The Most Unusual Things to See and Do in Osaka

This might seem a bit out of place in this guide, but the Liberty Osaka Human Rights Museum is the first and only human rights museum in Japan. Come explore another side of Japanese history and learn about the various minority groups in Japan, like the Northern Japanese Ainu and the Ryukyu people of Okinawa. The museum teaches about issues the LGBTQ community have faced in Japan as wellas the stigma atomic bomb survivors dealt with after WWII. While this isn’t pop culture Japan, the Osaka Human Rights Museum explores social issues and goes a little deeper into the complex culture of Japan.

When in Osaka, don’t pass up the opportunity to see Bunraku, the traditional puppet theatre of Japan. Osaka has been the home of Bunraku theatre for hundreds of years and theNational Bunraku Theater is one of the last places left to see this type of artistry. During each performance, there is a narrator chanting the story while a musician plays the shamisen in the background. The puppets are masterfully made and rather large, requiring three people to control one puppet. At the National Bunraku Theater, headphones can be borrowed to listen to the story translated into English, necessary to better understand the plot. This translation service comes highly recommended as the Japanese used is considered old-fashioned and difficult to understand even for native Japanese speakers.

Do you know how to make instant ramen? No? Then head to the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum to learn all about the history of instant ramen, a staple of every college student’s diet. You’ll even have a chance to create and bring home a customized noodle creation. For 300 yen, walk into the cup noodle factory and make your very own personalized cup noodle by choosing the flavours and toppings, and then decorating the outside of the cup. For 500 yen, make a reservation ahead of time to learn how to create instant ramen noodles from scratch. Walk by the wall of ramen to see every flavour ever created and learn the history of how Momofuku Ando invented ramen in a small shack in Ikeda, Japan.

You may have heard of cat cafes and maybe even owl cafes, but did you know about reptile cafes? Close to Namba station isReptile Cafe Rock Star, a name that feels fitting for a cafe dedicated to creepy crawlies. Iguanas, snakes, tarantulas, and other small creatures are just waiting to be picked up and admired. There is a one drink minimum and all first-time customers pay a 1000 yen entrance fee (incentive to come back!) Feeling peckish while you handle that chameleon? They have a small food menu with normal food items like pasta and french toast and then they have alligator claws. See how adventurous you really are at Rock Star.

In a town known for being a little odd, Kinguu is one of the strangest bars in the city. This Victorian horror-themed bar is sure to delight fans of the macabre and bizarre. Kinguu is one of the only places, maybe the only place, to get real mead and absinthe in Japan and both are absolutely perfect to drink in a bar that feels like a retro horror movie. This small bar is dark and crowded with taxidermied animals, including an actual camel. The owner dresses like the Crow and is incredibly kind and speaks English very well. Anyone in search of a unique drinking experience will not want to miss a night at Kinguu.