Day 6: Osaka – A Whole Different Vibe

I never thought Osaka would feel so different from Tokyo. From the way people stand on the escalator (on the right instead of the left!) to the overall vibe—Osakans are definitely friendlier and more relaxed. It felt like a whole new side of Japan.

We arrived early in the morning by sleeping Willer bus. First stop? The restroom, of course. After freshening up, we found a bus to Osaka Station, where we stored our luggage in coin lockers since we weren’t staying overnight. With that sorted, we grabbed breakfast and got ready for our first destination—Osaka Castle.

Getting there was easy—a quick train ride and a short walk. The castle grounds were packed with tourists, but the scenery was stunning. We took tons of pictures, watched a monkey show (random but fun!), and soaked in the atmosphere. Feeling a bit hungry, we tried takoyaki for 800 yen, but… let’s just say it wasn’t the best we’ve had.

Next stop—Dotonbori, the heart of Osaka’s entertainment district. The moment we arrived, the famous Glico Man sign greeted us. As we took photos, we noticed something funny—elderly taxi drivers flashing peace signs in the background! Gotta love Osaka’s energy.

For lunch, we decided to try Chibo, a seven-story okonomiyaki restaurant with halal, vegan, vegetarian, and regular menus. Straight to the 7th floor we went for the halal option. We ordered takoyaki and okonomiyaki for 3,650 yen—a bit pricey but absolutely delicious. Totally worth it!

After lunch, we wandered around Dotonbori, taking in the sights. And then, we stumbled upon a street musician—a piano player filling the air with beautiful Ghibli-style melodies. The music, the bustling streets, the city lights—it all felt so magical. We stood there for a while, just enjoying the moment.

Before heading back to Osaka Station, we made a quick stop at a pharmacy to stock up on chocolates (cheaper than Don Quijote!). As evening fell, we had one last plan—dinner at a famous halal ramen spot in Shin-Osaka Station.

But just before we entered the station, I noticed a girl singing in front of the train gate. Without thinking, I started dancing along with her. It was such a spontaneous, joyful moment! Later, when I posted it on Instagram, a friend commented, "You look so happy!" And you know what? I truly was. Osaka just has that effect on people.

We wrapped up the day with an amazing bowl of ramen and then caught our train to Kyoto. Next stop: the beautiful city of tradition. See you in Kyoto!