Dotonbori (or Dotombori) is my favorite neighborhood in Osaka, Japan, and if I were to go there again, I’d probably find an Airbnb in the Namba district. Yes, it’s super touristy, but there’s so much to see (from the Dotonbori canal to the Gilco billboard) and so many yummy things to eat. 

If you’re visiting Osaka, you have to eat takoyaki and okonomiyaki. You can eat takoyaki anywhere on the street that looks fresh; I go anywhere there are a lot of people waiting and/or eating. My favorite okonomiyaki is from Ajinoya (味乃家). It’s quite a wait, and actually I was turned away twice because I didn’t get there early enough before closing. Once I ate it, I knew it was worth the wait and I still think about how fun and delicious that meal was that day.