City guide · Osaka · 5 min read

How to make friends in Osaka as a newcomer or visitor

Osaka is Japan's kitchen — loud, funny and built around eating together.

Top 3 things to do — and how to turn them into plans

1
Takoyaki in Dotonbori
Stand, eat, chat — Osaka's street food is social by design. On Sidecar, you can post exactly this as a plan — or join someone else's.
2
Shinsekai retro wander
Old-school arcades and kushikatsu under the Tsutenkaku tower. On Sidecar, you can post exactly this as a plan — or join someone else's.
3
Osaka Castle park picnic
The city's favourite weekend lawn. On Sidecar, you can post exactly this as a plan — or join someone else's.

Sidecar is for locals meeting locals, travellers meeting locals, and fellow travellers meeting each other. Friends only.

Takoyaki and okonomiyaki at a Dotonbori street stand are the natural first plan.

Covered shopping arcades, retro Shinsekai and tiny standing bars make easy group outings.

Comedy (manzai), baseball, karaoke and a huge vintage scene give every interest a home.

Sidecar shows small, platonic plans in Osaka in time order, each with a host introduction and a public meeting place. Join one, or post your own.