A look at the Osaka nightlife, looking down the Dotonbori river.

The first stop in experiencing Osaka nightlife

Hunt down an Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki bar somewhere around Dotonbori. Just ask around, ask someone “okonomiyaki wa doko desu ka?”. These places are usually very small, but very friendly. When you find one, order an okonomiyaki and if you like, “nama” or “biru” (beer in Japanese).

Inside an Osaka Okonomiyaki/Takoyaki bar in Dotonbori

After you have had your meal, head out and find some local bars or clubs in Dotonbori.

See the sights of Osaka

Within a short stroll from Dotonbori is Namba, and the iconic Namba Hips building…

The Namba Hips building is a landmark of the Osaka nightlife

All around Namba and Dotonbori are many bars, you can usually find them by their streets signs or the building directory, or just by simply seeing it from the street. Just be careful, if the sign says something about girls then it is probably a hostess bar. A hostess bar is a place where girls that work at the bar are very flirty and usually very cute. However whenever you buy a drink, they are also paid for that drink so effectively you are paying double. Plus there is usually an entry fee of around 3000 Yen.

Street sign for one of the many Japanese hostess bars in Osaka

Bar Nine’s website.

Walk along the Dotonbori river, and head towards the bright lights. You will see a massive Glico man sign illuminated. Around the bridge here, there is always something happening, many restaurants and bars and always lots of fun.

Within 5 minutes from Dotonbori is the suburb of Shinsaibashi, during the day there is lots of shopping and a night there

Find a gaijin (foreigner) bar

Something really fun to do is find a gaijin bar, where there is usually a few Japanese locals who are really keen to try out their English. If you don’t speak much Japanese, and want to experience some fun Osaka nightlife, make friends with some Japanese locals who are friendly and speak a little English. Challenge them to a game of darts…

Electronic dart board games are really popular in Japan, and a great way to meet locals.

Dotonbori gaijin bar

The best gaijin bar I visited in Osaka is called Coolabah, it has darts, regular events and usually a few friendly locals. Even if you’re not an Aussie or a Kiwi, check it out it’s a great place. As far as Dotonbori gaijin bars go, this was one of the friendliest.

This gaijin (foreigner) bar, Coolabah, is a great Australian themed and owned bar in Dotonbori, Osaka.

Visit the Coolabah’s website for more information and directions.

For accommodation, see my post about The Best Capsule Hotel in Osaka.

Getting to Osaka

From outside Japan: Flights to Osaka

If you’re outside Japan (and most of you are!) you can book flights to Osaka direct. My first trip to Japan was actually from Gold Coast, Australia to Osaka.

From inside Japan: Domestic travel

Being the second biggest city/metro area in Japan, and connected to Tokyo by the most travelled shinkansen (bullet train) route in the country, if you are already in Japan a great way to get there (and make the most of your time) is to take the bullet train.

You can check shinkansen timetables and costs and then buy a ticket from most JR stations and many travel agents.

Willer Express is one of the few bus companies offering a booking system in English. I’ve travelled with them a few times and they are really cheap.

I am from Australia and recently travelled to Japan for a holiday. In terms of traditions, we borrow from elsewhere, in terms of historical architecture there is nothing older than 250 years. Travelling to Japan was a chance to visit a country that is most steeped in tradition and culture of their own country – deeply proud and very generous people. It is a challenge and a massive reward holidaying here. So much so that I am now planning on returning to live.

There are so many reasons to visit Japan. Here are my top ten reasons why you should travel to Japan.

1. City, night lights and shopping.

Major shopping hub at Shibuya in Tokyo, near Shibuya 109.

The first of my top 10 reasons to visit Japan is really hard to justify on camera. But the shopping here is something very different, Shibuya 109 is a mutli-storey shopping centre just for teenage girs. And Akihabara in Tokyo is know solely for its electronics and games.

2. Festivals.

Sakura (Japanese Cherry Blossom) during the spring festival in Osaka.

Although in this list of 10 reasons to visit Japan I include only one example of a festival, Japan has many and they are very unique. From the snow and ice festivals in Sapporo in the north and more ancient/traditional festivals with priests and shrines, Japan loves the celebrations!

For more information see Wikipedia’s article on Japanese festivals.

UPDATE: New post ‘Japanese cherry blossom – photos and info‘.

3. Robots, gadgets and all things tech.

Sony AIBO, robot dogs at Roboworld in Fukuoka

Western style Japanese toilet with myriad of controls. Known in Japan as the Washlet (ウォシュレット Woshuretto)."

If you visit Japan, you will encounter one of these Japanese ‘washlet’ toilets. They really should be all over the world! Very hygienic, although it took a few times to get used to the water jets…

4. Castles, temples and shrines.

Okayama-jo, black and gold castle called 'Crow Castle' or 'U-jo'.

5. Efficient transport and the shinkansen (bullet train).

JR Central's Hikari Shinkansen.

Riding on Japan’s bullet train was actually at the top of my mates 10 reasons to visit Japan. Riding along at 300km/h or more, it feels more like air travel than rail travel.

At the opposite end of the speed scale, bicycles have right of way on the roads in Japan.

6. Japanese food and drink (especially Yebisu beer).

Yebisu beer and takoyaki (octopus in battered balls).

Yebisu (pronounced ‘eh-bi-su’) is my favourite Japanese beer, there are a lot of good quality beer in Japan, including beers that aren’t beers… take a look at the Japanese Beer Difference article for an explanation.

7. Manga and anime.

Just a small part of a multi-level book store in Okayama

8. Astro boy.

Statue of Astro Boy (named Atom in Japanese) outside Kyoto train station.

9. Architecture.

ACROS Fukuoka - the green side.

10. Origami, ancient traditions and art.

A tiny origami crane sitting on the bar of a nightclub in Fukuoka

This post marks the beginning of a series of posts, about my trip to Japan. I went to Japan for a holiday for about 1 month. Almost daily I would go to an internet cafe to find something to do – being in a non-English speaking country meant things to do were hard to find on the internet. My site ‘Japan Travel Mate’ aims to provide information on what to do and how to do it when you are in Japan.