Fly to Osaka

Osaka serves its regional dishes as no-fuss, tasty snacks like kushikatsu (crumbed deep-fried meat or veg skewers), famously from retro diners in Shinsekai, takoyaki (octopus ball-dumplings) and okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes). For meals, try fugu (pufferfish) as tecchiri (hotpot) or sashimi from Michelin-star restaurants or sushi trains (an Osakan invention). And if you want to savour wafts of Kobe wagyu beef grilling over hot coals at your table, hunt down a yakiniku restaurant.

Osaka Castle is one of the city's, and Japan's, most stunning buildings. Soak up its beauty without leaving central Osaka. Set aside a couple hours to include its exquisite Nishinomaru Japanese Gardens. Continue marvelling at Osaka's traditional culture with a bunraku puppet performance before seeing the monumental lion's head sculpture at Namba Yasaka Shrine. There are loads of other Buddhist and Shinto temples and fascinating museums and galleries too. Family-friendly entertainment includes the enormous aquarium, Universal Studios and fun interactive playground Kids Plaza Osaka.

A night out on the town shows Osaka at its best. Hit up Dotonbori, a parade of lit-up izakaya (Japanese pubs) and restaurants. At the canal get your selfie with the Glico Running Man billboard, an icon of Osaka. Head further into the young and fun Amerikamura neighbourhood to sample Japanese cocktails or local craft beer while catching live music. Meanwhile old Japan awaits in retro Shinsekai. Spot 90s video-game arcades, a neon Eiffel Tower replica and oversized paper animal lanterns clinging to restaurants and bars. Every night feels festive.