Visit Japan: Kuromon, Dotombori

Jet lag had us wide awake before 7 a.m. With the city just starting to wake up, we figured there was only one proper way to kick off our first morning in Osaka.

7-Eleven.

If you know, you know.

We had spotted one just a block from our hotel, and the boys were more than ready. No lingering, no slow start—we threw on clothes and headed out right at 7 a.m., equal parts curious and hungry.

Walking into a Japanese 7-Eleven for the first time is an experience in itself. It’s not just a convenience store—it’s a full-on food destination. 

The boys immediately got to work, scanning every shelf like it was a treasure hunt. Each of us picked out a few things.

The Smoothie Machine caught the boys' eyes and it became their daily ritual.

Here’s how it works: you grab a frozen cup of fruit from the freezer section, pay for it at the register, then bring it over to the smoothie machine (usually right next to the coffee station). Pop it in, press a button, and in about a minute or two—you’ve got a fresh smoothie. 

The 7-11 pancake with maple syrup is one of my favorite snacks here, and I wonder why they can't offer this in Hawaii!

Here's our haul from our first visit. We didn't go all out because we knew we'd be coming back every morning.

Just after 8:00 AM, we decided to start walking toward the Kuromon Ichiba Market.

 

Kuromon is a foodie heaven. Stall after stall of wagyu beef sizzling on grills, fresh seafood laid out beautifully, sushi made to order, and fruit displays that look too perfect to be real.

One of the boys had his heart set on grilled king crab, so we found a stall with a seating area and grabbed a table. Crab, sushi, and the sounds of the market all around us—it was one of those moments where we felt like we had finally made it! The food was incredible, but just as memorable was watching it all come together right in front of us.

I also could not resist trying a stick of wagyu beef!

And the strawberries in Japan - sweet, juicy, and so much better than the ones we get at home.

Apparently these fried sweet potato chips are a thing in Osaka, and I got hooked on them!

Osaka is also known for takoyaki. I am not a fan, but we tried some anyways because that's what you're supposed to try in Osaka. 

After we were done with the market, we headed outside and wandered the streets towards Dotombori.  On the way we stumbled onto a line of people waiting for something—which, in Japan, is always a good sign. Naturally, I had to see what they were all waiting for.

First up: the famous 10 yen cheese coin—crispy on the outside, filled with molten cheese on the inside. Worth the wait.

Next door was Lord Stow's Bakery, and their fresh egg custard tarts were calling my name. Warm, flaky, creamy… I was in heaven.

From there, we made our way toward the Dotonbori River, where we spotted river cruise boats gliding through the canal.

We hopped on the quick 20-minute cruise down the canal, which was a nice way to see Dotonbori from a different perspective.  We passed a Mega Don Quijote and other iconic sights, including the famous Glico Running Man Sign.  

After a brief and very necessary nap back at the hotel, we headed out again—this time in search of dinner.

A quick Google Maps search led us to Tsukemen Suzume… and wow!!

This ended up being the best tsukemen we’ve ever had. Thick, chewy noodles paired with a rich dipping broth. One of those places you find by chance that ends up being a highlight of the entire trip.