We get things started with a quick jaunt through an old school shōtengai (shopping street) to see some of the "old" before hitting the neon lights of Shinsekai. Learn about local mascots with a drink in hand to warm us up before the back alleys really start.
This is the reason you booked this tour. Nishinari is known for many things, and we're gonna go have a look. Abandoned house, dark alleyways and karaoke bars are the norm here. Expect the Unexpected.
Welcome to Aki's BBQ spot! A locally owned and operated spot where we finish every one of our back alley tours. Deliciously smoked meat and cheap drinks to finish the night off with a smile.
Kevin and Scotty were absolute gems to join for the evening. Extremely informative and personable. I ended up wanting to switch experiences at the last minute and Namba food tours was able to hook me up with the feast i wanted.
This tour with Tommy was brilliant. We got an insight into the 18+ side of Osaka/Japan, things you’ll only learn with the high level of respect and compassion from someone who lives here. If you like to get to know a place beyond the basics and to delve a bit deeper, this is the tour for you. We finished the tour at Aki’s BBQ Bar, which is DELICIOUS. The chef, Aki, used to work in a 2 star Michelin restaurant and now heads up the BBQ here making everything from scratch. A great place to wind down and end the evening. Worth every penny. Book it, you won’t regret it!
Phenomenal!!!!!! What an amazing way to see the back side of the city and the food was amazing!!! Our guide Thomi was a bilingual genius, we had lots of fun on the tour. Thank you we will be back asap and referring you on to family and friends!!!
Tomie the guide was very fun to talk to, At the beginning he took us to tourist familiar areas, and later to unfamiliar areas that were very interesting to talk about Including a hidden shrine, the red light district and other areas that are less walked by tourists. At the end the BBQ resturaunt was very delicious and the guide was very nice.
Excellent guide. Great food. Great fun. Couldnt recommend more
Very informative and interesting
Such a wonderful experience! Tommy ensured we all explored the areas safely with a tonne of info as well!
amazing tour. thomas is so friendly and funny it really makes it feel like a friend experience rather then an organised tour
Was great! Enjoyed walking around and listening to the history of the not-so known destinations.
Such a great experience going to and learning about areas we wouldn’t normally have gone on.
So good would recommend everyone to do this one!!! Super nice vibes so fun and chill the guide is the best and the food is just as good YUM
Such an amazing experience full of interesting culture!!
Really incredible experience! Had a fantastic time on this tour with a group from Contiki. Kevin was an awesome guide! Super friendly, funny, and full of local knowledge. The food was great, the atmosphere was fun, and we got to see parts of Osaka we never would have found ourselves. Highly recommend this tour, especially if you're a young traveller looking for a memorable night out! But they most certainly can accommodate for any traveler.
The tour was amazing. Honestly the best add on
Kevin has amazing charisma and is a blast to be around. One of the best contiki add ons
Thomi is the man!! I did the back alleys tour with my partner and our 1 year old baby and we really enjoyed it, if you’re looking for something different in Osaka this is the one. I really liked the fact that a big part of the tour was away from the crowd and you have the chance to have an interesting conversation with Thomi and learn about the local culture. Of course the last but not least, the food was absolutely delicious!!! 1000% recommended!
Incredible. Best tour of my life.
Very worthwhile tour with amazing tour guides. Thomi and Kevin are amazing and have seemingly unending knowledge of Osaka. They took us to places we would have never seen without going on the tour. Big up Surrey!
Took the tour after a few visits to Osaka. Learned and saw things I had no idea existed in Japan. Totally worth it. Kevin was knowledgeable and hilarious!
Tommy is the best tourguide - funny, curious, full of interesting facts & enthusiasm. His love for the local culture is infectious. Would highly recommend anyone in Osaka to go on one of his tours. We even went on two ☺️. Guaranteed 10/10
Fantastic experience with Thomi! Very fun, and the food was great! Highly recommend.
Highly recommend this tour showing aspects of Osaka and Japanese life that we wouldn't otherwise have seen. We found Tommy to be an engaging and informative guide. Really good company and great energy. Our afternoon and evening in Osaka with Tommy was a highlight of our trip.
We found this tour fascinating. Walking the streets of Osaka at night and seeing a contrasting side to the disciplined, controlled Japan. Super interesting and Tommy was an excellent guide. So interesting and knowledgeable and happy to answer our endless questions. We had spent the afternoon with Tommy on the day tour and then this tour during the evening. It was the perfect was to spend a short stay in Osaka. Highly recommend.
The tourist started with us meeting up at a convenience store and grabbing some beers before we went on our voyage. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable, charismatic and very down to earth. He took us through the city. Showed us a side of Osaka, I feel most tourist would never get to see. He made us feel safe, comfortable and at ease while we wandered the streets of Osaka at night. He showed us local places to eat and drink. The tour was fun, playful; stopping at locations and learning things about the area. That, in my eyes were amazing cultural gems. All around one of the greatest experiences of my Japan trip.
