Today, Japanese travel experts bring you a super informative guide to must-visit spots in Kansai! Be sure to add these Instagram-famous stores to your Chinese New Year travel itinerary!
Accommodation:
[Imperial Hotel Osaka] Snoopy Themed Special Rooms
From the Ogihashi Bridge that spans the Okawa River near the famous cherry blossom spot, Sakuranomiya Station, you can see the towering Imperial Hotel Osaka right in front of Osaka Castle. From the hotel rooms, you can enjoy the full bloom of cherry blossoms along the riverbanks in spring, and in summer, witness the famous Tenjin Festival fireworks display right before your eyes! Today, we’re introducing the Imperial Hotel Osaka’s original “Bellhop Snoopy” themed special rooms!
The moment you open the door, everything in the room—from the carpet to the bathrobe to the slippers—is covered in Snoopy elements! It’s like stepping into a comic book world!
Booking a Snoopy-limited room also comes with an exclusive Snoopy-themed breakfast served in your room. To cater to the tastes of guests from different countries, chefs will even adjust the doneness of the fried eggs. There’s also a Snoopy-shaped bread called “Snoopy Pudding Bread”! The café on the second floor of the hotel, Couvertalso offers a “Snoopy Special Menu.” The menu is incredibly true to the comics—ordering from it feels like a dream come true. Try the Snoopy Pancakes, Snoopy Curry, Charlie Brown Beef Stew Rice, and more. Plus, upon check-in, you’ll receive limited-edition Snoopy room keys and key cases, as well as exclusive Snoopy slippers and storage bags as souvenirs!
Address:1-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture (Note: Translated text contains placeholder characters; original likely has specific address)
Food:
[Tako Hachiban Dotonbori Honkan] Takoyaki & Okonomiyaki
Located on Dotonbori, Osaka’s most famous food street, Tako Hachiban is a 40-year-old veteran shop. Every step of the process, from ingredients to your mouth, is perfectly handled! Their signature dish is the “No-Face Takoyaki,” which lets you taste the most authentic, freshly made flavor. Of course, you can also customize it with your favorite sauces. One bite and you’ll experience the soft, fluffy balls paired with big, bouncy chunks of octopus! Besides take-away takoyaki, the second and third floors offer seating. Especially on the second floor, you can watch chefs make Dotonbori stir-fried noodles and okonomiyaki right in front of you on the teppan. All the authentic local snacks are available in one place!
Address: 1-5-10 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
[Manpuku Market] BBQ Buffet & Sushi & Fugu Cuisine
Perfect for both solo travelers and group trips. This time, the editor ordered the 3,980 yen BBQ & Sushi set for two and was so full halfway through that they couldn’t even stand up straight. The premium domestic beef—whether ribeye or short ribs—had beautiful marbling. The moment it hit the grill with a sizzle, the rich, fatty flavor was simply irresistible. The sushi that came with the set is even more impressive—it’s crafted by professionally certified fugu (pufferfish) chefs. Each piece of sushi has a perfect harmony of fish and rice, flawless in every way. With expert chefs on-site, don’t miss the fugu set either. In the cold winter, pick up a piece of hot fugu from the pot, put it in your mouth, and let the deliciousness and warmth spread through your whole body.
Address:1-15 Sonezakicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
[Hayashabu Chaya] Japanese Hot Pot & BBQ
Of course, you’ve got to try a Japanese hot pot experience too! This editor recommends Hayashabu Chaya’s all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu set, located in Dotonbori.You can choose between two types of broth: kombu (kelp), kimchi, or sukiyaki. This time, I went with kombu and sukiyaki, then added 1,000 yen to upgrade to premium domestic Japanese beef. Except for the meat—which you order separately—all the vegetables are self-serve at the selection station by the entrance. There’s also super delicious ice cream! Just one thing to watch out for—try not to leave any food uneaten~ The sukiyaki beef with fresh egg yolk—no need to say more, once you taste it, you’ll know it’s just right. I also tried sukiyaki rice cakes this time—they’re soft, fluffy, flavorful, and soaked with sweet sauce. So good, words fail me. Especially worth mentioning—if you want to have some BBQ, they also offer top-grade domestic beef BBQ sets here!
Address:1-6-15 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Sightseeing& Experiences
[Happiness Owl Café]chouetteOwl Café
A hidden nature paradise in Shinsaibashi — the Happy Owl Café. It’s Japan’s largest owl café, just a 7-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station. Sit on a comfy sofa, pick your favorite drink, and a staff member will carefully explain how to pet the owls. Then, sanitize your hands with disinfectant spray, and you can enter the touch zone to get up close and personal with the baby owls! For an additional 600 yen, you can even experience the precious moment of an owl perching on your arm and get a commemorative photo with a frame! From large owls as tall as half a person to ultra-mini ones that can fit two on the palm of your hand—each one melts even the most jaded heart. Come and experience slow time with the owls!
Address:1-19-21 1921 Building, Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
[Kyoto no Miyako] Kyoto Kimono Rental
Strolling through the lanes of Kyoto in a kimono and taking beautiful photos is definitely the most anticipated part of the trip. This time, I’m raving about this kimono rental shop called Kyoto no Miyako. It’s a professional kimono rental with multiple branches in Kyoto, and we chose their Kawaramachi store, which you can see right when you exit Kyoto City Hall Station. Since it’s a local Japanese kimono shop, both the patterns and fabrics are very refined, covering all kinds of kimono styles. There are also professional kimono dressers to help you wear them — communication is totally fine with just basic English. We didn’t hesitate to pick two relatively vibrant ones — in the middle of winter, nothing beats going all out in red, haha. It takes about twenty minutes on foot from the shop to Yasaka Shrine, and there are plenty of great photo spots along the way.
