In my home city of Fukuoka, I naturally eat tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen, but that’s not feasible in Osaka… While searching, I discovered a shop called Yosuko Ramen.

Upon investigation, it turned out to be a popular spot known among Osaka locals, serving crystal-clear salt broth ramen—something rarely (if ever) found in Fukuoka or elsewhere.

So off I went!

Yosuko Ramen Meimei is Within Walking Distance of Umeda

Yosuko Ramen Meimei was located very close to my accommodation.

Located in Nakazaki-cho, it’s walkable from Osaka Station and Umeda in about 10 minutes.

Yosuko refers to the Yangtze River, China’s major waterway, though why the shop has this name remains unclear.
Perhaps it was opened by someone from China.

Quite a charming exterior. Let’s go in!

The menu looks like a typical Chinese restaurant with an emphasis on noodles.

I forgot to photograph the interior, but it was a small shop with a wooden counter and a few tables.
The staff appeared to be from China.

I ordered Set A for ¥700! (Price as of 2013)
Ramen with braised pork belly and rice at this price is quite reasonable.

Crystal-Clear Salt Broth – Refreshingly Delicious

First to arrive was the braised pork belly and rice.
Sweet-savory sauce-marinated pork is delicious. Works perfectly with both rice and as a beer snack.

And here’s the ramen!
The broth is so transparent you’d think it was just hot water. I braced myself for extremely mild flavor, but surprisingly, the salt and dashi broth are robustly flavorful and delicious. Perfect for finishing a meal.

The noodles are thin and straightforward—neither particularly distinctive nor flawed.

Crispy vegetables!

Adding the fried scallions from the table condiments…

The salt broth gains aromatic depth, adding another dimension of flavor.
Maybe add halfway through eating for the best effect.

Pepper too.

Yosuko Ramen – Simple Yet Profoundly Flavorful

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much, but it turned out to be surprisingly high quality with great value.
It works for regular meals or as a late-night drinking finish. (I personally quite enjoyed the flavor!)

If you visit Osaka, definitely stop by!

When I think of Osaka (in my mind), Tsutenkaku Tower, Shinsekai, Namba Grand Kagetsu theater, and the Glico neon sign come to mind, but I had no idea where they were located.

After some research, I found that while somewhat scattered, everything was within walking distance, so I decided to take a walking tour around the area.

For anyone like me who thinks “I want to check out those places, but I have no idea where they are,” I’d like to share this photo report!

The Route I Walked

In search of iconic “Osaka spots,” here’s the route I took:

It’s quite a bit of walking, so take it as a rough guide.

Note: I walked this route and took these photos in 2013, so the scenery may have changed somewhat by now. Please keep that in mind.

Dobutsuen-mae → Shinsekai → Tsutenkaku

Exiting Dobutsuen-mae Station and turning down a side street, a colorful avenue came into view.
This is Shinsekai.
I wanted to try some fried skewers, but time was short, so I passed through!

Walking with Tsutenkaku in sight.

This is Billiken.
Originally a statue created by someone in America, it’s apparently been placed here in Osaka as a god of good fortune.

The flamboyant atmosphere really does strike visitors from other prefectures as “quintessentially Osaka!”
I’d like to come back here at night next time.

Turning a corner, Tsutenkaku came directly into view!

Passing underneath and continuing on.

Leaving Tsutenkaku Hondon Street and emerging onto a main road.

“Double-dipping sauce is forbidden!”

Nihonbashi → Namba, Grand Kagetsu Theater

Emerging onto a large avenue heading toward Namba.
Wait, why are there so many electronics shops? I realized I’d reached Nihonbashi, Kansai’s largest electronics district.
Being a weekday morning, there weren’t many people around.

Many specialty electronics components are sold here, of course along with large retailers like Sofmap.

Game and anime shops dot the area.
Personally, my impression is that Akihabara is a young person’s district with a heavy anime focus, while Nihonbashi still retains much of its historic character as an electronics district.

After leaving Nihonbashi, I had lunch at Chitose, a nikusuui restaurant.

Nikusuui, which reportedly started as “beef udon without the noodles.”
The sweet-savory broth and tender beef made for a taste I really enjoyed. (Being a big beef udon fan already!)

For a detailed review of that meal, see the article below.

[Gourmet] Sweet Dashi Meat Broth Soothes the Soul at Chitose in Osaka’s Namba

Continuing on, I passed in front of Namba Grand Kagetsu Theater on Sennichimae.

The aggressive hawking and upbeat energy really do feel like the headquarters of Yoshimoto entertainment. Character mascots of comedians like Akashiya Sanma greet visitors.
I’d like to go inside next time!

