Osaka Off-The-Beaten Track Walking Tour

Below is the Grand Plan, with times for both the morning tour and afternoon tour:

(8:30am or 1:30pm) Start the tour at Tanimachi 4-Chome Station (subway), from which it is a short walk to Osaka Castle Park. Here you 'll painlessly learn about Osaka history, both the Castle and otherwise. You'll also take in some nice views and be able to immerse yourself in nature.

(9:30am or 2:30pm) Then it 's off to Osaka's famous Koreatown, which is actually fairly Japanese at this point, but more importantly a vibrant slice of old Japan. With its narrow pedestrian streets, old architectural wonders, spirited shopkeepers, and tempting foods, it's sure to be memorable.

(10:30am or 3:30pm) A quick ride on the JR Loop Line brings the tour to Tennoji, where you 'll see what is currently Osaka's tallest building (but not tallest tower), a bustling, modern shopping district, and locals going about their business. A 10-minute stroll through another lovely park brings the tour to Shin-Sekai, which was a roaring entertainment district in the 1920s but later hit bottom, only to (mostly) rise from the ashes into the spectacle it is today. Gaze all you like. The locals don't mind.

(11:30am or 4:30pm) After a short subway ride, walk through Shinsaibashi with its shops and interesting side streets, catch the famous "running man" scene at Dotombori, then end in the even deeper Namba area, in the cooking supplies district (more interesting than it sounds!), near manga heaven. The tour ends at Namba Station at 12:30pm (or 5:30pm for the PM tour).

This tour is not a chore nor a bore, and it is not confined to the tourist trail. The tour talks about history and culture, but not oppressively. Lots to see, tedium-free, so sign up today!