Osaka rivalled Tokyo in intensity, but with a warmer, more extroverted energy. It was loud, crowded, and constantly in motion — a city that seemed to revel in its own chaos. In Dōtonbori, neon signs stacked and flickered above the canal while street food stalls and crowds spilled into every available inch of space.

Osaka Castle rose as a striking counterpoint: a former seat of power set within expansive grounds, its presence a reminder of the city’s deep political and military history beneath the spectacle. I only had an evening in Osaka, but I wished for more. The city felt open, alive, and unapologetic — a street photographer’s delight, full of moments that demanded to be caught quickly before they disappeared.