The Namba and Shinsaibashi areas are located in the heart of Osaka and offer lively shopping districts, delicious local cuisine, and a unique culture. We have carefully selected a few places that travelers should not miss to experience the heart and soul of Osaka!
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Namba Grand kagetsu (なんばグランド花月)
Just a short walk from Dotonbori in the direction of Namba is the Namba Grand kagetsu, Osaka’s sacred place for comedy. This is a theater specializing in comedy and comedies operated by Yoshimoto Kogyo, to which Japanese comedians belong. You can easily see a comedy stage.
In particular, we recommend a comedy show called “Yoshimoto Shin-Kigeki,” which gives visitors a taste of Osaka’s comedy that is rarely seen on Japanese television.
Namba Parks (なんばパークス)
Namba Parks, directly connected to Namba Station on the Nankai Railway, is a shopping facility with more than 200 diverse stores. Many events are held in accordance with the seasons, so you can enjoy a different look every time you visit.
The Parks Garden, a rooftop park with a variety of plants, is particularly attractive. You can feel nature all around you in the heart of the city with plants that live in both arid and tropical zones, and large green hills where you can feel the wind and sunlight under the sky. At night, the entire Parks Garden is enveloped in a fantastic light show.
Minatomachi River Place (湊町リバープレイス)
Minatomachi River Place is a popular spot to enjoy the night view of the Dotonbori River and the Minamihorie area. On a bridge called Ukisebashi, there is a space where visitors can sit on benches and enjoy the night view at their leisure.
The wooden deck with its wood grain floor and greenery also provides a nice atmosphere. There are restaurants in the vicinity that offer views of the river and the nightscape, so we recommend that you enjoy dinner while viewing the nightscape.
Design Pocket Plastic food making experience (食品サンプル専門店デザインポケット大阪本店)
Have you ever heard of “food samples,” a culture unique to Japan? Food samples are models of dishes that are displayed at or in restaurants. Each food sample is made to order based on the cuisine of the restaurant, and each is produced by hand.
Design Pocket Osaka is a place where both children and adults can enjoy making food samples, which originated in Osaka. Food sample making workshops are held every day. You can take home everything you make. Why not try it as a memorable part of your trip to Japan?
Namba Yasaka Shrine (難波八坂神社)
Namba Yasaka Shrine is located about an 8-minute walk from Namba Station. It is said to bring good luck in warding off bad luck, banishing plague and disease, bringing good luck in marriage, and ensuring safe delivery. It was the first shrine in Osaka City to be designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Asset.
The main attraction is the large open-mouthed Lion Hall located at the front of the temple grounds. It is 12 m high, 11 m wide, and 10 m deep. It is said that this large mouth swallows evil spirits.
Amerika-mura (アメリカ村)
It is a place where imported secondhand clothing, CDs, sundries, and other items are available, making it a center of young people’s culture. Many unique stores that are not available elsewhere have opened in the area, creating an atmosphere similar to that of the Harajuku area in Tokyo.
There are also takoyaki restaurants scattered throughout the area, where visitors can compare different kinds of takoyaki, a very popular food in Osaka. In the center of the area is the BIG STEP complex, which includes fashion stores, a movie theater, restaurants, and other facilities.
Kuromon Market (黒門市場)
Kuromon Market is a historic market with approximately 150 stores selling fresh fish, produce, fruit, food, beverages, clothing, and other items. The total length of the market is approximately 580 meters. The market is famous for summer conger eel and winter pufferfish, and about 10% of the fresh fish stores have signs specializing in pufferfish, making the market always crowded with tourists.
This market also offers a wide variety of delicious-looking food. Fresh juice from a fruit shop, green tea soft serve from a tea shop, and grilled seafood skewers from a fresh fish shop are just a few of the delicacies that will make you stop and smell the delicious smells.
Daimaru Shinsaibashi (大丸心斎橋店)
Daimaru Shinsaibashi is a department store that houses more than 350 leading brands in every genre, including luxury, traditional Japanese crafts, gourmet, and subculture. It is directly connected to the Shinsaibashi subway station for easy access.
In addition, the first floor of the interior is a reproduction of the famous Vories’ building. Enjoy a space of beauty that can only be experienced here.
Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street (心斎橋筋商店街)
Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street stretches approximately 600 meters. It is crowded with department stores, clothing and accessories stores, souvenir stores, and other stores, and is crowded with tourists and locals alike. It is a historic shopping arcade that has been bustling as a retail center since the Edo period (1603-1867). It starts across from the Glico sign, a major tourist attraction.
The latest hoods are also featured. The arcade makes it comfortable to walk around even on rainy days.
Video Game Bar Space Station
Space Station is a bar, but it is not your typical bar. It is a bar with a full lineup of Japanese video game consoles. There is no charge, and you only have to pay for your drinks.
The games include Super Nintendo, Famicom, Xbox, Wii, and other more recent titles that any Japanese person would feel nostalgic about. Playing video games and reminiscing about your childhood while drinking a drink is sure to be a unique experience. The drinks and cocktails are also named after video games.
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