[Nakazakicho Travel Guide] Stroll Through a Neighborhood Where Retro Charm Meets Modern Trends

If you’re planning a trip to Nakazakicho, spring and fall are the best seasons, when the heat and cold are not too harsh.
Sightseeing in Nakazakicho mainly involves walking, including getting there from the nearest station and moving between spots.
That makes the mild weather of spring and fall ideal for long strolls and a relaxed visit.

If you’re heading to Nakazakicho from Osaka Station, first make your way to Higashi-Umeda Station, about a 7-minute walk from Osaka Station.
From Higashi-Umeda Station, take the Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line and get off at the next stop, Nakazakicho Station. The trip takes Approx. 13 minutes, including train waiting time.
You can also reach it on foot from Osaka Station in Approx. 15 minutes, so walking is a great option on a nice day.

This cafe is located Approx. 5 minutes on foot from Nakazakicho Station.
The ceiling is decorated with many dried flowers, and the cute interior, based on white with light purple accents, is part of its charm. No matter where you take a photo inside, it’s sure to look great on social media.
Its popular baked cheesecake is rich and creamy.
It is also known for its colorful presentation, topped with edible flowers.
Other menu items such as parfaits and sodas are also colorful, making the cafe especially popular with women.

A pioneer of Nakazakicho’s cafe culture, this popular spot has many repeat customers.
The interior is designed in the style of a classic Japanese kissaten coffee shop, with antique-style furnishings throughout.
The space feels far removed from the noise of the city and has the cozy atmosphere of home.
The menu features comforting, home-style dishes such as set meals with your choice of fish or meat and butter chicken curry.
Be sure to try the sweets too, including pudding à la mode and cream soda, both of which evoke retro Showa-era charm.

A dining bar tucked away in one of Nakazakicho’s alleyways, inspired by a New York diner.
The stylish yet warm space, converted from a garage, creates a calm atmosphere for enjoying a meal.
On sunny days, terrace seating is another draw, where you can relax with a drink such as craft beer imported from the U.S.
The signature item is chicken over rice, a classic street-food dish commonly found at food carts and trucks in New York.
You’ll also find homemade specialties such as poke rice, tacos, and hamburger plates.

With a name based on the three-letter city code for Osaka, this cafe has drawn attention for its unique travel-themed concept.
Its coffee centers on specialty blends made with beans from Brazil, Honduras, and El Salvador.
Like the coffee, the handmade sweets are carefully crafted, including rich, bittersweet chocolate tart and moist Basque cheesecake.

Monaca Coffee is a coffee roaster located Approx. 3 minutes on foot from Nakazakicho Station.
In addition to selling house-roasted coffee beans and takeout drip coffee, it also has an eat-in space.
A popular choice is the set of drip coffee, where you can choose your favorite beans from several varieties including blends, paired with homemade cake.
The shop also offers sweets that go well with coffee, such as butter cake, cheesecake, and pound cake.

Located a 1-minute walk from Exit 2 of Nakazakicho Station, this variety store is themed around a “Showa-era general store.”
It mainly selects items from the Showa period (1926-1989), especially the 1970s.
The range is broad, including retro Japanese-made furniture, kitchenware, apparel, and miscellaneous goods.
The shelves are packed with items that feel nostalgic to older adults and fresh to younger visitors.
There is also plenty of dead stock, including many pieces you can only find here.

A shop specializing in animal-themed goods.
Inside the Asian-inspired store, you’ll find handmade items by artists along with imported goods sourced from places such as Scandinavia and Indonesia.
Among the most popular items are “Polepole Animals,” known for their gentle and charming look.
“Polepole Animals” are hand-carved wooden goods made from a natural Indonesian wood called falcata.
There are many kinds of animals, and because each one is handmade, their expressions differ slightly from piece to piece.

Horiike is a traditional dagashi snack shop located Approx. 5 minutes on foot from Nakazakicho Station, recognizable by its green sign.
For neighborhood children, it serves as a place to relax and connect, and it has also become a popular spot for tourists and creators.
Inside, you’ll find a nostalgic lineup ranging from old-fashioned sweets to stationery and toys.
Even in Nakazakicho, where old streetscapes still remain, this shop stands out for its especially nostalgic atmosphere.

Nijiyura is a tenugui hand towel brand that originated in Sakai, Osaka. It creates and presents original tenugui and other items using the traditional dyeing technique known as chusen, in which dye is poured onto the fabric.
The tenugui designs are created by artists active in a wide range of fields, and each one reflects the creator’s individuality. The fabric used is Kousarashi, a smooth Japanese-made bleached cotton cloth.

A variety store offering antiques and vintage items sourced from Germany, France, and elsewhere, along with pieces by handmade artists.
Inside the renovated traditional house, you’ll find works inspired by natural history and astronomy, with dolls from the 1900s adding character to the space.
There is also a wide selection of handmade accessories, including many special one-of-a-kind items you can only find here.
The second floor serves as a gallery space, where solo exhibitions and special exhibitions are held.

One of Osaka’s signature shopping streets, it stretches Approx. 2.6 km from Tenjinbashi 1-chome to 7-chome and is said to be the longest shopping street in Japan.
Approx. 800 shops line the arcade. You’ll find sushi restaurants with long lines, popular Western-style eateries and curry shops, and retro cafes. There is also plenty of takeout food perfect for walking and eating, including takoyaki, croquettes, crepes, and taiyaki.

A shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, known as the god of learning. Long beloved by the people of Osaka as “Tenma no Tenjin-san,” it has been a place for prayers related to disease prevention, learning, and the performing arts since its founding in 949. During exam season, it attracts many students.
Taishogunsha, the oldest structure in the shrine grounds, is said to be the place where Michizane stopped to pray on his journey to Dazaifu after being exiled.

Completed in 1993, this massive twin-tower skyscraper consists of two 40-story buildings connected at the top. It was selected in the U.K. as one of the “Top 20 Buildings Around the World” as a “high-rise full of thrills,” and its striking design is one of its popular features.
At the top is the Kuchu Teien Observatory, 173 meters above ground. From here, you can enjoy 360-degree views in every direction, including Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Awaji Island, Mt. Rokko, the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel, and the many high-rise buildings of Umeda.