Osaka nightlife

Osaka is a city that rewards looking up. At street level, the neon signs of Dotonbori, crowded restaurants of Namba and towering office buildings of Umeda compete for your attention. But head above the streets, and the city reveals a completely different personality. From the right bar, you can watch Osaka Castle rise above its … Read more

Osaka may be famous for street food, bustling izakayas and lively nights around Dotonbori, but its luxury cocktail scene deserves just as much attention. Hidden beneath the busy streets of Umeda, you’ll find a tiny cocktail bar with only six counter seats and an international reputation. A short distance away, the city’s newest luxury hotels … Read more

Osaka’s best drinking experiences often begin somewhere that barely looks like a bar. A narrow counter beside a railway station, a sake shop with a few people drinking at the back, or an izakaya where the evening menu is written on strips of paper above the kitchen. These are the places that make Osaka’s local … Read more

Finding a great bar in Osaka isn’t always as simple as following the brightest signs. Some of the city’s most interesting drinking spots are concealed in basement corridors, upstairs in ordinary commercial buildings or behind entrances that give little indication of what’s inside. One bar hides behind a red telephone booth. Another is marked by … Read more

Osaka is one of Japan’s most enjoyable cities after dark, but the best time to head out depends on what kind of evening you’re looking for. At 6 pm, the city’s izakayas are already welcoming customers for beer, grilled skewers and after-work drinks. By 8 pm, Dotonbori’s illuminated signs reflect across the canal, restaurants are … Read more