Osaka, Japan

Known as the "Kitchen of Japan," Osaka centers its culture around food and the enjoyment of flavor. Head straight to the vibrant, neon-lit district of Dotonbori to indulge in street foods like okonomiyaki (savory pancakes), sit for a bowl of world-renowned ramen, or dine in Michelin-starred restaurants. Between meals, visit Osaka Castle, a magnificent 16th-century structure surrounded by lush gardens, or the National Museum of Art. Osaka’s short distance from Kyoto also sets the historic sites of the ancient capital within easy reach, or head to Nara for encounters with the town’s population of friendly deer.