Saturday

10 a.m.

4. UNDERGROUND ART

Jolt awake with a dose of eye-opening art at the National Museum of Art, Osaka (4-2-55 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku; 81-6-6447-4680; www.nmao.go.jp), which was designed by the architect César Pelli. The museum itself is underground, but the glass-and-steel, claw-like structure caging the entrance is unmissable. A recent exhibition, “Eternity of Eternal Eternity,” featured the hypnotizing polka dot patterns of the artist Yayoi Kusama; an El Greco retrospective is scheduled for the fall.

Noon

5. LUNCH, AS YOU LIKE IT

Okonomiyaki, which can be translated as “grill what you like,” is a fried mixture that might include eggs, eel, octopus, bacon, shrimp, pork, green onions, yams, cheese, kimchi. At Mizuno (1-4-15 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku; 81-6-6212-6360; mizuno-osaka.com), diners are treated to a view of the mesmerizing preparation as ingredients like these are dumped into a batter, fried on a griddle, and then liberally slathered with a sweet barbecue-Worcestershire-like sauce and swirls of mayonnaise. The result is delicious, as the line of people outside waiting for a seat at the counter attests. Lunch for two, about 2,500 yen.

1:30 p.m.

6. PACK YOUR KNIVES

Whether you’re looking to outfit a new restaurant or simply upgrade the tools in your home kitchen, the shopping arcade of Doguyasuji is the place to do it. The shops along this narrow alley overflow with kitchenware, from ceramic rice bowls and bamboo steamers to professional-grade takoyaki grills. At Ichimonji (14-8 Nanbasennichimae, Chuo-ku; 81-6-6633-9393; ichimonji.co.jp), admire the knives fashioned like swords, then plunk down some yen for the indispensable kitchen companion: a balanced Santoku knife.

3:30 p.m.

7. PORK IN THE PARK

Upon leaving Doguyasuji, swing by 551 Horai (3-6-3 Namba, Chuo-ku; 81-6-6641-0551; 551horai.co.jp), a local franchise famous for its heavenly steamed pork buns. There are locations scattered all over the city, but here you can watch workers nimbly mold the pleated buns, which are then steamed on-site. Carry away a bright red box of edible booty (two buns cost 320 yen) to the Namba Parks garden (2-10-70 Namba-naka, Naniwa-ku; 81-6-6644-7100; nambaparks.com), a rooftop park on eight levels. Enjoy your snack in peace, high above the bustle of Namba, amid flowers, trees and the occasional sculpture.