Osaka Foods in Namba: Kuromon Market Tour & Takoyaki Making

Osaka is often referred to as Japan’s kitchen, but did you know that the city itself also has a so-called kitchen of its own?

That's precisely where this tour starts. Kuromon Market has over 170 shops selling all sorts of fresh foods, supplying the city’s many eateries and restaurants. You’ll see the market buzzing with energy from the morning: fishmongers selling their fresh catch, colorful stalls offering melt-in-your-mouth Kobe beef, and shops selling tea, snacks, sweets, and everything in between.

As you make your way through the bustling alley led by your guide, you’ll sample some of Kuromon’s fresh offerings, like oysters and seafood, tasting the flavors at the core of Osaka’s gastronomic allure.

After so much excitement, wind down as you visit a nearby temple with a unique Buddha statue. Legend has it that pouring water on the statue brings good luck, which has resulted in it becoming completely covered in moss. Here, your guide will show you how to light traditional incense sticks according to Buddhist etiquette and teach you Japanese Buddhist traditions.

Your next stop will be Osaka’s most photographed billboard, the Glico sign, where you can get a photo, too, before heading to your next and final stop.

Lastly, it’s time to feast on Osaka’s specialty food, takoyaki! And what better way than making it yourself? You will head to an eatery with a built-in takoyaki maker, where your guide will help you pour the batter and grill your octopus dumplings to perfection for an authentic Osaka experience.

Experience flow:

-Meet your guide in Namba

-Walk about 10 minutes to the Kuromon Market

-Enjoy a guided tour of the market, sampling fresh seafood, oysters, and more

-Visit a Buddhist temple nearby

-Take a photo in front of the Glico sign, one of Osaka’s most famous landmarks

-Make takoyaki dumplings with your guide (15 dumplings per guest)