9 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Osaka - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Osaka

Asahi Plaza Capsule Hotel

The first, the original... the hotel room in a pod.

Gate Tower Building

The Hanshin Expressway goes right through its 5th, 6th, and 7th floors.

Fudo Myo-o Statue

A moss-covered statue of a Japanese Buddhist deity stands at a quiet temple in downtown Osaka.

Gakutensoku

Japan's first automaton went missing, only to be revived by the Osaka Science Museum.

Chapel Goedele

A 14th-century European chapel sticks out of the facade of a Japanese hotel.

Tavern Pachimon Wars

This bar is filled with Star Wars merchandise from around the world, all of it unlicensed knockoffs.

Sewerage Science Museum

Near the mouth of the Yodo River, this museum offers visitors six floors of hands-on learning about Osaka's raw sewage. .

Izakaya Toyo

Blowtorches, tuna, and a jolly, chain-smoking proprietor mark this beloved street-food stand.

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Unique Food & Drink in Osaka

Takoyaki

Osaka's most famous dish is an octopus-stuffed fried dough ball.

Okonomiyaki

A wartime rice scarcity made this versatile pancake a Japanese staple.

Canned Dashimaki

These sweet and savory Japanese rolled eggs are sold in 6-packs.

Saezuri

In Japan, whale tongue is a disappearing delicacy.

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Stories About Osaka

<em>Taishū engeki</em> is usually split into two distinct halves: a play that fuses Edo-period drama in the style of a soap opera, followed by bouts of dancing and music.

In Japan, ‘Theater for the People’ Makes Fandom a Part of the Show

The constantly evolving form of taishū engeki bends both gender and genre.

by Will Stewart

October 22, 2020

<em>Karakuri</em> dolls have been an ornate element of Japanese craftsmanship since the Edo period.

What It’s Like to Build a Traditional Japanese Automaton From Scratch

All you need is a good imagination. And a whole lot of patience.

by Isaac Schultz

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