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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“ Perfect afternoon in Kobe! ”
We had some trouble finding Yoshie to begin with, but we quickly made up for lost time and after that it was a great experience! With his insider knowledge we had a really smooth trip and learned a lot, and he saved me a lot of trouble in trying to find my way around sale breweries in an unfamiliar city. He managed to find us the best steak we've ever had too! I'd highly recommend Yoshie :)
Hi Shannon. Thank you very much for your nice review and the souvenir. I was inside of the west gate of the station, just in case you would be at the west side of the central gate. Anyway I am pleased that you all liked the Kobe beef steak lunch and the visit to the two sake breweries in Nada. I hope you will have lots of fun during your stay in Kyoto and return home safely. With warmest regards, Yoshie
“ Best Guide Ever! ”
Our U.S. family of 5, including 3 teenagers, spent 3 days touring Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Miyajima with Yoshie. He was fabulous! His English is impeccable. He was gracious and welcoming, kind, and extremely knowledgeable. He planned our days at a nice active and efficient pace. My teenagers voted him our “best guide ever.”
Hi Diane. I really appreciate your kind words of gratitude for my three-day tour in Kyoto and Hiroshima. I am very pleased to learn that your children, too, enjoyed it a lot. I hope you will return home safely with lots of nice memories and souvenirs of Japan. Next time you have another chance of visiting Kansai region, be sure to get in touch, please. With the best wishes, Yoshie.
“ The amazing Yoshihisa-san ”
Yoshihisa-san is one of the rare gems you will ever meet during your trip, especially if you love learning Japanese history and culture. I had read a lot about Japanese history before but during our tour Yoshihisa-san made us understand so much more. Myfamily had a booked a 2 day tour with Yoshihisa-san and as usual, we wanted to visit the famous tourists sites of Kyoto. These were more of the typical spots you find on a "Top Ten" places to visit in Kyoto. Thankfully Yoshihisa-san convinced me to see some other places as well, which we have no regrets and in fact feel so lucky to have visited them. Some of the places he took us to allowed us to catch the amazing Autumn fall of Kyoto. My family and I will never forget our experience at the Jojakkoji Temple where we saw the most amazing a... read more
Hi Abilash-san. It is a great honor and a pleasure to receive such a supreme review for my two-day tour in Kyoto. Your deep interest in Japanese history and culture made my job very rewarding and worthwhile. Through this tour I made a new discovery about the temple, Eikando, you visited, thank you so much. Personally I also enjoyed spending the two days with your family a lot. Your wife and child were most lovely during the whole two days. I hope to see you someday in the near future, maybe in our cherry-blossom season. With the warmest regards, Yoshie
“ Kyoto 1 day tour ”
Yoshi gave us a lovely guided tour of the Kyoto shrines. He planned the day very well and gave us a great deal of information about the culture and history of the spots we visited. We had lunch at a local restaurant and dinner at a restaurant at the Kyoto station before departing. It was a great day overall!
Hi David. I am sorry to have been late in answering your review. I was away from home for the past four days on a trip. Thank you so much for your heartwarming comment on my tour in Kyoto. I am pleased to learn that you enjoyed the tour and the meals in Kyoto a great deal. Next time you have another chance of visiting Kansai region, let me guide you more leisurely, please. With kind regards, Yoshie
“ Excellent guide! ”
It was a pleasure to be guided from Yoshi-san!He have a lot of knowlige about all the places we discoverd with his help.Yoshi-san is very friendly and helpful-had 2 very pleasent days with him! I had some personal problem(broken tooth)-Yoshi-san helpt finding a doctor and I solved the problem in a hour!-without dear Yoshi san ,never could resolve allone. Yoshi san,thank you a lot for your kindfulnes!
Hi Lavinia. It is a great pleasure to me to receive such a nice review for my two-day tour in Himeji and Kobe. I am also glad that your broken tooth was treated in so short a time at the dentist's. I am very pleased you were satisfied with each and every site you visited. I hope you will return home with lots of souvenirs and good memories during your stay in Japan. Be sure to get in touch next time you visit Kansai region, please. With best wishes. Yoshie
