The guide is Uranamba’s one of the tricksters, Mr. Hossy.
Mr. Hoshimoto (a.k.a. Hossy), one of the people behind “Uranamba” and owner of the famous restautrant “Teppan Yaro”. We asked Hossy, who has known this town since its early days, to teach us how to play around in Uranamba! “Ok, I only know how to play in my own way.” He immediately agreed. So, we went around Uranamba with Hossy and asked him to teach me how to master this area.
You should enjoy it on the ladder.
Uranamba is the hottest and most exciting drinking spot in Osaka right now, with its rows and rows of small, privately owned restaurants. The common practice in this town is to go on a “hashigo” (drink at several establishments). Hossy, who is a familiar face with many of the neighborhood’s establishments, says, “At least, two or three places. There are so many different places to go, it would be a waste to go to just one. The fun of Uranamba is to visit several times and create your own personal route. It is a town where you can find different ways to have fun, whether families, couples, or solo drinkers. It seems that one night is not enough to get to know Uranamba…
Let’s start with “Osusume”
Uranamba is cheap, delicious, and offers a wide variety of dishes. For that reason, “Osusume” (recommended dishes) are the restaurant’s signature, and a must-order. Hossy says that after the second visit, when you have had your fill, you can order a “Lighter Osusume” and they will prepare a dish that you can enjoy quickly. On the other hand, if you want a hearty meal, you can order a “Heavier Osusume” dish! This flexible service, which cannot be found at chain restaurants, can be found only at Uranamba.
The magic words, “Have a drink.”
Uranamba is a place where regulars enjoy themselves every night. When you visit for the first time, you may feel a little hesitant to join the crowd. In such a case, Hossy recommends the magic words, “Have a drink!”. If you offer the owner a drink in exchange for a tip, you will be in a toast mode at once! Hossy also says, “The staff don’t know if it’s okay to talk to you, so this phrase makes easy to talk to you”. Of course, even if you get to know the staff and customers well, treat with kindness and respects for everyone!
Stickers to help you choose the good store.
“For some reason, many stores in Uranamba make stickers”, Hossy told us. “Look, they’re all over the walls of the stores. Here are stickers of stores in the area. They are cool”. Indeed, there are stickers all over the place, each full of playful ideas that symbolize the unique stores in Uranamba. According to Hossy, “If you see a sticker that catches your eye, it might be a good idea to go to that place. This is another way of doing things in Uranamba, and even the walls of the stores require your attention.
Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka
2-7-5 Nippombashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 542-0073, Japan