Continuing through Namba toward Dotonbori.
There are the famous signs everyone thinks of when they think Osaka—the Kani Doraku crab and the Glico neon!

Namba → Dotonbori, Kani Doraku and Glico Neon

Takashimaya in front of Namba Station.

I’ve finally arrived in Dotonbori!

The historic Osaka Shochiku Theater.

So this is the famous moving crab sign from Kani Doraku that you see on TV!

Here too, brightly colored signs compete for attention everywhere. It’s all about standing out.

Osaka specialty Kuidaore.

Large objects hanging from signs has become basically the default here.

A dangling cow.

Every sign aggressively declares “Look at me!” This is Osaka!

Don Quijote has an unusually shaped Ferris wheel attached.

Stepping back a bit, Ebisu Bridge was the finishing point for today’s walk.
This is the spot that appears in almost every “We asked Osaka residents!” type TV segment.
Almost everyone has seen the Glico neon somewhere at some point.

Final Thoughts

Walking through what I consider the quintessential Osaka spots made for quite an enjoyable stroll. If you don’t mind the distance, it’s a recommended route for experiencing Osaka!

The rooms don’t have private toilets or showers (they’re communal), but the facilities are well-equipped with a large public bath, sauna, shower rooms, and wireless LAN.

While it has amazing cost performance and high ratings on various travel booking sites, there are a few points that require some caution.
I’ll introduce all of this, including those points, in this article!

“Hotel Mikado” located in Nishinari Ward, Japan’s largest skid row area requiring attention to safety

The “Hotel Mikado” we’re visiting this time is closest to Dobutsuen-mae Station on the Osaka Municipal Subway.
Right away, I spotted a man acrobatically running while holding down cardboard boxes on his cart.
This area has a high concentration of older men doing unclear activities.

Yes, this is on the edge of the “Airin District,” known to those in the know as Japan’s largest skid row and said to be one of Japan’s most dangerous areas in terms of public safety.

Now, let’s head to our destination by turning off the main street.
A street lined with budget accommodations. When I passed through, there wasn’t much foot traffic.

Here it is! It was about a 3-minute walk from the station.

The room is small but adequate. Outstanding cost performance

The front desk service was quite polite, which gave me a sense of why this place is popular.
I got my key and headed to the room.

The room. It’s considerably smaller than a typical business hotel, but it’s perfectly fine for sleeping, watching TV, or doing light work.

There’s proper air conditioning too.

TV and refrigerator as well.
The cleaning appears to be done thoroughly.

It also has communal baths, toilets, shower rooms, coin laundry, and wireless LAN.
For about 2,000 yen, the cost performance is quite high.

Don’t walk around much at night, especially not toward the south

This seems like quite a useful accommodation for budget travel, but as mentioned earlier, this is the Airin District in Nishinari Ward.
Being close to the station and on the edge of the area, I didn’t encounter any particularly strange people, but heading further south or west from this hotel leads to quite deep and rough territory.

It’s not a very good area in terms of safety or sanitation, and I hear there are many offices of “those kinds of people” there.
It’s safer to avoid getting too close to those areas.

Business Hotel Mikado Summary

While there are points requiring caution, “Business Hotel Mikado” has outstanding cost performance.
As long as you don’t make strange detours or wander around aimlessly at night, you probably won’t encounter any dangerous situations.

If you want to travel the Kansai region on a budget, it might be worth trying a stay here!

As someone who grew up loving games and has played the Super Mario series since the original Super Mario Bros., the whole experience felt like a dream come true.

Super Nintendo World features many exclusive items you can only buy there. Inside, there are two stores: One-Up Factory sells general Super Mario memorabilia, and Mario Motors specializes in Mario Kart merchandise.
(Some items like hats are available outside the World too.)

I got so excited that I ended up buying nearly ¥40,000 worth of souvenirs! Here are my top five favorites, along with all the other goodies I picked up.

5. Yoshi Magnet Hook

At number five is the Yoshi Magnet Hook (¥1,200).

Yoshi’s tongue bends freely—just curl it forward and use it to hang keys or other items.

It’s both adorable and practical—and sure to be useful for a long time.

4. Toad Smartphone Stand

Fourth place goes to the Toad Smartphone Stand (¥2,800).

Toad stands on a grassy platform dotted with flowers, mouth open, yet steady enough to hold your phone securely.

Once a phone is placed, Toad’s face is mostly hidden, but the stand is very sturdy—even stands firm under a 10.9‑inch iPad Air or a vertically oriented 13‑inch MacBook Air.

