A Perfect Guide to Have Fun with Friends in Namba Area, Osaka; Cooking and Handcrafting Experiences, and Best Photos Shooting on a River Boat

When in Osaka, you never want to miss eating and shopping around in Namba (なんば) area, one of the bustling and iconic districts in the city, do you? In this issue, let us guide you to one perfect day to have fun in a bit unordinary way with your friends. Experience the food culture in Osaka by cooking and handcrafting yourself and try to have your best instaworthy shots on a boat cruising along Dotonbori River.

Taste, learn and cook takoyaki, the signature street food of Osaka, at “Dotonbori Konamon Museum” welcoming you with a huge statue of moving octopus

Reference from OSAKA INFO “Dotonbori Konamon Museum“

“Dotombori Konamon Museum” (道頓堀コナモンミュージアム) is an exciting theme park where you can taste piping hot takoyaki (たこ焼き) prepared by takoyaki professionals, learn the history of ‘konamon’ culture in Osaka, make your own takoyaki sample yourself. ‘Konamon’ (コナモン) is a word for food made from flour and often used by people in Kansai region to describe their food culture. FYI, takoyaki and okonomiyaki are major representatives of konamon. Among several attractions available in the museum, you should definitely make your stop at ‘Takoyaki Dojo Kukuru Takumi’ (たこ焼き道場くくる 匠) where you can try cooking your own takoyaki with your choices of ingredients from 30 kinds of them as octopus, shrimp and even chocolate and caramel. Since there is a teacher helping you to cook, you don’t need to get too nervous! Tips and secrets to cook good and delicious takoyaki even when you do so at home will also be shared.

Opening Hours	11:00AM – 10:00PM *Varies depending on floor. Refer to its official site for details.
Address	1-6-12 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Access	A 11-minute walk from Hotel Gracery Osaka Namba
URL	https://osaka-info.jp/en/page/dotonbori-konamon-museum

The contrast of relaxed river cruising and a busy bustling district; Hustle-free photo shooting Experience for your good memory on “Tombori River Cruise”

“Tombori River Cruise” (とんぼりリバークルーズ) provides a 20-minute river cruising service along Dotonbori River with a complete open-air boat. Despite the busy and bustling atmosphere of the area, a relaxing ride and a pleasant breeze are there for you on the boat. Above all, that’s also an all-you-can-photo opportunity making your best shots for the memory of your trip to Osaka. For you to enjoy the city of comedy, Osaka, a funny guide is also on board with you introducing sites and histories in a twisted way with Osaka dialect. In front of the huge iconic sign board of Glico, the boat will stay for a while so that you can take photos you can never do so when on crowded streets. In addition to this regular cruising service, there are also seasonal services such as ‘Tombori River Jazz Boat’ (とんぼりリバージャズボート) where you can enjoy a relaxing river cruise while enjoying live jazz music and ‘Naniwa Exploration Cruise with Rakugo comedians’ (落語家と行くなにわ探検クルーズ) where a Rakugo story teller joyfully guides the city of waterways. Please refer to its website for details of seasonal services.

Opening Hours	11:00AM – 7:00PM (00 mins and 30 mins every hour except 3:00PM and 3:30PM) *May vary depending on circumstance. In addition, refer to its official site for detailed schedule of each program.
Address	Tazaemon-bashi- bridge Pier, Soemon-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture *Boarding pier may vary depending on program. Refer to its official site for details.
Access	A 15-minute walk from Hotel Gracery Osaka Namba
URL	http://www.ipponmatsu.co.jp

The best place to seek food samples for souvenirs; “Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street” stretching over 150m with 40 shops specializing in ‘food’

“Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street” (千日前道具屋筋商店街) is just a stone’s throw from Namba Grand Kagesu, the most well-known comedy theater in the city. In the approximately 150 meters-long shopping street, there are more than 40 shops specializing in ‘food’ at which wide range of food related products from tools for professionals to kitchen utensils and tableware that you can use every day are all available. Once you’ve done with browsing them, why don’t you visit one of the shops selling food samples that are generally said to be originated in Osaka. At some of them, you can even make food samples yourself. In case you prefer funny, original and something very Osaka, we recommend ‘Design Pocket Osaka’ where you’ll find funny and so Osaka-ish souvenirs like realistic-looking food sample key chains and smartphone cases.

Address	Namba-Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Access	A 10-minute walk from Hotel Gracery Osaka Namba
URL	https://osaka-info.jp/en/page/sennichimae-doguyasuji-shopping-street