This City Is Known As the ‘Kitchen of Japan, and It Wants You to Eat Until You Go Broke

Walking through the streets of Osaka at twilight is an experience for all the senses. Among the sparkling neon lights of Dotonbori Canal, the scent of freshly fried okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancakes), and the laughter of locals spilling out from the open-air arcades, it’s easy to lose yourself in the rhythm of this lively city.

Osaka is always an excellent destination, regardless of the reason, but it’s especially well-suited for first-time visitors. Located in the central Kansai region, it’s easy to take day trips to other nearby, popular cities such as Hiroshima, Nara, and Kyoto. But you may find it hard to leave the city, given the vast amount of (delicious) things to eat, see, and do. It is known as the “Kitchen of Japan,” after all.

In fact, there is a saying in Osaka known as “kuidaore,” which literally means to eat until you go broke. With a compact layout and hundreds of restaurants, this is the perfect place to stroll between shops, sampling one delicacy after another.

I love visiting Osaka, but since I’m based near Tokyo, I’ve tapped a local to get the insider scoop on what to do here. Chris Xu lives in Osaka and works for a firm that supports foreign employees as they transition to life in Japan. For Xu, a big part of the city’s charm is its casual, laidback atmosphere—it strikes a sharp contrast to Tokyo. “There’s a high likelihood that the shop staff will strike up a conversation,” he says. “They love to make small talk.”