Osaka is grittier, more entrepreneurial and more vibrantly fun-loving than Tokyo. It’s also a much more affordable destination, and the best place in the whole of Japan for a bar crawl. It’s got great food, and great shopping, and a reputation for friendliness. Osaka is an historic destination too, though, you probably recognise Osaka Castle? it’s one of the most famous landmarks in Japan, a vast, many-roofed building built on two rock platforms - both with moats? And Osaka also has a number of important shrines, an important history museums, several art museums and galleries, an aquarium, and an outpost of Universal Studios. Accommodation in the neighbourhoods around the castle, and the older parts of town, is a mix of ryokan, luxury and boutique hotels, and aparthotels. While the downtown neighbourhoods, with their sparkling, contemporary bars, restaurants and shopping precincts, offer more in the line of high tech. and contemporary accommodation - including capsule hotels.
Our Guide to Osaka’s Neighbourhoods
Map of Osaka's official neighb
Kita
Image by Penny from Pixabay
Kita – which means ‘north’, is the northern neighbourhood of Osaka, also known as Umeda – because it surrounds Umeda Station. Umeda is a busy station, for business, commerce, entertainment and travel – this neighbourhood has several major department stores, an expansive network of underground shopping malls connected to the station, and plenty of above ground accommodation and dining options too. Some of Kita’s department stores share their name with train companies, because they’re owned by the same parent companies – and that is how tired together this neighbourhood is with the station. Beyond the daytime workers and their lunchtime and post-work needs, Kita has a very nice park, the National Museum of Art; the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living; and the Osaka Science Museum – which is much loved by Osaka’s kids. The Umeda Sky Building is another well advertised Osaka sight – and an ideal spot if you like a fantastic view. And to top it off, Kita has nice broad pavements, making it an easy neighbourhood to explore on foot.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: central; great transport links; great shopping; varied eating and drinking opportunities; local sights
- Cons: business-y; commercial
- Ideal For: a transport hub; shopping; families; easy exploring; business travel
Minami/ Namba
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Minami is Osaka’s southern neighbourhood, surrounding Namba Station – hence the two names. It offers the same sorts of benefits as Kita when it comes to train travel – it’s an easy hub if you’re wanting to explore the city, or the region beyond Osaka city. It’s also an easy neighbourhood in which to find places to stay, eat and drink, entertainment; and do some shopping. And if you’re interested in nightlife, Minami is a livelier choice than Kita. Minami’s main nightlife hub is Dotonbori, which is great place to eat and drink by day, and stay up late into the night. Dotonbori Street runs parallel to the Dotonbori Canal – but you’ll know it when you get to it because of the amazing array of neon lighting! The shopping hub of the Minami neighbourhood is Shinsaibashi, which is also one of Osaka’s attractions. If you’re looking for more of a ‘Harajuku vibe’, try Amerikaura; and if you’re looking for the electronics district, or for the best manga shops you’re looking for Den Den Town. If you’re interested in market shopping, for food especially, you’re looking for Kuromon Market, which is also a great place to eat and drink. Aside from shopping and entertainment, Minami is a good neighbourhood for anyone with an interest in seeing kabuki or bunraku performances. Minami has a wonderful museum of woodblock prints on a theatrical theme too: Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum
Pros and Cons
- Pros: central; great transport links; great shopping; plenty of variety when it comes to eating and drinking; lively of an evening
- Cons: busy, especially of an evening
- Ideal For: city breakers; foodies; night owls; party people; shoppers
Dotonbori
Image by djedj from Pixabay
Dotonbori is a smaller neighbourhood within Minami, well known for its nightlife and neon lights. The neighbourhood expands from the street and canal of the same name, along which there are a myriad of places to eat, drink and make merry. Worth noting are the traditional stone alleyways of Hozenji Yokocho, which are linked with traditional food stalls, cafes and bars, and are a good place to start eating. Shellfish is a speciality, and Dotonbori is a great place to try okonomiyaki and Takoyaki – if you haven’t already tried them. Dotonbori is also a hub for kabuki and bunraku theatre – and has been for the last 400 years or so. This may sound niche, but Dotonbori is also home of the huge, neon, Gilco Man, a photo hotspot advertising Japanese snacks – look it up if you’ve not heard of it yet.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: central; lively; great places to eat and drink; theatre district
