Namba
Namba is the centre of Minami, Osaka's southern hub. Dotonbori, with its giant Glico sign and riverside walk, is right outside Namba Station. The station is served by Nankai and Kintetsu trains and three Osaka Metro lines (Midosuji, Sennichimae and Yotsubashi).
- Best for
- First-timers, Kansai Airport access, food and shopping
- Getting around
- The Nankai rapi:t reaches Namba from Kansai Airport in 34 minutes at the fastest. Kintetsu runs direct trains from Osaka Namba to Nara in about 40 minutes.
- Muslim-friendly
- JAPANeid, a halal souvenir shop near the Glico sign in Dotonbori, has a prayer space with separate areas for men and women, wudu facilities, prayer mats and a marked qibla.
- Keep in mind
- Dotonbori is an entertainment district and is crowded day and night.
Hotels in Namba ↗Umeda (Kita)
Kita, centred on Umeda, is Osaka's northern hub around JR Osaka Station. Big department stores like Hankyu Umeda connect straight to JR, Osaka Metro and Hankyu/Hanshin stations, and the Umeda Sky Building observatory is about a 7-minute walk from JR Osaka Station.
- Best for
- Rail connections, Muslim travellers, department-store shopping
- Getting around
- The JR Kansai Airport Rapid takes about 1 hour 5 minutes from Kansai Airport to Osaka Station. The Haruka express also stops here (discounted one-way ticket for foreign visitors ¥1,800). JR Yamatoji Rapid trains reach Nara in about 50 minutes.
- Muslim-friendly
- Osaka Station City has a prayer room on the 1st floor of the South Gate Building, with separate rooms for men and women and a wudu area. It is open 10:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30); ask at OSC Information on the 3rd floor first. Hankyu Department Store also has a prayer room on its 8th floor.
Hotels in Umeda ↗Shin-Osaka
Shin-Osaka is Osaka's Shinkansen station, where the Tokaido and Sanyo bullet-train lines meet. It is about 3 km north of Osaka Station and also has the JR Kyoto Line and the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line.
- Best for
- Bullet-train trips, early departures
- Getting around
- The Haruka express takes about 50 minutes from Kansai Airport (discounted one-way ticket for foreign visitors ¥1,800). The Midosuji Line runs to Umeda and Namba.
Hotels in Shin-Osaka ↗Tennoji
Tennoji has Abeno Harukas with its 300 m Harukas 300 observation deck, Tennoji Park with its big free lawn (Tenshiba), Tennoji Zoo, and Shitennoji, one of Japan's oldest temples.
- Best for
- Families, Nara day trips, fast airport access
- Getting around
- The Haruka express takes about 35 minutes from Kansai Airport (discounted one-way ticket for foreign visitors ¥1,300). JR trains reach Nara in about 36 minutes.
Hotels in Tennoji ↗Shinsaibashi
Shinsaibashi-suji is a covered shopping street about 600 m long with around 380 years of history, from kimono tailors to fashion brands. Daimaru Shinsaibashi department store is here too (Exit 4 of Shinsaibashi Station).
- Best for
- Shoppers, couples
- Getting around
- Shinsaibashi Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji and Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi lines, a 1-minute walk from the arcade.
Hotels in Shinsaibashi ↗Price levels ($ to $$$) appear only where an official tourism source rates them. Hotel buttons open Klook or Booking.com. We may earn a commission from Klook bookings, at no extra cost to you.
