightning speed at street-side stalls, takoyaki are a local speciality everyone should try at least once. Small fried balls of dough with squid inside, they are covered in a sweet dark sauce, layers of mayonnaise and sprinkled liberally with curling katsuoboshi (fish flakes). Although they may not be everyone’s cup of tea, they’re a quintessential Osaka dish. Follow it up with a sweet crepe or cooling ice cream and you can make the most of your time.
If you’re looking for a more substantial meal, then the overhead signs of the main street will guide you in the right direction. The large mechanical crab of Kanidouraku, Genrokuzushi’s giant hand of sushi and the flurry of inflated pufferfish all signpost the different restaurant’s specialties. Okonomiyaki is a popular local dish, translating roughly to ‘what you like, grilled’. Made fresh to order on griddles, the dish is known as Japan’s pizza and offers endless flavourful combinations. Using a batter base mixed with cabbage, you can choose your own ingredients, from shrimp to cheese. Mizuno is one of the most popular in the area, but be prepared to queue! If you prefer a hands-on approach, smaller canal-side joints will let you cook up your own okonomiyaki!
Best Hotels in Dotonbori
As a lively entertainment district close to the major Namba station, there’s no shortage of hotels nearby. If you’re keen to stay near the action, you can choose from high-end to more affordable hotels all within walking distance of the river. Clustered at either end of the main strip (between Ebisu and Nipponbashi bridges), the hotels span both sides of the river and include traditional family hotels like Kaneyoshi Ryokan, Japanese business hotels and capsule hotels like Asahi Plaza. The latter offer small pod-like sleeping spaces which may not be ideal for everyone, but if you don’t mind small spaces it’s a unique slice of Japanese functionality that was invented right here in Osaka. For a stylish but affordable stay try Hotel Zen Labo which is right beside the main street or Hotel88 and Hotel Kanade which are closer to Namba.
How to Get to Dotonbori
Dotonbori is easily accessed with a selection of stations nearby including Osaka Metro Namba Station, Osaka-Namba Station and JR Namba Station.
- From Kansai International Airport, you can catch the Nankai Airport Rapid Express direct to Namba Station. The journey takes 45 minutes and costs 930 yen. Alternatively, there are limousine buses available which arrive at Namba Station, but these take closer to an hour.
- From Osaka International Airport Itami, you need to take a limousine bus to the OCAT bus terminal in Namba Station which takes between 40 minutes to one hour.
- From Osaka Namba and Osaka Metro Namba Station, Dotonbori is best reached via Exit 25 - from there it is a couple of minute’s walk due north.
- From Nipponbashi Station, Dotonbori is best reached via Exit 7 and is a few minutes walk due north.
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