WHERE TO STAY IN OSAKA

If you are interested in where to stay in Osaka, you may also be interested in where to stay in Tokyo, Kyoto or Hiroshima.

Namba, the best area to stay in Osaka

The area of Namba is a spectacular place that ticks all the boxes that stereotype Japan with the streets covered in neon, which highlight people’s businesses and services as well as karaoke rooms, DVD places, cinemas and numerous shopping centres and malls. This bustling and energised tourist area is what gives the city its authenticity and is one of the most popular places for entertainment and shopping purposes, which it makes it the perfect place to stay in.

There are some excellent tourist attractions to check out in Namba, including the Museum of History, which does exactly as it says and that is displaying the city’s history by showcasing objects and items including works of art, photos and past products. Another interesting museum is the Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum, which focuses on Japanese woodblock prints called ‘Ukiyoe’ and is a surprisingly impressive place to visit. Other things to see and do are Shin-Kabuki-za, which is a theatre that features many comedians as does Grand Kagetsu theatre and is one of the biggest performance halls in the area and hosts local comedians as well as internationally-acclaimed ones.

All around Namba Station, you will find many shops and malls like Takashimaya department store that sell anything from electronics to jewellery and food and is where you could easily explore for a few days. The same streets around Namba Station also have the highest concentration of restaurants, pubs and clubs, which offer a great variety of tastes that gets the thumbs up from any tourist. A five-minute walk in any direction from the station will bring you to a whole load of hotels and hostels, where you will find cheap and cheerful places to some of the most expensive in Osaka.

Other areas to stay in Osaka

Shinsaibushi

The Shinsaibushi area is the largest shopping area in the city with the main street being Mido-suji street, which connects from Kita in the north to downtown Minami and Namba districts. Due to the huge selection of shops in the area, there is no wonder that so many tourists make their way to Shinsaibushi or just stay in the area. The shops consist of reasonably priced items, which sell a diverse range of things from fashion, games, jewellery, beauty products, souvenirs and much more.

Along with shops just on the street, there are various large department stores and the area is divided into a few specific areas including American Village, which is where lots of young people hang out and explore the many American brands. Also, there is another area called European Village and this is centred around Suomachi-suji street, which is a complete contrast to the American Village as it is usually much quieter and elegant looking. The European Village contains European brands as expected but has themed features like British style streetlamps and typical London-type buildings as well as the odd red phone box. The neighbourhood is surrounded by restaurants too and there are many cuisines that have to be tried including traditional Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai, European and American.

There are also an adequate number of pubs, clubs and hotels that appeal to every budget conscious traveller. The area is well connected too, so you can get from the airport as well as train to Shinsaibushi easily and to other places like tourist attractions and is known as a very safe place for visitors.

Yotsubashi

Not too far from Shinsaibushi is the neighbourhood of Yotsubashi, which is also known for its shopping, though doesn’t have the same amount as Shinsaibushi. Other things in the area include the Orix Stadium, which is home of the professional baseball team, ORIX Buffaloes. There are guided tours around the stadium with entry into the museum, changing rooms and regular talks about the history of the arena and the team. Other attractions nearby include the Tennoji Zoo and Botanical gardens.

Yotsubashi has a brilliant selection of top quality hotels and restaurants, which are some of the best in the city as the majority offer great views, delicious food and very spacious rooms. The neighbourhood has a fun and trendy feel about it and is incredibly well connected to the rest of the city as well as being an extremely friendly area, which makes it a decent place to stay in.