Kita
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The Kita (キタ) is the newest centre of Osaka city. The area around Umeda station, where major terminals for the Osaka subway, Japan Rail (JR), Hankyu and Hanshin railways can be found, boasts department stores, buildings full of fashionable shops and various attractions. The southern edge of the ward is Nakanoshima, a sandbank in the middle of the river which is home to cultural institutions and government offices.
Get in
[edit]By train
[edit]There are two main train stations in this area, namely Umeda Station, and Osaka Station. Both are very close.
Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen (新幹線 trains arrive at Shin-Osaka station, to the north of the city center. From Shin-Osaka, you can connect to Umeda Station by using the Midosuji subway line, or connect to the local JR network for other destinations.
The best train between Kansai International Airport and Osaka Station used to be Kansaikuko which is operated by JR-West. The journey takes approximately 65 minutes at a cost of ¥1160. However, starting on March 13, 2023 (with the completion of the new underground platform) the JR Limited express "Haruka" began calling at Osaka station. The trip takes about 45 minutes and costs ¥2450 (and is included in JR Pass).
Umeda Station
- Hankyu Railways
- Kobe Line - Offers services to the following cities: Nishinomiya and Sannomiya (Kobe).
- Kyoto Line - Offers services to the following cities: Takatsuki, Settsu, Ibaraki, and Kyoto.
- Takarazuka Line - Offers services to the following cities: Toyonaka, Ikeda and Takarazuka.
- Hanshin Electeric Railways
- Main Line - Offers services to the following cities: Amagasaki, Nishinomiya and Sannomiya (Kobe).
Osaka Station
- Osaka Loop Line - Offers services to the following cities: Universal City, Tennoji, Kansai International Airport, Wakayama, and Nara.
- JR Kyoto Line - Offers services to the following cities: Shin-Osaka, Suita, Takatsuki, Settsu, Ibaraki, and Kyoto.
- JR Kobe Line - Offers services to the following cities: Amagasaki, Nishinomiya and Kobe.
- The JR Kyoto Line is the common name of a portion of the Tōkaidō Main Line, between Kyoto Station and Osaka Station.
By bus
[edit]There are several bus terminals around Osaka railway station. Airport Limousine bus runs from Kansai International Airport to Hotel New Hankyu bus station, ¥1500 one way.
- Hotel New Hankyu Bus Station (Next to Hankyu Umeda Station)
- Bus tickets is available at hotel counter.
- Airport - Osaka Airport, Kansai Airport
- Hankyu Sanban-Gai Bus Terminal (Hankyu Umeda Station Terminal Building North 1st Floor)
- Ticket office windows: 08:00-18:30
- Hankyu Bus(Japanese Website)
- Kansai - Amanohashidate, Arima Onsen, Sumoto (Awaji-Island)
- Kanto - Tokyo, Yokohama, Chiba, Tokyo Disney Land
- Chubu - Shizuoka, Matsumoto, Nagano, Suwa, Kanazawa, Fukui, Toyama, Niigata
- Shikoku - Takamatsu, Kochi, Tokushima, Awaikeda
- Kyushu - Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Nagasaki, Kagoshima
- Herbis Osaka Bus Terminal (5 minutes walk from JR Osaka station Central Gate, Herbis Plaza ent B1 Floor)'
- Ticket office window: 08:008-20:00. Bus tickets to the airport can be purchased through any automatic ticket vending machine
- Osaka Airport Tansport, Hanshin Bus
- Airport - Osaka Airport, Kansai Airport
- Hanshin Bus (Japanese website) -
- Osaka station - JR Express Bus Terminal (JR Osaka station North Gate Building 1st Floor)
- Ticket office windows: 05:45-23:50
- West JR Bus(Japanese website) +81 (0)6-6371-0111 - 09:00-19:00
- Kansai - Shirahama, Sumoto (Awaji-Island)
- Kanto - Tokyo, Yokohama, Omiya, Tachikawa, Tokorozawa
- Chubu - Kanazawa, Toyama, Fukui
- Chugoku - Hiroshima, Okayama, Kurashiki, Tsuyama, Kure, Hamada, Masuda
- Shikoku - Tokushima, Naruto, Takamatsu, Sakaide, Marugame, Zentsuji, Kochi, Matsuyama, Saijo, Suzaki
- Kyushu - Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Nagasaki, Kagoshima
- Willer Bus Terminal Osaka-Umeda (12 minutes walk from JR Osaka station North Central Gate, Umeda Sky Building Tower East 1st Floor)
- Willer Bus +81 (0)50-5805-0383 - English/Korean M-F 10:00-14:00
See
[edit]
- 1 Osaka Science Museum (大阪市立科学館) (walk from subway Higobashi Station or Yodoya-bashi Station, 500 m and 900 m to the west respectively). Tu-Su 09:30-17:00, closed Dec 28-Jan 4, closed on public holidays. Temporarily closed for renovation until summer 2024. Big interactive activity center on several floors. Great for kids. Planetarium and cinema (with science films) downstairs. Adults ¥400, university and high school students ¥300, children free, additional charges for planetarium.
