Minami ("South") is one of Osaka's two major city centers. It is the city's most famous shopping and entertainment district, and is located around Namba Station. The other major city center is Kita ("North") which is located around Osaka and Umeda Stations.
Dotonbori One of Osaka's most popular tourist destinations, this street runs parallel to the Dotonbori canal. It is a popular shopping and entertainment district and is also known as a food destination. At night it is lit by hundreds of neon lights and mechanized signs, including the famous Glico Running Man sign and Kani Doraku crab sign.
Best seen at night, Dotonbori never truly closes with some restaurants open 24 hours.
Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade and the surrounding Shinsaibashi area is Osaka's premiere shopping center. Approximately 600 m long, this area is unique as it combines chain retail stores and trendy boutiques with expensive department stores and top designer fashion labels.
Hours vary by store with many stores opening around 10-11AM and closing around 7-9:30PM
Amerikamura Locally known as "Amemura," this shopping district is considered Osaka's counterpart to Harajuku and is a good place to see the cutting edge of teenage fashion and culture in Japan. It is a lively atmosphere that is populated with cafes, clothing stores, and thrift shops with a younger feel than the nearby Shinsaibashi.
Hours vary by store.
Den Den Town Located in the Nipponbashi area, Den Den Town is an electronics district comparable to Tokyo's Akihabara, and you may be able to bargain to a better deal. Den Den Town is becoming known as an otaku paradise with numerous manga and anime retailers as well as maid and cosplay cafes located there.
Hours vary by store with many stores opening around 10-11AM and closing around 7-9PM.
Namba Parks Built to resemble a natural canyon, Namba Parks is designed to be a break of nature amidst the sprawling urban landscape. It features a 120 tenant shopping mall including a cinema, amphitheater, and a rooftop garden. The 6th floor is made up of numerous restaurants including some Korean, Italian, and Vietnamese places.
Shops are open 11AM-9PM. Restaurants vary but most are open from 11AM-11PM.
Culture and History:
Shin Kabukiza Theater Despite its name, the Shin Kabukiza theater in Osaka is not usually staging any kabuki performances. Instead, it mainly features concerts by popular enka singers, plays and other shows. To see kabuki, head to the National Bunraku Theater (see below).
Hours and ticket prices vary by performance.
National Bunraku Theater Bunraku is similar to kabuki but performed using meter tall puppets. The National Bunraku Theater is considered the nation's most prestigious, and in addition to shows offers free seminars throughout the year. Kabuki, rakugo, and noh are also performed. English earphones are available.
Bunraku performances are usually held in three week runs in January, April, June, July/August and November. Ticket prices vary by performance but typically range from 2000-6000 yen.
Hozenji Yokocho Alley With Hozenji Temple at one end and with more than 60 traditional restaurants and izakaya along it's narrow path, this alley retains an old time atmosphere reminiscent of Kyoto's Pontocho. Be sure to visit Hozenji Temple where local merchants and visitors alike pour water over the temple's statues for luck.
Admission to the temple is free. Restaurant hours vary.
Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum This museum is the only one in the world to have a permanent Kamigata Ukiyoe exhibit. Kamigata Ukiyoe are woodblock prints from the Kyoto/Osaka region that typically feature portraits of kabuki actors. The third floor of the building is dedicated to rice growing and the roof has been converted to a wild rice field.
Open daily from 11AM to 6PM, except on Mondays. If Monday falls on a public holiday, the museum is open on the public holiday and closed on the following day. Admission: 500 yen.
The Minami area is centered around Namba Station and the Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) and is served by multiple train and subway routes as well as buses.
Namba Station is not a single station, but rather a collection of multiple station buildings and platforms, including Nankai Namba Station, JR Namba Station and Kintetsu Namba Station. Furthermore, the Midosuji, Yotsubashi and Sennichimae Subway Lines stop at their respective Namba Stations.
Most airport and highway buses serve the Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT), which is located in the same building as JR Namba Station.
From Shin-Osaka and Osaka Stations:
The Midosuji Subway line connects Shin-Osaka and Osaka/Umeda Stations directly to Namba Station. It takes approximately 8 minutes and 230 yen from Osaka/Umeda Station and 15 minutes and 270 yen from Shin-Osaka Station.
From Kansai Airport:
By Train:
Nankai Railways operates direct trains between Kansai Airport and Nankai Namba Station. Express trains take around 45 minutes and cost 890 yen (non-reserved seats only), while limited express trains ("Rap:t") take around 35 minutes and cost 1390 yen (reserved seats only).
It is also possible to travel by JR, but it requires a transfer at Tennoji Station along the way. The whole trip takes approximately one hour and costs 1030 yen, using the JR Airport Rapid.
By Bus:
Buses run from Kansai Airport to the Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) approximately every 30 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at the airport limousine bus counter and cost 880 yen. Travel time is about 50 minutes.
