Dotonbori

Great place to shop with the family. You might want to keep them close. There is a lot of foot traffic and it can be easy to lose someone in the crowd. People were friendly and curious. The only thing is that after 6, it started to turn more of an adult area with girls for rent and bars opening . There is nothing wrong with that if you're single with the boys. If you're with a family, I would try to be out of the area by 6. If you're single, that might be a good time to head down .

A classic area to visit with great food and shopping. Best of all are all the huge 3D and sometimes moving signs over businesses advertising their food or wares. We had an amazing time seeing all the awesome scenes to include the Glico man. The only negative was the other tourists who make it somewhat of a rough experience as you'll notice at all tourist locations in Japan now.

Dotonbori is an absolute must-visit when you’re in Osaka. The atmosphere is electric, especially at night when the entire area lights up with neon signs and bustling crowds. It’s a perfect mix of culture, food, and nightlife all in one spot. What really stood out to me was the incredible variety of food options. From famous takoyaki and okonomiyaki stalls to ramen shops and fresh sushi bars, there’s something for every craving. I loved just walking around and trying different street foods while soaking in the energy of the place. There are also many restaurants with great views of the canal, which adds to the experience. The nightlife here is just as exciting. The streets are alive with music, laughter, and people enjoying themselves. Whether you’re looking to eat, shop, or just take in the sights, Dotonbori offers a vibrant and memorable experience. It’s also very photogenic—don’t miss the iconic Glico running man sign! Overall, I had a fantastic time and would highly recommend visiting Dotonbori if you’re in Osaka. It’s fun, lively, and truly captures the spirit of the city. I can’t wait to come back and explore more!

This place is full of neon lights, shops, moving advertising boards of restaurants. Very lively and happening place in Osaka. Place has its own vibe ppl enjoy themselves here. Lots of food option. And the whole Street is located near Canal. Looks so vibrant and beautiful. But this place is very crowded all the time even on weekdays, in morning, night etc.

The nightlife there is just exciting. People are enjoying themselves. There are so many restaurants with great views of the canal. You can walk around and enjoy different street foods. Packed with people but enjoyable.

A lively and popular spot, packed with people but with a fun and energetic vibe. It was a bit crowded, but still enjoyable. Sitting by the river with a cold beer in the evening was a great way to relax—the view of the city lights reflecting on the water made it even better. A nice place to take a break and soak in the Osaka atmosphere.

Visited this spot on a Saturday night, and it was absolutely packed to capacity. At first, I wondered why it was so crowded, only to realize the Osaka Expo was in full swing! Despite the crowds, the energy and atmosphere were incredible. This area is a treasure trove of experiences. The street food is phenomenal—every bite is bursting with flavor and authenticity. The club and food scenes are vibrant, with so much to see, do, and taste. From shopping to exploring, there’s never a dull moment here. Even when there’s nothing major like the Expo happening, this is still a must-visit destination in Osaka. Whether you’re a foodie, a shopaholic, or just looking for some fun, this place has it all.

Very fun and busy area with plenty of food, shopping, and fun. Went with family and a young child, some areas, especially under the bridge can get a little shady-looking but overall, felt safe. There were lots of families with people of all ages, both tourists and locals.

Dotonbori is a top tourist attraction in Osaka, Japan and a must visit. Most famous for the Glico man signage, monstrous food signage, takoyaki, kushikatsu, and more. You can easily spend hours here wandering the street, checking out the shops and just eating your way through it all. Since it's a tourist spot, you can expect it to be very crowded regardless of the time that you go. Some of the popular shops are Don Quijote, where you can find the famous Osaka ferris wheel overlooking the Dotonbori canal. Some must eats when here are definitely takoyaki and kushikatsu. You'll find lots of takoyaki stands in this area to choose from, really can't go wrong with any of them. You'll also find lots of kushikatsu restaurants as well, it's where kushikatsu originated from and it's very affordable for a quick bite. Overall a great fun experience walking this area. Make sure to check it out during the daytime and nighttime for different vibes and feels.

