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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Osaka

11 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Osaka, Japan

Updated August 4, 2021

Unusual Attractions in Osaka

Osaka, Japan

Asahi Plaza Capsule Hotel

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

Osaka, Japan

Gate Tower Building

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

Osaka, Japan

Izakaya Toyo

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

Osaka, Japan

Tavern Pachimon Wars

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

Osaka, Japan

Fudo Myo-o Statue

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

Osaka, Japan

Gakutensoku

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

Osaka, Japan

Chapel Goedele

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

Osaka, Japan

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.

See All 11 Things To Do in Osaka

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Osaka

Osaka, Japan

Izakaya Toyo

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

Osaka, Japan

Tavern Pachimon Wars

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

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Guided Tours of Osaka

Atlas Obscura Trips

Artisans & Exiles: Exploring the Hidden Traditions of Japan’s Sado Island

Exploration through a history of exile, gold rush, and thriving cultural traditions.

Explore Osaka, Japan

Architectural Oddities 4

Places To Stay 3

Science Fiction 1

Unique Restaurants & Bars 1

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Stories About Osaka

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

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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