- Osaka Museum of Housing and Living (大阪くらしの今昔館 Ōsaka kurashi no Konjaku-kan), 6-4-20 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku (walk from Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome Station; Housing Information Center, 8th floor), ☏ +81 6-6242-1170. W-M 10:00-17:00. Step back in time as you walk through this life-sized reproduction of an Osaka neighborhood from the 1830s. The street contains re-creations of a public bath (you can borrow a yukata, or cotton kimono, to wear as you stroll around), as well as various shops and merchants' living quarters. There's also a section displaying detailed dioramas of Osaka after the Meiji Period. English-language audio guides are available. Adults ¥600, free for junior-high students, kids, and seniors.
- 2 Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル), 1-1-20 Oyodonaka, Kita-ku (10-min walk from JR Osaka or Hankyu Umeda). Built in an attempt to upgrade Osaka's somewhat downbeat Kita district, the project wasn't quite the hoped-for commercial success but this bizarrely shaped 40-story, 173-m building is still a city landmark. Take the escalator through midair to the rooftop observatory for an open-air view of Osaka, which is particularly impressive on a clear night. There is a lover's seat, where if you hold your partner's hand, and each hold a metal button on the seat, the ground around you lights up into a heart. You can purchase an engraved heart lock (¥1000) and attached it to the padlock wall around the seat (padlocks only available after 19:00). Observatory admission ¥700, 10AM-10:30PM daily. The basement features a recreation of a Meiji-era street, with a few small restaurants and bars in appropriate style. There is also a small store downstairs where you can purchase quality mochi on the cheap. Adult ¥1500, children 4-12 ¥700, 50% reduction for those with a disability certificate.
- 3 Japan Mint and Mint Museum (造幣局), 1-1-79 Temma Kita-ku (15 minutes walk from Temmabashi subway stop). It's not widely known even by people from elsewhere in the country that Japan Mint is headquartered in Osaka. For Osakans, Sakura-no-tōrinuke (桜の通り抜け, cherry blossom tunnel road) is a synonym for this facility, attracting a large number of visitors (close to 1 million in just 7 days) during a limited, planned week in mid-Apr. A must-see if you are fond of nature and happen to drop into Osaka in-season. The museum is open 09:00-16:45, is free, and has two floors of coin displays with explanations in Japanese. Free.
- 4 Osaka Tenmangū Shrine (大阪天満宮), 2 Chome-1-8 Tenjinbashi (Get off at Ōsakatemmangū Station), ☏ +81 6-6353-0025. 09:00-17:00 daily. Free.
Do
[edit]
Map of Osaka/Kita
- Osaka Siki Musical Theater (大阪四季劇場) (in the Herbis ENT, Umeda). Home of the Shiki Theatre Company.
- Billbordlive Osaka.
- The festival hall in Nakanoshima, near Umeda, and the symphony hall in Umeda host modern and classical recitals, while Umeda Koma in Umeda, and Shin-Kabukiza in Uehommachi host Enka performances. For more independent or underground music, try Banana Hall in Umeda or Big Cat in Amerika-mura.
Buy
[edit]- Daimaru Umeda (大丸 梅田店) (direct access from JR Osaka Station). One of the largest department stores in Osaka.
- Hankyu Sanban-gai (阪急三番街) (direct access from Hankyu Umeda Station). The large shopping areas filled with a variety of shops from cages to brandname boutiques.
- Herbis Plaza ENT (ハービスプラザ ENT) (3 minutes walk from Hanshin Umeda Station), ☏ +81 6-6343-7500. Boutiques of famous brands inside and outside Japan, gourmet restaurants.
- For Japanese and foreign books, try Kinokuniya in Hankyu Umeda Station, or Junkudo south of Osaka Station.
- The Official Hanshin Tigers (baseball team) Shop is on 8th floor of Hanshin Department Store at Umeda.
- Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street (天神橋筋商店街 Tenjinbashi-suji Shōtengai) is said to be the longest straight and covered shopping arcade in Japan at approx. 2.6 km length. The arcade runs north-south along Tenjinbashi-suji street, and is accessible from multiple subway and/or JR stations, eg. Tenma, Minami-Morimachi, Tenjinbashi-suji 6-chome, etc. Nothing meant for sightseeing, the arcade is a live exhibition of Osaka's daily life, open since the Edo period.
Eat
[edit]Budget
[edit]- Snack Park (スナックパーク), Hanshin department store (Umeda), B2 Floor. 10:00-20:30. Offers okonomiyaki, takoyaki and a few surprises like doteyaki (どて焼き) — stewed beef sinew.
- Tsuruhashi Fūgetsu (鶴橋風月), Hankyu Grand Building 29F (next to Hankyu Umeda Station). Good okonomiyaki as well yakisoba, with extra toppings (egg, cheese, etc.). The restaurant overlooks Umeda. There's an English menu. ¥700-800.
- 1 Hanadako (はなだこ) (Umeda station). 10:00-23:00 every day. Standing or to-go takoyaki, very popular with the locals. ¥1000 or less.
- 2 Pukupuku (福゜福゜) (Noda station). Cosy yakiniku restaurant with English menus available, and dog friendly.
Mid-range
[edit]- En (Umeda) (えん梅田店), SWING umeda 2F 2-15-20 Sonezaki (from Hankyu Umeda station, exit on the east; from the Hep 5 building (red ferris wheel), walk south in front of Hep Navio, and cross the road leading into the shopping street, walk 50 m into the shopping street, take the first right, walk 50 m, cross the road and walk into the shopping street, the entrance to En えん is on your left.), ☏ +81 6-6361-9896. 17:00-23:30. En is one of the most atmospheric and tastiest izakayas in Osaka, with branches in Umeda and Namba. The interior is beautiful and food is delicious and reasonably priced. En also has a large range of Japanese sake and has an English menu. Food will cost ¥2000-2500 per person, drinks start from around ¥500.
- Torikizoku (鳥貴族). 17:00 or 18:00 to late. Torikizoku is the most popular WikiPedia:yakitori chain in Kansai, and can be found near most major stations in Osaka. The food is delicious, comes in generous serves and is very cheap. It's very popular with both locals and expats, and is always busy. Try to come before 7:30PM to secure seats. All food/drink ¥300 each.
- 3 Endo Sushi (ゑんどう寿司), 1 Chome-1-86 Noda, Fukushima Ward, ☏ +81 6-6469-7108. Sushi place in Osaka's fish market. Around ¥3000.
- Harukoma honten, 5 Chome-5-2 Tenjinbashi, Kita Ward. Sushi restaurant located in the Tenjinbashisuji shopping street. Whenever they are open, there is a line outside, mainly composed of locals, so be prepared for a wait of an hour or more.
Splurge
[edit]Drink
[edit]- 1 Blarney Stone Umeda, Kita-ku, Sonezaki 2-10-15, Sonezaki Center Bldg. 6F, ☏ +81 6-6364-0057.
- 2 Lupu, 1F, Kansai-Chuo Bldg, 15-2 Doyama-cho, ☏ +81 66-311-6700. A gay and lesbian bar owned by a lesbian couple. No cover.
Nightclubs
[edit]- Cafe de Jumpin' Jumpin', ☏ +81 66-363-3367. 19:00-morning. One of Osaka's gay and lesbian bars. No cover charge.
- Explosion. Osaka's most popular and largest (albeit still not very big) gay club. They hold special events on Fridays and Saturdays, some of which are men-only and occasionally women-only, so check their website to make sure that you will be able to enter on the day you plan to visit. Foreigners sometimes get discounts or extra free drink coupons, so bring identification (especially if you are of Asian descent).
- Jack in the Box, 12-12 Doyama-cho, ☏ +81 66-361-3271. 21:00-05:00, closed Th. A men-only gay nightclub.
- Sam and Dave. Popular international dance club with a meat-market vibe. Two locations in Osaka.
- Sam and Dave Umeda, 4-15-19 1F Nishi-tenma, Kita-ku, ☏ +81 6 6365-1688.
Sleep
[edit]Budget
[edit]- J-Hoppers Osaka Central, Fukushima 7-4-22 (3 minute walk from Fukushima Station on JR Loop.), ☏ +81 6 6453-6669. Check-in: 15:00-22:00, check-out: 08:00-11:00. A lively backpackers hostel in the central Osaka. There are three kinds of private rooms (twin, double and triple room). All staff members speak English and can help guests making travel plans. There are also staff who speak French and German. Free WiFi with your laptop or ¥100 per 30 min. for hostel computers. Rental bikes (¥500 per day), with no curfew or lockout and held-luggage services. 8 or 6 bed dorm ¥2500, private rooms ¥3000 per person.
