Osaka Station is one of the busiest and most attractive railway stations in western Japan. The station turned complex houses a variety of shops from fine dining to stylish shopping and relaxing. Osaka Station is an impressive transportation hub that doubles as a tourist attraction!
Table of Contents
- Overview of Osaka Station
- Quick Tour in Osaka Station City
- Shopping and Dining Near Osaka Station
- Takeaway
Overview of Osaka Station
Osaka is one of the largest and most visited cities in Japan. Labeled as the “Nation’s Kitchen,” Osaka is famous for its delicious and mouth-watering cuisines. There are also numerous tourist attractions that you will enjoy in the city. Speaking of tourist attractions, even its train station is a place you should check out.
Osaka Station has a rich 140 years of history starting way back in 1874. After a series of rebuilding and reconstruction throughout the years, the old, crampy, and not-so-interesting train station transformed into a major tourist attraction after the birth of Osaka Station City in 2011. The station complex consists of five separate stations located above and underground, including Osaka Station, Umeda Station, Osaka-Umeda Station, Nishi-Umeda Station, and Higashi-Umeda Station.
Osaka Station City is not just a mere transportation hub; it has also been attracting the public, especially tourists, because of the countless facilities the place has to offer. There are numerous shops and stores located left and right of the station that provide travelers a long list of choices to shop, dine, and find entertainment. You will also admire the architecture and design of the complex, especially the glass roof over the railway tracks and the expansive bridge that connects the southern and northern sides of the complex. This design is perfect in providing travelers more open space to roam around while enjoying the Osaka Station City.
Writer's Pick
Quick Tour in Osaka Station City
Konami Sports Center
Are you exhausted from a long train trip? Do you want to get warmed up or freshen up? Then head straight to the Konami Sports Club right after arriving at the train station. You can get some exercise and physical activity with the available gym facilities and equipment. You can also turn that haggard look and feel into a fresher one by using the bathing facilities or enjoying a sauna. There is also a beauty salon in the Club where you can give yourself a moment of rejuvenation. You’ll have to pay a membership fee on top of the one day price, but it’s worth it if you think you’ll be back.
Service Facilities
You will never get lost in Osaka Station City, a big thanks to its various facilities that are ready to help and assist travelers, especially foreign tourists. If you have questions about your travel itineraries, you can visit the Train & Tourist Information booth. Aside from this one, there are other information booths such as the Osaka Station City Information and the Tourist Service Center that are willing to help you navigate the station complex and find your way to different shopping, dining, and entertainment facilities, as well as guides to the city itself. Some of these information booths also extend luggage delivery, free wifi, and multilingual staff to ensure quality service to the travelers.
Other service facilities that are open to cater to the needs and requests of the travelers are the Station Lockers and Luggage Storage area, Foreign Exchange Currency shop, Central Ticket Office, and the Lost and Found Center.
Osaka Station City Cinema
Another fun way of taking a rest from a long train journey is by enjoying a good movie. There are 12 large cinema screens available in Osaka Station City Cinema where you can enjoy some international and Japanese blockbuster films. Do not forget to buy snacks or popcorn at the concession stand located at the entrance of the cinema to fully enjoy your movie watching.
Gardens and Plazas
If you want to have a break from the busy cityscape and take a breath of fresh air, Osaka Station City has many gardens and plazas where you can relax and socialize with your travel buddies while enjoying nature's beauty. There are four plazas in the station complex, namely the Carillon Plaza, Kaze-no-hiroba Plaza, Toki-no-hiroba Plaza, and Taiyo-no-hiroba Plaza. These are also cafes, snack bars, and restaurants located around these plazas so you can grab something to eat while enjoying the place. If these plazas are not enough and you want a greener space, you can choose to spend time at Yawaragi-no-niwa Garden and Tenku-no-noen Farm to get some sun and be surrounded by nature in the midst of the city.
If you’re done with all these activities in Osaka Station City and ready to get going on the next part of your trip, there is also a bus terminal where you can catch a ride from both highway express and city buses. A taxi rank is also within reach if you need to catch a taxi for your next destination.
Shopping and Dining Near Osaka Station
Grand Front Osaka
Are you in need of any travel essentials? Do you want to buy some vacation souvenirs? Or are you just bored and want to go shopping? Then the Grand Front Osaka is the place for you. This massive commercial complex has it all. You can find here a wide array of home equipment and electronic supplies from well-known brands. There are also different clothing lines and fashion boutiques where you can find clothes with modern, traditional, and a mix of styles. You can also enjoy delicious and affordable foods in restaurants and cafes scattered across the entire shopping center.
Yodobashi Camera
If you are a certified techie, you will absolutely find Yodobashi Camera as an electronics paradise. Yodobashi Camera is a massive electronics store with just about everything you need. Let’s emphasize the word EVERYTHING. This is the best place to look for anything related to gadgets and digital appliances from hair dryers and an electric toothbrush to smartphones, underwater cameras, computers, and so much more.
Lucua & Lucua 1100
Another great place for your shopping spree is the Lucua and the Lucua 1100 department stores. This huge shopping center has a collection of over dozens of shops spread across twelve floors. With all the available stores in Lucua, you will have a good time shopping alone or with your travel buddies. Aside from fashion boutiques, there are also bookstores, cafes, and restaurants in Lucua where you can spend your leisure time.
Besides Lucua, there are other department stores in Osaka Station City where you can also enjoy a great shopping day. The Daimaru Umeda, which specializes in different varieties of western and Japanese products, Hankyu Umeda department store that caters to the upmarket and many more. All of these department stores have a large variety of restaurants available to suit your cravings.
Takeaway
Osaka, Japan should be included on your Japan travel bucket list. There are countless things and experiences you can do here, not to mention the foods and delicacies that you should not miss. But, one thing that makes Osaka a great place to spend time and visit is the tourist attraction right in its train station - the Osaka Station City.
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