- Cons: busy; lively
- Ideal For: night owls; foodies; party people
Honmachi
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Calmer, cheaper, and more central than Kita or Minami, Homachi is a central business district right in between them. This neighbourhood doesn’t offer quite as many accommodation options, or places to eat and drink, but there’s still lots of choice, and it’s an easy walk – or subway ride - from both Kita and Minami. Honmachi isn’t quite as fashionable a neighbourhood, either, but there are still some chic accommodation options, as well as excellent business hotels, and some very affordable picks too. Honmachi is also a nice choice for families: with Utsubo-koen Park and Namba Yasaka-jinja (shrine) very close to Honmachi Station. And you can comfortably walk to Osaka Castle if you like the idea of exploring Osaka on foot.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: great travel connections; great value options; green space
- Cons: business-y
- Ideal For: families; value seekers; explorers
Morinomiya/ Osaka Castle
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Morinomiya is the neighbourhood surrounding the big, beautiful park that surrounds Osaka Castle. This is a great neighbourhood to stay in if you’re not a natural urbanite and you appreciate green views and a natural landscape to escape to. The castle and surrounding park are the major sights, but Morinomiya is also home to the Osaka Museum of History. Morinomiya is a mixed neighbourhood of residential, as well and commercial and historic pockets, with a good range of accommodation, including great family-friendly options, and apartment hotels.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: green space; historic sights; major local sights; good transport links; peaceful
- Cons: Osaka Castle is a busy attraction
- Ideal For: families; nature lovers; relaxers
Tennoji and Shinsekai
Image by NIRV VANA from Pixaba
Tennoji is another greener area, great for families because of its parks, and family friendly accommodation. Tennoji is home to some of its own sights, including Tennoji Park, the Osaka Zoo, and the Shitennoji Temple - one of Japan’s oldest temples. But the real heart of the neighbourhood is Shinsekai, which has oft. been referred to as ‘the street food capital of Japan’ - especially well known for its kushikatsu fried skewers, so makes a great place for foodies to base themselves. A number of kushikatsu restaurants are open 24hours, so this is a fun place to be at all hours of the day and night. It’s a neon-covered warren, but the neon is almost historic? dating from a golden era post-WWII, which creates a very special ambience. The neighbourhood cropped up around Tsutenkaku Tower, which is a 108metre tall structure with a vintage space-age look. You can go as high as 91metres to the observation deck, and slide down the 60metre slide as a finale to your visit. Shinsekai actually translates to ‘New World’, which is a wonderfully hopeful name for a neighbourhood. And it’s home to Spa World, a huge hot spring baths complex, with both European and Japanese spa services. This is a colourful neighbourhood, with accommodation that varies almost as much as its restaurants and eateries, however it is gentrifying, and some of the older, cheaper options are being pushed out.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: local attractions; green space; great local shopping; great places to eat and drink; historic; colourful
- Cons: gritty in places
- Ideal For: families; party people; night owls; reminiscers; value seekers; foodies
Shinsaibashi
