{"id":299,"date":"2026-08-10T18:06:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T09:06:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\/2026\/08\/10\/asian-games-nagoya-osu-dining-guide\/"},"modified":"2026-08-10T18:06:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T09:06:35","slug":"asian-games-nagoya-osu-dining-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\/2026\/08\/10\/asian-games-nagoya-osu-dining-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Things Asian Games Spectators Should Know About Osu Dining"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>You've secured your tickets for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. You've mapped out the venues. You've even figured out which subway line gets you there fastest. But then comes the question that stumps almost every first-time visitor to this part of the city:<\/p>\n<p><em>\"Where exactly do I eat in Osu \u2014 and how do I actually find the place once I'm there?\"<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Osu is one of Nagoya's most rewarding districts for food, but it's also genuinely easy to get disoriented in. The shopping streets branch off in unexpected directions. Restaurant signs are almost entirely in Japanese. And if a place is on the second floor \u2014 which many of the best ones are \u2014 you can walk right past the entrance three times without realizing it.<\/p>\n<p>This guide is written specifically for Asian Games spectators and visitors who want to make the most of lunch breaks and rest days in the Osu area, without spending 40 minutes wandering in circles before giving up and grabbing something from a convenience store.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who This Is For<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2705 Asian Games 2026 spectators spending time in Nagoya between events<\/li>\n<li>\u2705 Visitors who want to explore Osu but are nervous about navigating unfamiliar streets and Japanese-only signage<\/li>\n<li>\u2705 Food enthusiasts curious about Nagoya's local dining scene beyond tourist-facing chains<\/li>\n<li>\u2705 Travelers who've heard about wagyu but want to understand what makes Aichi Prefecture's offerings distinct<\/li>\n<li>\u2705 Anyone who has ever walked past a restaurant three times because it was on the second floor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_5496.jpg\" alt=\"10 Things Asian Games Spectators Should Know About Osu Dining | Itadaki - The Original Rare Wagyu Gyudon\" \/><\/figure>\n<h2>1. Osu Is Not One Street \u2014 It's a District<\/h2>\n<p>The first thing to understand about Osu is that \"Osu Shopping Street\" is actually a network of covered arcades and open lanes, not a single straight path. There are multiple named sections \u2014 Banshoji Shopping Street, Osu Shopping Street, Shintenchi Shopping Street \u2014 that connect and overlap. If you're following Google Maps to a specific restaurant, be aware that the app sometimes drops a pin on the wrong side of an arcade, adding a few confusing minutes to your journey. Always check the exact exit number of the subway station listed on your destination's website before you leave.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Always Exit from the Correct Subway Exit<\/h2>\n<p>Nagoya's Meijo Subway Line has four stations that serve the Osu area: Yabacho, Kamimaezu, Osu Kannon, and (with a short walk) Sakae. Each one deposits you into a different part of the district. Getting off at the wrong station and trying to navigate across means crossing several arcade sections you haven't orientated yourself in yet \u2014 which is where most visitors lose 20 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>For restaurants in the northern Osu area, <strong>Yabacho Station Exit 4<\/strong> is almost always the most efficient starting point. Write that down or screenshot it before you go underground.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Second-Floor Restaurants Are Easy to Miss \u2014 Here's How to Spot Them<\/h2>\n<p>A significant number of Osu's most interesting specialty restaurants operate on the second floor of narrow buildings. The street-level facade is often just a sign and a staircase \u2014 which is invisible if you're looking ahead rather than up. This is especially common along the smaller lanes that run between the main covered arcades.<\/p>\n<p>The practical advice: when you're within 50 meters of your destination according to Maps, slow down and look for staircase entrances on either side of the street, not just shopfronts at eye level. Look for the building's ground-floor sign or a small A-frame board pointing upward. If you see stairs going up with a sign above them, that's usually where you're headed.<\/p>\n<h2>4. Know the Landmark Before You Set Off<\/h2>\n<p>The most reliable way to navigate Osu is to anchor your destination to a landmark you already know. <strong>Osu Kannon Temple<\/strong> is the most recognizable fixed point in the district \u2014 the large red-lantern gate is visible from multiple directions. The main Osu Shopping Street arcade entrance is just a short walk from the temple. Once you've located either of these, most Osu destinations become considerably easier to find.<\/p>\n<p>If your target is Itadaki \u2014 Nagoya's specialty rare wagyu gyudon restaurant \u2014 you're looking for a building with a sign that reads <strong>\u300c\u5143\u7956\u30ec\u30a2\u725b\u4e3c \u9802\u300d<\/strong> (pronounced \"Ganso Rea Gyudon Itadaki\") at street level. The restaurant is on the 2nd floor. Take the stairs up from street level. It's a 4-minute walk from Yabacho Station Exit 4.