Yelp Review 2024 #218: Did you even go to Osaka if you didn't visit Dotonbori? Nope! It's nice and quiet in the morning. So, if you want to avoid crowds, come in during the day. However, shops and restaurants don't open until around 11am. Don Quijote (Donki) is the earliest one to open at 9am. But this place comes alive in the evening. Every restaurant, bar and shop is open. People are awake and ready to enjoy Dotonbori to the fullest. Bright neon lights with the river reflecting all the light. The smell of different kinds of food like wagyu skewers, ramen, takoyaki, etc. fills the air. Lots of people - it's busy! Take pictures from Ebisubashi Bridge to capture the image of the river and buildings. You can take a river cruise if that's your jam or just watch people on the cruise from the bridge or the side of the bridge. Ride the Ferris wheel at Donki. I see Dotonbori as the better version of Times Square. Better food, more things to do and see. However, since this draws in a lot tourists, expect tourist pricing. A perfect example is takoyaki - they're more expensive in Dotonbori for mediocre takoyaki (but you'll see a lot of influencers acting like it's the best in Osaka).

Oh it was hella poppin' at Dotonbori. There's lots to do, lots to see, and hellaellaella things to eat! Do your daytrip to Himeji, Nara or Kyoto then come out to Dotonburi and immerse your self in the nightlife. I can see why it's a hotspot for tourist. You can try a bunch of street food, play claw machines at GiGO, sing karaoke and hop on a boat to get a better view of the buildings/neon signs, and shop 'til you drop. Check out the famous Glico Man sign before exploring the different pockets of Dotonbori. He was the busiest out of all the other signage. I enjoyed looking at the huge neon signs and life-size versions of takoyaki, crab, gyoza and melon pan. The must-try street foods are of course the takoyaki and okonomiyaki. Those shops are plentiful throughout the alleys and streets, so if the line is long at one you can find another place selling it. We tried out a restaurant that offered okonomiyaki, sushi and tempura before trying out the street food. Most shops preferred or only accepted cash to have some ready to go. I tried the strawberry daifuku with red bean paste, which was tasty. The strawberry was plump and sweet. The melon pan man's line got a bit long but his bread with green tea ice cream was worth the wait. Across from him is a claw machine center so we had to venture inside there. The prizes included plushies from Mario kart, Pokemon, Disney, Miffy and Sanrio. Some are easy to win, whilst others are difficult. Every big prize win gets a horn celebration! The takoyaki place we tried was okay, it was reasonably priced but it lacked sauce. The balls are piping hot so definitely wait or poke a hole on the side to let out some steam. Their line seemed to be the longest out of all the other takoyaki places and they had benches for people to sit. In terms of seating, it's sort of limited. Most of the food stalls like the crab leg, fruit on a stick, melon pan didn't have any seating. We mainly ate off to the side or found any area with low foot traffic that didn't block anybody. There's lots of places to shop and grab souvenirs. I was able to find some exclusive Osaka Sanrio merch and Doraemon items. You can get takoyaki-filled chips and snacks and octopus plushies, shirts and pins. And there's plenty of places that carry skincare items! We only spend a few hours here and there was still so much to see and eat. It can be overwhelming with the amount of tourist and signage everywhere. Just have spatial awareness and self control because you can easily get carried away with buying food, drinks and souvenirs, lol. Definitely check them out if you're in Osaka!

Dotonbori is a famous area in Osaka known for the tall buildings with neon lights, with shops, restaurants, and bars along a river. It's a very energetic area that's a total tourist trap, but so fun. Compare some prices before you commit to avoid getting tricked. My boyfriend and I enjoyed walking around on the night we were in Osaka. We had to check out the iconic bridge where you see the guy running in the neon billboard. We also found some tasty snacks from multiple vendors. We had some taiyakis, beef skewers, takoyakis and more. We even played some fun games at the shops. Total tourist trap but I couldn't resist. On the first level we were shooting these pellet guns, where anything you shoot down, you earn. We actually earned some coupons for some other games they have in the shop. Total trap, but I love it. Boyfriend let me pick between the archery and the ninja star throwing games. I've tried archery back at home, so I thought the ninja star throwing was more unique. We each got a variety of different shaped ninja stars and we both actually did really well. My boyfriend did too well! I better not piss him off too much. Just kidding. We earned this ninja token for our success. Super fun!! Highly recommend this area for nighttime Osaka exploration!

It maybe too touristy but there's nothing like Osaka's Dotonburi. It's packed with food, stores and of course, tourists but one thing is for sure, you will never leave here hungry. I got there at 10 and was done by noon so if you want to avoid long lines, go early! Also there's a Takoyaki vendor practically every 10 steps as you're walking along but I went to the first one I saw and it was pretty decent. The name is Kukuru but I'm sure there are other good ones around. Some make them crispier than others and some are soft so that's up to what you prefer.