I use multiple devices, so a reliable stand is essential. Among mostly monochrome options, this cute stand brought unexpected joy.

3. Chef Toad Soft Doll

At One-Up Factory, my wife immediately snapped up the Chef Toad Soft Doll (¥3,900)—Toad’s dressed as a chef from the in-world Toad Cafe.

Toad’s colors—white and red inverted—are just right. The craftsmanship and colors are top-notch.

Now he watches over our meals and daily life at home.

No special features—just a high-quality, cute figurine that brightens our living space.

2. Bob-omb Senbei (Rice Crackers)

Number two is the Bob‑omb (¥1,800).

This little guy is adorable—even before noticing the tiny legs, wind-up key, and fuse.

Press down on the head—he stands stably on his feet.

Inside are 20 mini fried rice crackers. It makes a quirky Mario-themed display and doubles as a snack container—perhaps the best souvenir.

Not a main character but a cult favorite—perfect as a fun keepsake.

1. Golden Mushroom Coin Chocolates

The most eye-catching item I bought was the Golden Mushroom (¥2,900).

Look at that shine—reflects everything around it!

Even from afar, it stands out—and now sits on our shelf glowing.

Inside are 16 nostalgic coin‑shaped chocolates. Once eaten, the container is perfect for hiding small treasures.

If you like playful decor, this gem might just be worth it—golden and eye-catching.

Here’s our shelf featuring the Golden Mushroom and Bob‑omb—just looking at it brings a smile.

Other Souvenirs I Bought at Super Nintendo World

Those were my top five, but I also got several other irresistibly fun souvenirs. Here they are:

Mario and Luigi Hats

Mario and Luigi baseball caps (¥3,300 each).
Bought at the Universal CityWalk store before entering the park—great for dressing up before heading in.

Wearing them, plus Splatoon merch, drew lots of attention from friendly park staff!

Yoshi Egg Crunch Chocolates

A Yoshi Egg with crunch chocolates inside (¥1,400).

It stands on its own and comes filled with 12 crunch chocolates.

Mario Kart Tire Chocolate Tin

A tire-shaped tin with chocolates inside (¥2,000).

It’s made from rubber-like material, with a hubcap lid. Inside are 6 small chocolates—great container, light crowd-pleaser.

Super Mushroom Cookie Box

The Super Mushroom cookie box (¥2,000) comes in a cute felt box with 15 cookies inside.

So cute I’m tempted to reuse the box for something else!

Walking Mario Toy

One buzzed-about item is the Walking Mario (¥3,900).

Press his Koopa shell, and Mario walk—no batteries needed! A truly magical little toy.

A must-check item in the park.

Mario Kart Memo Clip

A Mario Kart memo clip (¥1,800)—great for holding To-Do notes. The design is too cute to just discard a piece of paper.

Mini Towel Set (Power-Ups)

A set of mini towels featuring the ⭐Super Star, 🍄Super Mushroom, and 🌸Fire Flower (¥2,400). Functional and adorable.

Pencil Case With Mario Level Map

A pencil case printed with a classic Super Mario level map—complete with Thwomp and Bowser looming (¥1,300).

Power-Up Strap Set

A power-up charm set with a ? Box containing Mushroom, Star, and Fire Flower charms (¥2,000). Each has a coordinating color scheme—perfect for keys if your phone has no strap hole.

Drawstring Bag (Mushroom & Question Block)

A drawstring bag featuring a ? Block on one side and Super Mushroom on the other (¥1,500).

Super Star Coin Case

A Star coin case (¥1,300) with a zipper in the back for coins or small items.

Power-Up Coaster Set

Four coasters featuring ?, Super Star, Super Mushroom, and Fire Flower (¥2,400).

Character Clear File Set

A set of four clear files featuring cute Super Mario enemies (¥1,200).

When you insert paper, characters like Boo, Bullet Bill, Piranha Plant, and Blooper appear!

The art is just so charming.

Including Mario dodging a giant Blooper that’s nearly impossible to avoid.

Mario Kart Clear File

A two-piece clear file set (¥1,000). One features holographic Rainbow Road, and the other shows Mario Kart items like Banana Peel and Spiny Shells.

Final Thoughts

Super Nintendo World was a dream come true for a lifelong Mario fan like me. Don’t miss it if you get a chance to go!

I had forgotten the name of the shop, but after googling something like “Osaka curry egg,” I stumbled across Jiyuken.