Address:537-23, 1st Floor, Millennium Miike, 1-chome, Nakanochō, Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
[Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan]
The world-class Kaiyukan Aquarium is also in Osaka. With 14 main tanks modeled after the oceans of the world, it recreates the distribution of marine life across the planet's oceans to the greatest extent possible. From the stream in the “Forest of Japan” located on land to the paradise of marine life that is the Great Barrier Reef, and then down to the silent depths of the ocean floor. It’s truly a miniature blue Earth. There’s even a new area called Jellyfish Galaxy, which showcases jellyfish in their stunning beauty like a starry sky, themed around the vast universe. In contrast to the very dark environment of the venue, the translucent jellyfish float in the huge wall tank, casting little points of light. I think anyone would be moved by the magical beauty of life. Aside from observing marine life in the tanks, you can also have hands-on interactions, like touching stingrays — the sensation is incredibly soft and pleasant. Until March 2019, there was also a limited-time light show; as night falls, the romance of the ocean continues.
Address:1-1 Kaigan-dori, Minato-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
[nifrel]Living Museum & Art Aquarium
Visit nifrel in Expo Park and experience the unique charm of a “living museum”! It’s now a popular Instagram spot among young people in Japan. There are seven areas including “Colors” and “Forms,” making you feel as if you’ve wandered into a dream world. Get up close to the wonders and beauty of life, and here you’ll slow your pace, feeling as relaxed and peaceful as the boundless ocean itself. There’s also an exhibit of land animals that live near water. It’s almost like a mini rainforest, with long-tailed macaques freely leaping overhead, and lazy otters and beavers lying around — absolutely adorable to the point of squealing. Of course, there’s much more to discover on your own — highly recommended.
Address:2-1, Senri Expo Park, Suita, Osaka Prefecture
Shopping
[Takagi Wholesale Supermarket] – Snack Paradise
Aside from historic sites and alleys, Kyoto also has a beloved snack paradise — Takagi Wholesale Supermarket. This wholesale market is located near the tourist hot spot Nijo Castle and has been featured in various media. In recent years, it started offering tax-free shopping, drawing increasing attention from overseas visitors. It’s said that over 150,000 customers come here to shop every year. More than just a supermarket, it feels like a food warehouse, with over 10,000 items ranging from drinks and delicacies to snacks and seasonings, covering almost every Japanese snack imaginable. And best of all, it’s cheap. There are also surprise discount sections with deals up to 70% off — you might just want to stock up on snacks for half a year. They even sell popular e-cigarettes here. Buy a pack or more and get freebies like Nissin Cup Noodles.
Address:35-1, Tamade-Tenji-cho, Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
[Palstock] Vintage & Second-hand Fashion Boutique
Just a stone’s throw from Amerikamura and Shinsaibashi, nestled in Orange Street — a must-visit spot for trendsetters — lies Osaka’s famous vintage treasure trove: Palstock Minamihorie store. Whether you’re looking for trendy pieces or luxury hits, you’ll find them here. All items in the store are carefully cleaned and stored — “like new” is just the baseline. Popular street brands like BATHING APE, STUSSY, and SUPREME are all in stock, and I even spotted hard-to-get Comme des Garçons PLAY (CDG) pieces right away. The first floor is for women’s items, and the second floor is the guys’ domain. There are all kinds of bags, shoes, and even some rare limited editions, as well as various brand collaborations. The store supports tax-free shopping, as well as UnionPay, WeChat Pay, and Alipay, with plenty of discounts too. Fashion shoppers in Osaka, don’t miss this place.
Local Specialties & Snacks
[Marushige Breath Chocolate]
I have one locally made souvenir I carefully selected and highly recommend — this Breath Chocolate. There are three flavors to choose from: strawberry, matcha, and cocoa. Each piece of chocolate is meticulously handmade through traditional processes by skilled artisans. Made with premium Danish mascarpone cheese and California almonds, they come together into the sweetest and richest chocolates, whose deliciousness seems to awaken with every breath in your mouth. For those lingering in the souvenir shops at Kansai Airport, you can grab these right away. I bought mine at the tax-free shop “Maru Yorozu” — according to the staff, “Nagomi” and “MIYABI” duty-free shops also sell them. Those taking the connecting train to the South Wing gates can also find them at the duty-free shops there.
[Yamaya Mentaiko Mayo]
Aside from the chocolate above, I also got something really amazing — Yamaya mentaiko mayo. It’s mayo specially made with soybean and rapeseed oil, mixed with grilled mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and finished with a touch of chili for brightness. The individual bits of mentaiko burst in your mouth with their distinctive spiciness and umami. The back of the package has a QR code that takes you to the official website with both Chinese and English versions. The site offers various cooking method tutorials — you could eat it in different ways for ten days straight without getting bored. I even tried making super simple grilled toast with egg and added the mentaiko sauce. As someone with very picky taste, I can finally say I understand what a true “otaku comfort food” is. The product is easy to find at the tax-free shop “Maru Yorozu” on the third floor of Terminal 1, to the right after exiting customs. According to the staff, it’s also recently available at the “MIYABI” duty-free shop too.