Umeda, Osaka
Photo: Daniel Ramirez / Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Neighbourhood guide

Umeda

Osaka's station district, with a shrine and a covered street between the towers

Umeda is the area around Osaka Station, the busiest station on JR West. It's department stores, station complexes and two tall viewpoints, with a covered shopping street and a small old shrine tucked into the entertainment streets. Kitashinchi, Juso and Nakazakicho are all within walking distance.

Osaka Station City links Lucua Osaka, Daimaru Umeda, a cinema and KITTE Osaka under one roof, and Hankyu Umeda Main Store sits right at Hankyu Umeda Station. Grand Front Osaka has shops open from 10:00 to 21:00 and restaurants until 23:00. Umekita Park beside the station has a lawn for events.

Most of the interest is at night and on the edges. Kitashinchi grew out of Dojima Shinchi, built in 1685 to 1688, and is Osaka's upmarket drinking district. Nakazakicho, 10 minutes' walk from Hankyu Umeda on the Osaka tourist board's page, escaped the wartime air raids, so many old homes remained after more than 100 years. Its nagaya are single buildings split by shared walls, which made them hard to rebuild and left many empty. A cafe called Salon de AManTo started renovating them, a vacant house project drew 1,100 volunteers, and cafes followed.

Getting there

Osaka Station is the JR hub and Umeda Station is on the Midosuji Line. Osaka-Umeda is the Hankyu and Hanshin station, and Higashi-Umeda is on the Tanimachi Line. Kitashinchi Station is on the JR Tozai Line and Nakazakicho Station on the Tanimachi Line.

19 places
Umeda (Midosuji Line), Osaka-Umeda (Hankyu, Hanshin) · Higashi-Umeda (Tanimachi Line), Osaka-Umeda (Hankyu) stations
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See Umeda on the interactive map

What to see

Ohatsu Tenjin is a small shrine in the middle of the nightlife streets, known for the 1703 double suicide behind Chikamatsu's puppet play Sonezaki Shinju. The grounds are open 6:00 to midnight and entry's free. Taiyu-ji Temple is said to date from 821, and it's open 8:00 to 17:00.

For heights, the HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel is 75 m across and costs ¥1,000 a ride, with last boarding at 22:45. The Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum on the 27th floor of Umeda Sky Building Tower West is ¥1,000.

Where to eat and where to stay

Kitashinchi is the upmarket end. Premium clubs there can charge entry fees above ¥50,000, so stick to places with posted prices, or to the snack bars and kushikatsu counters. Kushikatsu Daruma in Whity Umeda opens 10:00 to 22:00, and the rule is no double-dipping in the shared sauce.

For somewhere to sleep, look near Osaka Station, Umeda Station or Osaka-Umeda. You'll have JR, the Midosuji Line, Hankyu and Hanshin on your doorstep.

Nearby neighbourhoods

Nakanoshima and Kitahama, Osaka Nakanoshima and Kitahama Brick halls, stone libraries and bridges across the river in the middle of town 12 places · 1.2 km away Tenma, Osaka Tenma A shrine, a rakugo hall and Japan's longest shopping arcade 15 places · 1.5 km away Shinsaibashi, Osaka Shinsaibashi A 600 m arcade, department stores and basement food streets 11 places · 3.3 km away Osaka Castle, Osaka Osaka Castle A 105.6-hectare park, a rebuilt keep and a boat on the moat 12 places · 3.4 km away

The best of Umeda

Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory
Best view Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory An open-air deck 173 m up for ¥2,000, with last entry at 22:00. The roof can close in heavy rain.
Nakazakicho
Best old streets Nakazakicho Renovated nagaya with cafes, general stores and second-hand clothing shops. Shops keep their own hours.
Best coffee stop Salon de AManTo Tenjin A cafe in a renovated old house, open every day from 12:00 to 22:00. It was the first project of the group that revived the area.
Sonezaki Ohatsu Tenjin-dori Shopping Street
Best rainy day Sonezaki Ohatsu Tenjin-dori Shopping Street A covered street of about 300 m with around 90 casual restaurants, from the Ohatsu Tenjin shrine to the Swing Umeda Building.