This turned out to be one of my favorite experiences in Japan. Very much like the riverwalk in San Antonio, except plenty more shops and restaurant options. A guide told me that about 70 percent of the visitors are tourists from other parts of Asia and the West. After a week of fish and miso soup, we opted to eat Vietnamese food here. It was divine. But there are also plenty of Japanese joints, street snacks and even burgers. Want to shop? This is the place for cheap bric-à-brac. It gets quite lively in the evening, with plenty of neon and noise. I would return in a heartbeat.

A fun experience full of lights, energy, people, restaurants, and stores. It's easy to get lost in the sea of people, though, so keep an eye for each other if you're in a group. I also highly recommend exploring the smaller alleys. There are a few temples and more traditional restaurants and ambience. Plus, they make for a good break from the sheer amount of people

This Kobe Beef skewer was my favorite food at Dotonbori and one of my favorites on the trip and quite possibly of all time. The flavor was unmatched and I loved how much fat there was. This was one of the most tender meats I've ever had and I couldn't get enough. (10/10) A5 Wagyu was my favorite food in Kyoto so I had to get it again in Osaka. It was just as tender, juicy, and flavorful as I remembered. I could have Wagyu every day of my life. (10/10) They had a different style of wagyu called Awaji Wagyu, which didn't have as thick cuts of meat. Even though it wasn't as thick and juicy, it didn't lack in flavor. Still so good and highly recommend if you're looking to try Wagyu at a less expensive price. (10/10) Okonomiyaki is a specialty in Osaka so I had to try it! I love how everything comes together in a savory "pancake." The sauce, mayo, and pork were the highlights. (10/10) This Potato Tornado was amazing! It was so crispy and very well seasoned and ultimately a fun way to eat potato. (10/10) Their Fried Chicken was fried perfectly. Each bite was so crispy. The chicken was also moist and juicy and had a nice flavor. I would've added just a little more seasoning/marinade to make this perfect. (9/10) I was so happy we got to eat "teppanyaki style" in Japan! Their Vegetable Yakisoba was a much needed meal because I lacked veggies during my trip. Plus, it was delicious! I would've just preferred some spicy sauce because it was on the sweeter side. (9/10) Japanese Cheesecake is such a fun dessert--I love how jiggly it is! I also enjoyed taste. It's quite different from American cheesecake in that it's very light. I wasn't a big fan of the raisins in it though. (8/10) This was my first time having Soufflé Pancakes! These ones were quite simple with just butter and syrup. I enjoyed them but was expecting them to be fluffier/spongier. (8/10) I was very curious about Tanghulu, their candied strawberry skewer. It was an interesting experience to say the least! My teeth didn't enjoy it much because the shell kept on getting stuck on them. Plus, the strawberry juices kept dripping so be prepared for your hands to get sticky. I loved the strawberries though so it might still be worth trying! (7/10)

Dotonbori is a foodie dream. There are so many best of the best places to try. I think I could live here for a year and not try all the places on my Dotonbori list. The canal area is beautiful, especially at night. There are so many big and beautifully lit signs. There are canal boat rides and plenty of places to eat along the water. Steps away from the canal, you'll find a large Don quijote with a Ferris wheel, so many more aces to eat and lots of places to shop. In this last trip to Japan, we actually stayed in Dotonbori. It was so nice to be able to roll out of bed and have the best food I've ever eaten. I like that there are street food like vendors and that restaurants are accommodating for non-reservations. In Sapporo, it felt like you needed a reservation to even eat dinner anywhere. But in Dotonbori, there are so many places to eat that you'll definitely find a place without a reservation and it'll be delicious.

There is way too much to see here at Dotonbori! There is so much food to choose from and shops to go into! You can easily spend two days here and not see it all! If you like the energetic vibe the. I'd suggest coming in the late afternoon/evening; otherwise, you can bypass a lot of foot traffic by coming in the morning hours.

Very well known, must visit tourists spot in Osaka! There are shops, tons of food vendors and restaurants. Be prepared, super crowded place especially at nighttime. Come hungry if you like to try different food. Some vendors will have long lines. Bring cash as some vendors only accept cash. We tried gyoza, takoyaki, 10 yen custard/cheese coin. Takoyaki was too soggy for us. Gyoza was good. The coin was good as well. Overall, a good experience here :)

had such a blast at Dotonbori! we spent three days here because there are so many stores and food stalls to explore ! we were also able to walk to Shinsekai as well in one day. from the takoyaki to the 100-yen coin - everything was delicious! we also went to the famous Don Quijote as well! even though we spent 3 days there, we can't wait to go again and explore some more! would highly recommend !! super english friendly staff and stores wherever we went!

