Osaka is famous for Osaka-style okonomiyaki as well as takoyaki. We’ve taught you all about okonomiyaki before, including how to make it at home, and we’ve taken you with us octopus hunting in the Seto Inland Sea where we showed you not only how to catch an octopus, but how to turn its head inside out. So it’s only natural that we feel you are ready to advance your octopial knowledge by exploring what happens to the eight-legged creatures after the catch. Welcome to the wonderful world of takoyaki, battered octopus balls!
Takoyaki is to Osaka what monjayaki is to Tokyo. There’s even a Takoyaki Museum just outside of Universal Studios Japan on the Universal City Walk, with a collection of food stalls where visitors can taste varieties of the snack as well as see the implements used to make it. And since this is Japan, you can also buy numerous takoyaki-inspired souvenirs.
Let’s delve into the delectable world of takoyaki together, after the jump.
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Kyushu-exclusive Black Mont Blanc goes nationwide in a “Special” way
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
Daiso opens massive new 25,392-square foot Tokyo flagship store with its two sub-brands included
Masahiko Ozumi Paris in Osaka makes the comfiest desserts around
U.K. coffee brand Costa Coffee releases first ever matcha flavor with new Matcha Espresso Latte
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
New Studio Ghibli bedding sets are cool in all senses of the word
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
New Pokémon cakes let you eat your way through Pikachu and all the Eevee evolutions
There’s a park inside Japan where you can also see Japan inside the park
Japanese black curry “experiment” takes place at an unlikely restaurant branch in Tokyo
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Uniqlo opens its first Furugi Project secondhand clothing pop-up shop in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
Japan’s bone-breaking and record-breaking roller coaster is permanently shutting down
Toyota built a life-sized Miraidon Pokémon and are letting people test drive it this weekend
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird train
Kyoto bans tourists from geisha alleys in Gion, with fines for those who don’t follow rules
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
Domino’s Japan now sells…pizza ears?
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
We asked a Uniqlo employee what four things we should buy and their suggestions didn’t disappoint
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli’s new desktop Howl’s Moving Castle will take your stationery on an adventure
Kyushu-exclusive Black Mont Blanc goes nationwide in a “Special” way
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
Daiso opens massive new 25,392-square foot Tokyo flagship store with its two sub-brands included
Masahiko Ozumi Paris in Osaka makes the comfiest desserts around
U.K. coffee brand Costa Coffee releases first ever matcha flavor with new Matcha Espresso Latte
New book teaches Japanese people English to help out foreign travelers
We taste makunouchi bento at four Japanese convenience store chains【Taste comparison】
Starbucks releases a special sparkly tumbler in Japan to support diversity
Fried sandwiches arrive in Tokyo, become hot topic on social media
JR group offers all-you-can-ride passes for older couples in “Full Moon Couple Green Pass” deal
R2-D2 is ready to chill with your groceries as a cool talking Star Wars fridge droid 【Video】
7-Eleven now has make-it-yourself smoothies in Japan, and they’re amazing
What happens to Cup Noodle Mystery Meat when you cook it in a rice cooker?