OSAKA LOCATIONS
DOTONBORI & SHINSAIBASHI:- Popular area in Osaka for photos, clothes and street food vendors
- Close to Namba and Shinsaibashi which are also common areas for shopping and food
-Loads of luxury shops at Shinsaibashi and has beautiful lights at christmas
TEAMLAB OSAKA:- The Osaka location of the popular tourist Teamlab exhibitions
- Very pretty and for the price and overall vibe, I personally loved it.
- Side note: their admission times are only in the evening (I think from 6 onwards)
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN:- This theme park is a must!!
- Halloween night is popular (walking zombies, random play dance, realistic decorations and horror attractions)
- The USJ official site didn't work so I bought tickets on Klook (paid in £ which was slightly cheaper too)
✰Click here to view my USJ Guide✰
AMERICA TOWN(AMERICAMURA):- Loads of clothing stores specifically streetwear clothes and shoes. Isn’t far from Dotonbori
- Yet to go back and explore myself but some of the stores had some good stuff
UMEDA SKY BUILDING:- An observatory in the central area of Osaka (near the main Umeda station)
- I personally haven't gone here myself but I saw my friend go and the view was quite beautiful at night
OSAKA IKUNO KOREA TOWN:- Similar to Shin Okubo in Shinjuku, Tokyo, this place has a huge Korean population
- So many stores from Korean food, snacks, skincare and kpop merch (prices very similar to Korea in my opinion)
POPULAR CHAINS AND FOOD LOCATIONS
VILLAGE VANGUARD:- A go-to store if you're looking for merchandise, snacks, books, plushies and other collectible items
- Wide range of sections from Kpop items to anime and TV show sections. Plushies, stationary, keychains, Korean and Japanese snacks e.g. buldak noodles and kitkat flavours
2ND STREET:- Popular chain second hand store
- Went in there a few times and their stuff seemed really affordable (around 500 yen and above which is like £2.50 onwards)
SAIZERIYA:- A popular chain restaurant notorious amongst young adults & teens (because prices are cheap and extremely affordable)
- Has Italian food, Japanese food and other common fast food dishes e.g. pasta, pizza, chicken and a few desserts as well.
BEARD PAPA'S:
- A dessert chain that does cream puffs
- I don’t know if they have actual stores. The one time I encountered it, it was a stall near a Tokyo station
- Prices are inexpensive and it tasted really nice and fresh
YOSHINOYA:- Fast food chain restaurant for Japanese meat and rice bowls e.g. rice bowls with beef or Japanese fried chicken etc
- As far as I know it’s cheaper than Nakau and Sukiya (check below) but the prices aren’t that far off each other
NAKAU OR SUKIYA:- These are two other popular Japanese food chains that are inexpensive and have some dishes.
- Mainly rice and udon meals
- Easy to order as they have touch screen menus with English translations
BLUE SEAL:- A really great place to try unique ice cream flavours
- The brand is Okinawa inspired
- They have flavours from Cheese cake, Milk Tea, Brown Sugar, Blue Wave (soda and pineapple), Beni Imo (sweet potato) and many other flavours
ICHIRAN RAMEN:- Often included in 'touristy' youtube videos
- A ramen restaurant known for having individual booths which allows you to eat with privacy
- Consists of their famous Tonkotsu (pork) ramen. You're also given a sheet where you customise the ingredients and intensity of each one
OTHER PLACES:- CoCo Curry House
- Hoshino Coffee (food and dessert)
- Mos Burger
- Lotteria- AEON Max Value (supermarket)
- Daiso (Japanese poundland)
- Matsumoto (supermarket)
- Life (supermarket)
- Gyomu Super (supermarket)
- Kirindo (drugstore/cosmetics etc)
OTHER LOCATIONS
OKINAWA ISLAND:- Referred to as the Japanese ver. of Hawaii
- Beautiful scenery, beaches & caves
- Plenty of snorkelling and water based activities
- If you spend a while in Japan, return tickets to the island are fairly cheap.
- Recommendation's: America Town and Kokusai Dori Shopping Street
(A tiktok of Okinawa my friend sent)
HOKKAIDO:- Well known for being great in the winter time
- If you’re into skiing etc a lot of people travel up there for winter activities as well as other aesthetic-y winter things (food/snacks)
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS GUIDE
My advice for going to Universal Studios Japan#1: As mentioned above, buying tickets through the official website didn't work therefore me and my friends used a third party website called Klook. They are listed as a partner on the USJ website and I can vouch that they are indeed legit. Link here#2: To enter Super Nintendo World, you must download the USJ app (it's in English don't worry) and reserve an 'area timed ticket'. The reservation ticket is completely free and the ticket gives you a 1 hour entry slot. Once you enter, you can stay in as long as you like.#3: To book the Super Nintendo 'area timed ticket', you go onto that section of the app and scan the QR code on your USJ ticket. You do this on the day that you're going. This section of the app is made accessible by 8am (check from 7am onwards - I managed to secure my ticket around 8:20 before entering the theme park).#4: If you don't have luck straight away, Super Nintendo World slots are released bit by bit throughout the day (around 8-10am so keep refreshing the app frequently)#5: If you're going with somebody or a group of people, I'd recommend scanning everyone's QR ticket onto one device as that will allow you to select all the individuals who want a Nintendo reservation when booking.#6: On Klook (and possibly other sites) there are bundle tickets which allow you to buy a USJ entry ticket and Super Nintendo reservation all in one. As the Nintendo reservations are free, I personally wouldn't bother spending extra £ for a bundle unless you desperately want a definite Nintendo reservation (if you're scared of not getting one due to the high demand.)#7: There are 2 Mario themed places to eat at within Super Nintendo World - Yoshi Snacks or Mario Cafe. When I went, you were required to book a cafe reservation via a QR code displayed at it's entrance. If you'd like to eat at the Mario Cafe I would recommend going there first, check if reservations are compulsory then secure a slot before going on the rides. The quicker you book a reservation the better otherwise you could be waiting nearly 4-6 hours (which I nearly had to)