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If Shinsekai is a food hub, Shinsaibashi is a shopping one, and has been since the Edo period. From high end boutiques to cool kids fashion care of Japanese youth culture, there’s a hub for it within Shinsaibashi. The heart of the neighbourhood is Shinsaibashi-suji, a 600metre long, covered, shopping arcade. If you’re not a shopper it may surprise you to learn that this is one of Osaka’s main tourist attractions, but there is an impressive array on offer here, including traditional tea shops, woodblock print galleries, and kimono boutiques, and contemporary and high end fashion brands. There are also plenty of small restaurants and cafes, and a couple of department stores too. Come armed with patience for bring light and crowds, but deep pockets are not essential. Shinsaibashi is a fun place to be of an evening too, especially if you enjoy karaoke and want to see it in its country of origin. As well as the huge shopping precinct, Shinsaibashi has a shrine dating from the 8th century, and a beautiful Buddhist temple. Shinsaibashi is within a short stroll of Dotombori, Amemura and Namba Parks - which is another shopping centre, but with a vast park on top of it, and all the shops underground. Part of the Minami district, this is also a neighbourhood with great transport links, and there’s a varied range of accommodation.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: fantastic shopping; lively atmosphere; great places to eat and drink
- Cons: bright and busy
- Ideal For: shoppers; party people
Amemura
The name Amemura is a riff on ‘American Village’, and that’s what you can expect from this quirky neighbourhood on the edge of Shinsaibashi: and eclectic take on American culture, with lots of skateboarders, cowboy hats, thrift stores, and a replica of the Statue of Liberty? This is a great place to stay if you’re a night owl, with some interesting ways to pass your evening - including a video game bar called ‘Space Station’, a nightclub called ‘Circus’, and some super cool nighttime backstreet tours. Even if you don’t stay in the Amemura neighbourhood it’s worth popping down on the weekend to see some great street performers.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: quirky cool; great shopping; great value
- Cons: small and American
- Ideal For: cool kids; night owls; vintage shoppers; party people
Shin-Osaka
Image by Armin Forster from Pi
Shin-Osaka is the name of the station where the shinkansen, or bullet train, pulls into Osaka. It’s not the most exciting neighbourhood to stay in as far as attractions go, it’s very much a transport hub, but because of that it’s got a very wide range of hotel and apartment accommodation, and lots and lots of choice when it comes to eating and drinking. And it’s only 12minutes on the shinkansen from Kyoto! as well as being about four minutes from Kita and six from Minami. So Shin-Osaka is the prefect neighbourhood for exploring Osaka and beyond.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: transport links; great range of places to stay; great choice of places to eat and drink
- Cons:no major attractions of its own
- Ideal For: explorers; value seekers; rail pass holders
Tenma
Image by ftanuki from Pixabay
Tenma is another good choice for night owls. By day it offers a beautiful collection of ancient shrines, most notably the Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, which was founded in the 10th century, but by night the narrow maze of backstreets lights up with small and quirky bars and restaurants. The contrast between the lively bars and the serene atmosphere of Tenmangu Shrine is as different as night and day - except during the Tenjin Festival, when the shrine is celebrated with marching bans, fireworks, drumming and a massive procession - it’s Osaka’s largest annual festival. Tenma is also known for having one of Japan’s longest shopping streets: Tenjinbashi-suji, which stretches more than two kilometres. Despite the scale, this is a friendly feeling neighbourhood hub, and in the evening, when the lanterns are lit, some of Osaka’s best bars start waking up. This is a great place for foodies to explore, with plenty of street food to try, as well as some pretty special bar snacks. The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living is an educational stop off if you’re interested in Osaka during the Edo period.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: historic; major local sights; good transport links; lively after dark; great places to eat and drink
- Cons: lively until very late into the evening
- Ideal For: night owls; party people; shoppers; explorers; value seekers
Osaka-ko
Image by Chamaiporn Kitina fro
Osaka-ko is Osaka’s waterfront district, with fantastic water views, and one of Japan’s best, and biggest aquariums. There are a couple of different neighbourhoods within the district: Sakishima, which has lots of hotels and restaurants, including some seriously luxurious ones; Tempozan, which is an entertainment neighbourhood, and home to the giant ferris wheel; and Sakurajima Island, which is dominated by Universal Studios Japan.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: lots of hotels and restaurants; easy transport links
- Cons: quite business-y, and touristy
- Ideal For: families; short visits; luxury lovers
Image by Kanenori from Pixabay