THE! Osaka Trip - 2 Nights and 3 Days

A getaway to experience the essence of Osaka in a 2-night, 3-day trip. Accommodation was at Toyoko Inn Abeno Tennoji, chosen to enjoy the deep and authentic Osaka vibe. Conveniently located within walking distance of Tsutenkaku Tower, Shinsekai, and Tennoji Zoo, and close to Dobutsuen-mae Station. Upon check-in, I quickly dropped off my luggage in the room and headed straight to Tsuruhashi. Although I arrived at a time when many shops were already closed, I managed to buy my desired Korean cosmetics and enjoy some Korean cuisine 🇰🇷. I was thrilled to find a shop near Korea Town selling tanghulu at half price 😊. The strawberry and muscat mix was absolutely delicious! After leaving Korea Town, I headed to Dotonbori. Despite the crowds, I was able to see the Glico sign lit up and enjoy the illuminated Dotonbori area. I wanted to try takoyaki from Kukuru, but the long queue and wait time led me to buy takoyaki from Kureoru instead. Later, I ended the day with a bowl of delicious ramen at "Kamukura." Day 2 started at Namba Yasaka Shrine. The size of the lion-shaped hall was much larger than I expected, which surprised me. I drew a fortune slip and bought a protective charm. The highlight of the second day was the Shin-Kigeki comedy show! Before the performance, I had takoyaki from Wanaka and meat sui from Chitose to prepare for the day. The broth was incredibly tasty! I explored the souvenir shop at Namba Grand Kagetsu and wandered around the Sennichimae area before returning to the theater for the show. Watching Akira's performance as the lead was deeply satisfying! It was a lucky day for me as I got to see all the comedians I wanted 🥳. It was my first time watching rakugo, and it was incredibly entertaining! After the show, I grabbed some takoyaki from Yoshitako and returned to the hotel. I then headed to Tsutenkaku Tower. Walking through the underpass near Dobutsuen-mae Station and passing through the shopping arcade, I reached Tsutenkaku. Visiting Osaka wouldn't be complete without experiencing the deep vibe of Shinsekai. I debated which kushikatsu shop to choose and stopped by a game arcade for some shooting games 🔫. Using a coupon from a partner store, I went to Tsurukameya. I ordered Koshien Highball and enjoyed the appetizers while waiting for the kushikatsu. I ordered a variety of items like beef skewers, quail eggs, red sausages, pork fillet with shiso, scallops, potatoes, cheese, and shiitake mushrooms. Some items were hard to identify until I tasted them, but that added to the fun 😜. After eating to my heart's content, I took another look at Tsutenkaku and wandered around before heading back to the hotel. I walked over 15,000 steps that day and fell asleep immediately upon returning 😴. On the third day, after checking out, I went straight to Tsutenkaku again. I tried the takoyaki from "Kankan" and the Biliken-shaped castella cakes I missed the previous day. I also got a mixed juice to-go from Sennariya Coffee. Although I wished to stay longer, I quickly moved on to my final destination, Osaka Castle, as part of my "THE Osaka" tour. Seeing Osaka Castle from the train window just before arriving at Osaka Castle Park Station was exciting. Stepping out of the station, I was thrilled to see Osaka Castle Hall and headed toward Osaka Castle. It was larger and more beautiful than I had imagined, though I wished for clearer skies. After visiting Osaka Castle, I went to the Osaka Gourmet Expo 2025. I enjoyed the famous squid-yaki from Hanshin before heading to Kansai Airport. At the airport, I had another bowl of ramen from "Kamukura." This 2-night, 3-day trip truly captured the essence of Osaka. Although I was exhausted from all the walking, it was an incredibly fun and fulfilling experience!