Osaka Insider

Osaka beckons with frying okonomiyaki, punk rockers in basements, and jokes a little too naughty for Tokyo. But the Osaka most tourists experience is overrun with selfie sticks, two-hour lines for mediocre ramen, and crowds so thick you can barely walk. This book is your guide to an infinitely better and more authentic Osaka: insider Osaka. Osaka Insider is the honest, no-holds-barred guide that cuts through the noise. Forget the travel blogs and TikTok recommendations. Master back streets, local gems, and "Japan's Kitchen." You won't find affiliate links or bland descriptions -- just a passionate, opinionated, local-focused guide to the city's best-kept secrets.Eat Until You Drop (The Right Way): Ditch the restaurants with waving crab signs and discover life-changing ramen in a hidden basement, spectacular high-end sushi for a bargain price, and the best deep-fried kushikatsu in the retro-cool neighborhood of Shinsekai. Travel Smarter, Not Harder: Learn the single most important travel hack in Japan: shipping your luggage (seriously, just do it). Master the trains and subways with pro tips you won't find anywhere else, and understand the cultural etiquette that will make you look like a local, not a cringy tourist. Explore the Unseen City: Go beyond the Dotonbori tourist swarm to find hipster havens in Nakazakicho, uncover the deep history of Nishinari, and visit the surprisingly cool museums on Rose Island. Peek Behind the Curtain: Get a frank look at the Osaka other guides won't touch, from the wild spectacle of Japanese pro wrestling and the complex truth about Yakuza tattoos to an unflinching guide to the city's notorious red-light districts. This is your ticket to the real, vibrant, and deliciously gritty soul of Osaka. Leave the tourist trail behind and discover the city you've been missing.