Things to do in Umeda

Shrine · Free Ohatsu Tenjin (Tsuyunotenjin Shrine) A small shrine in the middle of Umeda's nightlife streets, known for the 1703 double suicide that inspired Chikamatsu's puppet play Sonezaki Shinju. A bronze statue of the two lovers was added in 2004.
Temple · Free Taiyu-ji Temple A Koyasan Shingon temple said to date from 821 and founded by Kukai, set among Umeda's entertainment streets. Its principal Senju Kannon statue is a designated Tangible Cultural Property of Osaka City.
Viewpoint · ¥¥ Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory An open-air rooftop deck 173 m up, reached by a see-through escalator from the 35th to the 39th floor. The observatory covers the 39th and 40th floors and the roof.
Viewpoint · ¥¥ HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel A red ferris wheel, 75 m across, on the roof of the HEP FIVE shopping building beside Hankyu Umeda. One turn takes about 15 minutes.
Neighbourhood · Free Sonezaki Ohatsu Tenjin-dori Shopping Street A covered street of about 300 m that runs from Ohatsu Tenjin shrine to the Swing Umeda Building. Around 90 casual restaurants line it, serving okonomiyaki, yakitori, kushikatsu and set meals.
Nightlife · ¥¥¥ Kitashinchi Osaka's upmarket drinking district, about 500 m east to west and 250 m north to south. It grew out of Dojima Shinchi, built in 1685 to 1688, and today mixes high-end clubs with snack bars, kushikatsu counters and a big udon shop.
Shopping · Free Grand Front Osaka A complex that opened in April 2013 north of Osaka Station, with shops, restaurants, offices and a hotel. About 266 businesses operate in it, and the towers are 179.5 m tall.
Shopping · Free Hankyu Umeda Main Store A department store at Hankyu Umeda Station with about 84,000 square meters of floor space, rebuilt and reopened in November 2012. It's strong on fashion and cosmetics, and its annual sales rank second in Japan.
Landmark · Free Osaka Station City The JR Osaka Station complex that opened in 2011, linking Lucua Osaka, Daimaru Umeda, a cinema, a hotel and KITTE Osaka under one roof. Osaka Station itself is the busiest station on JR West.
Park · Free Umekita Park A park beside Osaka Station, split into a South Park (Ofuka-cho 5) and a North Park (Ofuka-cho 6). It has a lawn plaza used for events and PLAT UMEKITA, a space for exhibitions and workshops.
Museum · ¥¥ Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum A small museum on the 27th floor of the Umeda Sky Building Tower West, opened in December 2016. It shows fresco murals and sculpture by Koji Kinutani and has a 3D video room and a cafe.
Food · ¥¥ Kushikatsu Daruma (Whity Umeda) The Whity Umeda branch of a kushikatsu shop founded in 1929 on the former Luna Park site in Shinsekai. It serves deep-fried skewers dipped in a shared sauce.
Neighbourhood · Free Nakazakicho A district north of Hankyu Umeda where old nagaya row houses survived the wartime air raids. A project that began at the cafe Salon de AManTo renovated empty houses with 1,100 volunteers, and the area now has cafes, general stores and second-hand clothing shops.
Cafe · ¥ Salon de AManTo Tenjin A cafe in a renovated old Japanese house in Nakazakicho, run as an art and conversation space. Its rebuilt house was the first project of the group that revived the neighbourhood's vacant homes.
Shopping Hanshin Umeda Main Store A department store with a basement food floor, a Hanshin Tigers shop (Team Shop Clubhouse) on the first floor, and a food hall and restaurants on the ninth floor. Hanshin Osaka-Umeda station is about a minute away on foot.
Nightlife The Symphony Hall A concert hall with a cafe in the building that opens on performance days. The hall also runs its own big band series.
Nightlife Sankei Hall Breeze A theatre on the 7th floor of Breeze Tower, carrying on the legacy of the Sankei Hall that opened in 1952. Its own programme includes the Yonedanji rakugo series, plus theatre and other performances.
Nightlife Billboard Live Osaka A seated live club in Herbis Plaza ENT with a service area and a casual area for food and drink. Tickets are sold on the club's own site, which has an English version.
Nightlife Umeda Club Quattro A live hall on the 10th floor of Plaza Umeda, one of four Club Quattro rooms with Shibuya, Nagoya and Hiroshima.

