If you want to eat delicious food, go to Osaka.

Youth is about traveling, exploring, and freely doing what you love. Just like us – a group of travel enthusiasts – we chose Osaka as one of our destinations when we came to Japan.

The Japanese word for Osaka is composed of the character 大 (dai), meaning large, and the character 坂 (fan), meaning slope, together forming a large slope. However, interestingly, the city of Osaka has an almost entirely flat terrain, covering an area of ​​222 square kilometers.²and home to 2.6 million people.

Known as the most livable city in Japan, Osaka offers visitors a unique blend of traditional and modern culture.

Before embarking on a culinary exploration of the bustling Dotonbori street, don't forget to take a photo with the Glico Man sign. This sign, featuring a man in a running pose, was erected in 1935 to promote the Glico food company.

True to its reputation as Osaka's busiest street – the world's kitchen – Dotonbori is lined with unique and distinctive restaurants and eateries. It's not difficult for visitors to spot signs featuring a giant cow, a whole octopus, or a colossal crab claw.

No need for fancy advertising, these signs speak for themselves: "Here we sell all the best beef, octopus, and crab dishes." And of course, the food here is absolutely flawless, from street vendors to restaurants, from presentation to taste. We still had to queue a bit because of the large number of customers, but the wait time was less than the duration of a song.

The fragrant, sweet grilled king crab claws, the chewy takoyaki (octopus balls), and gyoza (dumplings) are all dishes that tourists absolutely shouldn't miss. In addition, sukiyaki hot pot, eel rice, cheese crab claws, grilled fish, yakitori chicken skewers, and ice cream are all worth trying.

Walking down this street, you'll not only satisfy your hunger but also feast your eyes on the sights. There are many interesting cosplay performances along the way. The drumming performance with a bucket by a talented young Japanese man attracted the attention of many tourists; we all enjoyed watching him live his passion, and exclaimed, "This is what youth is all about!"

Students from distant provinces also come to Osaka, to Dontobori, to live life to the fullest in their youth. It was a trip filled with many blessings: delicious food, a full stomach, and hearts that felt a decade younger.

Furthermore, Osaka is also known as a shopping city. Visitors don't need to worry about not knowing what to buy, because besides the food on Dotonbori Street, just a few steps further will take you to Shinsaibashi Street, which is full of shops selling everything from clothes, shoes, jewelry, and pharmacies. We were almost completely captivated by the secondhand shops and stores of chains like Zara and Uniqlo.

Osaka truly is a colorful piece in our Japanese experience. Visiting Osaka means enjoying delicious food, stylish clothes, and affordable prices.

If you ever visit Japan, please don't forget to make a point of visiting Osaka.

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

To Trinh