Atsuta Houraiken Main Store | Review by wendy

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Atsuta Houraiken Main Store

This shop originated ‟Hitsu-mabushi”, Nagoya's famous eel dish which can be enjoyed in three different ways.

3 Sep 2026 See More

Last time I came, it was closed, so this time I specifically chose a weekday and lined up early in the morning. I finally got to try it!

You can get a numbered ticket first, so you don't have to stand around waiting in front of the restaurant. You can visit nearby Atsuta Jingu Shrine and return to the restaurant at your designated time, which makes planning your itinerary very convenient.

This time I ordered their signature hitsumabushi, and I highly recommend it! The eel was crispy outside and tender inside, the sauce had just the right balance of sweet and salty, and it wasn't too greasy. It went perfectly with the well-separated grains of rice. The portion was also larger than expected, so for women, I'd recommend ordering the small size, which should be plenty filling.

Three ways to enjoy it, each with a different flavor

First way | Plain
Start by enjoying the aroma and texture of the eel itself. The crispy-outside, tender-inside eel with the sauce lets you best appreciate its original flavor.

Second way | With toppings
Add chopped green onions, nori, and wasabi for richer layers of aroma and texture. The wasabi also makes the overall flavor more refreshing.

Third way | Ochazuke
Finally, pour in the broth to make a light eel ochazuke. It doesn't feel heavy even down to the last bite, and all three ways of eating it really have their own distinct character!

Overall, I finally didn't miss out this time. With hitsumabushi, you can enjoy three different flavors in one bowl—plain, with toppings, and as ochazuke. It's delicious enough to be worth trying.

Other Reviews by wendy

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Osaka

Originally launched in 1932 with a mission to foster “knowledge and learning through fun”, this themepark is dedicated to the same LEGO® blocks that are loved by kids and parents around the world.
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On this trip to Osaka, we also made plans to visit LEGOLAND Discovery Center Osaka! I originally thought it would have lots of rides like a typical amusement park, but after going inside, I realized it wasn’t as big as I had imagined. It mainly focuses on LEGO bricks and interactive games for kids.

Personally, I think it’s a little expensive if you’re buying a ticket just to come here. But if you have an Osaka Amazing Pass, it’s worth stopping by since admission is free!

There are a few pretty good attractions and several worth trying: Admission is free with the Osaka Amazing Pass. Remember to exchange your pass for a ticket at the entrance first, and then you can enter for free!

The 4D LEGO movie is highly recommended! It has 3D effects and is pretty entertaining overall. We didn’t have to wait very long when we went, so it’s worth fitting into your visit.

The KINGDOM QUEST shooting game is also quite fun. Each car seats 4 people. We had the kids sit in front and the adults in the back, and you use blasters to shoot targets along the way. Your scores are added up, so you can compete to see who hits the most!

The pedal bike ride is another attraction that a lot of people line up for. You pedal to make the vehicle rise higher, and it seems great for parents and kids to enjoy together. However, the line was too long that day, so we just gave up on it.

LEGO brick area & children’s PLAY ZONE: There’s a small LEGO brick area inside, as well as a slide. There’s also a PLAY ZONE specifically for kids. However, this area gets really crowded. You need to get a numbered ticket for a time slot first, then wait until your scheduled time before you can enter. Remember to bring socks!

Overall, the place isn’t very big and doesn’t have many attractions, so you may be a little disappointed if you’re expecting a large amusement park. But if you already have an Osaka Amazing Pass, you can add it to your itinerary, get in for free, and enjoy a few attractions. It’s still pretty nice!
CUPNOODLES MUSEUM OSAKA IKEDA

At the CUPNOODLES MUSEUM in Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture, the birthplace of instant ramen, 11 exhibits and attractions will delve into the appeal of instant ramen.
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On this trip to Osaka, we made a special visit to the CUPNOODLES MUSEUM in Ikeda, where the world's first instant noodles were invented!

It's about a 5–10 minute walk from Hankyu Ikeda Station, so it's pretty convenient to get to. The museum itself isn't very large, and admission is free. There's an entire wall of Cup Noodles that's great for photos, as well as animated videos and interactive exhibits about how instant noodles were invented. You can learn quite a lot while walking around.

We booked the noodle-making workshop online in advance, and it was definitely worth it! The instructor was very friendly and patient. We got to participate from beginning to end, and the whole process was even more fun than we expected. The instructor was also very encouraging.

You can also take the bandana home after the workshop, so it feels like an extra souvenir. The whole experience was really interesting!

Besides the noodle-making workshop, you can also design your own Cup Noodles here, choosing your favorite soup base and toppings to create a one-of-a-kind cup. It was genuinely a lot of fun.
Osaka Castle Park

Nationally designated special historical site, Osaka Castle Ruin, and the surrounding area were renovated into an urban park. 13 buildings of important cultural properties including Osaka Castle Main Tower, watchtowers and gates dot the vast 261-acre premises.
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Of course, you can’t miss Osaka Castle when visiting Osaka! After actually walking around this time, I realized just how big Osaka Castle Park really is. It takes quite a while just to get around on foot.

If you don’t want your legs to be completely exhausted like me, I really recommend buying a ticket for the road train or shuttle bus. Unlimited rides for the whole day cost about JPY 1,000, and it saves you a lot of walking. I personally think it’s well worth it!

This time, I also visited Nishinomaru Garden. Since you need to buy a separate admission ticket, it was much less crowded inside. You can take a leisurely walk and photos without constantly having to avoid the crowds. Best of all, you can also get photos of Osaka Castle, and the whole view is beautiful. If you enjoy photography, it’s definitely worth adding to your itinerary.

Compared with squeezing through the crowds outside, it felt much more comfortable to walk slowly through the garden and look for good angles to photograph Osaka Castle! If you have enough time, I recommend not leaving right after seeing the main tower. The surrounding park and gardens are also well worth exploring. You really need to set aside some time for Osaka Castle Park, or all that walking alone will wear you out!