This is a super popular tourist area that is a must visit, but you'll be stuck with expensive food and long lines. There's better food outside this area. It's mostly just a pretty place to people watch and explore after dark thanks to the neon signs on the river and lamps on the main streets. You can buy tickets to boat ride on the river from places along the river.

Fun nightlife especially for the young adults, shopping and if you're a foodie, so many choices. From alleyway mom and pop kitchens with stool seating to larger sit downs, a lil' something for everybody.

Dotonbori is iconic and the staple of Osaka. Initially, I was dubious of this area as I figured it would be so touristy, fake and gimmicky but I actually loved this area so much! The food was extremely diverse and excellent quality. Everything was super colorful and fun. I felt like I was walking through an anime. I loved the massive Don Quijote store which was so unique because it had an amazing ride on it (although it was broken when we visited). I loved all of the different types of food stalls that where so cheap and reasonably priced. The river running through had an awesome tour which we also loved. It can get crowded at times but I didn't think it was anywhere to the level of Tokyo. Overall, this area is a must see for the food, atmosphere and shopping.

the infamous dotonburi area/ streets of osaka!! the lights and sounds just fill up the place and makes it all lively AHAHAh so many things to do and walk along the river. more so at late night but still pretty in the morning regardless

On vacation in Japan with l my family. Nice place to walk around on a nice weather day. There restaurant and shopping around on the same area. Also have Wi-Fi if needed.

Dotonburi is a little weird with all of the massive signage. But if you love food then this is where it's at. So much food to try and grub on. Many street vendors and restaurants line the streets. Very close to downtown shopping district as well. When visiting must go to destination.

Amazing place to check out when visiting Osaka. Lots of food choices and it's a vibe at night when the lights come on. Gets crowded on the weekends tho.

"I have had people walk out on me before, but not... when I was being so charming." - Blade Runner If there was a page from a chapter of Blade Runner this special place would be it! Dōtonbori 道頓堀, Ōsaka, is no doubt where the street food scene is at in all of Japan. Oh! I'll bet a million Yen it's the street food center of the world! Is it perfect? Hella no and... This is why Dōtonbori in my eyes is that imperfect perfect! It's a photographer's absolute dream to be here. Ginormous signs of monsters and things Japanese, the neon lights lit up like a technicolor movie, excitement in the air makes every turn a new experience. The different aromas, endless cafes, eateries, Michelin to hole-in-the-walls makes this so incredible for foodies. People from all walks of life, from endless tourists to the Osakans on lunch break! Sensei brought me here after a walk through nearby Amerikamura. As we approached Dōtonbori I could literally feel the electricity in the air! And then I saw him... my selfie dream... The Glico Running Man! An iconic advertising sign that dates to the 1920's and amazingly he still swags roaring 20's dapper! Sensei and I had so much fun at the waterfront just enjoying the sights, the sounds, and the random chat. The Don Quijote "Ebisu" Ferris Wheel was also nearby and we had to stop by - not gonna lie I'm a huge Donki fan! Next? My mind was going in five different directions... oh Eric-san! Sensei had a surprise treat for me as she led me to her favorite spot for Tayoyaki! And yes, it is said Tayoyaki originated right here in Dōtonbori! Lunch followed steps away at Sensei's favorite Udon spot! The myriad of foods is so insanely delicious! More selfies, more random photography, more people watching. A time and place I can relive over and over again. I would never get tired of this movie! In the end, If you're a foodie and Dōtonbori is not on your bucket list.. it should be at the top. It's street food at the next level. It's called "Japan's Kitchen" for a reason! Michelin restaurants if you want, or that secret spot only Osakans know about! Dōtonbori lived up to its hype and I can't wait til next time. Ja ne... Pls follow my adventures on IG: @eric_travel_guru

DOTONBORI DISTRICT This is an area in Osaka that is known for its advertisements and some good food. One of the more famous ones is the Glico sign. Some consider it the heart of Osaka, especially for the nightlife. It definitely matches the overall vibe of the city as a whole... a little quirky, a little trendy, and often food-focused. It is a cool area because it is along the river, so it is a bit of a different atmosphere from other similar areas you can see. Definitely busy with tourists and locals, but a fun place to be.

The street of wonders. It's very other worldly here. So many sites to see, but just not enough time. So much in the way of unique food and vendors and really interesting visuals. A must visit if going to Japan.

