Hozenji Yokocho Alley: Osaka's Popular Drinking District
Osaka is known as Japan's second major city after Tokyo, often called "the nation's kitchen" and "the city of kuidaore" (eating until you drop). It has developed its unique food culture. Especially famous are the cheap and delicious takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu, which are highly popular among foreign tourists.
In the neighboring Hyogo Prefecture, there are many famous sake-producing regions such as Nada, Itami, and Ikeda, which naturally led to the development of drinking culture. As a result, Osaka has numerous establishments where you can enjoy gourmet food and various cuisines.
In this article, we'll focus on Hozenji Yokocho, one of Osaka's many izakaya districts that is particularly popular among foreigners, and introduce some local-recommended izakayas.
What is Hozenji Yokocho?
Hozenji Yokocho is an alley near Osaka's Dotonbori, known for its quiet atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Two 80-meter long, 3-meter wide alleys extend east and west in Hozenji Yokocho, lined with long-established Japanese restaurants and bars, making it a popular spot to experience old Japan.
The charming stone-paved streets are attractive, and at night, the lanterns are lit, creating a different atmosphere from daytime. Although it has a history of destruction due to World War II and fires, it has overcome these challenges. Its history continues to this day, loved as a town overflowing with human warmth.
The name Hozenji Yokocho comes from the "Hozenji" temple facing the alley
Source: Official website
The name Hozenji Yokocho comes from the "Hozenji" temple facing the alley. Particularly famous is the Nishi-muki Fudo Myoo, affectionately known as the "Mizukake Fudo" (water-splashing Fudo).
It's famous for granting wishes when water is splashed on it, and due to being constantly splashed with water, the Nishi-muki Fudo Myoo is beautifully covered in green moss.
The Mizukake Fudoson is known as a deity that grants any wish without discrimination. As a result, it's a popular spot in Osaka that's crowded with worshippers coming to splash water daily.
If you're troubled by something, try gently splashing water on the Mizukake Fudoson and make a wish. You never know, it might come true.
The official name of Hozenji is "Jodo Shu Tenryuzan Hozenji"
The official name of Hozenji is "Jodo Shu Tenryuzan Hozenji." Jodo Shu is one of Japan's native Buddhist sects, spread by a monk named Honen towards the end of the Heian period. Hozenji is a temple associated with this Jodo Shu.
Initially built in Uji, Kyoto in the 1620s, it was relocated to Namba around 1637, shortly after its construction, and remains there to this day.
Hozenji Yokocho is lined with long-established Japanese restaurants, bars, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu shops
Hozenji Yokocho is a street lined with Japanese restaurants, bars, okonomiyaki shops, and kushikatsu shops. It's said to have about 60 establishments and is loved by gourmet enthusiasts nationwide for its ability to taste Osaka's representative long-established gourmet foods.
From small shops with only counter seats to famous restaurants selected by the Michelin Guide, Hozenji Yokocho gathers many unique establishments. The charm of Hozenji Yokocho also lies in the many hidden gem restaurants favored by Japanese celebrities, with many shops highly trusted by food connoisseurs.
If you are interested in Drinking Alleys, check the article below! I summarized how and where you can enjoy Drinking Districts as much as possible.
5 Izakayas in Hozenji Yokocho Perfect for Bar Hopping, Even for Foreigners
Hozenji Yokocho Yakizen
Source: Official website
Hozenji Yokocho Yakizen is famous as one of the most popular okonomiyaki shops among the many in Hozenji Yokocho. It's a cozy atmosphere shop, delicious and affordable, so many foreign tourists visit.
The recommended dish is the "Yokocho-yaki," a unique okonomiyaki with a soft texture that brings out more umami as you eat. They use an original sauce with a fruit-like sweetness and reduced acidity. Its simple taste has captivated many people.
Besides Yokocho-yaki, they also offer modan-yaki (okonomiyaki with yakisoba noodles) and yakisoba. It's an ideal shop for short stays, making it perfect for bar hopping.
Address: 1-1-18 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Business hours: Weekdays 11:30-15:00, 17:00-22:30; Weekends and holidays 11:30-22:30
Closed: Wednesdays
Phone: 06-6211-7289
Official website: https://yakizen.jp/
Ganso Kushikatsu Daruma Hozenji Branch
Source: 4 Travel
Ganso Kushikatsu Daruma Hozenji Branch is a shop where you can taste Osaka's specialty kushikatsu and is recommended for bar hopping as you can casually enjoy drinks. With 16 branches in Osaka and Kyoto, it boasts high recognition as a representative kushikatsu izakaya in Osaka.
