Osaka Dotonbori Daytime Food Tour

Experience an unforgettable stroll through the historical food streets of Osaka and eat like a local in the city known as “Japan’s Kitchen.”

Due to the food options chosen for this tour and available in the area, we are unable to accommodate anyone with gluten-free dietary restrictions on this tour. We apologize for this inconvenience, but we are unable to make substitutions for this here. If you are gluten-free and looking for one of our tours in the Osaka area, please refer to our Shinsekai or Osaka Market tours.

This 3-hour Osaka Food Tour in the famous foodie neighborhood of Dotonbori & Namba will take you on an unforgettable eating excursion through the busy streets and the hidden, less frequented parts of Minami (South) Osaka. The tour kicks off in the busy Dotonbori area where we will learn about Glico man, a Filipino sprinter named Fortunato Catalon who inspired a nation and a company! Similar to Shibuya (its counterpart in Tokyo) the sights and sounds of Dotounburi often lead you astray to overly-commercialized restaurants with queues of tourists outside. We want to take our guests to places they would certainly miss without local guidance. We will take secret alleys not long after we begin the tour toward the shrine hidden from sight for the average passerby.
We will sample, Kushikatsu, (deep-fried meat and veggie skewers) a local take on Yakitori and we will surprise you with a Michelin-rated street food stop for Osaka’s favorite snack–Takoyaki! (a kind of grilled octopus fritter)  Next, travel down a more narrow alley and see some of the more unconventional restaurants and pubs. Your guide will then lead you to a local lunch spot. This shop is an Izakaya or local gastro-pub with seasonal dishes and lunch sets that will intrigue and delight.

 

Please be aware there may be substitutions and changes on the food in this tour based on season and availability 
From there, we will explore other nearby local neighborhoods, famous for modern and retro stores, and cafes,  along with open-air and covered shopping arcades. Finally, finish off with a tasty local street food dessert! As you say farewell to your guide you can explore more on your own in this fascinating part of town.
We are able to take single traveler bookings for this tour. Please feel free to book directly and we will add you to an existing tour group.

Family-friendly pricing: If you are traveling with children and need a price adjustment- please email our team at Bookings@ArigatoJapan.co.jp.

 

Inclusions:

• A walk through Dotonburi and surrounding areas by taking secret alleys off the main street.
• Explore back streets and small local shops
• Enjoy Osaka’s specialty, Kushikatsu (fried skewers) try Michelin-rated Takoyaki (octopus fritters).
• Take the back roads and to a hidden Izakaya and enjoy a seasonal lunch set while chatting with your guide and fellow guests and tasting a wide range of Japanese flavors.
• Finish up with a yummy local dessert!

Private Tours: For a more customized experience, make your tour private for an additional ¥19,500+ TAX. (min. 2 people). Please click the add-on button on your cart when you check out.

Strict start time policy:  We are sorry to say that if you are not able to arrive at the meeting point by the departure time, we will need to start the tour regardless and no refund can be provided. We are also unable to accommodate meeting up at any of the food stops. This is to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all guests and also to respect our relationships with restaurants.

5-minute grace period: We can only wait an additional five minutes after the starting time and then the tour will depart. In addition, please note that we cannot give directions or contact the guides on the phone once the tour begins.

Tour Schedule

Every day Mon-Sun
Meeting Time Frame	10:45-11:00 am
Start Time	11:00 am
End Time	2:00 pm

Changes on tours: Applicable substitutions may be made due to public holidays, weather conditions, and other unforeseen circumstances.

For Vegetarians: 

Some food that we serve may have dashi, a soup stock made from kelp (seaweed) and bonito (skipjack tuna) as well as other ingredients. Dashi is the cornerstone of Japanese cuisine and is used in many/most Japanese dishes. Please note that we may not be able to accommodate your dietary needs if you cannot consume dashi. Additionally, please inform us if you can eat eggs and dairy products.

If you cannot consume Dashi, we recommend booking a private tour with us and we can offer some alternatives. Again, be aware, it will still be a challenge to 100% avoid fish stock.

Single travelers: please email us directly and let us know if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies.

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For this tour, it is possible (with advanced notice at the time of booking) to make adjustments to support the following dietary restrictions:

Please keep in mind, however, that we cannot make an allergy-free or dietary restriction food guarantee since food is prepared in kitchens that do not belong to Arigato Travel. Also, some stops may not have a viable substitution but we will make every effort to compensate at different stops throughout the tour.

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The meeting point is in front of Starbucks Tsutaya Ebisu-bashi in Dotonbori.
1-8-19 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka.

大阪府大阪市中央区道頓堀１丁目８−１９ (スターバックス TSUTAYA EBISUBASHI店) 542-0071

 

Our guide will be holding an Arigato Travel sign. The tour involves walking so please wear comfortable shoes.

WEATHER REMINDER: 
On rainy days, we recommend bringing an umbrella. They can be easily purchased at any convenience store.

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