Osaka is Japan's second-largest metropolitan area after Tokyo. About 7% of Japan's population is concentrated in Osaka. Additionally, approximately 10% of foreigners living in Japan reside in Osaka. It's a city popular among foreigners for its convenience and unique culture.
Osaka has long been called "the nation's kitchen" and "the city of kuidaore" (eat until you drop). A rich and unique food culture has developed in Osaka over time. For example, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu are famous culinary delights.
Takoyaki, in particular, which originated in Osaka, is famous nationwide. It's also a hugely popular street food among foreign tourists. Another popular dish, okonomiyaki, is a specialty of Osaka, along with Hiroshima. Osaka boasts many renowned okonomiyaki restaurants.
Moreover, Osaka has numerous izakayas (Japanese-style pubs) that serve exquisite cuisine. Dotonbori, Namba, and Shinsekai are Osaka's representative neon-lit districts. In this article, we'll introduce "night tours" where you can enjoy excellent cuisine and delicious drinks at izakayas.
Osaka's nights are filled with spots to enjoy local cuisine and izakayas!
Osaka is called "the nation's kitchen" and is the center of Japanese gourmet culture. This is because it has long been a hub for the distribution of ingredients and other goods. Osaka is a city facing the sea with abundant waterways. As a result, it has continued to develop as a center for logistics and commerce.
Osaka is also home to many izakayas, which are Japanese-style pubs catering to the general public. One menu item you can't miss at Osaka izakayas is kushikatsu. It's a dish where skewered meat and vegetables are deep-fried and dipped in a special sauce.
Like kushikatsu, Osaka has many spots where you can enjoy Osaka-specific cuisine while drinking. However, it can be challenging for tourists to find truly delicious restaurants among the countless options.
In such cases, food tours that take you to locally beloved restaurants are recommended. This article will mainly introduce tours led by local guides where you can fully enjoy Osaka's exquisite cuisine. Please use this as a reference when choosing your tour.
Enjoy Osaka's night to the fullest! Two recommended tours where you can enjoy Osaka cuisine and izakayas simultaneously
Deep Backstreet Osaka Tours
Source:Viator
This tour is a walking exploration of Osaka's nighttime backstreets. You'll explore Osaka's local urban areas, entertainment districts, and ghettos with a guide. During the tour, you can enjoy street food at food stalls. Optionally, you can also dine at local izakayas.
The appeal of this tour is that you visit places that give you a sense of Osaka's deep culture, which regular tourist tours don't cover. You'll see ordinary residential areas, retro backstreets that haven't changed in decades, and slightly dubious entertainment districts. The street food included in the basic tour plan allows you to enjoy authentic soul food loved by locals.
Enjoy the charm of nighttime Osaka along with gourmet food and drinks. Note that alcoholic beverages at restaurants are charged separately from the tour fee. However, they are relatively inexpensive, so please try them along with the cuisine.
Meeting point: Family Mart MYS Daikokucho Station Store, 2-5-16 Shikitsu Higashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka
Tour area: Around Naniwa-ku
Start time: 05:30 pm
Approximate price: $55.69~ (per adult)
Osaka Bar Hopping Night Tour in Namba
Namba is Osaka's representative nightlife district. This tour allows you to enjoy visits to three izakayas in Namba. It's an all-inclusive tour with drinks and dinner included in the price.
Osaka is a city with many izakayas. Among them, local guides who know Osaka inside out have picked the best izakayas. All of these establishments are bustling with locals. Of course, the quality of the cuisine is also top-notch. The guide will teach you what to order and how to enjoy Osaka izakayas!
This tour is recommended for those who want to experience Osaka's nightlife thoroughly. Experience izakaya cuisine unique to Osaka, such as cold beer enjoyed with yakitori and okonomiyaki.
This tour provides enough food without additional charges. It generally accommodates vegetarian menus. However, unfortunately, gluten-free and vegan menus are not available, so please be aware of this.
Meeting point: In front of Namba HIPS, 1-8-16 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Tour area: Namba
Start time: 06:00 pm or 7:00 pm
Approximate price: $102.16~ (per adult)
Enjoy local specialties! Three food walking tours where you can savor Osaka's delicious cuisine
Hungry Osaka Street Food Tour (15 Dishes) - Feast Like a Local
Source:Viator
This is a food tour where you can enjoy 15 types of Osaka cuisine. You'll spend 3 hours exploring the Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku areas, visiting 5 shops.
