dotonbori blog osaka
Dotonbori river

Hello! Today Living Nomads will show you all the interesting places to playing, eating, visiting in Minami (Minami District Osaka), the most famous district in central Osaka. Minami is where concentrates so many bustling streets, especially Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi neighborhood with hundreds of shops and shopping malls which selling products from world-famous fashion brands to Japanese local brands, enough to satisfy shopping devotees.

Osaka Castle, Osaka
Osaka Skyline and Osaka Castle – the symbol of Osaka City.
Dotonbori, the most bustling neighborhood in the downtown of Osaka | dotonbori guide
The vibrant and bustling of Dotonbori in the rain. | dotonbori guide

Besides, hundreds of bars and clubs operating at night are always crowded with people that creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere. Not to mention the street food stalls to the luxurious restaurants with hundreds of attractive dishes that make diners can only rolling to home rather than go well because the food is so delicious, just seeing food is hard to resist. Well, reading here, will you want to traveling to Osaka right now?

Dotonbori, Osaka
Dotonbori, a must-visit place in Minami district, Osaka | dotonbori guide
Dontonbori Osaka miami namba
A lively atmosphere of Dotonbori | dotonbori guide

So, is Dotonbori worth visiting, how to visit Dotonbori, what to do in Dotonbori and how to plan a budget trip to Dotonbori for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Dotonbori travel blog (Dotonbori blog) with the fullest Dotonbori travel guide (guide to Dotonbori, Dotonbori tourist guide, Dotonbori city guide, Dotonbori guide) from how to get to Dotonbori, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in Dotonbori to help you maximize your trip as follows!

Dotonbori, Osaka
Glico-man, the legendary symbol of Dotonbori | dotonbori guide
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Takoyaki, one of the must eat food in Osaka. | dotonbori guide
Hakozushi osaka
Hakozushi | dotonbori guide
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Osaka street food stall
Shinsaibashi is famous for arcade shopping areas | dotonbori guide
Shinsaibashi, Osaka
With lots of unique shops. | dotonbori guide
Shinsaibashi, Osaka
A clothing store in Shinsaibashi | dotonbori blog
Shinsaibashi, Osaka
| dotonbori guide

In this article, I will suggest an one day itinerary (Shinsaibashi Dotonbori itinerary for 1 day) with my buddies to explore the 2 most bustling and busiest neighborhoods of Minami District Osaka, Dotonbori street and Shinsaibashi street. Now, check it out!

| dotonbori blog
| dotonbori blog

Overview (#dotonbori guide)

Dotonbori, Osaka
The famous restaurant of Kanidouraku, Dotonbori | dotonbori guide

The extremely famous Dotonbori neighborhood with the busiest shopping malls, eye-catching bright shop signs, business LED signs, and is one of Osaka’s famous dining areas along the Dotonbori River. Shinsaibashi street is a 600m-long shopping street, if including the neighboring streets connected to Shinsaibashi street, this street must be longer than 2km with a lot of fashion shops, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, duty-free shops, 100 yen one-price shops, manga shops, … various models and prices. The architectural feature here is arcades shopping areas.

Osaka City, Japan
Minami district at night. | dotonbori guide
Dotonbori, Osaka
You can take a boat along the canal with live music in Dotonbori, Osaka | dotonbori guide
Dotonbori osaka
Dotonbori street food | dotonbori guide
Red King crabs, Osaka kobe beef kansai region cuisine japan 1
Red King Crab, must try in Osaka | dotonbori blog
Dotonbori, Osaka
Lively bar in Dotonbori.
The Main Building and South Wing of Daimaru Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade. | dotonbori guide
Shinsaibashi, Osaka
Bustling of Shinsaibashi, Osaka
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| dotonbori guide
A ceramics store off the side of Shinsaibashi shopping arcade

Minami District Osaka: Location

Shinsaibashi osaka
Crowded, bustling of Shinsaibashi at night | dotonbori guide

Minami area is located in downtown Osaka, near Namba station and Osaka City Air Terminal Building (OCAT). There are many trams and buses running in this area. The name of Namba Station is not a fixed name of a station. Depending on the train line, there will be a corresponding Namba station of the company such as Nankai Namba Station, JR Namba Station and Kintetsu’s Osaka Namba Station. In addition, the Midosuji, Yotsubashi and Sennichimae lines all have the station call Namba corresponding to their route.Location: Minami area is located in downtown Osaka, near Namba station and Osaka City Air Terminal Building (OCAT). There are many trams and buses running in this area. The name of Namba Station is not a fixed name of a station. Depending on the train line, there will be a corresponding Namba station of the company such as Nankai Namba Station, JR Namba Station and Kintetsu’s Osaka Namba Station. In addition, the Midosuji, Yotsubashi and Sennichimae lines all have the station call Namba corresponding to their line.

Namba nankai station
Namba Nankai Station
OCAT (Osaka City Air Terminal)
OCAT (Osaka City Air Terminal) | dotonbori guide
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| dotonbori blog
okonomiyaki osaka
Okonomiyaki in Osaka style
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Dotonbori street at night | dotonbori guide
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Boat on Dotonbori Canal

Most airports and high-speed bus routes have means of transport to Osaka City Air Terminal Building (OCAT) – sharing a building with JR Namba Station.

