If you're planning to hit up the Osaka Aquarium, this location is unbeatable - you're practically sleeping with the fish (well, not really, but you get the idea). Now, here's the funny thing about Osaka: despite being right next to Universal Studios Japan, it still takes about 40 minutes by train to get there. Classic big city shenanigans!

The room itself might be compact (welcome to Japan), but they make up for it with some cool features like a projector in one of the rooms. Big plus: Yamato delivery service will bring your bags right to the hotel and they'll be in your room waiting. The Tempozan area has some decent attractions - that massive Ferris wheel and the marketplace are right there. And while you're a few subway stops from Osaka's main attractions, you'll quickly learn that EVERYTHING in Osaka is a few subway stops away. This city is seriously huge!

Even if you try to skip Dotonbori, you'll end up here anyway - it's like Osaka's gravitational center! Those massive 3D restaurant signs are worth the visit alone. I mean, where else can you find a giant crab waving its claws at you while a puffer fish with light-up eyes watches from across the street?

The energy here is pure Osaka - loud, proud, and absolutely food-obsessed. Those neon lights reflecting off the canal create this electric atmosphere that makes you understand why this is on every "must-see Japan" list. Sure, it's touristy, but in the best possible way. This is where Osaka shows off its personality without holding back.

Come hungry and camera-ready. Half the fun is hunting down all those wild restaurant signs - the giant octopus, the moving crab, that famous Glico running man. And don't just photograph the food - eat it! This is where Osaka earned its nickname as Japan's kitchen.

Before I even set foot in Osaka, I knew I wanted to see that giant athlete with his arms raised in triumph. The Glico Running Man isn't just a billboard - it's been Osaka's victory pose since 1935, starting as an ad for caramel candy that supposedly gave you enough energy to run 300 meters. Now it's the spot where everyone strikes the same triumphant pose for photos.

What makes it special is how it's evolved beyond just being an advertisement. When Osaka's baseball team wins a big game or something major happens in the city, they update the sign to celebrate. It's become this perfect symbol of Osaka's spirit - a little bit commercial, a little bit silly, but totally iconic.

Zauo (Jumbo-Tsuribune Tsurikichi) puts a wild spin on the idea of fresh fish - you actually fish for your dinner from tanks built into the restaurant! They've got two spots in Osaka (one near Dotonbori, another in Shin-Sekai), and our family says it's a total blast, especially with kids.

The concept is genius: catch your own fish, then hand it over to the chefs who'll prepare it however you like - sashimi, grilled, tempura, you name it. When someone catches a fish, the staff beats drums and cheers, turning dinner into a celebration. Plus, the boats you sit in while fishing add another layer of fun to the whole experience.

Our family particularly recommends trying for the sea bream - apparently it's one of the easier fish to catch and tastes great prepared any style.

Here's a local's perspective on Kuromon Market based on our family's recommendation:

They call this "Osaka's Kitchen" for good reason - with about 150 shops under one covered stretch, it's where you'll find some of the freshest seafood and street food in the city. Our family says while Dotonbori gets all the tourist attention, this is where actual Osakans come to eat and shop.

What makes it special is how you can sample your way through Osaka's food culture - vendors grill fresh seafood right in front of you, serve up perfect takoyaki, or slice sashimi to order. Dating back to the Edo Period, it's maintained that traditional market atmosphere while adapting to serve ready-to-eat portions for visitors.

While it definitely gets crowded, our Osaka family says that's part of the experience. They recommend going hungry and ready to point at whatever looks good - many vendors are used to foreign visitors and make ordering easy. Just remember it's still a working market, so you'll need to watch out for local shoppers going about their business.

Even if you're on the fence about aquariums, Kaiyukan is pretty impressive - we're talking about one of Japan's best. Yes, it gets seriously crowded (like most popular spots in Japan), but there's a reason for that. The way they've designed it is clever - you start at the top and spiral down through different ocean habitats, with that massive central tank housing whale sharks!

Pro tip: Book your tickets online - this isn't the kind of place where you want to be standing in line with everyone else. The crowd situation can get intense, especially around the most popular exhibits, so having your tickets sorted in advance is crucial.

For anyone wrestling with the ethics of aquariums: while that's a personal decision, Kaiyukan does seem to put a lot of effort into education and conservation. Plus, its location in Tempozan Harbor Village means you can combine it with other activities (like that Santa Maria cruise we laughed about) to make a full day of it.

Had to laugh when we saw Osaka's Santa Maria - coming from Sevilla (home of the original ship), it's pretty wild seeing a replica cruising around Osaka Bay! Talk about worlds colliding - Christopher Columbus's flagship reborn as a tourist cruise in Japan.

While we didn't take the cruise (though it sounds fun, cruising past those massive bridges and getting Universal Studios views), just seeing the ship was a surreal moment. There's something delightfully quirky about Japanese tourists sailing around Osaka Bay in a replica of a Spanish ship that started its journey from our hometown.

Pro tip: For anyone not from Sevilla - yes, there's a certain irony in seeing a Japanese take on a Spanish ship that changed world history. But that's part of what makes Japan so fascinating - they'll take anything and make it uniquely their own!