After Tokyo, Osaka is Japan's second most economically and culturally developed city. Known for its food and comedy culture, as well as the friendly nature of its residents, Osaka is home to about 10% of the foreign residents in Japan, making it a familiar city to many people from overseas.
In recent years, urban development has been progressing not only in Tokyo but also in Osaka, with new commercial facilities continuously increasing in the Osaka Station and Umeda area. While Osaka is increasingly enhancing its potential as a tourist destination, there are still "hidden gem" spots that remain relatively unknown.
One such place is the Nipponbashi area, which we'll introduce in this article. Located near Namba, which is as bustling as Umeda, Nipponbashi is a unique neighborhood with a distinctive culture. In this article, we'll delve into the hidden charms of Nipponbashi!
Nipponbashi: A Bridge Over the Dotonbori River
Source: osaka-chushin.jp
Osaka is known as the "City of Water" and was once a hub for overseas trade. Within Osaka City, there are canals and rivers excavated by the warring states commander Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who built Osaka Castle in the 16th century. There are about 200 bridges spanning these waterways.
Nipponbashi is one of the bridges over the Dotonbori River in the center of Osaka. There's also a Nihonbashi in Tokyo, but it's a completely different place, so be careful not to confuse them.
The Nipponbashi Area Extends South from the Bridge
The Nipponbashi area we're introducing extends south from the Nipponbashi bridge. It's located in the southeast of Namba, one of Osaka's two major entertainment districts.
When locals hear "Nipponbashi," they think of the electronics shopping district, otaku culture, and a neighborhood for food professionals. In fact, there are shopping streets specialized in each of these areas, forming a unique neighborhood with high specialization. Even if you're not very familiar with otaku culture, just walking around the area allows you to experience a new world. This is what makes Nipponbashi great.
In this article, we'll share how to enjoy Nipponbashi - a place that becomes more captivating the more you learn about it.
4 Must-Visit Popular Tourist Spots in the Nipponbashi Area
Kuromon Market
Source: Official website
If you come to Osaka, you can't miss out on the "food experience." Kuromon Market conveys the lively atmosphere of old Osaka, once called the "nation's kitchen." Blessed with water transportation, Osaka has long been a hub for rice and regional specialties. Kuromon Market began when fish merchants gathered and started trading around 1822, and it continues to develop to this day.
Currently, there are about 150 shops specializing in fresh food, including specialty stores for pufferfish and soft-shell turtles, as well as shops for pickles and dried foods. Loved by professional chefs and locals, it has recently become even more crowded with domestic and international tourists.
The best way to enjoy this market is by eating as you walk. Be sure to savor the high-quality food that has supported Osaka's reputation as a food capital, including grilled seafood skewers, meat skewers, and sushi.
<Facility Information>
- Address: 2-4-1 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
- Opening hours: Varies by store
- Closed days: Varies by store
- Phone number: 06-6631-0007
- Official website
For an Efficient Tour of Kuromon Market, Try the "Kuromon Market Walking Street Food Tour in Osaka"
The "Kuromon Market Walking Street Food Tour in Osaka" is a gourmet tour that allows you to explore and enjoy Osaka's deep food culture further. A local guide who knows Osaka's gourmet scene well will choose the best route from the numerous stores in Kuromon Market.
Here, you can enjoy a variety of dishes that encapsulate the essence of Osaka's cuisine, including fresh seafood and hot pot dishes. Another highlight of this tour is experiencing the warm service and hospitality of each store.
After the meal, you'll explore Doguyasuji. This street is a specialized street lined with stores selling professional-grade kitchen utensils and cooking equipment. Touring this place that has supported Osaka's food culture behind the scenes is an experience you can't get on other tours. It's also great for finding souvenirs for friends and family who love cooking.
Den Den Town
Source: Wikipedia
Just as Akihabara is known as the electronics district of East Japan, Nipponbashi's Den Den Town is its counterpart in West Japan. Osaka's Nipponbashi has long developed as an electronics district. As a native of Osaka, I remember being taken here by my parents when I was little to look for the latest home appliances.
These days, with electronics retail stores popping up all over the country, Den Den Town has differentiated itself by emphasizing its high level of specialization. Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers looking to enrich their time at home have been coming here for model-making items and high-end products like audio and home theater systems.
Den Den Town, with its rich selection of products and knowledgeable professional stores, has established itself as a "cutting-edge hobby neighborhood."
Another charm of Den Den Town is the chance to find old treasures that are no longer in production (recently, old record players and radios have become popular). Enjoy treasure hunting for niche items that you can't experience in regular retail stores.
<Facility Information>
- Address: 5-9-12 Nipponbashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka
- Opening hours: Varies by store
- Closed days: Varies by store
- Phone number: 06-6655-1717 (Nipponbashi General Information)
- Official website
Nipponbashi Otaku Road
Source: otento
"Nipponbashi Otaku Road" is bustling with people not only on weekends but also on weekdays. It refers to the Nipponbashi-suji West Shopping Street behind Den Den Town, an area with a concentration of stores dealing in manga, anime, games, and figurines. It has become a mecca where you can fully enjoy Japan's "otaku culture (pop culture)" that has now gained global recognition.
