A Foodie Tour of Osaka

Later, the southern side of Dotonbori became home to small theater houses, soon developing into the go-to local district for performing arts including kabuki, puppet theater, gidayū theater, pageant-style shows, and more. For artists aspiring to the stage, Dotonbori held a Broadway-like attraction.

The major Osaka performance halls are the Shochikuza Theatre for Kabuki, the National Bunraku Theatre for ningyōjōruri, and the Namba Grand Kagetsu and the Kadoza Theatre for beloved Osaka comedy shows—all of which draw lively crowds on a daily basis.

Nestled in the midst of Minami, one of Osaka’s most chaotic districts, is a quietly exotic side street.

Turning off a narrow alleyway from the Sennichimae shopping road, a wooden sign is visible that reads “Hōzenji Yokochō” (Hōzenji Temple Alleyway). Continuing down the cobbled street glistening with water, the fragrance of incense wafts across from the left-hand side. Straight ahead lies the Mizukake Fudo-son statue, which visitors ladle with water as they ask for blessings, leaving it perpetually coated with an atmospheric layer of green moss.

The temple has been steadily visited by worshippers since the Meiji era, which encouraged the creation of eateries and bars in its environs. Around the beginning of the Shōwa era, the area was also a center for the two performing arts of rakugo (comic storytelling) and mansai (double stand-up comedy). The neighborhood was destroyed by bombing during the Pacific War, but was revitalized as an area of entertainment during the postwar period, including reconstruction of its cobblestone road.

Lined with unique shops run by a new generation, Ura-Namba is known as an area with cheap, delicious specialties, and for its numerous styles of standing bars, among other attributes. Once a precinct of "stand-and-drink" bars catering to men, Ura-Namba has transformed and is now also popular among women and younger demographics.

Pub crawling is a well-loved pastime in Ura-Namba—a neighborhood that was, incidentally, named by the proprietors of its local establishments. Indulging in food and drink while engaging in warm and friendly conversation with shop employees and fellow customers alike, patrons can go from venue to venue and enjoy the 100+ eateries and watering holes in numerous styles: Japanese, Western, Chinese and beyond.

The history of the area dates back to 1882, when stores selling old tools and other miscellaneous goods began lining the paths between the Hōzenji and Shitennō-ji Temples and the Imamiya Ebisu Shrine. An arcade was built in 1970, resulting in an expansion of the road to its present-day shopping street style. Osaka, known as "the nation's kitchen", remains a city where sushi chefs and restaurant culinary artists engage in competition with respect to the spirit and technique of their cooking—and this shopping street is filled with plentiful wares that are worthy of such professionals’ handiwork.

One of the shops has additionally earned the distinction of having the greatest the selection of goods nationwide for konamon (flour-based dishes in Osaka cuisine, such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki).

The road has lately continued to become well-known as a food-centered entertainment area featuring numerous hands-on events, including takoyaki demonstrations and opportunities to create food samples (a recent popular gift item).

Overflowing with everything from sushi to cakes, udon to takoyaki, every kind of fruit imaginable, and much more, these shops are the stuff of fairy tale dreams—and one can easily lose themselves amidst their shelves.