Osaka · Namba and Dotonbori
Tombori River Cruise
The Tombori River Cruise is a ride of about 20 minutes on the Dotonbori canal, in an open boat. A guide on board talks about the places you pass. The boat leaves from the Tazaemon Bridge pier, goes east to Nipponbashi Bridge, turns around, and continues west to opposite Minatomachi River Place, then returns to the pier.
On the way you pass under nine bridges, among them Ebisubashi with the Glico sign, Dotonbori-bashi with Midosuji running over it, and Daikoku-bashi, with Amerikamura to its north. In the evening the ride goes between the lit signs.
Good to know
- The ticket office is on the riverside walk on the north bank, near the river-side entrance to Don Quijote, and the pier is right across from it. Look for the yellow wheel.
- With the Osaka Amazing Pass you exchange the pass for a ticket for a set time on the day of the cruise. Tickets for the evening sailings run out early, so it is worth exchanging already in the middle of the day.
- The boat is open. In light rain it still sails and raincoats are handed out, and umbrellas are not allowed because the bridges are low. A sailing can be cancelled without notice because of weather, the water level or events on the river.
What is nearby
Approximate walking minutes from the entrance of Tombori River Cruise.
- HereTombori River Cruise
- 1 min
Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel (Don Quijote Dotonbori) More to see
The yellow, elliptical wheel on the Don Quijote building, 77.4 meters high. A ride takes 15 minutes, ¥1,000 per person (¥100 off with the Osaka Amazing Pass). On Tuesday it opens only at 13:00.
- ~2 min
Takoyaki Doraku Wanaka Dotonbori Food
A branch of the takoyaki chain Wanaka from Sennichimae. Cash or PayPay only. The takoyaki contain octopus.
- ~2 min
Kani Doraku Dotonbori Honten Food
The crab restaurant with the giant moving crab on the facade. The house dish is kani-suki, a crab hot pot in broth.
- ~3 min
Pivot BASE Cafe & Bar Food
A fully vegan cafe and bar in Dotonbori: vegan versions of takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu, and ramen too.
- ~4 min
Hozenji Yokocho and Mizukake Fudo Street
Two stone-paved alleys, each about 80 meters long and 3 wide, with small restaurants, bars and okonomiyaki. At the end stands the Fudo statue of Hozen-ji temple, covered entirely in moss from the water worshippers pour over it. Free.
- ~4 min
Hozenji Meoto Zenzai Cafe
A sweets shop from 1883 near the Fudo statue of Hozen-ji. The dish is a sweet red bean soup, served in two small bowls for one portion. In summer there is also shaved ice.
More in Namba and Dotonbori
Appears in: Osaka in one day: the castle, Kuromon Market, Shinsekai and Dotonbori at night