Osaka Shopping Itinerary

Osaka is a shopper’s paradise, but it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices. This 1-day Osaka Shopping Itinerary will help you make the most of your time.

Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street: beeboys/Shutterstock.com

Osaka Shopping Itinerary Summary

• Just one full day is enough to sample the incredible shopping in Osaka.
• If you've only got one day in Osaka, it's crucial to base yourself somewhere central: See our Where to Stay in Osaka page for details.
• This itinerary includes the Kita and Minami districts.

Full Itinerary

• 9am: Get a leisurely start and then make your way to the Kita District. There’s no point in getting there any earlier than 10am since most shops open at 10am sharp.
• 10am: Explore the Kita District. Two train stations form the heart of Kita: JR Osaka Station and Hankyu Umeda Station. Osaka Station is literally surrounding by huge shopping malls and department stores. Among these, we recommend Yodobashi Camera (a great place to buy a SIM card), Grand Front Osaka (which has just about everything) and Hankyu Department Store. And, if you want to experience one of Osaka’s famous “chikagai” (underground shopping malls), check out the labyrinthine Whity Umeda. Check out the Kita District page for details on these shopping centers.
• 11:30am: Eat an early lunch in Kita. Remember that Kita is a business district, so the restaurants around here will be packed on weekdays during lunchtime (noon to 1pm). To beat the rush, try to get to a restaurant a bit before noon. See our Kita District page for some recommended restaurants in Kita. Alternatively, you could wait until a bit later and eat lunch in Minami, which is your next stop.
• 1pm: Arrive in the Minami District. From the Kita District, take the Midosuji subway line south from Umeda Station to Shinsaibashi Station. Take exit #2 from Shinsaibashi Station and walk for three minutes to arrive at Tokyu Hands Department Store, one of the coolest all-around hobby and gadget shops in the world. After checking out Tokyu Hands, cross south over Nagahori-dori Street (the wide street in front of Tokyu Hands) and walk one block west (back in the direction of the subway) and then enter Shinsaibashi-suji, one of Osaka’s famous shotengai (covered shopping arcades). Walk south through Shinsaibashi-suji, pausing for coffee, snacks and shopping as you wish. If you didn’t eat lunch in Kita, you’ll find plenty of good restaurants in this area. See our Minami District page for details on shops and restaurants in Minami.
• 2pm: Explore Dotombori. If you walk south through the Shinsaibashi-suji arcade, you’ll eventually get to Ebisu-bashi Bridge, which takes you over the famous Dotombori Canal. Lined with garish neon-covered buildings, the Dotombori Canal is the most iconic sight in all of Osaka. Pause on the bridge for photographs and to soak up the view and the parade of Osaka characters going by. Then, walk a short distance south and you’ll find yourself in the famous Dotombori arcade (this one is not covered). This street is line with restaurants, many of which have incredibly flashy signs and symbols outside to attract customers. For details on the places mentioned here, visit our Minami District page.
• 3pm: Explore Doguyasuji Arcade. Another short walk south of Hozenji Yokocho, you’ll find Doguyasuji Arcade, Osaka’s famous kitchen-supply street, where you will find a greater selection of kitchen and tableware than you’ve seen anywhere. For details, check out our Minami District page.
• 4pm: Den-Den Town: If you walk to the south end of Doguyasuji Arcade, you’ll come out on a relatively wide street. If you turn left and walk straight east to the second traffic light, you’ll be at the north end of Den-Den Town, which is Osaka’s electronics district. This is a great area for people with an interest in gadgets, Japanese pop culture and computers. Alternatively, if you’re more interested in fashion, you could visit Amerika Mura, which is a short walk from Dotombori. For details, check out our Minami District page.
• 6:30pm: Dinner in Minami. The Minami District has the greatest concentration of good restaurants in Osaka. The only problem will be choosing from the thousands of options available. To help you decide, check out our recommendations on the Minami District page.
• 7:30pm: After-dinner stroll in Dotombori. If you’ve still got some energy left, a stroll around the Dotombori area is a nice way to finish off the day. For details, check out our Minami District page.

Check Osaka Hotel Availability

Destination

Check-in date

Fri 13 Dec 2024

Check-out date

Sat 14 Dec 2024

Notes

• Choose a hotel in a central location so you don’t waste time moving around. The most convenient areas are Kita, Central Osaka and Minami. For more on where to say, check out my Where to Stay in Osaka page.
• For a careful selection of Osaka’s best hotels in all price brackets, see our Osaka Hotels page.
• Don't try to pack too much into one day in Osaka – you’ll tire yourself out.

Where Are These Places Located?

See these places on the Inside Osaka Google map:

• Open the Osaka map
• You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
• Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
• Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
• If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.

Osaka District Map

• Shin-Osaka Area
• Kita Area
• Central Osaka Area
• Minami Area
• Tennoji Area
• Osaka Castle Area
• Osaka Bay Area