Izakaya Hopping & Sightseeing in Minami Area, Osaka
Walking / Public Transportation Tour ( Contact guide for other options )
This tour is meant for those who would like to enjoy sightseeing in Minami ( South ) Area, Osaka and eating and drinking at three izakayas ( Japanese-style taverns ) for relatively reasonable prices in a friendly atmosphere.
Itinerary
Feel free to personalize this offer with Yoshihisa.
- Shin-Sekai ( the New World ) and Tsutenkaku Tower
- Three Izakaya restaurants including a standing pub
- Hozenji Alley and Dotombori Street
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What to Expect
This tour is designed for those who wish to explore izakaya ( Japanese-style taverns ) and to enjoy sightseeing in Minami ( South ) Area, Osaka. The tour starts at Jan-jan alley in Shin-Sekai ( the New World ), the name of which is said to have come from the noisy sound of practicing the shamisen ( three-stringed instruments ) before World War II. This alley retains a good old atmosphere of the commoners' town. Next you will move into the core part of Shin-Sekai, which has recently become one of the busiest tourist attractions in Osaka. Shin-Sekai streets are lined with many izakaya and kushikatsu ( deep-fried beef and vegetables on skewers ) restaurants. Then you will go up to the observatory of Tsutenkaku Tower modeled after the Eiffel Tower of Paris. You can take in the twilight view of Osaka from the observation deck, including the sunset on clear autumn days.
Five minute walk brings you to the first izakaya, which has a long history and has been favored by local people. This restaurant fulfills all the requirements for good izakaya; friendly atmosphere, sophisticated taste of dishes, long establishment, reasonable prices and the like. If you wish, you can easily talk with customers sitting next to you.
After ten minute walk through Nippon-bashi Streets ( similar to Akihabara in Tokyo ), you will be at a standing pub in Namba. This pub stores scores of different brands of Japanese sake in a large refrigerated showcase. You can also enjoy tasting a variety of dishes from Japanese-style to western-style. This pub is loved by young women as well as middle-aged men.
You will visit a third and last izakaya near the standing pub. There are a couple of nice izakaya restaurants with unique characteristics. One of the izakayas is run by a sake taster who offers you fresh and delicious sashimi ( sliced raw fish ) which goes very well with locally brewed sake. Another izakaya is popular with office workers because the lady staff amuse customers with her witty and comical talk.
On the way to Subway Namba Station, you will stop at Hozenji Temple alley and Ebisu-bashi Bridge famous for a big signboard of Glico athlete with hands up. Hozenji alley is an old Osaka quarter lined with Japanese-style restaurants, pubs and bars which were and are frequented by entertainers working in Dotombori area. Your tour ends at Ebisu-bashi Bridge for photo taking against the background of the Glico runner.
Departure & Return
Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee
entrance fee for Tsutenkaku Tower observation deck (￥700 ) and dinner at three izakayas ( about ￥7,000 for five drinks and 7-8 plates of dishes per person )
Important
It is desirable to carry overseas travel insurance because the guide is not liable for any damage or loss incurred during the tour. It is also requested to bring enough Japanese yen with you because some restaurants and taxis do not accept credit cards.
In addition to the guide fee, you will be asked to pay around 7,000 yen per person for the charge at three izakaya restaurants. The charge may vary a little according to what and how much you drink and eat. You can eat 7-8 plates of dishes and 5 drinks of alcohol such as beer, Japanese sake and wine on average. If you share the dishes with your partners and guide, you can try a wider variety of food. The guide also pays around 7,000 yen for the charge at the izakayas.
We Japanese have a custom of warikan or a Dutch treat, but that does not always mean that we pay for exactly what we ate and drank. Some people eat and drink more than others. In our custom, however, that is often the case and excusable. Nobody complains about that. If you will join in my tour, remember this, please.
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Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 30 days prior to meeting date
- 50% Refund - 15 to 29 days prior to meeting date
- No Refund - Within 14 day(s) prior to meeting date
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make changes after I book?
Yes! If you need to make changes such as removing or adding someone to your booking or changing the date or time of your tour, contact us by phone or email
Starting and ending points of the tour.
After you secure your booking, the starting and ending points of your tour can be customized to your convenience (ex.: your hotel, nearby stations, etc.). Don't worry, we will take care of you! Some tours may have an extra fee for this service, make sure to check the tour page.