The appeal of this tour is that you can experience all at once the famous soul foods that are synonymous with Osaka. Karaage (fried chicken), yakitori, takoyaki, udon, oden, kushikatsu, tebasaki (chicken wings), and dessert. While all are casual dishes, they're incredibly delicious and hugely popular. You're sure to find something you like.
Osaka cuisine has the charm to captivate people instantly. If you're generally interested in Osaka's food, this is a tour we highly recommend participating in at least once. It's a tour that most people can join, including those in wheelchairs. Hotel pickup is not included, so please gather at the meeting point on time.
Meeting point: Ebisucho Station, 5-13 Nipponbashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka
Tour area: Shinsekai, Tsutenkaku
Start time: 05:30 pm
Approximate price: ¥13,000~ (As of August 10, ¥13,000 = $88.63)
Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai
This is a tour where you can taste 8 types of Osaka specialty dishes in Dotonbori and Shinsekai. The tour includes one box of takoyaki, 6 kushikatsu skewers, okonomiyaki, and 3 types of drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic).
Walk through the city while eating kushikatsu, takoyaki, and okonomiyaki. Learn about the cuisine, food culture, and history of Osaka from local guides who love the city.
This tour allows you to enjoy not only meals but also city exploration. In the retro urban areas, you'll feel like you've time-traveled back several decades. You'll also walk through temples and shrines rooted in Osaka's streets. The guide will take you to hidden gems that you wouldn't visit on a regular tour. You can get to know Osaka from various aspects beyond just food.
This is the perfect tour for those who want to enjoy the food while deeply understanding the cultural background of why Osaka is called a gourmet city and how it has developed.
While this tour provides many meals, please note that the menu doesn't accommodate gluten-free or vegan diets.
Meeting point: Ebisucho Station, 5-13 Nipponbashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka
Tour area: Shinsekai, Tsutenkaku
Start time: 05:30 pm
Approximate price: $107.90~ (per adult)
Best Deep Osaka Nighttime Food-n-Fun with Locals (6 or less!)
Source:Tripadvisor
On this tour, you can enjoy deep Osaka cuisine and exploration with a guide. The plan is customized according to guests' preferences. Typically, it includes exploring two districts and dining/drinking at three bars or restaurants.
A popular plan is to start with exploring a local district that isn't a tourist spot. Transportation is by public means like trains, just like the locals use.
The guide will introduce restaurants based on your preferences. However, traditional izakayas and food stalls frequented by locals are especially recommended. Enjoy local dishes like "dote-ni" (beef simmered for a long time).
If you want to enjoy Osaka's local atmosphere and meals, please participate in this tour. You can deeply experience traditional gourmet food and food culture.
Tour participation is from age 13. Also, alcohol is not provided. On this tour, let's enjoy Osaka's local food until you're full.
(For a typical plan)
Meeting point: Ebisucho Station, 5-13 Nipponbashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka
Tour area: Temma, Kyobashi
Start time: 06:00 pm (varies depending on the day and your preference)
Approximate price: $103.50~ (per adult)
Enjoy Osaka's night at a leisurely pace! Recommended private tours for small groups visiting eateries
Osaka Private Night Tour: Dōtonbori & Ura Namba, 4 Hours With A Local
Source:Tripadvisor
This is a private tour where you can explore Dotonbori and Ura Namba with a local guide for 4 hours. You can customize the route and destinations according to your interests, or leave it up to the guide if you prefer.
The plan is flexible, and you can enjoy it as you like. For example, you could start by enjoying the nighttime atmosphere of Dotonbori while buying and drinking beer from a convenience store. If you want to visit izakayas and other eateries, ask the guide to introduce you to the best places. It's also recommended to go to karaoke after dinner and sing to your heart's content.
As this is a small-group tour just for your party, you can relax and enjoy Osaka's nightlife with friends or family. Dotonbori at night is lively and full of energy. Enjoy hopping between eateries and play like a local.
Transportation is basically on foot. If you use public transportation, it will be provided as an option, so please check in advance.
(For a typical plan)
Meeting point: Hotel pickup available
Tour area: Dotonbori, Ura Namba
Start time: 05:00 pm~06:00 pm (varies depending on the day and your preference)
Approximate price: $168.14~ (per adult)
Osaka Street Food Tour with a Local Foodie: Private & 100% Personalized
source:Tripadvisor
This is a completely private food tour that can be customized to your preferences. The tour lasts 3 hours. Let's explore Osaka's night while tasting street food with a guide.