A must visit area for tourists. Many stores and restaurants along the roads of this area. Many of them have been there for decades. You can do your research and find some fairly good places to try. Not all tourist traps. Can be busy and loud. I mean it's a tourism spot, lol. Things start to shut down fairly early by 10-11pm, that's pretty early compared to other big Asian cities.

Very Good experience English Menu Gluten free optional- ( if celiac be careful since difficult to know what has gluten in the sauce ) Friendly service This is a wonderful place for travelers coming out of Japan to experience Japanese cuisine in authentic modern atmosphere The style is teppanyaki and you sit on mats in a lowered table and grill your food . They have English menus and are very willing to help, including English menus explaining how to cook your food if you don't know how to use a teppanyaki Xi long BAO are really fun to order and yummy A Must On Your Trip

Great evening adventure but if you don't have reservations for dinner in this vicinity there is slim pickins. People watching and great huge moving crab on a business gets hundreds of cell phone snapshots of people walking by. If you spy a seat, grab it! Metro is tedious so catching two black taxis for 6 of us was a blessing with one extremely tired youngster, one fantastic trooper and 5 adults after a day with the deer.

2024-07-02. Dotonbori, Osaka, Japan. Dotonbori is not just a street, it's a stretch that has become infamous for shopping. Currently the golden triangle (Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka) has more tourists in them than locals and it's causing a strain on businesses and the supply chain as they try to keep up with this surging demand (I know, we're adding to the problem by being here). Prices are inflating out of control, mainly with the food industry (restaurants), and locals are suffering from it. The Dotonbori area is shopping overload. You can find anything and everything here. From major retailers like Adidas, Uniqlo, H&M to prêt à porter designers like Lacoste and Polo Ralph Lauren l, to high end retailers like Gucci. There is something for everyone. There are also a tonne of restaurants and eateries here. This morning we came to have lunch at Yakiniku Kitan where they serve up Wagyu bento boxes (¥1000-¥2000), and now we're back to do some shopping. This place is absolutely insane in terms of foot traffic. We should have stayed after our early 11:00 lunch... the main stretch of shopping is in the canopied street of Ebisubashi Soji. The bridge is the epicenter and from there you can go either north or south. Most of the shops are to the north. If you do plan on swimming with the crowds, I suggest you stop by Uniqlo. Prices are much better in Japan vs North America. I also recommend you try Ben's Cookies (Oxford, UK), they're a tad pricey at ¥370 apiece, but they're worth trying. If you're looking for cosmetics, don't discount the drug stores. There are a plethora of them in here and they carry all kinds of skin care products. If you a the shopping goddess type, plan to spend an entire day and night here (8-10hrs). If you don't have the stamina of a Goddess but you do have FOMO, split it into 2-3 days. The adjacent streets to Ebisubashi Soji are filled with smaller and more local vendors, but don't discount them either. While some are "tourists priced" others are not and you can find some hidden gems. Many of these side streets are themed. E.g. you may find one with nothing but bars, and another with nothing but eateries. If You would like to experience more, come dine-with-me.yelp.com I'd love to have your company... Don't forget your walking shoes!

The iconic Dotonburi; if you're going to Osaka, you're going to find yourself here whether by purpose or accident. Osaka is Japan's kitchen and this is the main attraction. Dotonburi is a massive pedestrian street filled with smaller alleys completely lined with restaurants and food vendors. It's where you can find everything from takoyaki, okonomiyaki, sushi, fugu, BBQ, candy, snacks, and much much more. You could spend an entire day here checking out all the unique businesses. A few notable spots include the Glico Man sign (check out the Glico store for snacks like Pocky), Don Quixote, and the many 3D signs. One thing to note though is that Dotonburi is incredibly popular and it will most likely always be busy unless you're there very early. As a result, almost all the restaurants have waits and/or lines that can easily stretch from 30 min to 2 hours. This is the biggest downside, especially if you're hungry and surrounded by food. One hack though, if we are waiting in line with someone, is that you can swing by the Dotonburi Familymart to grab a quick while you wait. We did this and the convenience store was not too busy so we were able to pick up some onigiris. Despite the busyness, Dotonburi is still a must see and a one stop shop for all the food you can imagine.

Dotonbori is busy despite when you go. This place does have a wide variety of restaurants and you're able to eat on the street without disrespecting the culture. The lines typically take 30 mins - 1 hours for places that has a long line. The food was delicious and hot. I love how it was all fresh and cooked right in front of you. The streets do get dirty since the trashcan can get pretty filled up fast. Sort of wish they changed it more or cleaned it more. In addition, I wish they have more seating. I'm not sure about majority of the restaurant but I would also recommend bringing cash before going. Overall, would I be back? Yes! There were a few more restaurants that I was interested in trying.

