---
type: Place
title: Osaka
description: Japan's commercial city and its street-food capital — a single piece of Kobe beef sushi for about $10, a neon canal, and a sign from 1935 that Harry admits he can't explain the fame of.
tags: [osaka, japan, street-food, nightlife, dotonbori, kobe-beef]
coordinates: {lat: 34.6938, lng: 135.5015}
timestamp: 2026-08-05T12:00:00Z
---

# Osaka

The commercial city of [Japan](/countries/japan.md), known for its food and its
nightlife, and the last stop on Harry's fortnight with
[Walid](/people/walid.md).

His first impressions: clean, like everywhere else in Japan, very easy to get
around on public transport, and touristy in a way he doesn't mind. He notes it
works well as a base — Nara and [Kyoto](/places/kyoto.md) are both day trips from
here.

## Dotonbori

The food and entertainment strip, and the reason people come.

- **Street food of every kind**, arcades, games, and revolving sushi bars.
- **The marketing is relentless and, he says, excellent** — enormous animated
  signs and a general weirdness he enjoys.
- **A canal, and neon everywhere.**
- **The Glico running man sign**, put up in **1935** for a confectionery company
  and used to celebrate Japan's World Cup and baseball successes. Harry admits
  straightforwardly that he isn't sure why it is as famous as it is.

## Kobe beef sushi

The thing he came for, and an object lesson in menus.

- **He orders one piece and is talked up to the premium grade.**
- **It comes to something like $10 for a single piece** — he had expected around
  $7 and says afterwards he could have had three of the standard for the same
  money.
- **Torched at the counter with a blowtorch**, then pressed and folded by the
  chef, who Harry compares to wrapping a small present.
- **Two bites and it's gone.** His verdict: a little salt, a little oil, and the
  best beef he has eaten. The stall's own claim, which he repeats, is the finest
  beef in the world.

## The convenience store

He ends the trip in a 7-Eleven asking the staff for their own favourite drinks.

- **Zero-calorie ciders and sodas**, which he keeps describing as tasting like
  Christmas.
- **Bubble gum flavour**, same verdict.

## Harry's tips

- **Use Osaka as a base.** Nara and Kyoto are both easy days out.
- **Ask for the standard grade unless you know what premium costs.** One piece of
  premium Kobe cost him what three ordinary pieces would have.
- **Ask shop staff what they drink.** It's how he found everything worth trying
  in the convenience store.

## Source

- [14 Days in Japan 🇯🇵 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly](/videos/nwQ323luUKo.md) —
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwQ323luUKo