You can leisurely try various Osaka cuisines in a small group with just your family or friends. The destinations are chosen by a guide who knows the local area well, picking the best shops based on your interests and preferences. On average, you'll visit 2-3 eateries and enjoy 6-8 types of Osaka cuisine.
Osaka is said to be a city for enjoying and indulging in food. Since it's just your group participating, there's no need to hold back. Tell the guide about your likes, dislikes, and what you want to try, and enjoy Osaka's cuisine to the fullest.
Please note that any food beyond the 6-8 types included in the tour will incur additional charges.
(For a typical plan)
Meeting point: Hotel pickup available
Tour area: Namba, Chuo, etc. (depends on the plan)
Start time: 08:00 am~ or 05:00 pm~ for night tours (varies depending on the day and your preference)
Approximate price: $175.90~ (per adult)
Osaka Food Crawl W KUNI-Osaka Private Food Tour
Source:Tripadvisor
On this tour, you can visit three renowned restaurants in Osaka and enjoy high-quality cuisine. It's a completely private, small-group tour. Both lunch and dinner courses are available.
The lunch course allows you to enjoy eel, tuna and sea urchin, and Matsusaka beef, one of Japan's highest-grade beef. The dinner course, which lets you experience the charm of Osaka at night, is especially recommended. For dinner, you can enjoy tempura, Kobe beef hamburger steak, and yakitori. All restaurants are carefully selected and among the most popular in Osaka.
If you want to taste the finest gourmet food in Osaka, please participate in the dinner course of this tour. I particularly recommend the high-quality Japanese brand beef, "Kobe beef". It's a special gourmet item that you should definitely try in Osaka. Once you taste it, you'll never forget it. Also, the restaurant can be changed to sukiyaki or shabu-shabu if desired.
They can accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions, so please communicate your needs when booking.
Meeting point: Ebisu Bridge, 1-6 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Tour area: Dotonbori, Namba
Start time: 04:50 pm~ (for dinner plan)
Approximate price: $230.04~ (per adult)
It's not just food tours! Private tours to enjoy nighttime shrines and temples are also recommended!
Hidden Gems of Osaka Kyoto Nara - Private Car Tour by Local Guide
Source:Tripadvisor
This tour is a private car tour that takes you through Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka. You'll spend 7 hours visiting special shrines and temples in each area.
First, you'll visit Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. At night, you'll stop by the Mizunomi Jizo (small guardian deity stone statues that protect people and places) in Kandatsu, Osaka. Why not try greeting these traditional Jizo statues?
Furthermore, this spot offers a panoramic view of Osaka City. Enjoy the shining skyscrapers of Japan's second-largest city.
This tour is especially recommended for those who want to see the mystical shrines and temples of Osaka and neighboring areas in one day. Let's take time to feel the cultural charm of Osaka beyond just food.
While you'll be traveling long distances, all transportation is by private car. It's comfortable to enjoy, so it's safe even with children. However, visiting temples and shrines may involve climbing stairs or slopes. It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes.
Meeting point: Hotel pickup available
Tour area: Kyoto, Nara, Osaka
Start time: 01:00 pm~
Approximate price: $278.84~ (per adult)
Osaka Kickstart: Hotspots & Hidden Gems Tours (Private or Group)
Source:viator
On this tour, you can see Osaka's popular spots and hidden gems. You can choose between a private tour or a group tour. Choose from tour durations of 3, 4, 5, or 7 hours.
For private tours, you can freely customize your destinations. Osaka has many shrines and temples. Visit places that have been worshipped by locals for many years with your guide at night. Unlike during the day, you can experience the mystical and atmospheric ambiance of shrines and temples.
If you want to leisurely tour Osaka's shrines, temples, and famous places in a small group, please try the private plan of this tour. Learn about Osaka's unique religious culture and history from your guide.
This tour focuses on sightseeing. Please note that food and drinks are not included in the tour fee.
Meeting point: Eco Station 21 Sennichimae-dori Bicycle Parking Area G, 2-2-8 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Or pickup at hotel front entrance (only for 4-hour or 5-hour private tours)
Tour area: Around Osaka City
Start time: Starts between 10:00 am~2:00 pm (varies depending on the plan)
Approximate price: $47.34~ (per adult) (varies depending on the plan)