Welcome to Osaka, a bustling city that’s famous for its incredible food and friendly people. Here you’ll be taken into a wonderland of not only neon lights spanning some of the longest shopping streets you can find, but also huge, extraordinary signage designed to highlight the famous restaurants that fill the city. But even beyond these excessively big and looming statues hovering over the street are some places that you may never discover. Also, it’s worth noting that Osaka is the birthplace for both instant ramen and conveyor belt sushi? It’s easy to imagine the prowess of delicacies that Osaka maintains. While Osaka is indeed famous for its food, its downtown areas are packed with adventures and stories waiting to be told, but where to start…
Osaka Joiner is your best friend in Osaka!
You heard it here first! If you want to really get to know the area well and be accompanied by a fun and knowledgeable guide, look no further! On this tour you’ll have no trouble exploring the city in a relaxed, fun way, getting to see various types of restaurants and bars, each with their own characteristics and tasty dishes. You’ll experience a perfect blend of the must see and taste with the spots you may never see or taste again! Making new friends, having fun and leaving with stories you’ll want to tell your friends is a guarantee. Whether you like tasty food or some potentially rowdy nightlife vibes, this tours got it for you. And not to mention, the guides are very savvy and are happy to cater the tour to what the group likes and doesn’t like, so feel free to ask!
Restaurants you’ll be checking out
Now, the actual locations may vary depending on how the group is feeling or if you all want to eat something specific (like okonomiyaki instead of kushikatsu), but below we’ve listed out the standard flow of the tour! These places are all great and each has tons of great food, so be sure to pace yourself!
A huge selection of deep fried delicacies
If you like fried food, then this place will be heaven for you. If you don’t, well maybe it’s worth asking the guide to suggest a different spot, but this place has a huge variety so it’s worth trying it out! Anyways, their specialty is a variety of skewered meat and veggies, breaded and deep fried! You can even order deep fried cheese katanas… What could possibly be better? The wide variety of things you can order here makes it enjoyable for many, a great way to start the night. If you enjoy this kind of food and are getting hungry just reading about it, rest assured that Osaka is famous for this food and there are plenty of Kushikatsu places to be enjoyed; there are plenty in other regions as well!
Sumptuous skewers and an underground vibe
Another variety of skewered deliciousness is Yakitori, perhaps kushikatsu’s more distinguished older brother. Yakitori literally means grilled chicken, but of course there you can order other things like vegetables too. Yakitori itself is a pretty common dish that isn’t too complex, but you can expect each store to always display their own grilling-expertise. This store not only serves some mouthwateringly tender varieties, but it also is quite the hole-in-the-wall spot filled with locals enjoying some brews and skewers with their friends after work or on a weekend. The atmosphere is lively and warm, and you’ll always get some inspiration on what to order next by seeing some super tasty looking dishes being carried to the tables!
The bar you can’t forget!
If you love bars that have a ton of character but still offer the necessities, then this is the place for you. No doubt you will be leaving this place with a smile still on your face, some rambunctious stories to tell, and perhaps some new friends. The atmosphere here is… well, quite hard to explain- it’s really something you need to see for yourself! The staff all have very bubbly, outgoing personalities that make you want to get another drink! They also have some special staff that are there almost every day that bring quite the life to the place- something you’ll certainly never forget. You’ll also want to keep in mind that Sunday nights are “baby-day,” when the staff will be wearing bibs and bonnets while they serve you your favorite drinks and include you in some fun cheers! You really need to see this place to believe it.
Saving the best for last!
Well, whether it’s really the best is up to you! But they really do have some extremely redeeming qualities. Their customer service, for one, is exceptional and you’ll feel very welcomed and taken care of here- perfect for when you’re a few (or more than a few) drinks deep! Aside from the customer service that will put a warm smile on your face, the food here is to die for. One dish in particular is something that may sound odd, but it’s really something you have to try (your guide will insist on this). It’s essentially fish eggs wrapped in seaweed and then deep fried served with mayonnaise. To most western visitors, this may sound a bit off putting… but, the fish eggs are actually extremely small (almost like powder) and don’t taste too “fishy”, and neither does the seaweed. The result is a warm, melt-in-your-mouth, tangy bite that your eyes will widen too. The other dish, also somewhat of a no-no for the less adventurous, is a rare fried chicken dish. No, the chicken wasn’t hard to find, it’s actually cooked rare. It’s served with a creamy, gravy-like topping that’s almost like cheese or mayonnaise (but it’s not…) which is incredibly tasty. If you absolutely cannot handle the undercooked aspect of this dish, the store can fully cook it for you and it’s still incredibly tasty! We would highly recommend these two unique dishes, and anything else off of their menu!
Packed with good tastes and better memories
Osaka Joiner provides guests with a great time and makes sure to stay flexible while still hitting all the spots you won’t want to miss. One of their strong points is their ability to stay flexible while still guaranteeing an unforgettable experience. They are able to accommodate even last minute reservations so long as there is availability, and, as we mentioned before, are able to adjust the tour to ensure every guest is happy. And of course, this is all thanks to the skill and friendly dispositions of their guides.
How to Book:
Follow this link and make your reservation!
The OsakaJOINER store is located in the underground shopping area called “Namba Walk”, near Exit B23 of Namba station! If this seems difficult to find, they are happy to set a different meetup location.
There you have it! Are you ready to dive deep into Osaka?
Whether it’s some of the tastiest skewered delights you’ve ever had, some of the craziest bar vibes you’ve ever seen, you’ll surely be walking away with some great memories and knowing where to take your friends and family in the future. OsakaJOINER specializes in taking guests to the lesser known places of downtown Osaka and helps them access places that they would likely have a hard time getting into by communicating with the shop owners and regulars. The chill yet exciting attitude of the experience will surely have you fondly remembering Osaka with all its great food and kind people.
