Osu Kannon & Kamimaezu Station Access: Perfect Lunch Between Asian Games Events

Here's a number that might surprise you: in a survey conducted by the Japan Tourism Agency (2023 Visitor Satisfaction Survey), navigation difficulty ranked as the second most common frustration among foreign visitors to Japan — cited more often than language barriers or food concerns. In a district like Osu, where 1,200 shops spill across a labyrinth of covered arcades and side streets, that frustration is very real.

And yet, the Asian Games Nagoya 2026 is bringing a record number of international visitors into exactly this part of the city. If you have an event at the stadium in the morning and another in the afternoon — or you're simply squeezing in sightseeing between matches — the window for a proper lunch is short. Getting lost in Osu can eat up that window fast.

This guide is built for that exact scenario. We'll walk you through how to find Itadaki — the originator of Rare Wagyu Gyudon — from Yabacho Station, Kamimaezu Station, and Nagoya Station, so you arrive without stress and leave with plenty of time for your next event.

Who This Is For

• ✅ Visitors attending Asian Games 2026 events in Nagoya with a lunch break between sessions
• ✅ Anyone staying near Nagoya Station who wants to visit Osu Kannon and grab a memorable lunch on the same trip
• ✅ First-time visitors to Osu who find the district's layout confusing and want a clear, step-by-step route
• ✅ Travelers who've heard about rare wagyu gyudon but aren't sure how to actually get there
• ✅ Anyone who's ever walked past a 2nd-floor restaurant and never found it

Why So Many Visitors Miss Itadaki on the First Try

Itadaki sits on the 2nd floor of a building on Osu's main street. That detail matters more than it sounds. In a district where every ground-floor shopfront is competing for your attention — temple souvenirs, vintage sneakers, bubble tea — a staircase leading upward is easy to walk straight past.

Add to that the fact that Google Maps in Osu can be imprecise. The pin drops you somewhere in the general area, but the narrow covered arcades and parallel alleys mean "close" on a map can still mean five minutes of doubling back on foot. For visitors on a schedule between Asian Games sessions, those five minutes feel like fifty.

The fix is simple: know what to look for before you arrive. At street level, look for the Japanese sign reading 「元祖レア牛丼 頂」 (pronounced: Ganso Rea Gyudon Itadaki). That sign marks the base of the staircase. Once you see it, you're there. Take the stairs to the 2nd floor, and you'll find our 18-seat restaurant — sofa seating, no noise from the street, a complete change of pace from the arcade below.

Your Step-by-Step Access Checklist

Before you head out, run through this quick checklist to make sure you're set up for a smooth arrival.

□ Are you coming from Nagoya Station?
This is the most common starting point for visitors staying in central Nagoya. Here's the cleanest route:

1. Take the Higashiyama Subway Line from Nagoya Station toward Fujigaoka.
2. Get off at Sakae Station (two stops, about 4 minutes).
3. Transfer to the Meijo Line at Sakae.
4. Ride one stop to Yabacho Station.
5. Exit from Exit 4 and walk 4 minutes to Itadaki.

Total time from Nagoya Station: approximately 10 minutes.

□ Are you coming from Kamimaezu Station or Osu Kannon Station?
Both stations place you within easy walking distance. If you've spent the morning at Osu Kannon Temple, you're already in the right neighborhood. From Osu Kannon Station, head south along the main shopping arcade — Itadaki is approximately an 8-minute walk. From Kamimaezu, it's a similar distance heading north through the arcade.

□ Are you starting from Yabacho Station?
This is the closest station: Exit 4, then a 4-minute walk. Yabacho is also the nearest station to Osu Kannon Temple and the surrounding sightseeing area, making it a natural hub if you're combining a temple visit with lunch.

□ Do you have the sign to look for?
At street level: 「元祖レア牛丼 頂」. Staircase up to 2nd floor. That's your landmark. Screenshot it before you leave your hotel.

□ Have you checked today's opening status?
Itadaki is open Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday — 11:00 to 15:00 (last order 30 minutes before closing). On public holidays, hours shift to 09:00–15:00. Irregular closures do happen, so checking the monthly business calendar on Instagram before you go is always a good idea. During the Asian Games period, September 19 (Saturday) falls within regular operating hours.

□ Are you hoping for Horai Wagyu specifically?
Horai Wagyu — raised by just 3 farms in Aichi, with only 300 heads produced annually — is limited to 10 bowls per day. During Asian Games season, lunch hours fill quickly. A reservation via Tabelog is the only way to secure your bowl. Walk-ins for Mikawa Beef gyudon are usually possible, but Horai Wagyu can sell out before noon on busy days.

✓ Key Takeaways

• Itadaki is 4 minutes from Yabacho Station Exit 4, and about 10 minutes total from Nagoya Station via the Higashiyama + Meijo lines.
• Look for the street-level sign 「元祖レア牛丼 頂」 — the restaurant is on the 2nd floor, easily missed if you don't know what to look for.
• Horai Wagyu is limited to 10 bowls daily — during Asian Games events, reserve in advance via Tabelog to avoid missing out.

Timing Your Lunch Between Events

The Asian Games schedule means many visitors are running between venues with 2–3 hour gaps between sessions. That's actually an ideal window for an Osu lunch: 15–20 minutes from most central venues to Yabacho by subway, 30–45 minutes for the meal itself, and time to walk through the Osu arcade or stop at Osu Kannon Temple before heading back.

If you're arriving from the direction of Sakae or the arena district, you can also combine your route with a stop at Osu's main sightseeing spots on the way to or from lunch — Osu Kannon Temple is practically a waypoint between the station and the restaurant.

One thing we hear often from guests who've made this kind of event-day trip: the change of pace is part of the value. After a morning in a large arena, stepping into a quiet 18-seat restaurant with sofa seating — no background noise, no rush — feels like a reset before the afternoon session.

"The staff were welcoming and made us feel at home even without perfect Japanese."

— Guest review

That's something we genuinely care about at Itadaki. Founder Masayuki Goto designed the experience with international visitors in mind from the beginning — printed menus in English, Simplified Chinese, and Korean, a photographic 5-step guide for enjoying the dish, and a team trained to communicate clearly even across language gaps. You don't need to speak Japanese to have a complete experience here.

One More Thing to Check Before You Go

A practical note that often gets overlooked: Itadaki is on the 2nd floor, accessed by staircase. If you're visiting with a stroller, please note that access requires climbing the stairs. Staff may be able to assist depending on conditions at the time, though this can't be guaranteed. Arriving with a bit of extra time gives everyone a more relaxed experience.

For guests with credit cards, IC cards, or mobile payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay): payment methods are confirmed on our official English page — it's worth checking before you head out so there are no surprises at the end of your meal.

Osu doesn't have to be confusing. With the right exit, the right sign, and a reservation in hand, the walk from Yabacho Station to Itadaki takes four minutes. The bowl of rare wagyu gyudon waiting at the top of those stairs — made entirely from Aichi Prefecture ingredients, prepared using a proprietary two-stage cooking technique — is worth every one of them.

For our complete menu, access details, and store information, visit our official page at https://itadaki8.com/english/