Capsule hotels
[edit]- New Japan Umeda (ニュージャパン梅田), 9-5 Doyamamachi, Kita-ku (in the Higashi-Hankyu shopping arcade off Umeda station), ☏ +81 6-6314-2100, fax: +81 6-6363-3014. Formerly known as Capsule Inn Osaka. This is Japan's first capsule hotel, designed by noted architect Kisho Kurokawa and opened in 1979. Still open for business, happy to accommodate male foreigners with some semblance of a clue and a steal of a price. No women allowed. ¥2700 for a night, ¥3300 including spa entry.
- Daitoyo (大東洋), 2-1-9 Nakazaki-Nishi, Kita-ku (Near Nakazaki-cho station, Tanimachi-Line subway). Near Umeda, with branches at Namba and Juso. It has a hot spring spa, sauna, and a floor for women. ¥3200.
Budget apartments
[edit]- Sunplaza Rinkai (サンプラザ臨海), 16-4-4 Toyosaki Kita-ku (Subway Exit 1 from Nakatsu Station (中津駅) on the Midosuji line, 1 stop from Umeda Station and 2 stops away from Shinosaka Station), ☏ +81 6-6377-9260, fax: +81 6-6377-0650. Website is in Japanese. The English site can be obtained through an online booking agent if you Google its full name and if vacancies are available an immediate confirmation will be given. Twins beds available. Each apartment has in-suite shower and toilet, A/C, TV, and a kitchenette complete with fridge, stove and cooking utensils. ¥3500 per person per apartment inclusive of taxes, service charges and utilities.
Mid-range
[edit]Splurge
[edit]- Hilton Osaka, 1-8-8, Umeda, Kita-ku, ☏ +81 6-6347-7111, fax: +81 6-6347-7001. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Across the street from JR Osaka station.
- Hotel Granvia Osaka, 3-1-1, Umeda Kita-ku Osaka, ☏ +81 6-6347-1235, fax: +81 6-6347-1230, granvia@hgo.co.jp. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Next to the JR Osaka Train Station.
- Imperial Hotel, 8-50, Temmabashi 1-chome, Kita-ku, ☏ +81 6-6881-1111, fax: +81 6-6881-4111. At riverside.
- Rihga Royal Hotel, 5-3-68, Nakanoshima, Kita-ku. Opened as the New Osaka Hotel in 1935, this landmark hotel proudly offers one of the best hotel services in town.
- Ritz-Carlton, 2-5-25 Umeda, Kita-ku (just down the street from the Sakurabashi exit of Osaka Station, behind the Central Post Office), ☏ +81 6-6343-7000, fax: +81 6-6343-7001, osarz.leads@ritzcarlton.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11A0:00. Japan's first. This particular outlet was voted the best hotel in Japan several times, and has become known as one of the city's swankiest dining and meeting points. Rates start around ¥30,000 a night and rise skyward from there.
- The Westin Osaka, 1-1-20 Oyodo Naka, Kita-ku, ☏ +81 6-6440-1111, fax: +81 6-6440-1100, info@westin-osaka.co.jp. Next to the Umeda Sky Building.
Connect
[edit]- Osaka Visitors Information Center - Umeda, 3F JR Osaka Sta.1F North Central Gate 3-1-1 Umeda Kita-ku (Central concourse north side at Osaka Sta. on the JR Osaka Loop Line), ☏ +81 6-6345-2189. 09:00-21:00, closed Dec 31-Jan 3. Tourist information is offered in English and Japanese.
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Kita |
| Kobe ← Nishinomiya ← | W  NE |
→ Suita → Ibaraki → Kyoto |
| Motomachi ← Koshien ← Amagasaki ← | W  E |
→ END |
| Sannomiya ← Nishinomiya Kitaguchi ← Juso ← | W  E |
→ END |
| Kawaramachi ← Nagaokatenjin ← Ibarakishi ← | NE  S |
→ END |
| Takarazuka ← Ikeda ← Toyonaka ← | N  S |
→ END |
Senri-Chuo ← into  ← Shin Osaka ← |
N  S |
→ Nanba → Tennoji → Nakamozu |
| Dainichi ← Miyakojima ← | NE  SE |
→ Tanimachi 4-chome → Tennoji |
| END ← | N  S |
→ Nanba → Suminoe Park |
| Ikeda ← Itami Airport ← Toyonaka ← | N  S |
→ in to  |