The presence of maid cafes (coffee shops where waitresses dressed as maids serve customers as if they were "masters") and costume shops for cosplayers is another unique charm of Nipponbashi Otaku Road.
It's also spectacular to see the parking lots nearby filled with uniquely decorated cars called "itasha," painted with cute characters. In any case, it's fun just walking around the street, so I recommend visiting at least once, even if you're not an anime fan.
<Facility Information>
- Address: 5-9-12 Nipponbashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka
- Opening hours: Varies by store
- Closed days: Varies by store
- Phone number: 06-6655-1717 (Nipponbashi General Information)
- Official website
National Bunraku Theatre
Source: Official website
While the image of "Nipponbashi = electronics district, otaku district" has become widespread, there's also a place where you can enjoy traditional Japanese culture. That's the "National Bunraku Theatre." Here, you can enjoy "Bunraku," a traditional Japanese theatrical form that has been designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Bunraku is a type of puppet theater, a unique performing art that combines singing, narration, and puppet manipulation. The story unfolds through "joruri," which narrates dramatic content with unique melodies, and the "shamisen," a stringed instrument that accompanies it.
The National Bunraku Theatre also offers experience classes and workshops to help visitors gain a deeper understanding of Bunraku's appeal, with plenty of audience participation programs.
Bunraku has been effectively incorporated as a production element in the American animated series "BLUE EYE SAMURAI" (2023). If you're interested, you might want to check that out as well.
<Facility Information>
- Address: 1-12-10 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
- Opening hours: Varies by performance / Exhibition room: 10:00-18:00
- Closed days: Irregular
- Phone number: 06-6212-2531
- Official website
Nipponbashi Area Also Offers Excellent Access to Other Tourist Spots
As mentioned at the beginning, the Nipponbashi area is located southeast of Namba, the center of Osaka, and has excellent train access via subway and Kintetsu lines. This makes it easy to access other tourist spots, allowing you to make your Osaka tour even more fulfilling.
From here on, we'll introduce must-visit famous places in Osaka and spots popular among young people, all located near Nipponbashi.
3 Recommended Spots for Tourists Near the Nipponbashi Area
Shinsekai (Tsutenkaku)
Shinsekai is a popular area where you can enjoy a wide range of Osaka's downtown gourmet food. It's said that Osaka specialties like kushiage (various seasonal ingredients like beef, vegetables, and seafood skewered and deep-fried) and doteyaki (beef tendon simmered in a sweet and savory sauce of miso and mirin) originated from Shinsekai.
In Shinsekai, there are many sights to see, including the symbol tower "Tsutenkaku," said to be modeled after the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and "Jan Jan Yokocho," where old-fashioned eateries and amusement facilities are crammed together. You can experience the deep side of Osaka, where the retro culture that flourished after World War II remains strongly.
<Facility Information (Tsutenkaku)>
- Address: 1-18-6 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka
- Access: 5-minute walk from Ebisucho Station after moving from Nipponbashi Station on the Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line
- Opening hours: General observatory 10:00-20:00 (last entry at 19:30)
- Closed days: Open daily
- Phone number: 06-6641-9555
- Official website
Dotonbori
Dotonbori, famous for its iconic "Glico sign," is a popular entertainment district among tourists. It's the center of Osaka where not only the economy but also entertainment and performing arts culture developed. Various theaters of different genres are gathered here, including the Osaka Shochikuza, the National Bunraku Theatre, and the Namba Grand Kagetsu.
Also, living up to its reputation as a town of "kuidaore" (eating until you drop), it's always full of energy with popular gourmet foods from Osaka and Japan, including okonomiyaki, takoyaki, udon, yakiniku, ramen, and more.
I also recommend the Dotonbori mini-cruise that tours the Dotonbori River. Personally, I think the evening to night cruise is the best, when you can enjoy a different face of Dotonbori illuminated by colorful neon lights. Please enjoy the unique view of Dotonbori from the river.
<Facility Information>
- Address: 1-7-21 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka (Dotonbori Merchant Association)
- Access: 6-minute walk from Kintetsu Nipponbashi Station and Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line Nipponbashi Station to the center of Dotonbori
- Opening hours: Varies by store
- Closed days: Varies by store
- Phone number: 06-6211-4542 (Dotonbori Merchant Association)
- Official website
Nishinari
Source: 4Travel
In recent years, the Nishinari area has gained popularity among international backpackers. This unpretentious town is filled with low-cost guesthouses, old-fashioned taishu shokudo (dining establishments offering affordable meals for the general public), small karaoke pubs, and coffee shops. These unique characteristics might be what capture the hearts of visitors.
Additionally, with the growing syowa retro trend (a renewed interest in popular culture from the pre- and post-World War II era) among Japanese youth, it’s common to see younger generations enjoying themselves in this area.
There are various shopping streets of different sizes, but the first place to visit should be around Tobita Hondori Shopping Street. It’s also close to the Shinsekai area, making it an ideal extension to your sightseeing.
<Local Information>
-Address: Taishi 1, Nishinari-ku, Osaka (Tobita Hondori Shopping Street)
-Access: From Nipponbashi Station on the Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line, transfer to Dobutsuen-mae Station. It's a 4-minute walk to Tobita Hondori Shopping Street.
-Business Hours: Vary by store
-Closed: Varies by store