Dotonbori is amazing, truly amazing! Osaka and primarily Dotonbori was one of our last stops on our Japan trip and I was so excited to come here. It met expectations easily and I wanted to go back the next day. It is so busy, and had so many people by the end of the night. There are tons of food and souvenir vendors scattered throughout this whole area - not just the main street - so be sure to go down every north and south street along the way. One of the best meals we had was on the 3rd floor of a tiny building where we had Okonomiyaki and Yakisoba! We tried almost every different type of food along the way with my absolute favorite being Takoyaki! We spent about 8ish hours in this area and walked it all. We visited a few of the malls, arcades, konbinis, and everything else that we could do! There is even a Donquijote here with a Ferris wheel! This place was definitely a highlight of my trip. Just be ready for it be extremely crowded, a lot of things to be marked up in price, and come very hungry! This is still a tourist "trap" kind of area so be ready for that but even knowing this, it is still one of the best places to visit in Japan. I still think about the food here daily, the amazing visuals, and the stimulation overload that is pretty much constant.

You can't say you've experienced Osaka if you haven't visited Dotonburi, a food lover's dream. There are restaurants and food stands everywhere you turn. You can easily lose track of where you've been because all the streets begin to look alike and they're difficult to differentiate apart, since each block is occupied by restaurants and more restaurants! We've also come across a bowling alley and toy shops, proceeding to the Dotonburi canal, where the Glico running man is situated. There are also street performers, retail stores, all adding to the most perfect experience. I can't even explain how amazing Dotonburi is. You must see for yourself.

This is a very vibrant and popular commercial strip that runs about a mile and in parallel to the Dotonbori canal.  It's Osaka's most popular site for international visitors, and all Osaka tour groups will bring you here sooner or later and rightfully so.  There are a ton of eateries with eye-catching storefronts and billboards, street food stands, and knick-knack shops.  The crowd here reflects the energetic youth of Japan and much of the crowd is under about age 30.  There's great people watching here, but it can get claustrophobically crowded during peak times.  It's still a must see in Osaka.  We've been here twice and every time, we get something to eat here as well.  There's no way you will go wanting for any sort of Japanese food item here.   This time we had a dumpling and chicken karaage lunch after our walk around.

This is the iconic Osaka city view that everyone knows. It is a massive outdoors marketplace will shops and restaurants, and of course tourists galore. Dotonbori is a must see when you are here!

Pretty cool little area for street food, restaurants, and plenty of shops. Just a cool nightlife vibe that's definitely worth the trip. Lot of different eateries to pick from and we ended up having Kobe steak and sashimi.

OSAKA JAPAN - Yelpers you should all know about Dotonbori Street in Osaka Japan. Osaka is known as the food mecca of Japan & Dotonbori is the equivalent of Fulton Street in Chicago. There are over 200 Michelin rated restaurants in Osaka. By comparison Chicago has 21 Michelin Star restaurants. Alinea being the only 3 star restaurant. Dotonbori has an amazing assortment of foods, people & sights to see. If you're in Osaka and you are a foodie this is an absolute must. The colorful array of vendors, people from all over the world & the almost carnival like atmosphere is something that needs to be experienced. Walk the streets sample the different foods & mingle w/people from all over the world. I mean who doesn't like food? We were only in Osaka for 2 1/2 days so weren't able to go back at night to experience the street brightly lit I was w/my wife, her brother & myself. We started out by sampling food items and splitting them to try and get a flavor for a lot of different food items instead of filling up on 1 or 2 specific items. Something as simple as Gyoza to takoyaki (octopus balls), crab samples, sushi, fish cakes, fish balls (poor fish, ouch).....Everywhere you go in Dontonbori there things like okinnmiyamk (japanese pancake) takoyaki Japanese octopus balls, wagyu steaks, sashimi......: Yelpers hit Osaka and go to Dontonbouri at least once in your life

You will find a thousand things to eat and see here. It's a must go. We had a tour guide show us all the cool spots so I highly recommend doing a walking tour.

Dotonbori is the most famous part of Osaka and is a must see for tourists. Located along the Dotonbori canal, you will see a dizzying array of neon lights, big billboards, bars and restaurants. There are also boat cruises that run along the canal. The best time to come is at night of course when everything is lit up. I found the atmosphere to be similar to Shinjuku, but unique because of the waterway. And make sure to be on the lookout for the Glico Running Man, one of the most famous landmarks of this city.