Dotonbori blog: How to get to Minami District Osaka?

canal dotonbori blog (1)
Visitor walking around bustling and busy Dotonbori, the heart of Minami district of Osaka, Japan.

There are two ways to getting to Namba Station on Midosuji line

  • Departing from Osaka/Umeda station: It takes about 8 minutes, costs 240 yen ($2.21).
  • Departing from Shin-Osaka station: It takes about 15 minutes, costs 280 yen ($2.58).
Osaka City Air Terminal
Osaka City Air Terminal
Map of Osaka City Air Terminal Building (OCAT) and train lines.
namba area map
Namba area map

Dotonbori itinerary: Morning

Breakfast with ramen noodles at Dotonbori street (#dotonbori guide)

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Shiawase Ramen | dotonbori guide

Ramen noodles are an overly familiar dish when traveling in Japan, however, the taste of ramen noodles in Osaka is quite characteristic and strange compared to other places. Whether you have eaten this dish or not, you should still try a ramen bowl in Osaka to feel the difference.

Momofuku Classic ramen
Momofuku Classic ramen
osaka ramen
A bowl of ramen with a signature flavor of Osaka | dotonbori guide
sushi osaka
You can order more Sushi if you still feel hungry.

Take a picture with the Dotonbori Glico Sign

Dotonbori Glico Sign,Dotonbori blog (3)
Mimic the Glico-man icon | dotonbori guide

A highlight spot needs to check-in right away and always for anyone who traveling to Osaka. This is the legendary Dotonbori Glico Sign (Glico-man emblem) with the image of a man wearing a Japanese-style sportswear running and making a gesture to raise his hands in a winning manner. Visiting Osaka that lack of check-in photos here is a big mistake.

Dotonbori Glico Sign,Dotonbori blog (3)
Selfies with Glico Running Man
Dotonbori Glico Sign,Dotonbori blog (3)
| dotonbori guide
Dotonbori Glico Sign,Dotonbori blog (3)
An extremely famous icon in Dotonbori

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Dotonbori Glico Sign,Dotonbori blog (3)
Must check-in spot in Dotonbori

Take a picture with the clown Cuidaore or Kuidaore

cuidaore clown,dotonbori blog
Famous Clown Mascot of Osaka | dotonbori guide

This is a famous character in Japan, the cute clown beating drum in rhythm. This clown stands at the entrance of the Nakaza Cuidaore building. If you want to take a picture with him, you have to queue for a long time to wait for your turn.

cuidaore clown,dotonbori blog

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Kuidaore Doll by Matsuyuki in Dotonbori, Osaka | dotonbori guide
cuidaore clown,dotonbori blog
| dotonbori blog

Address: 1 Chome-8-22 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071, Japan
Hours: Open 24 hours

Take a picture with Tsutenkaku tower

Tsutenkaku osaka,dotonbori blog (1)

If Paris has the Eiffel Tower, Osaka has Tsutenkaku tower, extremely famous. Spread out at the base of the tower is Shinsenkei Street with many of cheap food stalls and local specialties of Osaka. Come here and check-in the tower and buy some special food as a gift for your family when you return home, it will make people really enjoy it.

Tsutenkaku osaka,dotonbori blog (1)
| dotonbori guide
Tsutenkaku osaka,dotonbori blog (1)
Vibrant at night

Tsutenkaku osaka,dotonbori blog (1)

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Stunning at night | dotonbori blog
Tsutenkaku osaka,dotonbori blog (1)
Around the Tsutenkaku tower are many souvenir shops and eateries. | dotonbori guide

Address: 1 Chome-18-6 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0002, Japan
Height: 103 m
Opened: 1943
Hours: 9AM–9PM
Phone: +81 6-6641-9555

Dotonbori itinerary: Noon

Lunch at Kanidouraku restaurant

Dotonbori, Osaka
Exterior view of the very famous restaurant | dotonbori guide

The famous restaurant of Kanidouraku Dotombori-Honten with the signboard that is a “super big” crab is moving its legs. This restaurant is very famous for crab dishes, specialty here is the super delicious Kanizanmai (crab hotpot) for 5.000 yen ($46.00) (excluding tax). You can order more grilled crab on the charcoal, also tasty.

Kanidouraku restaurant,dotonbori blog
The ingredients of Kanizanmai (crab hotpot)

Kanidouraku restaurant,dotonbori blog

Kanidouraku restaurant,dotonbori blog
Super attractive crab hotpot | dotonbori guide

Kanidouraku restaurant,dotonbori blog

Kanidouraku restaurant,dotonbori blog
Boiled crab
Kanidouraku restaurant,dotonbori blog
Super delicious meal | dotonbori guide
Red King crabs, Osaka kobe beef kansai region cuisine japan 1
Grilled crab | dotonbori blog
Kanidouraku restaurant,dotonbori blog
The signboard of the “super big” crab of the restaurant | dotonbori guide
Kanidouraku restaurant,dotonbori blog
Check-in with the “super big” crab sign

Address: 1 Chome-6-18 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071, Japan
Hours: 11AM–11PM
Phone: +81 6-6211-8975

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