Glico Man

The Glico Man sign is one of the most famous landmarks in Osaka. If you’re familiar with the chocolate covered sticks called Pocky, then you might know that Glico is the manufacturer. Glico also makes other popular products such as Bisco, Pretz, Caplico, even ice cream products and curry roux.

So, why was a running man chosen to be the mascot for Osaka? In the 1920s, Glico’s founder Riichi Ezaki figured out that oysters contain glycogen. He went on to use this ingredient in his confectionary treats, hence the company name Glico. The very first product was a heart shaped caramel that was sold in a red box, with the famous slogan “300 Meters on a Single Piece.” The famous signboard depicts a running man because one little caramel heart could give a person enough energy to run 300 meters!

It’s an unspoken rule that you must take a photo with the Glico Man when you’re in Osaka. You have to do his signature pose for the photo, too! Since I stayed in the Dotonbori area during my trip, I saw a bunch of people posing with the sign every time I passed it. I, for one, thought the pose was a bit awkward so I opted for something a little different.

Ebisu Bridge

There are 9 bridges that span across Dotonbori River, but Ebisu bridge is special. This bridge in particular connects the major shopping streets and it offers the best view of the Glico Man. Ebisu bridge had its name changed many times over the years, which makes for interesting history. In the 1920s, it was called the “puppet show bridge,” because there was a popular puppet theater at the end of the street. In the 1860s, the name was changed again because Ebisu was a derogatory term for foreigners during that time period. However, the new name didn’t stick. The bridge was given back its original name only 3 years later. Today, the bridge has a handful of different names. Sometimes, people will refer to the bridge by the name Nampa-Bashi, which means its a place for young people to meet and flirt. Most locals will call it Hikkake-Bashi, which literally means “pick up bridge.”

Occasionally, when people in Osaka are celebrating something huge, some brave souls jump off the bridge into the river. This is known as the “Dotonbori Dive.” This leads into the interesting folklore that surrounds Ebisu Bridge. In the 1980s, the Hanshin Tigers had won a baseball game in the Japan Series. To celebrate this win, many Tigers fans jumped off the bridge and into the Dotonbori river. The fans also stole a Colonel Sanders (yes, the KFC mascot) statue and threw it into the river. They did this for Randy Bass, who was an American on the team. After this event happened, the Tigers went on to have an 18 year losing streak, which is known as the “Curse of the Colonel.” Ever since I heard this story, I can’t buy KFC without thinking about the curse. It’s a really funny story and I love having the opportunity to share it with others!

Today, Ebisu bridge is a popular tourist destination. It offers great views on both sides, especially at night when everything is glowing with neon. Zach and I stopped here at least once a day to appreciate the unique city view. There are also boat tours visitors can go on that take them under all of the 9 bridges. You can see Ebisu Bridge in the photos below.

Don Quijote

Don Quijote is Japan’s largest discount store and is commonly referred to as Donki. This store sells anything and everything and is pretty recognizable due to the mascot being a penguin in a Santa hat. There are about 160 stores in Japan and 3 in Hawaii. It’s quite overwhelming first walking in since everything is tightly packed together and there are usually multiple floors. It’s sensory overload, but those who are a big fan of Japanese products will think this place is heaven. Of course, there are numerous stores in Osaka, but the one in Dotonbori is a tourist attraction because there’s a huge ferris wheel attached to it. Zach and I decided to ride it so we could see more of the city. We thought it was worth it, especially since they give a discount on anything in the store after the ride.

Eat Till You Drop!

A popular phrase in Osaka is “Eat Till You Drop!” However, it doesn’t mean what you think it means. The phrase is actually saying eat until you go into debt. There’s a multitude of different foods lining Dotonbori street, such as gyoza, deep fried meat and veggie skewers, grilled mochi, sushi, ramen, udon, and a ton more. As I’ve mentioned before, takoyaki is the most loved in Osaka and it’s considered to be soul food. There are so many takoyaki shops lining Dotonbori street where customers can watch it being made right in front of them. Since this is street food, there are usually no seating areas. I saw big groups of people standing and eating takoyaki in front of the food stalls along the street. Takoyaki can also be eaten at restaurants, where there’s more variety. The usual dish is a dough ball with octopus in it, but there can be different toppings and sauces, too. I ate some takoyaki topped with cheese and it was absolutely delicious!

Another extremely well known dish in Osaka is okonomiyaki. This is a savory pancake, and the possibilities for this dish are endless. Cabbage is used as the base, and then other ingredients can be added. This dish is always topped with sauce and mayo as well. Seafood, cheese, meat, veggies, or anything else make for a good savory pancake. It’s fun to mix and match, and it’s simple to make. The ingredients are all mixed together with a flour based batter then put on a grill. There’s even restaurants where guests can sit down and make their own.

Osaka is a haven for foodies and for those who want to embrace Japanese food culture. This is one of the reasons why I love Osaka so much because the biggest attraction here is eating. I’m a huge foodie and I love finding new food to try when I travel. The options are endless in Osaka!