Lively it definitely is, but it's overly crowded with loud obnoxious and at times disrespectful tourists. Food is good and generally inexpensive. Shopping area is crazy and both expensive and cheap.

A huge street filled with authentic food stalls, busking, and awesome street lights. It's definitely crowded and there are always lines behind any stall you come across, but many of the lines to by quick. Don't be afraid of walking around the alleys that connect to the main road; There are always hidden gems and beautiful sights to see. Dotonbori is a must visit location in Osaka for any tourist! Definitely want to spend more time exploring the area the next time I'm in Osaka.

Dotonburi feels like the place a cyberpunk movie strives to look like. It's a neon dream with sketchy alleyways. It's got all of Osaka's best signature foods, marked by some of the most creative storefronts. It's home of the Glico Running Man! This place is definitely the top place to visit and if you can only choose one time to visit, definitely come at night. The city is LIT, both literally and figuratively. You've got every brand name store, but also mom and pop food stalls. Bright lights flash on both sides of the calm Dotonbori Canal. It's truly a sight to behold, and you would never get bored. Turn down one street and you'll find families with kids taking pictures of the crazy food models. Turn down another, and it's filled with seedy looking bars, adult stores, love hotels, and the type of people that look like they frequent those places. The liveliness is fueled by street food and restaurants galore. Of course, there's famous Osaka Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki, but you'll find everything. Conveyor belt sushi? Of course. Chinese restaurants with a dragon? Why not? All types of things on a stick? Yes please! Restaurants are marked by giant models of the food they serve on the store front: crabs, octopus, sushi, ramen. You haven't lived until you see a 10 ft. dumplings display hanging over a shop! There's even a giant angry man holding skewers glaring at you. It's the definition of gaudy, and it's just too fun. I loved visiting Dotonbori! After exploring the beautiful calmness of Kyoto's temples, it's kind of nice to be thrown back into the hustle and bustle. Just by walking along the river, you'll encounter tons of people and eat tons of food. It's like a festival every night! (23/100) - 2019

If I could give Dotonbori an analogy, I would say that it's almost like being packed like sardines in a little mini version of Vegas. Before you shy away from that analogy, I recommend that you check out Dotonbori in Osaka during the day and at night, both giving different feels in the environment and photo opportunities. First off, there's so many eateries here and the street is pretty long, so you'll be part of the hustle and bustle of Osaka! There's various places to try such as okonomiyaki, takoyaki, steak, but also places for souvenir shopping as well. Be sure to check out the iconic Glico sign by the Ebisu bridge. Walking along the Tombori River walk can be nice too for an after meal stroll. Overall, highly recommend this great tourist spot!

Dotonbori is one of those areas of Osaka that takes you back to the way back when. It seems that whenever they show photos of old Osaka they show a photograph of this area of the city. You can generally recognize it by the fact that there is a river running through the photograph. In those old photographs there are restaurants and businesses that line this river. Today, things are pretty much the same, though everything is obviously much more modern. Along with the river walkway, there is a shopping district that has sprouted up all around this area. There are long enclosed walkways that house numerous shops, restaurants, and pretty much everything else you can think of. If nothing else, this gives you a bit of shade from the noon day sun. I don't know that I would say that this area is of cultural interest. Basically what you find her today are a lot of mainland Chinese tourists shopping for discount rates on the brands that they find appealing. Of course, there are a whole lot of tourist from other parts of the world here, as well. Meaning, this is basically a tourist mecca. This being said, if you are in Osaka, it is a good place to go because you can find some interesting items to purchase and/or some fun restaurants to eat at.

When in Osaka, this is the place to walk around, shop, and eat. What makes this place interesting is that the river runs through it. I visited during the day, but it's most likely better visually at night, dining next to the river. There are boats in the river and the water is green, and murky. I like how most of the restaurants have large 3 dimensional fiberglass or plastic sculptures on the exterior, such as a giant crab, dragon, or sushi chef.

If you're in Osaka, make sure you don't miss out on Dotonbori. It's a very popular nightlife area with a bunch of restaurants and little shops. It runs from bridge to bride with a canal in the middle that you can take a boat ride. Almost like Venice!! Dotonbori is also known for restaurants having large signs/boards/figures above. You can see them in my pictures! If you are a foodie, it's a double edged in my opinion. There's so many good places to try and so little time. If you don't like winging it and just finding a random restaurant, do some research before you go on what restaurants they have. I came here twice with my friends and loved it both times. It is a pretty large area so you'll have to walk a good amount. If you're planning on staying in Osaka, Dotonbori will be a great way to end the night!