<\/p>\n<h2>5. The 10-Minute Route from Nagoya Station, Step by Step<\/h2>\n<p>Many Asian Games spectators will be staying near Nagoya Station, which is the city's main transportation hub. Here's the fastest route to the Osu area:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>From Nagoya Station, take the <strong>Higashiyama Subway Line<\/strong> (yellow line) eastbound toward Fujigaoka.<\/li>\n<li>Ride two stops to <strong>Sakae Station<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Transfer to the <strong>Meijo Subway Line<\/strong> (purple line) \u2014 follow the signs for the circular line.<\/li>\n<li>Ride one stop to <strong>Yabacho Station<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Exit from <strong>Exit 4<\/strong> and walk approximately 4 minutes toward the Osu Shopping Street area.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Total journey time: approximately 10 minutes. The transfer at Sakae is straightforward once you follow the Meijo Line signage \u2014 both lines share the same station complex, so you don't need to exit the turnstiles.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2713 Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Osu is a district made up of multiple connected arcades \u2014 not one single street. Pin your exact exit before you leave.<\/li>\n<li>Always use Yabacho Station Exit 4 for the northern Osu area. It cuts your walking time significantly.<\/li>\n<li>Look up, not just forward \u2014 second-floor restaurants in Osu are easy to miss if you're only scanning at eye level.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>6. Peak Lunch Hours in Osu Are Genuinely Busy<\/h2>\n<p>During Asian Games match days, expect the Osu and Sakae areas to be significantly busier than usual between 11:30 and 13:30. Popular restaurants fill up fast. If your itinerary includes a specific restaurant \u2014 especially one with limited daily quantities \u2014 arriving at or shortly after opening is the most reliable strategy. Some specialty restaurants limit certain signature dishes to as few as 10 portions per day, and those can disappear before noon on busy weekends.<\/p>\n<p>If the dish you've come for requires an advance reservation, use that system. Don't assume a walk-in will work on a Saturday during Games week.<\/p>\n<h2>7. Horai Wagyu Is Not the Same as Kobe or Matsusaka \u2014 And That's the Point<\/h2>\n<p>Many visitors to Nagoya are already familiar with Japan's most famous wagyu brands. But Aichi Prefecture has its own extraordinary beef traditions that remain almost entirely unknown outside Japan.<\/p>\n<p>Horai Wagyu is raised in the Okumikawa mountains of Aichi by just three farms, with only 300 heads produced annually. By comparison, Japan produces approximately 500,000 wagyu cattle per year \u2014 which gives you a sense of how rare this actually is. The cattle are fed on sake lees from Horaisen Sora, a local premium sake, giving the meat a flavor profile that's genuinely unlike anything in the mainstream wagyu world.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\"I've had Kobe beef and Matsusaka beef, but Horai Wagyu at Itadaki was on another level.\"<\/p>\n<p><cite>\u2014 Guest review<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>At Itadaki, Horai Wagyu is served in the form of rare wagyu gyudon \u2014 Japan's iconic beef bowl, reimagined as a specialty dish using a proprietary two-stage cooking technique that heats the beef to over 70\u00b0C at the core, fully meeting Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare food safety standards while preserving the rare-style texture. It's a culinary concept that was created here, in this restaurant, and doesn't exist anywhere else in quite this form.<\/p>\n<h2>8. An English Menu and a Five-Step Eating Guide Are Waiting for You<\/h2>\n<p>One of the real anxieties of dining at a Japanese specialty restaurant \u2014 particularly one that serves an unfamiliar dish like rare wagyu gyudon \u2014 is not knowing what you're looking at on the menu, or whether you're eating the dish correctly. Itadaki addresses this directly: printed menus are available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Korean, with photos, prices, and ingredient explanations. The menu also includes a step-by-step visual guide explaining exactly how to eat the dish, from separating the egg through to adding wasabi at the final stage.<\/p>\n<p>You don't need to know Japanese to enjoy the meal fully. Point-and-order works, and the staff are welcoming to international visitors.<\/p>\n<h2>9. Horai Wagyu Sells Out Daily \u2014 Reserve Before You Arrive<\/h2>\n<p>Itadaki limits Horai Wagyu to 10 bowls per day. This isn't a marketing tactic \u2014 it's a direct consequence of how rare the ingredient is. On busy days, those 10 portions are gone before 12:30.<\/p>\n<p>For guaranteed availability, advance reservation via Tabelog Online is strongly recommended. When completing your reservation, copy and paste the following phrase into the notes field: <strong>\u9cf3\u6765\u725b\u5e0c\u671b<\/strong> (this means \"requesting Horai Wagyu\"). Tabelog's website is navigable in English.<\/p>\n<p>If you'd prefer to walk in, Mikawa Beef Rare Gyudon is always available \u2014 prepared with the same two-stage cooking technique and equally worth your time, starting from \u00a51,800.<\/p>\n<h2>10. Check the Monthly Calendar Before You Go<\/h2>\n<p>Itadaki operates on a specific schedule: open Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, with lunch service only (11:00\u201315:00, last order 14:30). On public holidays, the restaurant opens earlier at 9:00. The restaurant is closed Wednesday through Friday. During the 2026 Asian Games period, irregular closures are possible \u2014 always confirm the current monthly schedule before planning your visit.