Kushikatsu offers a variety beyond meat, including seafood and vegetables, so you won't get bored even if you eat for a long time. Especially recommended is the Osaka specialty "doteyaki," which is beef tendon and konjac simmered in two types of miso sauce.
Doteyaki, beef skewer, and onion skewer are the menu items I always order, and I believe there's no point in going to Daruma without ordering these. If you want to fully enjoy delicious kushikatsu, this is a must-visit shop.
Address: 1-1-4 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Business hours: 11:30-22:30
Closed: None
Phone: 06-6211-8112
Official website: https://www.kushikatu-daruma.com/
Okazu Izakaya Kuu
Source: Yahoo! Maps
Okazu Izakaya Kuu, located in the heart of Hozenji Yokocho, is a small shop run by a couple. It's ideal for bar hopping, with a wide variety of local sake and shochu prepared.
The dishes use fresh ingredients sourced from Kuromon Market, and all dishes are delicious at reasonable prices. The interior features stylish counter seats with chairs made of walnut wood, creating a relaxed atmosphere that makes you want to linger.
While many restaurants in Hozenji Yokocho are known for their high prices, this one offers affordable dishes, making it easy to visit casually.
Address: 2F Nakaya Building, 1-7-8 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Business hours: 17:30-23:00
Closed: Thursdays
Phone: 06-6226-7219
Hozenji Yokocho Robata-yaki Mizukake Chaya
Source: Tabelog
Hozenji Yokocho Robata Mizukake Chaya is a relaxed atmosphere izakaya in Hozenji Yokocho. It's a hidden gem known to few, with counter seats, private rooms, and horigotatsu-style seating (with holes under the table for legs) inside.
The recommended dish at Mizukake Chaya is robata-yaki, a Japanese-style barbecue offering grilled seafood and meat dishes. You can enjoy various dishes including seafood, meat, and vegetables. The prices are affordable, with dishes available from 300 yen, making it easy to visit regularly.
While you can be seated without a reservation if there's space, it's expected to be crowded on weekends. It's recommended to make a phone reservation in advance.
Address: 1-1-20 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Business hours: 16:00-23:00
Closed: New Year's holidays
Phone: 06-6282-7290
Hozenji Yokocho Wasabi
Source: Official website
Hozenji Yokocho Wasabi, located near Hozenji, is a small kushiage restaurant with only 9 counter seats. It's a place where you can relax and enjoy a pleasant time, unwinding from the day's fatigue and leisurely enjoying drinks.
The oil used for kushiage is vegetable oil, and they offer seasonal vegetables, so you can taste the most delicious vegetables of each season, which is an attractive point.
The recommended course includes a chef's choice of more than 25 seasonal ingredients from mountains and seas daily. The kushiage is fried according to the timing of eating, so it's always crispy.
There's also a rich drink menu, making it recommended for bar hopping. However, it gets fully booked quickly, so make a reservation in advance if you plan to visit.
Address: Osaka City
Business hours: 17:00-21:30
Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays
Phone: 06-6212-6666
Official website: http://www.hozenji-wasabi.jp/
Access to Hozenji Yokocho
Hozenji Yokocho, known for its quiet atmosphere, is located near Dotonbori, Osaka's premier tourist attraction, making it conveniently accessible.
From Namba Station on the subway, it's a 5-minute walk. After exiting the subway ticket gates, go out to the ground level from exit B16 or B18, and walk straight down the street called Heinosukisuji right in front of you. When you see Kushikatsu Daruma Namba Main Store on your left, Hozenji Yokocho is on the opposite side.
From Nankai Electric Railway's Namba Station to Hozenji Yokocho is an 8-minute walk. The station and Hozenji Yokocho are connected by an underground shopping street called Namba Walk, allowing comfortable movement even on rainy days.
If you are interested in Izakayas in Osaka, check the article below! I summarized Izakayas in Osaka I recommend and how I felt each Izakaya.
3 Recommended Bar Hopping Tours to Enjoy Hozenji Yokocho with Locals
Osaka Kickstart: Hotspots & Hidden Gems Tours (Private or Group)
Source: Viator
This is a private tour that covers Osaka's representative tourist spots. Not only can you visit popular spots, but you can also visit hidden restaurants that few tourists visit, making you feel like you've become a resident of Osaka.
The tour includes a visit to Osaka Castle, allowing you to learn about Osaka's history in an enjoyable way. Local guides will also share behind-the-scenes stories and history of Osaka, making you knowledgeable about the city. Group tours are also available, and the duration can be freely chosen from a minimum of 3 hours to 7 hours.
