A walk around Dotonbori, Osaka

This week I have been on a work trip which, so far, has taken me to Fukuoka for a couple of days, and i've just come to the end of my second day in Osaka. Today I was lucky enough to have some free time from about 3pm, so I headed out to Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori to do some shopping and eat some ramen! I had all intentions of staying out until it got dark so I could take photos of Dotonbori at night with all the neon, but i'm exhausted and need some rest before a huge day tomorrow starting with work in Kobe, and travelling to Tokyo at night.

If you ever visit Osaka, you really should make the effort to check out the Dotonbori area at night. There are TONS of restaurants and souvenir shops, as well as a lovely canal lit up by all the neon lights surrounding the area. If you're in Osaka, and want to try their famous local foods, Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki or Kushi Katsu, there are plenty of places in this area to try these things.

You can access the Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi areas of Osaka using the Midosuji Subway line on the Osaka Subway system. I chose to get off at Shinsaibashi station and walk down the covered shopping street before arriving at Dotonbori. If you want to head straight to Dotonbori, get off at Namba station.

The canal running alongside Dotonbori

The famous Glico Man sign

Always so many people in Shinsaibashi-suji

Look at the line-up outside Ichiran Ramen! I was smart and went to their new location just down the street without a line :)

I love the crazy restaurant fronts on Dotonbori

So many shops along Shinsaibashi-suji

Have you ever been to Osaka? What did you think? Do you prefer Osaka or Tokyo?