Hanazakura — Restaurant in Osaka

Hanazakura – Osaka

During our previous visit to Osaka, we had the pleasure of dining at Hanazakura, a sushi restaurant that perfectly blends traditional Japanese craftsmanship with a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Located away from the busiest tourist streets, Hanazakura feels like a hidden gem—offering an intimate dining experience that focuses on freshness, precision, and hospitality.

The restaurant’s interior is minimalist and elegant, with natural wood counters and soft lighting that create a serene setting. We chose to sit at the sushi bar, where we could watch the chef prepare each piece with meticulous attention to detail. The pace was unhurried, allowing us to fully appreciate both the artistry and flavors of each course.

The sushi itself was exceptional. Every piece, from the delicate hirame (flounder) to the melt-in-your-mouth otoro (fatty tuna), was prepared with perfect balance between fish, rice, and seasoning. The chef sourced seasonal ingredients, which meant we enjoyed unique offerings like fresh uni (sea urchin) and lightly seared nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch) at their absolute peak. The rice was warm and perfectly seasoned, complementing the seafood without overpowering it.

In addition to sushi, we sampled a few small side dishes, including chawanmushi (savory egg custard) and miso soup, both of which showcased the same care and finesse. Every bite felt thoughtful, deliberate, and deeply satisfying.

The service at Hanazakura was warm and personal. The chef and staff engaged in friendly conversation, offering explanations of the fish varieties and their origins, which added to our appreciation of the meal.

For photographers, while the low lighting requires a delicate touch, the presentation of each plate is a work of art—clean, colorful, and refined in a way that invites quiet admiration.

We left Hanazakura feeling deeply satisfied, not just from the food but from the entire dining experience. It will be proudly featured in our upcoming Photolator Guide to Japan, recognized as one of Osaka’s finest sushi restaurants for travelers and photographers seeking authentic, expertly crafted sushi in an...

Came across this sushi place on google map and decided to give it a try. I made reservations via google, which was really convenient considering most Japanese restaurants only accept bookings via landline calls. Arriving at the place, i had lowered my expectations a little because it looked like a neighbourhood joint in a residential area mins away from Umeda. However this gem of a Sushi place totally blew my mind.

I had the Omakse set (10pcs sushi with miso soup) and everything was so good. My favourite was the scallop muscle. The flesh was firm but you can chew through it so easily. The taste of it was so so sweet. My other recommendation would be the Ebi. It wasnt on the Omakse menu but i decided to order one since the omakse was so good.

The chef was very observant and paid lots of attention to the patrons. He would control the pace of the food preparation to match my eating speed which i totally appreciated. I watched him cut some of the larger sushi pieces into half for the ladies since it would be difficult for them to eat it whole. Hats off to the chef for his attention to details.

The menu comes with pictures and the chef speaks a little bit of english so dont worry if you do not speak japanese.

Capped off the wonderful night with a visit to the Umeda Sky Tower which is only 3mins away.

Thank you chef again for the...

Tourist Trap — Disappointing Sushi Experience in Osaka

We should’ve known to leave the moment we realized the entire restaurant was filled with foreigners. We stopped by for a late dinner after being unable to get reservations elsewhere. This place had over 200 reviews and a 4.6-star rating, so we figured it would be at least decent. Some reviews even mentioned fair prices and good quality—sadly, that was far from our experience.

First red flag: a tip box inside a Japanese restaurant. That alone screams “tourist trap.”

We ordered several items, including a 6-piece fatty tuna roll that came out pathetically small, with barely any fatty tuna. I believe it cost around ¥2,700. The bluefin tuna sashimi was cold, fishy, thin, and flavorless. Coming from Los Angeles, where great sushi is easy to find, we expected better—especially in Osaka.

The bill came out to about $56 for two people, and we left still hungry. I had maybe 3–4 small pieces of sushi in total. It’s hard to believe these glowing reviews are genuine—maybe they’re bought.

This was hands down the most disappointing meal of our trip. Sushi quality was nowhere near what you’d expect for the price, even compared to mid-tier places in LA.

Rating: 1.5 stars at best. Do yourself a favor and...