7 days in Japan - 10/20/2023-10/26/2023

Day  7-Dotonbori and lunch, Osaka -10/26/2023

We have not see Kevin since we left for China but today he is meeting us our hotel on Midosuji

We met up with Kevin, gave him time to check in the hotel to take a shower and then we are ready to walk around town for lunch

On our way to Dotonbori we passed by Soemo-cho an entertainment district for adults.  It is quiet in the daytime but shops and restaurants open out with colorful neon lights at night.

There is a high concentration of bars, restaurants and nightclub in this area.

We are now in the heart of Dotonbori.  Dotonbori is a major sightseeing spot in Osaka so it is bustling with people night and day.

Dotonbori plaza.

The history of this area goes back to 1612 when a merchant by the name of Yasui Doton invested all of his personal capital in an ambitious local development project. Doton’s plan was to divert and expand the Umezu River into a new waterway that would link the local canal network with the Kizugawa River. Unfortunately, Doton’s project was interrupted by war and he himself was killed during the Siege of Osaka in 1615. Later that same year, Doton’s cousins completed his work and in his memory the new canal was named Dotonbori or “Doton Canal”.

 The new canal brought with it a flood of trade and from 1626 the area began to flourish as an entertainment district after theater companies and playhouses began to move into the area on the canal’s southern bank. At the same time the north bank of the canal began to prosper with restaurants and teahouses that supplied food, drink and entertainment to theater goers after they left the theaters.

The 20 minutes Boat cruise along the Dotonbori canal is very popular with tourists.

In the center is the famous Don Quijote Dotonbori Store, one of Japan's largest discount store, and its yellow ferry wheel is an Osaka Landmark.

Gala resort is one of the largest clubs in Japan and the facade is so colorful paintings.

We are walking around to find a restaurant for lunch.

An oblong-shaped Ferris wheel with a smiling Ebisu (deity of wealth) figure can be seen at the Don Quijote Dotonbori Store, a large-scale discount store. While most Ferris wheels rotate in a circle, the Don Quijote Ferris goes vertical initially and rounds off slightly at the top, then again, a vertical decent.

With over 20,000 visitors daily, Don Quijote store is a popular destination.

The entrance of the store is enormous.

Buildings with giant billboard along the canal.

More giants billboards along the canal.

Boat cruising under a bridge on the canal.

We stumble on Teppan Jinja restaurant along the way and decided to give it a try.

The entrance of the restaurant.

We did not have any expectation but the food turned out to be so delicious. 

Salmon, uni, and scallop sashimi on the left and on the right is a chilled horse mackerel skewer.  Both are so delicious and fresh.

On the right is a Pig Kimchi Yakisoba (stir fried noodle).

Fried chicken cartilage is one of Hoa's favorite appetizer.

Hoa and Kevin so happy to have lunch here!

Onigiri with assorted pickles and salt sauce cucumber

Simple but it was really tasty with the assorted vegetables.

Grilled skewers menu

We ordered an bunch of skewers and they are all so delicious.

We also ordered a bowl of garlic rice to pair with the grilled meat.

Originally, we wanted a simple meal but then ended ordering so much food.  So glad we found this place.  The food was so tasty and we will definitely be back the next time.

NEXT... Amerika-Mura and a stroll in Oska