When most people think of Japanese curry, they imagine white rice with curry roux poured over it, half-and-half. But Jiyuken does it differently—the rice and curry are mixed together completely, and topped with a raw egg, which is unusual outside of Osaka.

That quirky Osaka style was reason enough for me to give it a try!

A Retro Sign and Interior Straight Out of Showa-Era Japan

Jiyuken is located in the shopping arcade in Namba, very close to the station.

Its retro appearance instantly catches your eye. The shop name “Jiyuken” is plastered on the noren curtains, the awning, and even the signboards—four times over!

You rarely see food display samples anymore, but they have them here.

There’s even a huge sign up top! In Osaka, it’s all about standing out!

They’ve even got a life-sized cutout of the proprietress. Go big or go home!

The interior has a nostalgic charm. The place was quite busy, with many tourists from China and Korea.

I saw a menu item called “Hai-shi Rice”—perhaps their version of Hayashi rice?

Photos and autographs of celebrities with the proprietress adorn the walls.

Jiyuken’s “Famous Curry” Is Meant to Be Mixed with Egg and Worcestershire Sauce

As the name suggests, the shop’s star dish is the “famous curry”—so of course I ordered it.

Here it is! If you’re not from Osaka, this might be a new visual experience—but it definitely looks promising.

Instead of being served separately, the rice and curry are thoroughly mixed and shaped, then topped with a raw egg yolk.

The curry itself is surprisingly bold and spicy.

They also serve a house-made “4th Generation Worcestershire Sauce,” which is quite hot!

Mix in the egg yolk, and the curry becomes wonderfully mellow and creamy.

Stir well and dig in—delicious!

Jiyuken’s Curry: A Unique Dish Best Enjoyed in a Retro Osaka Setting

This was a new type of curry for me, but it offered a completely different (and tasty) experience from the norm.

With its one-of-a-kind flavor and throwback atmosphere, Jiyuken is a fun stop if you’re visiting Osaka!

Since I was in the Namba area, I decided to try the “Nikusui” at Chitose, a restaurant recommended by a friend I had met the day before.

So, what exactly is “Nikusui”?
In simple terms, it’s like meat udon without the udon, a dish popular in western Japan.

As a huge fan of meat udon, especially the sweet and savory broth infused with simmered beef, this seemed like the perfect meal for me.

Chitose is known as the birthplace of Nikusui.

The restaurant is also located near Namba Grand Kagetsu, a famous comedy theater, so it’s a favorite spot among Yoshimoto comedians!

Chitose in Namba, Osaka: A Classic Restaurant Famous for Nikusui

The restaurant Chitose is located in a quiet corner of Namba, one of Osaka’s busiest entertainment districts.

Although I expected it to be in the middle of a bustling area, it was actually tucked away in what felt like a wholesalers’ district, just a block or two away from the busy streets.

The traditional storefront had a nostalgic charm that I personally found very appealing.

Inside, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with an old-school vibe that added to its appeal.

Although they serve udon, I went for their signature Nikusui paired with Kodama (Tamago Kake Gohan, or raw egg over rice).

The Original Nikusui: A Deeply Satisfying, Flavorful Broth

The rich broth, loaded with beef and green onions, was beautifully complemented by the bright yellow Kodama (raw egg over rice).
It looked absolutely mouthwatering.

For someone like me who loves umami-packed broths, this was a dream come true.

Tender simmered beef and green onions floated in the soup, topped with fresh chopped scallions.

The taste was exactly like meat udon, just without the noodles.

The katsuobushi (bonito flakes) and kombu (kelp) broth was infused with the sweet-savory essence of the simmered beef, creating a perfectly balanced flavor.
It was delicious!
Absolutely my kind of taste.

Inside the Nikusui, there was also a soft-boiled egg.
Mixing it in gradually made the broth even smoother and richer.

Kodama (Tamago Kake Gohan) with Special Soy Sauce

And now, onto the Tamago Kake Gohan (TKG)…

It is served with a special soy sauce designed to enhance the egg’s flavor.
Oops—looks like I ended up with two eggs instead of one, but no complaints here!

Feeling full and satisfied, I glanced at the table and noticed a bottle of soy sauce with a quirky Osaka joke on it—it read *”Shouyu koto!”*, a pun by famous comedian Murakami Shoji.

These little Osaka-style touches made the experience even more enjoyable for a traveler like me.

A Must-Visit When in Namba

I was able to fully enjoy the original and authentic taste of Nikusui.

If you’re visiting Osaka Minami or stopping by Namba Grand Kagetsu, I highly recommend trying it out.
The deep, comforting flavor of Nikusui will warm you to the core!