Number 1 tourist attraction place in Osaka. This is definitely a must visit landmark. Lots of good food can be found here. I came here and ended buying lots of souvenirs/goodies back. So much stuff that really tired me out walking here. So when people talk about Dotonbori, they usually talk about the running man and Ebisu Bridge. You definitely have to come here and take a pictures of the unreal view from the bridge. Wow. Take a look at my pictures and you will see what I mean. The night view is a total different scenic picture. Each restaurant in the area have some sort humongous illuminated sign boards. Lots of famous restaurants are located in Dotonbori. Lots of street food can be found here. Note that after 5 pm, the place gets super busy. Great nightlife location. I would love to visit this place again.

Honestly, it's ok. Not great but not bad either. For being in Japan, I expected much better quality, but i've had better in California. What's good: Hokkaido Uni Abalone Sashimi Hotate (scallop) Fatty tuna What's very average: Everything else we had: Tuna Salmon Below Par: Unagi Egg Shrimp Ebi The rice is not the best sushi rice, missing culinary skills Prices are reasonable for being in a central neighborhood. Nice comfortable seating with comfortable AC. While many restaurants were either closed or full house or sold out, Ganko Dotonburi was still open with a rather short wait time of 15 mins. Food arrived quickly. Service was meh. They were neither friendly nor non-friendly, and neither helpful nor non. They were just there, willing to help when you flag them down or push the call button, but they won't check on you either (benefit of the doubt: maybe language barrier too). Overall - we left full but we've had better sushi and sashimi's in California. :(

First time visiting Osaka? Need Omiyage? Wanna eat and shop at the same time, but not in your typical department store? This, I say, is A-Must visit area! We've visited before, but it's been years and I feel like there's so many things to do. It truly doesn't matter if you like to come every time you visit Osaka. There are SO many shops and eateries that it will engulf you! Spend at least half a day here to just take it all in. Our hotel was right around the corner from the entrance of Dotonbori, at Hotel 88 Shinsaibashi. To get to the middle of the larger part only took us less than 10 minutes to walk! Here is where I like to get my Takoyaki and I'll stop into a Kobe Beef shop to try it out too. There are cafes next to the canal, where you can get your dessert and coffee on along with different restaurants. As you've read, it is "touristy," but it is so much fun! So many people walking around, it's crazy busy! Your eyeballs will shoot off in so many directions, you don't know where to start with first! There are so many different shops to get gifts, makeup, and electronics. There are also a couple of Don Quijote shops with 6 floors to get you shopping like a nut! We also found a few shops that sell luggages, to pack all your shopping. Good quality luggages! We've had to do this multiple times... Prices will be comparable to anywhere else you shop, train station, airport, etc. Don't forget to bring your passports for the tax-free shopping!

Very fun area that is well lit - the time square of Japan! So much street food and little shops, it's a small walk from the Dotombori station. We went around night time and there was a lot to choose from for meals, anywhere from Japanese, Halal, and even Italian. Most of the shops were honestly drug stores but it leads perfectly to Shinsaibashi. Fun sculptures of the food and animals on top of each stall or restaurant. Cute little canal where you can take a boat ride. Even a fun Ferris wheel you can ride! It is very crowded though, even though I went on a weekday towards dinner time. I will also say it's quite dirty, there's a lot of trash just piled in random corners. Must visit place for Osaka though !

Dotonbori is a must go-to-place when you visit Osaka and there are hundreds of stands for authentic Japanese street food like Takoyaki, gyoza and fried skewers...etc. The ambiance was lively and energetic but it is always crowded and has lines in front of each restaurant. Food wasn't bad but you need to make sure to check the reviews before you try. Tourists love to imitate the post of the famous signature runner of Glico (グリコさん) on a signboard by the entrance. Ezaki Glico Co Ltd. is one of the largest Japanese food & sweet companies in Japan.

Foodies' heaven! Come hungry as they have so much food to offer, I came hungry and left uncomfortably full. Street itself is a bit chaos. Lots of people, some crazy, interesting signs everywhere. If shopping is on your mind, be sure to bring your passport as they have duty refund available here for those qualify. Dotonbori also has river (canal), and fun to walk along the river while watching people and signs. Famous one is Gulico man. I heard night time is more fun too as signs are illuminated.