Planning a trip to Osaka but don’t know where to stay? Here’s a handy guide to what each area is best known for.
Osaka is known for its vibrant and colourful signboards, delicious food, and bustling nightlife. It has Japan’s second-largest economy (after Tokyo) and is the central hub of Western Japan (Kansai). With its easygoing vibe, Osaka is the perfect place to experience all that a modern Japanese metropolis has to offer: shopping, excellent food, ancient traditions, and awesome sightseeing. Wondering where to stay in Osaka? Don’t fret, we’ve got you covered. The city can be divided into six major areas and we’ve got the lowdown on each.
Where to stay in Osaka: Best places in the city
1. Kita (north of downtown)
Kita (meaning ‘north’ in Japanese) is home to the Umeda district, an emerging hip area in town with bustling cafes and a thriving art scene. Osaka Station is situated in Kita, serving as the gateway to Osaka for those arriving via the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo or Nagoya, or coming up from Hiroshima or Hakata. It’s easy to get around, because the Osaka Loop Line connects you to the rest of the city.
Umeda has several large underground malls, plus numerous department stores like Isetan, Takashimaya, and Marui. P.S. it’s the most prominently featured area in photographs of Osaka. Places of interest include Umeda Sky Building, with its unique observatory deck, and Tenjimbashi-suji, the longest shotengai (covered shopping street) in Osaka.
2. Minami (south of downtown)
Minami (meaning ‘south’ in Japanese), is the epicentre of food in Osaka. If you like seafood, bookmark the fresh fish markets in Nipponbashi, like the Nishikawa Fresh Fish Store and Kuromon Market – a haven for sashimi and sushi lovers. You can even watch live tuna auctions, which start around 4.15am in the Osaka Municipal Central Wholesale Market.
Shop around Amemura (American Town), Shinsaibashi shotengai, or Namba, Osaka’s up-and-coming luxury district. Dotonbori is also in Minami: known for its quirky, neon signboards – including the famous Glico Man – Dotonbori offers visitors a taste of colourful nightlife, local delicacies (think okonomiyaki, yakisoba, takoyaki and kushikatsu), and plenty of souvenirs to take home as gifts or keepsakes.
Our recommendation? Stay in Dotonbori or Namba as they’re Osaka’s most famous neighbourhoods. This is a great area for first-time visitors especially if you want quick access to excellent food streets, high-end shopping, and exciting nightlife!
3. Osaka Castle Area
The skyscrapers surrounding the celebrated Osaka Castle make up the main CBD area of Osaka. There are many izakayas here, where salarymen gather after work — but you’ll also find cheaper hotels that are well-linked to the city’s downtown areas.
It’s quieter and more relaxed near the castle, with spacious green areas providing a reprieve from the hubbub of daily Osaka life. The best part of the city’s riverwalk sits across Kyobashi Bridge: great views of Osaka Castle are juxtaposed against towering high-rises — it’s a magical blend of the historical and the modern. Temmabashi Bridge provides excellent views of the riverfront in spring when cherry blossoms lining the banks start to bloom.
4. The Bay Area
Osaka’s Bay Area is accessible by different trains, depending on where you plan to visit. Universal Studios Japan, Osaka Aquarium, Legoland Discovery Center, and the Tempozan Ferris Wheel are all located here. For international ferries to Busan and Shanghai, or domestic ferries to Kyushu and Fukuoka, check out Osaka’s Ferry Port. This is also a great area to stay in if you’re travelling with children since there’s a good variety of hotels and many offer shuttle services to and from the airport and theme parks.
5. Shinsekai and Tennoji
Tennoji is home to Japan’s second tallest building, Abeno Harukas300. This area also has a zoo and Osaka’s Museum of Fine Arts, both of which are inside Tennoji Park. Shinsekai is best known for Tsutenkaku, an old TV tower. Meanwhile, Keitakuen Park has a large, Japanese-style garden offering excellent views of Harukas300. Tennoji Station is also the southernmost terminus for trains running to and from the airport.
This is a popular area for tourists and families, thanks to its quaint atmosphere, access to spacious parks, reasonable hotel prices, and ease of access to other parts of Osaka via the Midosuji Subway.
6. Tsuruhashi (Koreatown)
A little north of Tennoji is Tsuruhashi Station, a railway hub with transfers to the Kintetsu Line (connecting to Nara, Nagoya, and Mie). It’s also home to Osaka’s Koreatown, with bustling old markets for an authentic experience, and shops selling K-beauty products, bibimbap, and K-Pop merch for all your Korean needs!
The area is most lively over weekends and on public holidays, but functions like any other market street during the week, with most shops closing by 6pm. Besides that, the neighbourhood is pretty much another ordinary residential district of Osaka.
Types of accommodations in Osaka
Hotels in Japan allow check-in from 3pm, and check-out is usually between 10am to 11am, depending on the venue. It’s common for Japanese hotels to have an onsen floor, featuring public baths filled with hot spring water that are sometimes open-air. Onsens are separated into men’s and women’s sections; they often come equipped with showers and bathing amenities like soaps, brushes, and hairdryers.
Ryokans are more traditional Japanese inns offering a cultural experience of the country’s famed hospitality. They are traditionally built, featuring native architecture and decor, with old-fashioned Japanese meals served for dinner and breakfast. Guests can experience tatami rooms with plush futon beds, or choose Western-style beds. Onsen are a common feature, with some places offering private baths inside the rooms.
For something budget-friendly, APA Hotels is a reliable chain that’s reasonably priced. While room sizes aren’t the biggest, they’re typically situated near train stations and offer easy access to tourist attractions. Alternatively, try Sotetsu Fresa Inns for slightly larger rooms with lower prices and free-to-use lounge spaces for guests.
To live the luxe life, big names like Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott are conveniently located near major city hotspots, offering spacious rooms and shuttle bus services.
How to get to and around Osaka
Singapore Airlines offers three direct flights to Kansai International Airport (KIX) three times a day, while Scoot flies direct to the city once a day. Wondering how to get from KIX to your hotel in Osaka? Train services are the quickest and most efficient.
JR Hello Kitty Haruka Shinkansen (also called the Haruka Airport Express) is an express train stopping at Tennoji (35 minutes), Osaka Station (45 minutes), Shin-Osaka (50 minutes), and Kyoto (80 minutes). JR Kansaikuko Line gets you to Tennoji (50 minutes) and Osaka Station (70 minutes), while Nankaikuko’s Airport Limited Express Rapi:t and the Nankai- Airport Line run between Namba Station and KIX in about 35 minutes and 45 minutes respectively.
You can also try bus services (starting from 1,800JPY within Osaka city limits) or get taxis to drop you at your hotel’s doorstep for a more expensive fee.
Peak travel seasons in Osaka run from late March to early April (Sakura season), during Golden Week (late April to early May), and mid to late November (Momiji season). If you’re planning to visit during these times, book your flights and hotels soon!