The guides kindly explain the charms of Osaka that you can't discover on your own, so be sure to use this tour when you visit Osaka.
Note that the tour fee does not include attraction admission fees, transportation costs such as trains, or meal expenses.
Meeting point: Eco Station 21 Sennichimae-dori Bicycle Parking Lot G
Tour area: Hozenji, Shinsekai, America-mura, Osaka Castle, Shitennoji Temple, Abeno Harukas, Kuromon Market
Start time: From 10:00 AM
Price: From 6,800 yen
Osaka Bar Hopping Night Tour in Namba
This tour allows you to go bar hopping with a friendly guide who is fluent in language and knowledgeable about Osaka, visiting the best places you must visit when you go to Osaka Namba.
On this tour, you'll visit Namba's night spots where numerous bars and izakayas line up, enjoying delicious local food and drinks. The basic flow is to visit three guide-recommended bars and taste recommended dishes and drinks at each place.
You'll also walk through Hozenji Yokocho, lined with Japanese izakayas, and take commemorative photos with tour participants in Dotonbori, known as Osaka's premier entertainment district. The tour is held in small groups, allowing you to interact enjoyably with other participants while getting slightly tipsy.
Thanks to participating in this tour, I was able to have friendly conversations with people from countries I rarely meet, which was very satisfying.
Meeting Point: Osaka Metro Namba Station Exit 15B
Tour area: Hozenji Yokocho, Ura Namba, Dotonbori
Start time: 18:00, 19:00
Price: 106.93 USD
Osaka Private Night Tour: Dōtonbori & Ura Namba, 4 Hours With A Local
Source: Tripadvisor
This is a 4-hour private tour exploring the dining districts of Dotonbori and Ura Namba with a local guide. It's recommended for first-time visitors to Osaka, with knowledgeable local guides introducing you to the best nightlife spots in Dotonbori and Ura Namba.
Dotonbori and Ura Namba have many affordable izakayas with great atmospheres, making them perfect for those who want to go bar hopping in Osaka.
By informing the guide of your preferences and desired places in advance, they can customize the tour to suit you. They can also pick you up at your hotel, but the meeting place can be adjusted according to your wishes.
You can enjoy bar hopping at famous restaurants known only to locals and not found in guidebooks, so be sure to use this tour when visiting Osaka.
Meeting Point: 2-2-17 Namba-naka, Naniwa-ku, Osaka City, DAISO
Tour area: Dotonbori, Ura Namba
Start time: 17:00, 17:30, 18:00
Price: 138.84 USD
If you are interested in Night Tours in Osaka, check the article below! I summarized Night Tours I recommend and how I felt each Night Tours.
There are many other izakaya districts in Osaka besides Hozenji Yokocho where you can enjoy a local atmosphere
Temma
Source: Osaka Metro NiNE
Temma, one stop from Osaka Station by train, is a town with many cheap and delicious izakayas, recommended for those who want to go bar hopping casually. Temma has many "standing izakayas" where you can enjoy drinks and food while standing, allowing you to enjoy meals without reservations.
It's also famous for having many sushi restaurants where you can enjoy fresh, voluminous sushi at affordable prices. Temma is recommended for "choi-nomi" (short drinking sessions) with many shops suitable for slowly comparing different drinks.
Ura Namba
Ura Namba refers to the dining district in the Sennichimae area between Namba, known as Osaka Minami's entertainment district, and Nipponbashi, famous as an electronics town. Various restaurants, large and small, are lined up there, with nearly hundreds of shops competing fiercely.
The shops range from high-end restaurants to bars and standing izakayas, all easily accessible when you want to have a quick drink around Namba. There are so many shops that even I always have trouble deciding due to having too many favorite places.
Given that it's such a competitive area, the quality of taste at every shop is top-notch. When you visit Namba, be sure to check out Ura Namba.
Nishinari
Source: Rakuten Gnavi
Nishinari, known as one of Osaka's representative deep areas, is a town with many cheap and delicious izakayas. While it used to be a town with many day laborers and homeless people, creating a poor atmosphere, it has now changed into a town with many foreign tourists as cheap hotels have been opening one after another.
Nishinari is ideal for bar hopping as it offers affordable prices, mainly for kushikatsu and horumon. The izakaya staff and regular customers are all friendly people, making Nishinari a recommended town if you want to experience Osaka's unique human touch.
If you are interested in Drinking Alleys, check the article below! I summarized how and where you can enjoy Drinking Districts as much as possible.