Shopping in Osaka

Shopping opportunities in Osaka are so plentiful it will take an extremely determined shopper to exhaust them. Osaka is renowned for it long covered-shopping streets and vast underground shopping malls, as well as specialist shopping areas for electronics and kitchenware.

Key areas

Japan's longest shopping street, Tenjinbashi-Suji Shopping Arcade, is located in Kita. It is a 2.6km-long (1.6 miles), vault-roofed line of shops interspersed with cinemas, game centres, bars and restaurants. Another key area is Mido-Suji Avenue, a wide, tree-lined street that is Osaka's main north-south thoroughfare. It is also the place for exclusive fashion and design, with elegant brand shops featuring the latest European fashions. The nearby America-Mura has hundreds of fashion shops, bars and restaurants aimed at young Osakans with a taste for rock, punk and hip hop. Nipponbashi Den-Den Town in Minami is a paradise for fans of electronics and gadgetry. If you are keen on Japanese cooking, Doguyasuji, just west of Nankai Namba Station, is an entire street of kitchen and tableware shops. It is the place to pick up every kind of pot, pan, dish and chopstick required for Japanese cooking.

Markets

On the 21st and 22nd of each month, a large flea market is held in the precincts of Shitenno-ji temple. This is a great place to pick up second-hand silk kimono and other traditional wares.

Shopping centres

Kita has a large underground shopping mall complex, connecting most of the train stations in the area and containing a vast number of brand stores, fashionable boutiques, cafés and restaurants. Some of the largest malls are Yodobashi Camera, located around JR Osaka Station, and the Hankyu Grand Building and the Hankyu Sanbangai, near Hankyu Umeda Station. The ultra-trendy fashion district of Chayamachi is located nearby. In Minami, the Namba Parks shopping mall is one of Osaka’s most fashionable commercial areas, with more than 200 retail outlets, in a pleasant park setting. The Minami area also has several large underground malls, including Crysta Nagahori and Namba Walk. There are also several big shopping complexes above ground, including Shinsaibashi OPA.

Opening hours

Standard shopping hours in Osaka are Monday to Sunday 1000-2000. Some of the major department stores open until 2100.

Souvenirs

Sweet and savoury snacks and other foods.

Tax information

Some stores will refund the 5% consumption tax if you spend over ¥10,000. You’ll need your passport to claim the refund.

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Featured Hotels

Hilton Osaka Hotel

With its excellent location just outside JR Osaka Station, the Hilton Osaka offers convenience as well as luxury to its guests. There are four restaurants serving a variety of international cuisines, including Windows on the World, which boasts great views of the city from the 35th floor and live music every evening. The hotel has a business centre, a beauty salon, swimming pool and fitness room.

Imperial Hotel Osaka

This opulent hotel is in a pleasant location overlooking the Okawa River in the north of Osaka, and is just as luxurious as its famous Tokyo cousin. Purified air is pumped into the rooms, the service is extremely attentive and there's also a golf driving range. The Imperial Hotel's elegant in-house restaurants serve French, Chinese and a range of Japanese cuisines, including teppanyaki and sushi.

Hotel Nikko Osaka

Hotel Nikko Osaka is a top-class hotel in Osaka, close to the main nightlife and shopping arcades of the Minami area. The spacious rooms are supremely comfortable and decorated in a sleek, modern style, with the upper floors offering views of Mt Ikoma. There's a good range of restaurants, including three offering breakfast. There's also a business centre in the hotel.

Swissôtel Nankai Osaka

Swissôtel Nankai Osaka is located in the heart of Namba, above the Nankai train station, which makes it extremely convenient for direct access to Kansai International Airport. The rooms are modestly decorated and have great views over southern Osaka. There are also seven restaurants, bars, a gym, spa and indoor swimming pool.

Cross Hotel Osaka

This surprisingly stylish business hotel is just minutes away from the Minami shopping and nightlife scene. The decently sized rooms are decorated in modern colour schemes and include internet access. There's also a Japanese restaurant and a bar.

Hearton Hotel Nishi-Umeda

The Hearton Hotel Nishi-Umeda is part of a reliable and popular business hotel chain. It is conveniently located just behind the main post office next to JR Osaka Station. The rooms are small but clean, and come with cable TV and complimentary internet access. There's also a restaurant with a deck.

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