<\/p>\n<p>The easiest way to stay current: check the official Instagram account, where the monthly business calendar is posted at the start of each month. It takes 30 seconds and saves a wasted trip.<\/p>\n<h2>Before Your Next Match: A Lunch Worth Planning For<\/h2>\n<p>Navigating Osu as a first-time visitor is genuinely manageable once you know the mechanics \u2014 the right subway exit, where to look for second-floor entrances, and which landmarks to use as anchors. The district rewards the visitors who slow down and pay attention to what's around them rather than sprinting between Google Maps pins.<\/p>\n<p>For complete menu details, access information, and the full story behind Itadaki's rare wagyu gyudon, visit the official page at <a href=\"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/english\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/english\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If you're planning to make Horai Wagyu part of your Nagoya itinerary \u2014 and with the 2026 Asian Games bringing extra visitors to the city, availability will be tighter than usual \u2014 reserving your spot in advance is the most reliable approach. We'd genuinely love to welcome you.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/yoyaku.tabelog.com\/yoyaku\/net_booking_form\/index?rcd=23081531\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reserve Your Rare Wagyu Experience<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/itadaki_magari_gyudon.08\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Check Our Monthly Schedule on Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"LocalBusiness\",\"name\":\"Itadaki - The Original Rare Wagyu Gyudon\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\",\"address\":\"4-1-20 Osu 2F, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 460-0011, Japan\",\"areaServed\":\"Itadaki serves foreign visitors from around the world who are traveling in the Nagoya area. Our primary customer base includes:\\n\\nGeographic reach:\\n- Immediate area: Osu district and Sakae district (within 10-minute walking distance)\\n- Nagoya city center: Nagoya Station, Fushimi, Kanayama, and other central districts (within 15-minute subway ride)\\n- Aichi Prefecture: Meitetsu Line and JR line commuters from Toyohashi, Toyota, Ichinomiya, and other Aichi cities\\n- Central Japan region: Travelers passing through Nagoya from Gifu, Shizuoka, Mie, and Nagano prefectures\\n- International travelers: All foreign visitors staying in Nagoya as part of their Japan itinerary\\n\\nPeak traveler seasons:\\n- Cherry blossom season (late March to early April)\\n- Golden Week (late April to early May)\\n- Summer festival season (July-August, including World Cosplay Summit)\\n- Autumn foliage season (November)\\n- 2026 Asian Games and Para Games (September-October 2026)\",\"description\":\"Rare Wagyu Gyudon (Horai Wagyu \u2014 limited to 10 bowls daily):\\n- Shinkoccho (Standard): 100g beef, 200g rice, \u00a52,700\\n- Cho-ten (Medium): 150g beef, 250g rice, \u00a53,200\\n- Zettcho (Large): 200g beef, 300g rice, \u00a53,600\\n\\nRare Wagyu Gyudon (Mikawa Beef \u2014 always available):\\n- Fumoto (Standard): 100g beef, 200g rice, \u00a51,800\\n- Oka (Medium): 150g beef, 250g rice, \u00a52,300\\n- Daichi (Large): 200g beef, 300g rice, \u00a52,700\\n\\nSide Dishes:\\n- Teppen (Premium Horai Wagyu Beef Plate): 50g, \u00a5800 \u2014 Same wagyu with different cutting and searing technique, delivering a distinct taste from the gyudon\\n- Piman no Nikuzume (Evolved Stuffed Green Pepper): 2 pieces, \u00a5700 \u2014 A popular dish originally from Tokyo's Toranomon Yokocho\\n\\nOptions:\\n- Extra rice: +\u00a5200\\n- Change to Super Mochi Barley Rice (from Toyohashi): +\u00a5200\\n- Super Mochi Barley Rice extra size: +\u00a5400\\n- Remove Nagoya Cochin egg: -\u00a5150\\n- Extra Nagoya Cochin egg: +\u00a5150\\n- Extra pickled radish (Atsumi Ich\u014d-zuke): +\u00a5150\\n- Extra shiso leaves (Aikei No.1): +\u00a5150\\n\\nBeverages (all Aichi\/Nagoya specialties):\\n- Kinshachi Beer Pilsner (330ml bottle): \u00a5700 \u2014 Nagoya craft beer pioneer\\n- Coffee Shochu Oolong Tea Mix: \u00a5700 \u2014 MAX'S BAR's signature drink since 2008\\n- Chita Highball: \u00a5700 \u2014 Aichi's Chita Distillery whisky\\n- Nagoya Cider: \u00a5700 \u2014 Local Nagoya craft cider\\n- Chita & Nagoya Cider with Lemon: \u00a51,000 \u2014 House specialty mix\\n- Chita \\\"Naka\\\" Refill: \u00a5500 \u2014 Add more Chita whisky to your remaining cider\"}<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You've secured your tickets for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. You've mapped out the venues. You've even figured out which subway line gets you there fastest. But then comes the question that stumps almost every first-time visitor to this part of the city: \"Where exactly do I eat in Osu \u2014 and how do [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":298,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sns_share_botton_hide":"","vkExUnit_sns_title":"","_vk_print_noindex":"","sitemap_hide":"","_veu_custom_css":"","veu_display_promotion_alert":"","vkexunit_cta_each_option":"","_lightning_design_setting":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"veu_head_title_object":{"title":"","add_site_title":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=299"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":300,"href":"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299\/revisions\/300"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itadaki8.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}