What's on in Umeda

Local events in the next 30 days, read from the ward, park and organiser pages each one links to.

  • Bizen Takashi Baba Exhibition Exhibition

    23 to 27 Oct · Hankyu Umeda Art Gallery, 7th floor

    An exhibition of Bizen and Shino ceramics at the 7th floor art gallery.

    Map · Source: Hankyu Department Store, Umeda Main Store · 備前 馬場隆志展 ～窯変する志野～

  • Nana Suzuki and Yasuhiro Kagami Two-Person Exhibition Exhibition

    23 to 27 Oct · Hanshin Umeda Main Store, 8F Art Gallery

    A two-person art exhibition in the 8th floor Art Gallery of Hanshin Umeda Main Store.

    Map · Source: Hanshin Department Store, Umeda Main Store · 鈴木那奈・鏡泰裕 二人展

  • SHISEIDO Future Solutions LX Hanare Exhibition

    23 to 25 Oct · Umekita Plaza Sub Space, GRAND FRONT OSAKA

    A Shiseido Future Solutions LX pop-up held in the sub space of Umekita Plaza at GRAND FRONT OSAKA.

    Map · Source: GRAND FRONT OSAKA · SHISEIDO フューチャーソリューション LX はなれ

  • Toshio Honda Oil Painting Exhibition Exhibition

    23 to 27 Oct · Hankyu Umeda Art Gallery, 7th floor

    An exhibition of oil paintings at the 7th floor art gallery.

    Map · Source: Hankyu Department Store, Umeda Main Store · 本田年男 洋画展

  • PlayStation Festival Festival

    Sat 24 Oct · Knowledge Plaza, North Building 1F, GRAND FRONT OSAKA

    A PlayStation themed event held at the Knowledge Plaza on the 1st floor of the North Building of GRAND FRONT OSAKA.

    Map · Source: GRAND FRONT OSAKA · PlayStation 祭

  • Sumi Tagawa 35th Anniversary Concert Performance

    Sat 24 Oct · Sankei Hall Breeze

    A concert marking singer Sumi Tagawa's 35th anniversary, with reserved seating at Sankei Hall Breeze.

    ¥8,000 · 14:30 · Map · Source: Sankei Hall Breeze · 田川寿美 35周年記念コンサート

  • Bizen: Takashi Baba Exhibition Exhibition

    On now, until 27 Oct · Hankyu Umeda Main Store, 7F Art Gallery

    An exhibition of ceramics by Takashi Baba in the 7th-floor art gallery.

    Map · Source: Hankyu Department Store, Umeda Main Store · 備前 馬場隆志展 ~窯変する志野~

  • Toshio Honda Oil Painting Exhibition Exhibition

    On now, until 27 Oct · Hankyu Umeda Main Store, 7F Art Gallery

    An exhibition of oil paintings by Toshio Honda in the 7th-floor art gallery.

    Map · Source: Hankyu Department Store, Umeda Main Store · 本田年男 洋画展

  • coppers Hayakawa Copper Sculpture Exhibition Exhibition

    28 Oct to 3 Nov · Hankyu Umeda Main Store, 7F Art Gallery

    An exhibition of copper sculptures by coppers Hayakawa in the 7th-floor art gallery.

    Map · Source: Hankyu Department Store, Umeda Main Store · coppers早川 造形展 ~銅の不思議な世界2026~

  • Ichigan Fudo Goma Prayer at Taiyuji Festival

    8th, 18th and 28th of every month. Next: Wed 28 Oct · Taiyuji

    A fire ritual to Fudo Myoo in the Goma hall on the 8th, 18th and 28th of each month. The temple says visitors may attend freely. Wooden tags cost 500 yen.

    Free · 14:00 and 16:00 (8th, 18th), 10:00, 14:00 and 16:00 (28th) · Map · Source: Taiyuji · 太融寺 一願不動護摩祈祷

All 34 local events in Umeda

Live music in Umeda

What's on in Umeda this week

Stay in Umeda

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