We added this back alley tour on after a food tour. This was eye-opening to learn all about the homeless situation in Japan, and hear about what life is like outside of the major city area and see how people live. Tommy spoke earnestly about life in Nishinari and showed us around the area that he used to live in. The BBQ dinner at the end was absolutely amazing!
It was the most enjoyable lecture ever. Tommy is very lovely and friendly, and he has a deep understanding of Japanese culture. Thank you for opening up a whole new world for us. I’m really happy to have met you. 😊
This was my second time visiting Osaka, but this trip truly felt like the first time I really experienced the city. Joining this tour was the best decision because I wanted to understand the local culture and explore places where real residents actually live. The tour was incredibly exciting from the very beginning. Tommy explained everything in such an easy and engaging way, and it honestly felt like walking around with a local friend who knows the area and its people so well. I especially loved hearing the stories about the red-light district and the abandoned houses, they were fascinating. And the barbecue at the end was the perfect highlight and a wonderful way to finish the tour. Highly recommended!
Namba Food Tours is an absolute must-do in Osaka. The guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and took us to incredible local spots we never would have found on our own. The food was amazing and the tour gave great insight into Osaka’s culture and nightlife. Highly recommend for anyone wanting an authentic food experience.
Had a great time checking out the mean streets of Nishinari with Tommy our guide . We had an amazing exploring the side streets and alleys. Seeing the abandoned houses and randomly placed vending machines . The best part was the All You Can Eat BBQ to top off the evening . Highly recommended. Thank you Namba Food Tours !
As an outsider travelling in a foreign culture, I always seek out opportunities to look beyond the veil. This tour didn’t disappoint. If you like a purely raw taste of Japanese life, just do it. It’s a fascinating look “behind the scenes” into one that is real, unadulterated and one that seems so necessary when you live a life that follows the rules all the time. Tommy is as local and Osakan as an Aussie can get. He has curated a wonderful look behind the scenes of a part of a fascinating adults only cultural experience. It’s a part of the real Japan that some never get to experience. Treat yourself to a vending machine whiskey soda and take the stroll to the other side of the road to understand more about the real Japan. Enjoy the journey.
I recently joined a back alley tour in Osaka, initially signing up with low expectations just to find something to do. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the experience! The tour theme was fascinating, and we explored numerous aspects of Japanese culture that I had often pondered. The highlight of the tour was our guide, Kevin. He approached the heavier topics with remarkable sensitivity and respect, making our discussions not only informative but also thoughtful. To top it all off, we ended the tour with a fantastic BBQ, which was a delightful conclusion to a memorable experience!
I wanted to see a different side of Japan and I found this tour randomly and decided to check it out. Kevin knows his stuff! We saw loads of cool things and even a few things I can't write on here!!
I’ve been to Osaka a bunch of times before, so I thought I’d seen it all. But man, was I wrong! This time, I wanted to skip the tourist traps and dive into the "real" Osaka—the kind of stuff only the locals know about. That’s why I hit up Tommy, and let me tell you, he delivered! Tommy took me to these deep, local spots that I never would’ve found on my own. It felt like I finally got a glimpse of the city’s true soul. The vibes were authentic, the people were legendary, and for the first time, I felt like a local rather than just another tourist with a camera. If you want to experience the real deal, Tommy is your guy. Seriously, I can't recommend him enough. Thanks for the unforgettable memories, man! I'll be back for sure.
Discovered a whole new side of Japan in Nishinari! It’s an interesting place, definitely not what we expected. Huge thanks to our amazing guide for making it the absolute best part of our trip! If you want to see a side of Japan you can't find elsewhere, this is it.
I never expected to learn so much about the deep side of Osaka! Thanks to Tommy’s thoughtful and fun guiding, I had an amazing time. Above all, he has such a great personality—it felt like being shown around by a friend, which made the experience even more enjoyable. I’d definitely love to book again if I have the chance!
Truly such a great experience! I have gone back twice since taking friends and family because of how great the tour and tour guide is. One my biggest recommendations when going to Osaka!
Great tour! Was cool seeing the other side of Osaka. Learnt about the mafia and a cheeky duck through the red light district. Tommy is a legend! Had a frothy one in hand the whole time. BBQ AT THE END WAS LEGIT. Thanks again Tommy!!
WOW,,, what an experience. Full marks to our local guide Tommy. Great guy from Oz, who also speaks Japanese and know everyone and everything in the area. Highly recommended for his knowledge, the food and the entire experience. Looking forward to trying out the other tours that Tommy offers.... Thank you
Tommy is a wonderful guide who explains things clearly but without unnecessary ornaments, showing you really how things are. It is very well understood even for those for whom English is not their mother tongue, so the tour becomes affordable even if you do not master the language. We start with a drink in hand, promising a different experience than usual on this type of tour, and from the first moment they explain that you will see the most sordid and darkest part of Japan. They take you through the Nishinari neighborhood, stopping at different points of interest and talking about the why of things, making it really worthwhile. Despite everything, we feel safe at all times thanks to the guides and their way of telling things. Finally a delicious dinner allows us to talk more with them, asking for those details or curiosities that have been emerging, and knowing what life is like here. In general, an experience that is worthwhile and that you will not be told elsewhere.
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