What happens after I book a tour?
After booking a tour, the guide will accept (or decline) your booking within 24 hours. Then you will be noticed by email from Triplelights.
Is the price per person or per group?
The price is charged per group. Which means that you make a one-time payment for your entire group and the price will not change if it is less or more people.
Can I add more people to my booking?
Some guides accept extra people (more than the specified number) for an extra charge. Please check for the extras on the tour or booking page, or contact your guide directly to clarify.
Will there be other tourists in my tour?
No. Your tour is private, only for you and your family or friends, there will be no other group of tourists together in your tour.
Can the guide pickup me at the airport?
Yes, but there will be additional charge for that and it is not by car. The guide will go pick you up using public transportations. For further details, please contact your guide directly.
I'm travelling alone. Can I book this tour?
Yes, you can and you may be able to get a discount if you are traveling alone. Price depends on which guide you choose.
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“ Excellent ”
Yoshi is a great tour guide. He was very informative and patient. We did the full day Kyoto tour and we added a couple of locations, so he spent over 11 hours with us. We took the public transportation which he easily navigated us through. I highly recommend Yoshi!
Hi Josephine. Have your returned home safely with lots of nice memories and and souvenirs? I had a very nice time guiding you around Kyoto although it was pretty dark at the last attraction, Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine. I appreciate your kind review for my tour. If you have another chance of visiting Kansai region, be sure to get in touch. With best regards, Yoshie
“ 5 Hour Tour ”
Yoshi is a great tour guide. Very accommodating to our requests and needs. He had an excellent 5 hour tour organized. Very friendly, and informative. Highly recommended.
Hi Brett. Thank you very much for your nice review. I am glad that your family enjoyed eating snacks and yakitori - grilled chiken that they liked. I hope you have returned home safely with lots of nice memories and souvenirs of Japan. Next time you visit Kansai region, be sure to get in touch. Best regards, Yoshie
“ A fascinating, full day with Yoshie ”
We just spent a full, fascinating and delightful day being guided through Kyoto by Yoshihisa. We visited many of the major sites, which he curates beautifully, and we never felt rushed nor stressed. A former English teacher, Yoshie is a wealth of history, stories, poems and puns. If you are visiting Kyoto for the first time, I highly recommend spending your first day with Yoshie.
Hi Jim. I really appreciate your kind words of gratitude. I am very pleased to learn that you and your wife enjoyed yesterday's tour with me. I hope you will continue a nice trip and return home safely with lots of pleasnt memories in Japan. Next time you visit Japan in early April or late November, be sure to get in touch, please. Thank you again. With best wishes, Yoshie
“ Amazing Kyoto and Nara tour with Yoshie! ”
Yoshie is an extremely knowledgeable guide, he showed us (a family of 5 - children aged 16,13 and 10) the highlights of Kyoto and Nara across 3 days. He is full of interesting and amusing facts as well as being a kind, thoughtful and generous guide. A particular highlight was our meal in a traditional Izakaya restaurant - SUCH fun!! Thank you Yoshie!
Hi Meg, Thank you very much for your quick and kind review for my tour. It has been terribly hot for the three days in Kyoto and Nara. I appreciate your patience, listening to me attentively in spite of the heat and humidity. Yesterday we had a karaoke party near the izakaya restaurant and I told the chef that you and your family had been very pleased with your meals and kind hospitality. He was also delighted to hear it. I hope you will continue a pleasant trip and return home safely with lots of nice memories and souvenirs. Next time you visit Kansai region, be sure to get in touch, please. With the best wishes, Yoshie
“ BEST DAY IN JAPAN! ”
The tour with yoshie was extraordinary! We had a excelente day, full of fun and sightseeing. Yoshie was very knowledgeable on all of the places we vistited in Kyoto. His explanations and english were perfect. During the tour he adapted very well with our pace and Requests. Overall it was one of the best tours in japan with the best guide in japan! Yoshie is an excelent human being, we really enjoyed his company very much!
Hi Benjamin, I am very pleased to have your wonderful review for my tour in Kyoto. Thank you so much. I am also glad that you and your family liked each and every site we visited in My Favorite Golden Tour. I hope you will have a pleasant trip in Nara and Osaka, too. Be sure to get in touch next time you visit Kansai region, please. With best wishes, Yoshie
